There’s increasing competition in the realm of Veteran talent acquisition, and the situation is all too familiar to any C-level executive or HR professional. In 2011, the unemployment rate among post-9/11 Veterans was a concerning 12.1%. Back then, despite public gratitude for their service, many businesses overlooked the immense potential these Veterans possessed.
Fast forward to today, and the hiring landscape has dramatically shifted. The Veteran unemployment rate is now at a historic low of 3.4%. Companies of all sizes and across industries are actively seeking out the 160,000 Veterans transitioning out of the military each year, with 16,000 of them right here in Hampton Roads. There are at least 240 Virginia-based companies on the Department of Labor VETS Medallion Award list and 46 that made the Military Times “Best for Vets” list.
With so many major companies currently recognizing and recruiting Veterans, how can Hampton Roads businesses effectively navigate this new reality? The traditional approach of simply posting job vacancies is no longer enough. Reaching and attracting Veterans today requires a more strategic and targeted approach.
For example, military talent acquisition through the Regional Military Employment Program (RMEP) is entering a brand-new era in our region. It is a fresh and, for the most part, unexplored hiring resource that connects employers with military Veterans. The organization is comprised of employment resource representatives from Southside and Peninsula companies, as well as military employment specialists from Hampton Roads military installations.
As is true with any transitional period, those who stick to the old ways will miss out, while those who adapt to utilizing new resources will thrive.
Factors to Keep in Mind
There’s high demand. Veteran unemployment is at historic lows, meaning your competitors are already hiring. To stay competitive, employers need to:
- Be intentional. Set clear goals for hiring Veterans, and put a hiring strategy in place.
- Leverage existing connections with Veterans and military spouses within your company or network. Look to organizations that provide services to military spouses or military-adjacent family members.
- Do online research. Explore the terrain by researching military friendly companies and the roles for which they’re recruiting. Use LinkedIn. Enter a specific company’s name in the search bar along with a branch of service: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard or Space Force. Voila! You can now see many of the Veterans who work at your competitors and gain an understanding of their respective roles within that particular company. Are those roles similar to the ones in your business?
- Understand that Veterans seek value alignment. Transitioning service members are looking for more than just a job. They seek organizations that share their values of honesty, integrity, civility, and commitment.
The Hampton Roads Advantage
The good news is that in Hampton Roads, the RMEP offers a proven pathway for connecting and recruiting military talent. The Hampton Roads Workforce Council and its Veterans Employment Centers collaborate with all of the region’s military installations, Virginia Works, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Virginia Department of Veterans Services’ Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Hire Vets Now Program, local Chambers of Commerce—two of whom are led by Veterans—and other partners who are driven by passion and results.
Most Veterans know at least six to nine months in advance when they will be available to start a new position. Some of them may be available sooner for internships through the DoD Skillbridge Program, where they are still being paid by the military to gain meaningful work experience with vetted employers. Our RMEP hosts DoD Skillbridge EXPOs for our region’s various programs to connect with service members well in advance of their separation date in order to start meaningful conversations and build relationships.
And there’s more good news. You don’t need a massive budget or team to tap into this resource. Start by auditing your network and calendar to prioritize engagement with the military community through various avenues.
The battle for talent is real, and Veterans represent a valuable pool of skilled individuals. By adapting your recruitment strategy and leveraging resources like the RMEP, you can gain a competitive edge and secure the talent your business needs to succeed. The time to act is now. It isn’t hard. At our region’s collaborative 757 Career Summits, you can meet some of our most talented military professionals in a refreshing atmosphere—it’s much more than just a job fair!
Sultan Camp, Director, Hampton Roads Veterans Employment Centers
