OCTOBER 6, 2021 – In this article, we look to demystify some of the prevalent myths about hiring veterans. And how hiring them may be a golden opportunity.
Learn some critical aspects regarding veteran hiring today. We’ve listed famous myths and debunked them to help you be more effective in your work these days!
Veterans are the brave men and women who have served their country respectably. But some misconceptions are floating around today concerning these heroes, partly because of the news. And partly because of how we portray them in our movies.
The media have helped form certain biases, even if subconsciously, towards veterans seeking to get hired. Recruiters and HR personnel feel uncomfortable or are not convinced about an individual once a military record pops up in their resume.
Myth 1: All Veterans Have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
The media has made this myth popular by bringing attention to neglected veterans struggling with PTSD after military service. The intention is good, but this has led people to assume that most people in the army also suffer from this and will struggle with civilian jobs.
The probability of getting PTS in the military is about 13%. Only about 10-20% of those who served will see action on the battlefield. 20% of 20% of those serving is a fraction of the United States population. Currently, only about 1% of the US population is in active service today. Estimates show that 6% of civilians at a point in the year will experience PTS. This percentage means a staggering 22.4 million Americans have PTS in a given year.
Statistically, as a recruiter, you are more likely to be working with someone dealing with PTS without knowing it than hiring a veteran with PTS. To add to these, even if the veteran has PTS, it’s not a disorder but something some people will deal with at one point in their life. Moreover, the veteran won’t be seated there looking for a job if they didn’t think they were up to it. Most likely, the person is seeking treatment and has the go-ahead of their doctor to get a job.
Myth 2: It Will Be Hard For Them To Adjust To Civilian Work
Many veterans joined to serve while they were young and groomed on discipline, dignity, and honor. Values the military and the beliefs are instilled into them. The majority of veterans make excellent team leaders and are very goal-oriented. They excel in soft skills like communication ability, time management, teamwork, and leadership roles. Serving has led them to gain these vital skills over the years.
Soft skills are not the only thing they excel in, as most veterans were not on the front lines but were in sections like finance, administration, engineering, or tech—meaning there is a level of ‘hard’ skill competency available. It’s also possible for them to update their qualifications if necessary with online and professional courses.
The reality is you should consider hiring veterans, as they make good team players and are very goal-oriented on the job. These are two vital elements an aspiring employee needs to display.
Myth 3: They Are Not Creative People
The myth is that because veterans devoted a good portion of their lives to taking instructions, they aren’t creative people. This claim is far from the truth, as one hallmark of creativity is innovation, and there isn’t a career where it is more evident, like entrepreneurship. As of 2020, there were currently 2.5 million US businesses owned by veterans, which make up 9% of all businesses owned in America. That’s an impressive number that really needs to be analyzed—how does this happen?
These stats tell us a different story about vets.
A veteran can be an inborn business manager thanks to part in the discipline they learned while serving. The military helps to prepare these people for entrepreneurship roles through the risky decisions they make frequently. When promoted within the military, it comes with more responsibility.
One of the essential responsibilities is delegation of duties and seeing that subordinates carry them out. In the military, there are a lot of variables that can happen, especially on the field or in training. So they require some imagination to make life-saving decisions. The military doesn’t kill creativity but gives the tools to help groom creative thoughts.
In the office or civilian environment, employing a veteran can be the perfect blend of discipline and creative thinking you need for that role.
Myth 4: Veterans Look Down On Civilians
This myth may not be something people would admit, but sitting somewhere in most of our hearts is the feeling a veteran feels superior to a civilian. While this may be a subconscious bias, it will affect the behavior of people around them. This myth is more physiological than the others, but there is no need to fear.
Ex-military personnel knows how to respect hierarchical and team members because the military taught them well. They will be exceptions and rotten eggs, but most will cause no trouble in an organization. So don’t worry, ‘Jim’ will not punch you in the face when he’s angry. Chances are he needs the job badly, and that’s why he’s there.
Myth 5: Veterans Who Are On Reserve Or Part Of The National Guard Have Unpredictable Schedule
Some veterans registered to be part of the reserves and others for National Guard jobs on a part-time basis. The scheduled training is out months in advance and is usually one weekend per month and two weeks every year. This information is available to the public. So the employer can work around the schedule with the employee and plan. If there is an unscheduled call-up, then it means it is an emergency and called to serve their country, something to be proud of, by the way.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, these are some myths surrounding veterans, and while people base most of them on misinformation, a greater part is the lack of understanding or interaction with these people. The tales have caused barriers for some vets, but with the opportunities highlighted. Like, outstanding leadership skills and disciplined background. We hope it encouraged employers to be open about hiring vets in the future. Vets’ only option shouldn’t be limited to joining the police force, secret service, mercenaries, or private bodyguard companies like some think but should be able to live out a fulfilling life in other industries.