“Military veterans have been through life experiences most people will never face. These experiences, coupled with their ability to commit to a cause and give of themselves are things everyone wants in an employee; someone who knows how to genuinely contribute to an organization,” says John Wilson (pictured), CEO of WilsonHCG, speaking to the diversity and strength military veterans bring to the workplace.

Despite these qualities, however, the unemployment rate among this group hovers around 12.7 percent (for veterans who served in the military since 2001).

“Military veterans have skills and personality attributes that make great employees, given the right guidance and growth opportunity within an organization,” says Bridget Webb, Senior Director of Marketing and Recruitment Technology at WilsonHCG.

Guidance and growth are exactly the opportunities Wilson and Webb hope to foster through the company’s upcoming Operation Transition initiative. Slated for November 2012, it will focus on helping military veterans find jobs and make the transition back into the civilian workforce.

Preparing for Operation Day

“We’re dedicating the whole month to Operation Transition,” explains Webb. Throughout November, every one of WilsonHCG’s recruiters, sourcers and account managers will set aside up to two hours each week to speak with veterans to answer questions, provide job search assistance and offer other career-related advice.

One week prior to Veteran’s Day, “employment hubs” will be set up all across the nation. The agenda for this day-long event will include presentations led by career professionals on topics such as resume writing, interview advice, networking tips and how to avoid common mistakes, followed by audience Q&A sessions. Afterward, participants will join break-out sessions to get one-on-one career guidance from recruitment experts. WilsonHCG will also be providing access to career counselors. To assist those who can’t attend in person, a panel of recruiters will be available for telephone support.

Helping Veterans, Employers Alike

Military veterans aren’t the only ones who stand to gain from this event: Operation Transition is also focused on employers. “We have clients ready to hire if we find people who are the right fit,” says Webb. “While we will be educating our clients about the tax benefits of hiring veterans, we also want to showcase the qualified talent and how they can help these resources make the transition.”  She says one of the first things employers can do to welcome military veterans into their organization is to create a mentoring program. “Find a champion within your organization – an employee who happens to be a vet – and who can act as a mentor and help with internal guidance during the onboarding stage,” Webb says.

WilsonHCG is among a growing number of companies utilizing its resources to contribute to a cause that goes beyond its typical business goals in efforts to reach a greater good. Operation Transition is an initiative about which Webb says she feels “personally passionate” and to which CEO John Wilson also has close ties. He remembers feeling inspired years ago when he was asked to speak at MacDill Air Force base in Tampa, Fla. “I would attend and speak at TAPS Seminars, during which people would come from the outside and talk to veterans about what it’s like in the ‘real world’ – what it’s like to interview – and helped them with their resumes.  It was and is an extremely productive use of time for all involved.”

Today, Wilson considers himself fortunate to be able to sponsor an initiative like Operation Transition, and he hopes it will make an impact not just on the individuals who attend and the businesses who hire from it, but on the overall community. “We’re lucky enough to be in a position where we can actually effect change.  We can increase the amount of veterans who work for our clients,” says Wilson.

Advice for Veteran Recruitment: “Be Patient”

As for the advice he has for other employers who want to better their workplace by hiring more military veterans, Wilson says the one thing every recruiter needs to remember when interviewing for any position is to keep judgment at bay.  “If you’re sourcing for new positions and speaking with a veteran coming back from the Armed Forces, [remember that] it’s their first interview, and they’re nervous. Three weeks ago, they were fighting in a war, and now they’re having this professional interview,” Wilson says. “Be patient with people, don’t be too quick to judge, and you’ll hire the best talent for your organization.”