As a veteran, finding a job after leaving the military isn’t always an easy task. Many companies don’t understand the skills learned during active duty or how they translate to civilian life.
But there are a few companies that have learned to embrace veterans and their varied skills. Here are six of the best companies where veterans are likely to find a job.
- The Walt Disney Company: Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger vowed in 2012 to hire 1,000 veterans over the next three years. The company more than exceeded that goal, offering jobs to more than 5,000 veterans by 2015. It was part of the company’s new “Heroes Work Here” initiative that has accelerated its recruitment and retention of veteran employees and their families. Disney has also launched a training program that aims to help other companies hire veterans, which makes it one of the most military friendly employers.
- Sprint: Telecommunications giant Sprint currently employs 1,300 people that identify as military or former military. The company’s VETS (Veterans and Employees helping others Through Sprint) program has helped more than 800 active-duty members through professional development and mentoring. Its Military Transition Workshop is designed for transitioning service members.
- Walmart: Walmart has set a goal of hiring 200,000 veterans by 2020 and is already well on its way to achieving that milestone. Since making the pledge, Walmart has already extended 92,000 short term and long term employment opportunities to veterans. And not only have Walmart doubled its original veteran hiring goal, it has helped to create a program to help veteran entrepreneurs, known as the Coalition for Veteran Owned Businesses.
- JP Morgan Chase: JP Morgan Chase is a member of the 100,000 Jobs Mission with 150 other companies that have collectively hired more than 117,000 veterans since 2011. Because of the success of this program, the companies have doubled their goal and aim to hire 200,000 veterans collectively. JP Morgan Chase is responsible for $8 million of the $20 million pledge that helped start the organization. The company has earmarked another $20 million for programs and initiatives focused on employment, education and housing.
- Hormel Foods: Hormel Foods has aligned its entire company culture and value systems with current and former service members. The company most well-known for its SPAM product, is a staple with our troops and has signed a pledge to participate in the VetFriendly 50,000 jobs challenge. Hormel is working with several other companies to provide jobs for 50,000 veterans and their families by 2018.
While there are hundreds of companies dedicated to helping and serving veterans and their families, these are just a few that have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Sources:
http://www.diversityjournal.com/15431-25-of-the-most-influential-companies-for-veteran-hiring-2015/
http://www.businessinsider.com/americas-most-military-friendly-companies-2014-11