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Subscribe to RSSSpeaking on Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery, President Obama says, "But as our service members return, many are discovering a new battlefield as they leave the military and search for civilian employment opportunities." Watch his entire speech.
The upper tier of the 100 most “military-friendly” employers this year includes three financial giants and three transportation behemoths, but as U.S. companies measurably boost veteran-hiring rates, they’re “not quite there yet,” said the publisher of the ranking, released Thursday.
“As more employers adopt similar policies, it’s getting more competitive to make this list,” said Sean Collins, vice president of Victory Media, which offers its annual index via militaryfriendly.com. “If you’re looking at the list in an isolated sense, that’s a great thing.”
The top-rated “military-friendly” corporation, reports G.I. Jobs, is San Antonio-based USAA, a financial-services outfit created in 1922 by Army officers as a mutual insurance company for other service members. USAA recently launched an initiative called “Combat to Claims,” training post-9/11 veterans to become claims adjustors.
“The reason the program is working so well is because military folks have such a sense of discipline and order,” said Joe Robles, the CEO of USAA and a retired Army major general.
Other highly ranked “military-friendly” employers include Deloitte (No. 3), General Electric (No. 9) and railroad operators CSX (No. 2) and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (No. 5).
Related: Employers step up efforts to recruit, hire veterans
“They are able to weave military into the fabric of their companies, as just a way of doing business,” said Collins, who served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy from 2001 to 2009, reaching the rank of lieutenant.
Meanwhile, just keeping a foothold in the elite G.I. Jobs list is equally challenging. Amazon.com – the No. 1 “military friendly” corporation on the 2011 list — comes in at No. 89 this year, despite hiring 600 veterans since January. T-Mobile, No. 10 in last year’s G.I. Jobs index — now sits at No. 71.
Now in its tenth year, the list is assembled through a survey of companies inside and outside the Fortune 1000, Collins said. To ensure consistent comparisons and to capture a broad snapshot of the American employment landscape, Victory Media only assesses businesses with annual revenues of at least $500 million. A weighted scoring system then stacks the top 100: “recruiting efforts” compose 35 percent of a company’s overall “military-friendly” grade, followed by factors such as “recruiting results” and “retention.”
G.I. Jobs — which publishes a similar annual breakdown of the best colleges for veterans — recently partnered with Orion International, the nation’s largest military-recruiting firm. Orion, which specializes in finding civilian careers for junior military officers, noncommissioned officers and enlisted technicians, is actively working to help several U.S. companies grab future spots in the coveted top 100.
“We’re trying to build new programs within a lot of companies that have not been in play with hiring a lot of veterans in the past,” said Mike Starich, president of Orion and a former Marine.
Those include Intel, a tech company that has hired more than 500 veterans this year, and electronics and engineering firm Siemens, which has hired more than 1,000 veterans since 2010.
Chocolate king Hershey’s is also “very new to this whole world,” Starich said.
"And it’s not just for altruistic reasons. They have issues that military veterans can definitely help with," he said, citing an aging work force. "This is a well-established company who has enjoyed strong retention within its ranks, who will soon be experiencing a talent crunch as many within their workforce begin to retire. They are seeking a new pipeline of talent."
When compared to out-of-work civilians, veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have had a tougher time finding jobs, posting a collective unemployment rate of 9.7 percent in September — about two points higher than the rest of the country, reports the federal government.
But increasingly, American companies are tuning in to the mass of young talent coming home from war, Collins said.
In 2003, when G.I. Jobs began publishing its top-100 list, the average percentage of new hires who were veterans was 5.8 percent, Collins said. This year, that number was 13.8 percent.
Asked to grade U.S. employers on their overall veteran-hiring practice, Collins said: “I look at it two ways. In regard to their awareness of the benefits of the military community, we’re probably at an A. We’re probably at an all-time high. As far as recruiting (those former service members into U.S. companies), we’re not quite there yet.”
Starich agreed with that grade yet cautioned that veteran-hiring rates can’t be viewed outside the overall sluggish economy.
“If companies can build programs that hire military similar to the way they have programs that hire out of colleges, that would be the way to go,” Starich said. “At this point, I would give them a C (for recruiting veterans into civilian jobs). The reason for that is simply because of their demand, though, and how much the economy feeds new orders and (the companies’) ability to expand. Clearly, they all have to run their own businesses and be profitable.
“The key to getting that grade from C to a B or moving to an A: We definitely need some economic expansion going on. That’s really critical for us,” Starich added. “But there is definitely a positive upswell in veteran interest among the companies.”
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Lulz... Murikkka is a funny place.
"Oh, you murdered brown people for corporate profit? You must be an individual of super-high integrity and a highly-qualified for a position at our organization. Oh, you massacred women and children? we have a c-level position for you."
Not all of our military members are guilty of such things, though I do digress. It's a god damn shame what our P.O.S. government and foreign policy has done to families not only in this country, but around the world.
The military industrial complex rolls on.
I know all Marines aren't true to the Corps beliefs - I also know that all civilians aren't pedifiles and thiefs.
But I do know who I would rather watch my back as I slept.
i'm glad to hear that the men & women who bravely fought for our freedom are getting some consideration for jobs. Former military people follow orders, are organized and disciplined. We owe our veterans a lot. This is a good step in the right direction
Not all veterans fought bravely for their country, many served stateside and just did the jobs they were trained for. I'm a veteran and during my working career I hired many veterans, some good and some I couldn't wait to get rid of before the probationary period was over. Being a veteran does not automatically make you a good employee.
While I admire these companies I'd like to know where they were before our conflicts when telecommunication workers were looking for jobs after being surplused out of their jobs starting in the year 2000.
More POLITICAL PUPPET John McCain trash! Anything to get MONEY MORE of the 99% American People's money! MONEY THEY DON'T HAVE! They have been broken by the corrupt Republican corporate MONARCHY! They are flat broke! Let the corrupt Republican corporate MONARCHY pay for "THEIR" military firms, they're the only ones that need them to protect their FOREIGN OIL INTERESTS! Let them pay for the veterans they hire!!!
Then cut off their F*^+ing military contracts until they do hire vets! The bloodsucking war profiteers!
If your producing American Products please make sure you list them on Made In America or other sites that will help us find you. Buy American this Xmas we depend on you.
Sorry not buying into the propaganda! I am a veteran, Associates and Bachelors Degrees. I currently have a 4.0 in Graduate School (I graduate this year with a Masters of Business Administration) And I can't even sniff a job interview! But maybe I need to downgrade my expectations and start looking for dish washing jobs! The kicker is I have the life skills to go with my postion, and I have a commercial drivers license (CDL) you would think I could land a truck driving job......Go figure!
Chris Morgan! Apply at USAA in San Antonio. They really do love the military, veterans and their families.
Congratsulations Chris, way to go.As a vet myself who paid my own way through college,while holding down a fulltime job and two parttime ones to support my family, I can appreciate what you have done. Stay strong, you will succeed. Because you know what it is like to face the long dark cold hours when others needed you to be there for them, and you learned how to reach deep down and give your best. When the times came for quick decisve actions and self control to get a job done right. Don't be afraid to share who you are.
It has been said, soldiers are angels and demons. Angels when people need them most, but demons when the critical times have passed. Folks don't want to be reminded of the debts they owe soldiers. Exactly how does one thank another for liberty and freedoms, so they can go about their daily lives in peace? Especially those who die?Much easier to discard someone and vilifie them and what they did. Folks can sleep so much better at night because they aren't like them people. Surely never hire one either, only decent people deserve to have respectable jobs.
Hearmenow- That is a great company, because not only do they hire veterans, but offer insurance at the lowest price you can find in the nation. Which is delivered with fantastic service! I have had several representatives mention people try to pretend to be vets just to get on their programs.Now that is ironic.
>Congratsulations Chris, way to go.As a vet myself who paid my own way through college,while holding down a fulltime job and two parttime ones to support my family, I can appreciate what you have done.
I second that! That was the route I took myself - so we're in the same boat... I am also a member of USAA!
>I have had several representatives mention people try to pretend to be vets just to get on their programs.Now that is ironic.
Which is why USAA verifies this with their gatekeeper - the venerable Form DD-214...:)
Glad to see these companies stepping up to the plate for our fellow veterans...
When I left the military I was fortunate enough to have transferrable skills; as a combat MP I could have gone into civilian law enforcement. However, when I returned from Panama I was recruited to enter into administration, and took on a dual MOS - so that when I did get hit with force reduction I was able to get a civilian job. I would highly recommend to any soldier faced with the possibility of force reduction to get as much training as possible through the military prior to re-entry into civilian life.
I would also encourage soldier/civilians to talk with representatives at their local unemployment office about "veteran preference" - many prospective employers indicate this in their job listings, though that information may not actually make it into a job posting. Those two words help get your resume moved to the front of the line! Many state, city and university jobs automatically give veterans preference.
To employers, I hope they understand soldiers returning to civilian life have certain qualities that do make them highly desirable; but at the same time, particularly for those fresh out of serving, the transition from structure to a more relaxed environment can be difficult, and can make an employee seem somewhat rigid. Give them time to assimilate. Also, bear in mind that while a soldier may not have the particular skill an employer is seeking, due to their training they are generally "quick studies" and can beat the learning curve - give them a chance.
Just because someone serves their country in the military is no guarantee they will be a good employee. I served almost 23 yrs in the Army and have seen bad military personnel also. I will defend however the idea that most military personnel are better disciplined and have a better work ethic-but it is not going to be wholly universal. Companies that give veterans a chance need to be commended in any event. So much for my rant.
Chris Morgan .... As a vet I certainly feel your pain, but it is balanced by a good career over 30 years enabled in good measure by the GI bill support for my graduate training.
In addition to these military friendly companies cited above, you might consider volunteering with Civil Air Patrol. I say this because in recent years I have witnessed a lot of productive networking among the members with regard to professional opportunities. We CAP folk are pretty good at it, and the volunteer work looks good on a resume too.
I was going to say something,but changed my mind. I will say this NBC,I am a Vet and tell DC to bring ALL the vets home now.
Thanks to all the comments and concerns about hiring veterans. Since its Veterans Day today, let's remember the risks they took whether they are hirable or not. There are 22 million veterans alive today with a suicide rate three times that of civilians and over 260,000 homeless vets. More meaningful statistics are made available here, from the Vietnam Veterans of America and Pick Up Please:
The unemployment of our Veterans should not be as high as it is. Veterans often have more than the necessary skills for a given job but they are passed over by employers. Military experience doesn't always translate. A new site is changing this issue. Rather than looking at the resume, the employer sees the ‘real person’. This is accomplished through an assessment for the candidate and short questionnaire for the employer, giving each the ‘best fit’ for the positions available.