Veterans’ Guide to Getting Hired Resources, Tips and Advice for Veterans Returning to the Workforce

Treatment for Vets Living with PTSD

PTSD is not new; it was commonly known as “shell shock” during and after World War II. However, the treatments available today are far better than they were in the past and can help those suffering with PTSD live a rewarding life.

The first step, and in some cases the hardest one, is getting individuals to recognize they need help. There is a common myth among service members that asking for help is a sign of weakness. Many unsuccessfully try to overcome PTSD on their own before finally seeking professional help.

Counseling and medication are two common treatments that work. Many veterans with mild PTSD see success by just talking with other veterans having similar experiences. Others seek counseling at their place of worship or from a doctor experienced in treating PTSD. More severe cases usually require the help of a mental health professional, such as a therapist or a VA medical center or vet center specialist. In some cases, prescribed medications can help relieve anxiety or depression.

What Veterans Bring to the Table

The U.S. armed forces do a great job training civilians how to be warriors. However, less stress is placed on training warriors to return to civilian life. While each branch has a transition program, according to a Prudential survey, 64 percent of veterans feel their transition from military to civilian was “difficult” and 60 percent feel translating their military skills to a civilian resume is their greatest challenge to finding a job. Transitioning is not the only challenge. In the same survey, 65 percent said they experience mental health or physical challenges that limit their ability to find a job.

Even with these challenges, nine in 10 veteran job seekers feel they definitely have the skills to land their ideal job. This is because veterans leave the military with individual skills that businesses value. Ten of the more important ones are:

1. Experience

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   Veterans bring to the workforce skills and experiences that are time-tested under real-world (and in many cases hostile) situations.
2. Leadership

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   Military members are taught to lead by example using several different leadership styles, such as direction, delegation, motivation and inspiration. They understand how to motivate people and how to get them to do their best.
3. Teamwork

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   Mission accomplishment requires a blend of individual and group productivity. Veterans understand the synergy a team can generate when members work together instead of individually.
4. Diversity

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   The military is a melting pot of people. Veterans have worked with individuals from various races, genders, geographic origins, ethnic backgrounds, religions and economic statuses. They have both the training and experience to bring a group of diverse people together and get them to work harmoniously with one another.
5. The employee's field is in decline

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   Below-average salary expectations and low projected job growth may indicate that a career field is in decline. Employees considering a career change may be able to find similar fields with a stronger outlook. For instance, jobs for computer programmers are expected to decrease by 7% through 2026. However, computer and technology occupations as a whole are projected for above-average growth during the same period. Pursuing a master's degree in a programming-related field that offers a more promising future -- such as software development or database administration -- can allow employees to remain in the same field without worrying about their salary or future employment opportunities.
6. Performance under pressure

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   Military members are used to accomplishing work using limited resources and changing schedules. When faced with multiple projects and shifting deadlines, veterans know how to prioritize so the most important project gets done first, on-time and within budget. And if the priorities change, they can adjust as needed.
7. Accountability

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   Military members learn the value of personnel and equipment. They understand the concept of being held accountable not only for their actions but also for those of their subordinates. They are also able to keep track of property or equipment assigned to them.
8. Health and safety awareness

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   Veterans know about health and safety standards both for themselves and their subordinates. For a business, this translates to protection of its most important assets — people, property and materials.
9. Policy and procedures

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   The military has standard operating procedures in place for nearly everything, so veterans are used to following detailed sets of written or oral orders. They know that not following procedures can result in failing to meet their objectives.
10. Integrity

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    Many veterans were required to hold security clearances or were entrusted with information of vital importance to the nation when they were serving. As a result, employers can entrust veterans with company trade secrets if access to that information is necessary to do their job.
11. Global awareness

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    During the course of an enlistment or career, veterans have been many places, so they have a larger perspective of the world than most non-military employees do. With many companies operating globally, employees with experience abroad are a real asset.

When applying for a job, veterans should think about how to incorporate these 10 skills into each resume or interview because they give them a competitive edge when vying for a job. All they have to do is capitalize on their skill set and use it to their advantage.

Veterans' Preference

Under the Veterans' Employment Opportunities Act, certain veterans get preferential hiring treatment in the form of additional points when applying for federal government jobs. (This only applies to initial hires — the advantage does not apply to internal staffing actions, such as promotions, transfers, reassignments or reinstatements.) To qualify, veterans under the rank of O-4 (major or equivalent) must have been discharged with an honorable or general discharge.

Eligible veterans without a compensatory service-connected disability qualify for five points if they served during certain periods of active duty or during certain military campaigns. Qualifying periods of service include serving at least 180 days of service (excluding training time) during the Vietnam era, Gulf War or Operation Iraqi Freedom. Campaigns or expeditions with campaign badges authorized between the dates of April 28, 1952, and July 1, 1955, are also five-point qualifying periods of service. Veterans with service-connected disabilities who receive compensation or who have been awarded a Purple Heart qualify for 10 points regardless of their period of service.

For either point category, proof of eligibility must be established by providing a copy of a DD-214 that shows qualifying discharge and dates of service during at least one authorized period. If claiming 10-point eligibility, a copy of SF-15 Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference must also accompany the DD-214. Usually, a federal job opening that uses veterans' preference will state so in the job vacancy posting.

Veterans who are unsure if they qualify for veterans' preference can find out by using the Department of Labor's Veterans' Preference Advisor, an online tool that does not require registration (so all answers are anonymous).

The Business Benefits of Hiring a Vet

Hiring veterans is good business. Companies spend thousands of dollars training civilian employees how to lead people. Veterans not only already have that training, but also have the experience of actually leading people on the job, often in a combat zone. Having that kind of training and experience brings other benefits, such as the following:

• Poise under pressure

  Veterans are used to making split-second, life-and-death decisions under pressure. Tell them what has to be done, when it has to be done and let them do it. It will be done right, on time and within budget.

• Discipline

  One of the traits of military service is the ability to be very disciplined. If you need someone that will go to work each day, in the right dress and on time, hire a veteran. They realize the overall success of the company depends on them showing up on time and ready to put in an honest day's work.

• Honesty

  Veterans often know if something is wrong or just doesn't look right, and they will let the boss know their concern. They'll usually provide a possible solution to the problem or issue because they are trained to think on their feet and solve problems.

• Professionalism

  Veterans are used to maintaining dress, grooming and physical fitness standards. Regardless of the company dress code, veterans will have no problem conforming to it. They will represent your company well.

• Can-Do attitude

  Military members are taught that failure is not an option, so it is part of veterans' work ethic to “complete the mission” in spite of obstacles.

• Integrity

  Veterans have strong moral compasses. They will choose right over wrong, even if right is the tougher path to follow. It is a self-chosen choice they were taught while in the military.

Aside from the above skills, there are other compelling reasons why employers should – and do – hire veterans:

Tax Breaks

One of the reasons why many businesses hire veterans is because of the financial benefits they receive under the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). The WOTC is part of the Vow to Hire Heroes Extension Act of 2012 that gives federal tax credits to private sector businesses and some nonprofit organizations that hire veterans. By hiring out-of-work veterans or those with service-connected disabilities that meet the qualifying criteria, an organization can receive up to $9,600 in tax credits per individual. The tax credit only applies to the hire of new employees and does not apply to qualifying individuals already working for a company.

Disabled Access Credit

Small businesses that incur expenses due to access changes that must be made for employees with disabilities can claim those expenses each year that expenses are incurred using Form 8826 – Disabled Access Credit to receive the credit. For the purpose of this credit, a small business is defined as one that earns $1 million or less during the year for which the credit is claimed or that has no more than 30 full-time employees.

Barrier Removal Tax Deduction

If a business has to make architectural changes to improve the mobility of employees with disabilities, the business may claim a deduction up to $15,000 per year for each year expenses were incurred instead of capitalizing the expenses. The Disabled Access Credit and Barrier Removal Tax Deduction may both be used in the same tax year(s), if expenses meet the requirements of each credit claimed.

Special Skills

By serving in the armed forces, veterans learn several skills that are not only critical to running a military entity, but also applicable to businesses. So if the military develops these skills in their people, employers should be also looking for these same skills in their new hires. These skills, known as “soft” skills, are not limited to an industry or two — they transfer across the whole gamut of industries:

• Leadership

  Most veterans have been in one leadership position or another over the course of a career, so they know how to give orders, take orders and lead by example. Corporations spend a portion of their annual budget teaching their employees in leadership positions how to do these same things. Think about the time and money saved if a company would hire people who already have leadership skills.

• Organization

  Military members and, consequently, veterans quickly learn how to organize and account for resources under their responsibility. This is a needed skill in businesses too for employees assigned to a leadership, management or team leader position.

• Communication

  Even though technology may have changed the way we converse, knowing how to communicate is vital to any company. Whether by presentation, report, email, messaging, video-teleconferencing or a myriad of other communication methods, it is important for a leader or manager to effectively communicate both vertically and laterally within a company's organizational structure. Veterans know this skill well because failing to effectively communicate when serving in the military can result in people getting killed.

• Team Building

  Part of the training received in the military is how to assemble a group of people from diverse backgrounds and get them to work together. The military teaches team building and leadership techniques that result in cohesive units.

Resources for Employers Hiring Vets

Vocational Rehabilitation Programs for Veterans

Vocational rehabilitation programs for veterans are designed to get veterans with disabilities into jobs commensurate with their abilities. One of the most well-known is the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (or VR&E) program, a one-on-one counseling program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs designed to help veterans disabled during service do the following:

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the VR&E program, veterans must:

Have received (or be about to receive) a discharge other than dishonorable Have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10 percent or a memorandum rating of at least 20 percent from the VA Be currently eligible for a GI Bill or other education benefits.

Services can be provided up to 12 years from the date of discharge or date of notification of a service-connected disability rating from the VA. For veterans with serious employment handicaps, the eligibility period may be extended.

How to Apply

Applying for vocational rehabilitation benefits online is easy:

1. Go to the eBenefits website

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2. Click on “Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment”
3. Under Education and Training, click on “Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Benefits”
4. Click on “I Am a New VONAPP User"
5. Follow prompts to create a new account
6. From the drop-down forms menu, select “Vocational Rehabilitation (Form 28-1900)”
7. Follow prompts to fill out the form and submit
8. If waiting on a service-connected disability rating, also fill out VA Form 28-0588 – Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits Application

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Eligible service members and veterans may also apply for education vocational counseling using this three-step process:

1. Locate VA Form 28-8832-ARE – Educational Vocational Counseling Application
2. Either fill out and submit electronically, or print the form and send it to the VA Regional Office responsible for your location
3. Once eligibility is determined, your VA Regional Office will schedule an orientation At the orientation, the veteran and assigned vocational rehabilitation coordinator (VRC) will develop a plan for rehabilitation and employment, and determine a track of success that will either lead to employment or living independently. A plan might include:

Determining abilities, skills, aptitudes and interests

Looking at possible employment options

Analyzing the labor market in a particular career area or geographic region

Researching job characteristics and physical demands of positions

Establishing an employment or independent living goal (with intermediate milestones)

Determining training or education requirements

Selecting a Vet Success program from the five available tracks:

For veterans found ineligible for the program, a VRC can still recommend other sources available to assist with rehabilitation and employment, including local, state or federal agencies that have employment programs for people with disabilities.

Educational Counseling

Besides career counseling, VR&E also has benefit coaching that helps veterans with disabilities make the best use of their GI Bill entitlements or other education benefits to pursue employment opportunities. Part of that benefit coaching includes personalized academic support.

PAVE

Another vocational rehabilitation program is Operation PAVE. Short for Paving Access for Veterans Employment, this program of the Paralyzed Veterans of America provides many of the same services as the VR&E program but to a much smaller audience — veterans with spinal cord injuries and their family members and caregivers.

Right now, PAVE has offices located in seven cities:

Each PAVE office is located within a Department of Veterans Affairs facility either in a Vocational Rehabilitation Office or in a VA hospital. They can be contacted by phone at (866) 734-0857 or by email at [email protected].