By providing veterans with great jobs, businesses contribute to wider societal goals – plus they can tap into a new highly skilled pool of talent. HR, it’s time to take action, says Call of Duty Endowment’s Helene Imperiale.
Government support is essential for veterans, but businesses can make a real difference in providing them with jobs and a purpose!
But where to start?
Helene Imperiale, Senior Director at Call of Duty Endowment, the largest private funder of veteran employment in the US, shares all in this exclusive UNLEASH OpEd.
In June this year, world leaders gathered to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-day and honor the sacrifices of the armed forces.
It is vital we remember their service.
Equally important is our responsibility to ensure their successful transition into civilian life after military service.
On the surface, unemployment rates among veterans appear to be in line with national averages, however, this data is questionable.
The real issue with veteran employment lies in underemployment, aka they are working below their skillset and/or education.
For example, in the United States, 61% of veterans identify as unemployed or underemployed.
Veterans face a range of complex and interrelated challenges when they return from service including, but not limited to, housing, education and mental health.
Securing high-quality employment is fundamental to reducing the strain of these other challenges and empowering veterans to thrive in civilian life.
In the UK, the former Conservative government recently launched a dedicated employment support service for veterans to help them secure high-skilled, high-paid jobs and a Women Veterans’ Strategy is underway to address the specific challenges faced by female veterans.
However, it is important to recognize that this is not a problem for governments alone to solve.
The private sector – with its substantial hiring power, expertise, experience and capacity to invest in career development – must also play a part in unlocking the full potential of veteran talent.
The benefits for business are more than clear.
Military service instils a range of skills that are often unmatched in the civilian workforce and are highly transferable to civilian roles.
Veterans tend to be richly experienced leaders, adept at managing teams in high-pressure situations.
They possess a strong work ethic, resilience, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing environments.
These attributes that are invaluable in today’s fast-paced business world where adaptability and leadership are crucial for success.
Increasingly, veterans are also trained in a variety of technical skills with research from McKinsey finding veterans are consistently rated higher than average in this area.
In the report, McKinsey concludes that a new approach to hiring and helping veterans transition to the workforce could add $15 billion to the US economy.
Several large technology firms have recognized and leveraged the potential of veteran talent.
The Warriors at Amazon program not only provides veterans with job opportunities but also supports their career development through mentorship and training programs.
In the UK, Barclays’ AFTER (Armed Forces Transition, Employment & Resettlement) program is instrumental in integrating veterans into the financial sector, offering a comprehensive support system, including job placements, networking opportunities, and financial advice.
At Activision Blizzard, we are proud to be signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant which underlines our commitment to upholding fairness and respect for those that have served in the armed forces, including when it comes to employment.
As one of the world’s biggest entertainment companies, we also recognize our unique ability to use the popularity of gaming and esports to raise both money and awareness of this important cause.
That is why we created the Call of Duty Endowment, which has become the largest private funder of veteran employment in the US.
Over the last 15 years, the Endowment has placed more than 125,000 veterans in high-quality jobs in the US and UK, creating over $7 billion in economic value for veterans and their families through salaries.
We have also partnered with amazing charities like Walking With the Wounded and the Forces Employment Charity in the UK who are specialists in helping veterans find high-quality jobs. This collaboration has resulted in placing more than 4,000 British veterans.
There is enormous value that veterans can bring to businesses and positive impact businesses can have on the veteran community.
Yet, the benefits of employing veterans extend beyond individual companies.
By integrating veterans into high-quality jobs within the workforce, businesses contribute to the broader societal goal of smoothing reintegration and making other challenges much more surmountable.
A good job means a roof, sustenance, social interaction, and, perhaps most importantly, purpose.
It is also vital that businesses work together to share learnings from their own veteran employment initiatives and promote the positive business impact of hiring veterans to their peers.
Not long ago, the Call of Duty Endowment shared some of the key lessons we learned to encourage other organizations to establish effective hiring schemes.
One of these lessons includes the importance of quality employment.
As we noted earlier, 61% of veterans are underemployed, whilst 55% believe they possess more experience than their current job requires.
If purpose is key to wellbeing, then ensuring that veterans are working to the best of, and in line with, their abilities is important for mental health.
Data also shows that veterans derive enormous value from having engaged mentors and coaches.
For example, veterans are three times more likely to find a job if they used a mentor or coach to practice interviewing.
Whilst they are also twice as likely to find a job if they used a mentor or coach to help write their resume. This has a more pronounced effect with women and people of color.
Here it is important we see a stronger focus as data shows that women and people of color veterans struggle more with transition and may benefit more from additional services or outreach.
The issue of veteran unemployment requires a concerted effort from both the public and private sectors.
While government initiatives have helped, it is ultimately the private sector that can provide the high-quality job opportunities and career development that veterans need.
By tapping into this pool of talent, businesses can not only enhance their own productivity and innovation but also contribute to a more inclusive and resilient society.
The benefits of employing veterans are clear – now it is up to businesses to take action.
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Senior Director
Helene Imperiale is the Senior Director, Call of Duty Endowment at Activision.
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