Perhaps you are experienced recruiters of ex-military talent - or you may be unsure about how this unique community will fit in your workplace. If the latter, we are here to help.
Military service promotes leadership, organisational skills, resilience and many other unique qualities which are a great asset to any industry. Military spouses too, are highly adaptable and resilient. A diverse community, often overlooked, but a growing number of employers are targeting the Armed Forces Community to fill their skills gap as they represent a ready-made source of top talent.
5 Reasons To Hire Military Veterans
1. Veterans Fill Skills Gaps
Veterans are well-placed to meet critical gaps in growing fields such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, as well as cross-functional skills, which include strategic management, managing or motivating staff, team-working and positive attitude. How can you possibly overlook these attributes?
2. Strong Technical Skills And Unique Qualities
Good Technical Training
With so many different trades in the Armed Forces, many veterans are trained and experienced in a range of technical roles,including engineering, project management, HR, policing, transport, logistics, cyber, IT and communications – all transferable to the civilian workplace.
Cross-functional Soft Skills
Organisations that employ veterans report that they exhibit much needed cross-functional skills, notably team-working, motivating others, powers of communication, problem-solving, organisational skills and strategic thinking.
Leadership
It’s well known that veterans have excellent leadership skills, with increasing responsibilities placed on them as they progress through the ranks.
3. Valuable Attitudes And Adaptability
Valuable Attitudes
Veterans bring valuable attitudes and behaviours to the commercial workforce, such as loyalty, mission focus, willingness to accept responsibility, strong work ethic, resilience and a positive ‘can-do’ attitude. This is becoming an increasing rarity amongst the regular workforce.
Used to pressurised environments
They are accustomed to working in highly pressurised environments and know how to act decisively and calmly. They are also known for their adaptability, a skill gained from experience of working across geographies and diverse environments.
Constantly Learning
Military personnel are constantly learning and training throughout their career, employers report that these same individuals remain very trainable and capable of learning new skills in the private sector.
4. Highly Effective Employees
Highly Engaged, More Loyal, Better Retention Rates
Many employers report increased loyalty and engagement amongst their ex-military employees. In a survey of 50 employers carried out by Deloitte, 76% of employers said that veterans tend to have lower rates of sickness absence when compared to their non-veteran workforce and are likely to be promoted more quickly. 40% also said veterans stay for longer. Don’t doubt their resilience!
5. Good For Business And Society
Recruiting veterans and members of the Armed Forces Community reflects the social responsibility and value of an employer and builds goodwill with the military community, customers and employees.
Transferable Skills in Action
It’s all well and good looking at statistics but sometimes you need the proof! That is why we delved into 2025’s predicted ‘in-demand’ skills and chatted to Harry, our Pathways Programme Manager and former Royal Signals officer, who shares how he used these skills during his Service, to give you a great insight into the unique transferable skills of veterans.
Analytical thinking and innovation
Bringing together information from a range of sources to understand the intent and predicted actions of others. Formulating new plans to remain one step ahead.
Active learning and learning strategies
Continuously striving for personal and professional development through formal learning courses and cadres, and less rigid instruction such as Adventure Training. Learning and developing skills drives a lot of military personnel, with a high volume of information required to be professionally effective. The Armed Forces offer a wide range of training and qualifications and developmental courses to enable career progression with technical and practical proficiency.
Complex problem solving
Drawing on your own professional understanding, and that of your wider team, to develop answers to difficult and interconnected problems. The orders and the combat estimate processes work together to provide a comprehensive framework to make decisions in a collaborative way, sharing expertise and understanding. All personnel are exposed to these at some level, even if they are only asking questions. Everyone has a part to play in solving the problems at hand.
Critical thinking and analysis
Understanding situations from multiple perspectives: your own, your team’s, the adversary’s, bystanders and those affected by default. The After-Action Review and Lessons Learned processes allow open and humble appraisal of your performance, as a team and as individuals. Constructive criticism and a genuine desire for continuous improvement are central to military ethos.
Creativity, originality and initiative
Developing new processes or procedures to improve efficiency. Being trusted to act independently and try new approaches to fix problems as they arise. I sped up a Unit’s recruitment and training process by 25% by changing the order in which modules were delivered. After convincing more senior figures that this could improve operational effectiveness, we trialled the system and it quickly became the new standard.
Leadership and social influence
Being seen to do what is right. Demonstration of excellence through personal example, at all ranks. Professional effectiveness and application of policies, protocols, and processes. Development of relationships across establishments, drawing on a network of contacts and colleagues.
Technology use, monitoring and control
Integrating technology into existing operating procedures. From using 3D printing to bring new parts to the battlefield without costly logistics chains, to the extensive use of drone systems now seen at all levels.
Resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility
Mental and physical robustness, developed through training, on exercises, and operations. Working long hours under difficult conditions to continually achieve successful outcomes. Working as part of – and with the support of – a team to maximise individual strengths and reduce overall weakness.
Reasoning, problem solving and ideation
The ability to visualise an outcome is key to formulating a plan: what do we want to achieve, by when, how, and with what resources are available? Seeing the way beyond the task’s end is critical. “Think to the finish” is a popular mantra.
Have we piqued your interest in hiring from the Armed Forces talent-pool? Great! Find out more here how we can help. Get in touch today.
IMAGE: UK MOD © Crown copyright 2022