Hire Our Heroes Brochure - Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs

2/3 HIRE OUR HEROES Communication Barriers Why do veterans face higher unemployment Military jargon is one reason. The descriptions the military uses to describe responsibilities and skills don’t always match with private-sector responsibilities and skills. Automated human resource screening systems add to the problem. And many veterans may not know how to bridge the communication gap. “ There are a lot <strong>of</strong> similarities between military and civilian jobs. It’s critical hiring managers take time to ask about military Doug fick experience.” More ______________________________ than 16,000 <strong>Iowa</strong> veterans are ______________ unemployed Nearly One million Reserve and National Guard members serve in the U.S. military. In fact, more than 40 percent <strong>of</strong> U.S. troops are from Army Reserve and Guard Units. These are our hometown heroes—fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, neighbors and friends. They’ve put their lives at risk and their careers on hold. They’ve honored their commitments to serve our country. They’ve overcome tremendous challenges. But their challenges don’t always end when they come home. Too <strong>of</strong>ten, returning members <strong>of</strong> the military struggle to find a job. In fact, the unemployment rate among those who just returned from a deployment has been 2.5 times higher than the overall unemployment rate. And unemployment among young veterans is on the rise. More than 20 percent <strong>of</strong> veterans between the ages <strong>of</strong> 18 and 24 are unemployed. O*NET database can help The O*NET database can help you translate military occupational terms into civilian occupational terms. O*NET is the nation’s primary source <strong>of</strong> occupational information. The O*NET database contains information on hundreds <strong>of</strong> standardized and occupation-specific descriptors— including military occupations. 1. Ask the service member for his or her military occupational specialty (MOS). This is the allencompassing title for occupations in the military. 2. Visit www.onetonline.org/crosswalk. 3. Within the Military section, type in the MOS or the position title. The search will return related occupational categories. Each category contains detailed information on the knowledge, skills and responsibilities involved in the occupation. Look for additional recruiting expertise How can you increase your company’s understanding <strong>of</strong> military occupations and related skills Consider these tips: n n n Develop the expertise in house. Designate an existing recruiter to become your military resume screener, and give that person access to necessary training. Insource the expertise. Gather a volunteer group <strong>of</strong> veteran employees who can screen and search military resumes. <strong>Hire</strong> the expertise. <strong>Hire</strong> a recruiter with military recruitment experience. The Employer Support <strong>of</strong> the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and <strong>Iowa</strong> Workforce Development can also help your organization develop a military recruiting strategy. Learn more in the “Resources for Employers” section on page 10. Name: Doug Fick Years served: 21 Enlisted position: US Navy, Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class <strong>Iowa</strong> Air National Guard, Senior Master Sergeant Current Occupation: Vice President & Chief Information Officer US Insurance Solutions Principal Financial Group