One hiring option that could suit many employers would be to take advantage of programs matching up returning service members with jobs around the country.
For member companies that would like to be proactive in including transitioning service members and veterans in their recruitment and hiring initiatives, here are a few organizations that work with individual companies to match jobs with skills learned in military service:
- U. S. Department of Labor has developed a toolkit that serves to help pinpoint helpful tools and outline steps to take when designing a veterans hiring initiative that works for your particular business. Recognizing that each employer is unique, this guide is designed to help businesses find out how other employers have successfully recruited talented and skilled veterans into their companies.
- The 100,000 Jobs Mission was launched to facilitate hiring veterans and sharing best practices on recruiting, hiring, training, assimilating and retaining veterans. The organization says it would like to expand by collaborating with companies that might be interested in providing employment opportunities for transitioning military members and veterans.
- Warriors to Work program helps wounded warriors transition back into the civilian workforce by providing career counseling services and job-placement assistance. Through individual counseling, résumé assistance and career guidance, warriors' skills and experience are matched to hiring employers' needs. This free program allows warriors to post a résumé on a dedicated website, while employers receive a free login to post jobs and search for warrior résumé.
- Hiring Our Heroes is a nationwide initiative launched by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help veterans and military spouses find employment. Works with a network of 1,600 state and local chambers and other strategic partners from the public, private and non-profit sectors to host hiring fairs in 48 states, and has launched a campaign to enlist the commitments from the small-business community to hire veterans and military spouses.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs sponsors a website that provides the opportunity for veterans to post their résumés, and for employers to post job openings. The website links directly to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) national employment resources for employers.
- The 2011 VOW to Hire Heroes Act provides tax credits to businesses that hire one or more of the 900,000 unemployed veterans in the United States. Businesses that hire veterans unemployed between four weeks and six months can receive a credit up to $2,400. Businesses that hire veterans unemployed more than six months can receive a credit up to $5,600. Businesses that hire “Wounded Warriors” unemployed for more than six months can receive a credit up to $9,600.