Updated: November 2019

Veterans make great employees. This should be no surprise considering the selfless acts of service they’ve already performed. Imagine this kind of dedication in the workplace. In this post we’ll share 32 reasons why these real-life heroes make great hires, what hiring managers can do about it, and how veterans can use this as an advantage. 

Veterans are the real-world heroes among us

When it comes to veterans, I have the utmost respect. Veterans are amongst the closest you’ll come to encountering real-life Marvel action heroes. They are the first in line to go where many of us would rather not. And in many cases they demonstrate incredible courage in doing so. On top of it, veterans are completely selfless in their service – willing to put their lives on the line for complete strangers like you and me. You couldn’t pay me to do what they do! And for all of this, I believe it’s worth taking a moment to offer our gratitude.

Why I hate to see veterans facing job search challenges

Being in the career management industry, I am exposed to veterans post-service. The transition from active duty to civilian life can be challenging. This is only compounded when you add the task of finding a new job to the mix. The job search isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Therefore the thought of the search, on top of a major life transition, can be daunting. My heart always sinks at the thought of these heroic men and women, facing the same challenges as the average job seeker. After all, it’s their commitment to you and I that affords us the freedom we tend to take for granted each day. So what can we do to help those who served?

What employers can do to honor those who served

Sure we take time to honor our vets every year on Veteran’s Day, but let’s commit to doing more. I encourage hiring managers and recruiters to take note of the awesome employees that await you in our veterans. You’re potentially missing out on if you don’t consider a veteran for your team. The next time a veteran’s resume crosses your desk, don’t be too hasty to move on to the next candidate. What lies before you may just be the loyal and hardworking employee you’ve been awaiting. When you see the skills vets bring to the table, it makes hiring a veteran a no-brainer.

Here are 32 skills and traits you can benefit from when you hire a veteran

1. Data Analysis

2. Technical Skills

3. Report Writing

4. Supervision of Others

5. Teamwork

6. Decision-Making

7. Deadline Oriented

8. Organized

9. Project Implementation

10. Leadership

11. Strong Work Ethic

12. Respect

13. Collaboration

14. Dedication

15. Perseverance

16. Planning & Structure

17. Problem-Solving

18. Communication

19. Ability to Perform in High-Pressure Environments or Adversity

20. Discipline

21. Positive Can-Do Attitude

22. Initiative

23. Self Confidence

24. Accountability

25. Efficient Performance

26. Will-Power

27. Crisis Management

28. Team-building

29. Respect For Procedures

30. Accelerated Learning Curve

31. Integrity

32. Team Loyalty

What veterans can do about

It takes a special person to add “veteran” to their resume. If you’re a veteran, just know that you bring more to the table than you might realize. Use this list as a starting point to develop your professional brand. These 32 skills and traits also make great resume keywords. You’ll want to use these in your opening resume Summary and Skills section. Don’t forget to add these to your Linkedin profile as well. As potential employers search for talent on Linkedin, these awesome qualities will jump out at them. It’s the same for your resume 6-second scan. Your military experience is an automatic brand in and of itself. Now you just need to connect your military service to the real world corporate environment. It may sound intimidating, but it’s very achievable. Marketing these skills is a bit head start.

One last plug for veterans and hiring managers

To all the veterans out there: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. To all the hiring managers out there who haven’t considered hiring veterans: You’re missing out!

If you’re hoping to improve your veteran job search and land a job in record time, check out the Job Search Accelerator. In this budget-friendly job landing community you’ll have access to all of Noelle’s expert resources including a FREE resume review, optimized resume and cover letter templates, networking scripts and templates, LinkedIn optimization courses, interview answer scripts and more – everything you need to feel confident, navigate the job search successfully, and put your best foot forward as an applicant.