You don\u2019t have to be a Fortune 500 company to make a lasting impact in military spouse employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Innovative companies of all sizes and across various industries nationwide recognize the tremendous value military spouses bring to the workplace. As a result, employers have implemented military spouse hiring policies and procedures to attract and retain this talent pool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is your organization ready to invest in military spouse hiring but unsure where to start?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hiring Our Heroes outlines four steps for military spouse hiring based on tips from our employment partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Stephen Covey\u2019s bestseller, \u201cThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,\u201d readers need to \u201cseek first to understand, then to be understood.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a critical first step, explained Mona Dexter, Vice President of Military and Veteran Affairs at Comcast NBCUniversal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHiring managers may not fully understand the skills and business value veterans and military spouses bring to organizations,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johnson & Johnson\u2019s HR Leader of Military Pathways Tiffany Daugherty agreed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBy seeking to understand military-connected job seekers and their unique skill sets, you will understand why recruiting them aligns with your company\u2019s mission,\u201d she said. \u201cTake the time to understand and communicate the case for hiring military-connected talent as it relates to the needs and objectives of your business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then flip your understanding lens to the other side of talent acquisition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTake stock of what makes your company attractive to the military job seeker, so you are clear on the business case for candidates as well,\u201d Daugherty said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dexter recommends employers encourage their talent acquisition specialists, human resources directors, and hiring managers to enroll in the Society for Human Resource Management\u2019s Veterans at Work certificate program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe free course aids these professionals to better understand military resumes, including technical skills, leadership, and management experience, and other skills employers are looking for,\u201d she said. The Veterans at Work Certificate<\/a> program is free and open to anyone. You do not need to be a Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) member or hold a SHRM credential to enroll in the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you pledge your support to hire veterans and military spouses, you build accountability into your military spouse hiring policy. That\u2019s why a hiring pledge is a popular and effective second step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amazon pledged to hire 25,000 veterans and military spouses in 2016. After surpassing the goal in 2021, it quadrupled its commitment. Amazon pledged to hire 100,000 veterans and military spouses by 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your company isn\u2019t in the position to hire that many military spouses, you can still make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you\u2019re just getting started, don\u2019t try to boil the ocean. Start with one, whether that\u2019s one business unit or one hiring manager, and it will grow from there,\u201d Dexter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you understand military-connected talent and make a hiring pledge, your next step is to connect with Hiring Our Heroes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From hosting a fellow for a 12-week internship to connecting with job seekers at Career Summits on military installations, our services are available to companies of all sizes and designed to meet your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We recognize the variety of options and timelines for participation can be a bit confusing when you are getting started with HOH. That\u2019s why we recommend attending an upcoming Discover the Talent orientation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Discover the Talent presents employers with engagement and educational opportunities to learn about hiring military talent and allows you to identify which HOH program best meets your company\u2019s goals. Hint:<\/em><\/strong> It may be more than one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re just getting started, don\u2019t try to boil the ocean. Start with one and it will grow from there.<\/p>\nMona Dexter, Vice President of Military and Veteran Affairs at Comcast NBCUniversal<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Another starting point endorsed by many military-ready employers is our<\/a> Fellows Programs<\/a>. Available at no cost to employers, fellowships provide a pipeline of military-connected talent — pre-vetted by Hiring Our Heroes — to America\u2019s businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Companies can host ready-to-work talent from the Salesforce, Skills-Based, Military Spouse and Caregiver, Career Forward, and Corporate Fellowship Programs. The easiest way to determine which fellowship is right for you is by meeting with an HOH team member<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 2: Create a Hiring Pledge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Let Hiring Our Heroes Be Your Military-Connected Talent Pipeline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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