Could Ex-Forces Talent be the Talent Your Business Needs?
Despite holding certain types of knowledge that many companies in the UK covet, ex-military personnel are often overlooked for new roles. Employers are sometimes afraid that mental health conditions resulting from their experiences will impact work performance.
However, ex-personnel members could be the answer to the growing skills gap we are seeing in multiple industries right now.
Could veterans be the talent your business needs? Here are some benefits of hiring them and how they can thrive, given the right support.
Ex-military personnel struggle to find jobs
In a survey run by armed forces charity SSAFA, a survey of 250 recruiters and 2,197 workers across the UK found that 31 per cent of recruiters were reluctant to hire ex-members of the military because of their fears that they are more likely to have mental health issues that might affect them at work.
Forty-eight per cent of workers affirmed that they would be comfortable working alongside someone who had previously been in the military. However, there were others who were afraid that ex-military colleagues might be “aggressive” or “short-tempered”.
James Grant, head of corporate fundraising and events at SSAFA commented on the findings:
“We see that there’s a false perception over armed forces personnel suffering from mental health conditions, yet it is a common condition that affects many people, service men and women or not. A career in service to our country should always be met with pride and gratitude.”
When an ex-military member is job searching and feels that they have been affected by negligence in their military job, they can benefit from speaking to an experienced military solicitor.
The benefits of hiring ex-military personnel
Thankfully, a recent YouGov poll shows that more and more employers recognise the strengths es-military personnel can present. Employers in this study said they valued their particularly strong work ethic.
Other transferrable skills a member of the military can bring into a civilian job include:
- The ability to adapt during adverse conditions
- Excellent technical skills
- Well-developed Leadership skills
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Superior organisation skills
- An ability to communicate with people from diverse cultural backgrounds
- Advanced technical knowledge
All these traits mean that someone with military experience can be a great asset to a new role and company.
The technical skills that the military drills into its personnel mean that they often make great candidates for jobs in cyber-security, IT, and oil & gas.
Sometimes these job hunters find they fit in well with construction roles too, as this industry facilitates an active lifestyle. and hands-on experience. It requires them to exercise their superior communication skills with fellow employees.
There are lots of rewarding and fulfilling jobs that still allow ex-military members to have an active lifestyle and exercise their complex problem-solving skills.
How can employers support ex-military personnel?
As with any other employee, an ex-military member can settle into a new job much more quickly if they have the full support of their employer. Workplaces can provide access to independent mental health support so that all employees (including veterans) can access them when they need to.
Employers can also offer their ex-military employees unique coaching opportunities to help them settle into the role and adapt their transferable skills in the optimum way required by their new environment.
Thirdly, it’s ideal to foster a healthy support network so a new ex-military staff member can settle in. A buddying programme is one way to provide this from the outset.
With the right level of support, anyone can settle into a new job and lifestyle seamlessly. Somebody from a military background can bring a unique level of dedication, a strong work ethic and a concise communication style to their new job. This should be celebrated.
