Soldiers Are Welcome Employees in Today's Workforce

We have all seen the images. Solders in formation heading off to war, heads bowed in reverence where a pair of dusty boots and a hat are all that is left of a friend, and the tearful embraces after a job well done. What is the image we have of the soldier, sailor, airman or marine after the hat is on the peg and the discharge papers are signed? Is it the Vietnam vet with a tear rolling down his cheek at The Wall? Perhaps it is the World War II veteran standing, salute frozen, as the American flag passes.

The image that is not typically on the forefront of our minds is the young, 25 year old male who has a family to support. These brave individuals have traversed the globe while their college graduate counterparts have been preparing themselves for the work place under the shelter of ivy covered walls. While their resumes may look like alphabet soup to a civilian and may lack a formal degree, these young men and women present a welcome addition to the corporate environment.

The business world is flooded each spring with hopefuls from State and overachievers from University. Competition is a reality when the job market is in flux. Employers have a buffet of educated and qualified applicants banging down their door step. With so much promise there, it may appear trivial for an employer to look to a veteran. What many employers fail to understand is the breadth and maturity that a veteran would bring to the table.

Veterans understand pressure. Their lives have been ruled by pressures that most of us on American soil could never comprehend. Deadlines and percentage points will not weigh down a seasoned soldier. Their counterpoints have not experienced stress other then papers and finals where the soldier has dealt with life and death situations and has come out on top. Level headedness is a value in today's fast paced corporate environment, and a veteran will come out on top.

The most reported complaint about today's recent college graduate is that they struggle when it comes to respecting authority and taking direction. Chain of command is ingrained in your average GI Joe. Superiors are respected. Orders are taken and fulfilled. The life of a soldier depends upon this, and he or she takes those qualities from the battlefield into the board room.

The average recent college graduate will switch jobs between 8 to 14 times in his or her career. Loyalty is cheap, and monster.com graces more cubicle desktops then the company home page. The typical veteran will stay with a job for the life of their post-military career. The statistics for career flip-flopping favor the vet, and this can be very cost effective for a corporation as training costs are at an all time high.

Employers have the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised with the quality of potential employees in our currently military. We will be soon facing a time where their will be a substantial population of veterans seeking excellent openings in the work force. It would be a wise choice on the part of an employer to interview and hire these quality candidates.