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Military and Veteran Hiring: Strategies for Success from Corporate Gray
Posted by Lori Vrcan on July 13th, 2017 
In previous articles, we gleaned strategies from USAA and United Rentals, who have highly successful and award-winning programs. This follow-up blog features Carl Savino, President of Corporate Gray, an organization that helps connect transitioning military to employers.
“I think companies are well served to take a hard look at the men and women who are separating from the military and seeking civilian employment. Their skills and experience can benefit a wide range of companies well beyond the defense sector,” says Carl Savino, President of Corporate Gray. “Military success is built on confidence, humility, integrity and a willingness to do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission.”
In 1994, Savino founded Corporate Gray to help transitioning service members make a successful transition to the civilian work-world. His organization helps connect transitioning service members with employers in three primary ways: the Corporate Gray Job Fairs, Corporate Gray Online, and Corporate Gray book, now titled The Military-to-Civilian Transition Guide. Over the last 20 years, over four million copies of the book were given to separating and retiring active duty service members across the country and even overseas.
The First Step
According to Savino, the first step for employers interested in recruiting military personnel to fill their open positions is to identify the skills and experience that would best fit those openings. A military skills translation tool can be created to let veterans see where their experience can add value to your organization and encourate them to apply for the right jobs.
The Right Welcome
“Almost half of the individuals making the transition from the military to the civilian workplace will leave their first job in the first year,” says Savino. “Employers need to carefully assess the candidate’s interests and motivation, prepare a career path and make him or her feel welcome by assigning a fellow veteran mentor. Conversely, the military-experienced job seeker must do his/her due diligence to ensure the position is a good fit from their perspective. ”
Leveraging Skills and Experience
“The natural tendency for exiting military personnel is to look first at those civilian careers most closely aligned with the skills they honed while serving in the military. However, most military veterans soon learn that they can go in any number directions and are better served when they keep their options open,” says Savino.
A Good Fit for Many Industries
The number and range of companies that can benefit from hiring our nation’s veterans is wide and varied. The skills and experience they embody can be applied in many different industries. “For instance, financial services companies find that transitioning military are a good fit because they project a professional image, communicate well and can easily sell the company’s products or services,” says Savino.
Top Tips for Employers
Savino’s top tips for companies interested in recruiting military/veterans involve taking a multi-pronged approach.
- Meet these veterans face-to-face
- Use the many public and private online resources for connecting with them
- Leverage military veteran employee referrals
- Use the many social media channels
Hot Spots for Military Recruiting
“While we concentrate our efforts in the Washington, DC area, there are a plethora of strong job markets where military personnel concentrate. Some of these areas include San Antonio (TX), Huntsville (AL), Tampa (FL), Fayetteville (NC), San Diego (CA), and Killeen (TX).
The Right Thing to Do
“Hiring military veterans is not only smart business, it’s also the right thing to do. My team and I are privileged to help those who have served our country in uniform find meaningful work upon their return to the civilian workforce.”
Learn more about Corporate Gray.
For more information about military hiring strategies, contact NAS.
Lori Vrcan
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