Organisations which employ veterans are very positive about the value they bring. So why do many veterans continue to be stereotyped by those employers failing to recognise the transferable skills they have acquired during their Service careers?
HR Aspects Magazine asks Lee Holloway, CEO of Officers’ Association, for answers.
“Veterans Work, a report by the Officers’ Association (OA), Deloitte and Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT), shows that veterans are disadvantaged by the fact only 39% of employers would hire someone with no industry experience”.
“It is sadly the case that the diverse skillset veterans have amassed over their careers are often overlooked by employers due to lack of commercial experience.
Business Benefits
Nevertheless, the report highlights that 90% of businesses who employ veterans are very positive about the value former military personnel bring to the workplace[1].
Employers see veterans as having an array of specialist skills that benefit business including:
- tried and tested leadership
- planning
- strategic management
- and communication skills
“Crucially, Veterans Work found that many organisations experience gaps in these vital areas,” reveals Lee.
“It is worrying for both veterans and businesses that rigorous recruitment processes can sometimes fail to recognise the unique value a veteran’s experience can bring to a team“
Lee Holloway, Officers’ Association
“Some big businesses are already taking advantage of these skills and determined mind-sets veterans have. The changing demands of the digital and economic sectors have opened up specialist opportunities suited to veterans.”
For example, former Royal Navy Engineering Officer, Hugh Tatton-Brown, utilises his military experience to protect the UK against cyber-attacks in his role as Chief Information Security Officer for BT Defence.
Are All Things Equal?
The report also highlights that ex-Service women are less likely to attain the same recognition as their male counterparts, reflecting a lower employment rate amongst female veterans[2].
Rachel Scandling is an outstanding example of the value female veterans can bring to commercial industry.
A former Royal Navy Commander, Rachel was recognised as a Barclays 2018 Game Changer in her role as Optimisation Lead within Global Markets Operations.
“Adapting hiring processes to ensure that overlooked individuals, like veterans, are noticed can raise standards across the whole business.”
“Not only will it improve the quality of employee work as a whole with the good performance of veterans encouraging competition and innovation, but it can help companies stand out as genuinely wanting to improve the employee experience, which will help attract more good candidates.”
“Thoughtful and intelligent application of the training and experiences veterans bring, can undoubtedly benefit the balance sheet and ethos of business”
Lee Holloway, Officers’ Association
“Securing civilian employment aids veterans with their transition journey by reinforcing a sense of identity that incorporates both military life and civilian life,” concludes Lee. “This ensures that society and business alike capitalise on the investment made in the UK’s Service personnel.”
Contact Officers’ Association, to discover how they can assist you in your life beyond the services.
References:
[1] Officers’ Association (OA), Deloitte and Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) (2016) ‘Veterans Work’ Report, p. 6.
[2] Officers’ Association (OA), Deloitte and Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) (2016) ‘Veterans Work’ Report, p. 20.
