How Returning Veterans Can Add Value for Tech Employers

Technology employers may want to consider returning veterans as candidates to fill their needs.

 

With the Iraq War over and the Afghanistan conflict winding down, military veterans face the transition back into civilian life. The industry posed to benefit most from the veterans’ skill set is the tech sector.

 

Many tech bloggers and industry professionals think veterans are actually the perfect hire in technology fields because they have strong technologic backgrounds in some of the industry’s hottest needs, including:

• Network set up, monitoring, troubleshooting and security
• Geospatial technology and geographic information systems (GIS)
• Esri software applications and engineering
• Multiple technology skills that when coupled with business and management fundamentals prepares them for supervisory and managerial positions

“Veterans have received some of the best training in the world and most likely have used the latest technology and equipment currently in use,” says retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Paul Capicik, vice president, military programs and a 26-year veteran and former corporate CIO.

 

Veterans offer potential employers not only valuable military critical skills, but business-friendly skills that military members gain while serving their country and follow them into today’s very competitive business environment.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Capicik points out, that business-friendly skills learned through training and experience in the military, but often not taught in the civilian education system include: showing up on time, being a team player, critically focusing on the task at hand, being objective and goal oriented, having a keen consciousness for security and safety and demonstrating leadership and decision-making capabilities.

 

“IT departments are finding that recruiting an employee who can show up on time, demonstrate leadership or be a team player and, most of all, be highly motivated, is pretty tough. From the stories I hear, the labor pool is full of slackers,” says Wayne Rash on eWeek.com.

 

Many active military members start voluntary education in military-friendly programs at online schools like American Sentinel University to gain the additional skills needed in the civilian world. Even after the transition, most have veteran GI Bill benefits to finish what they started on active duty, or broaden their credentials to enhance their value to a civilian employer.

 

“Veterans know that employment competition, especially now, is fierce. And the person with the most education, experience and certification will likely get the job,” says Lieutenant Colonel Capicik.

 

Whatever the job, one thing is for sure: recruiters and employers are looking for employees with strong technological backgrounds. Some of the biggest technology companies such as Microsoft, Google, AT&T and LinkedIn have stepped up to add veterans to their workforce.

 

As an added incentive, employers may earn a tax credit for hiring a veteran. “With the current Congressional and White House support for hiring a vet, there has never been a better time for current military and veterans to enhance their hiring potential through an advanced online degree,” says Lieutenant Colonel Capicik.