Veterans Day, November 11, is quickly approaching. Soon restaurants will begin advertising free meals, stores will offer discounts and people will be making more of a point to thank veterans for their service.
These gestures are nice, but there is more businesses can do for veterans.
They can hire veterans.
There are currently more than 20 million veterans. That’s a lot of people to thank. The unemployment rate for veterans overall last month was 4.3 percent. That number has been much higher in recent years, but the government has been doing a lot to encourage businesses to hire veterans. They have also introduced programs, such as Joining Forces, to motivate businesses to hire veterans like never before and the rate of veteran unemployment has dropped.
If you are an unemployed veteran, use this list as a tool for finding the right job for you.
There are many companies that are military friendly. These businesses hire a large number of veterans. They specifically target veterans with their recruiting efforts. Most of them have special programs specifically for veterans and help them make an easy transition into civilian jobs.
Military-friendly companies also help develop veterans into leadership roles.
The following is a list of military-friendly companies verified by Military.com and Military Times. The former keeps a running list of military friendly businesses and each year Military Times puts out a list of their best employers for veterans.
If you are an unemployed veteran, use this list as a tool for finding the right job for you or pass it along to someone you know who is looking for a new career.
15 Corporations Looking to Hire Veterans
Verizon was ranked No. 1 by Military Times as the top military-friendly employer. They advertise that 85% of military jobs translate to Verizon jobs.
Union Pacific Railroad employs more than 9,800 veterans. They believe military service members bring a unique set of skills to the job and recruit military heavily.
USAA provides insurance, investments and banking products to veterans, service members and their families. They also employ a great deal of them.
PwC is a consulting firm that has received the Seven Seals Award and has been listed on numerous top lists for military-friendly businesses. They are also highly rated for military spouse employment.
BAE Systems is in the defense and aerospace industry. They offer jobs that allow veterans to continue doing jobs that are mission-centered.
Booz Allen Hamilton is committed to hiring veterans and wounded service members. They offer mentoring programs to help transition from military life to civilian. They employ more than 7,400 veterans.
Intuitive Research and Technology Corp. is growing in the engineering services sector. Fortune lists them as the No. 1 workplace to retire from.
The Boeing Co. employs more than 22,200 veterans. They have excellent track record of working with veterans helping them transition into long-lasting jobs. They are heavily invested in supporting military families.
CACI International focuses on information technology and provides IT services and solutions for defense, intelligence and homeland security. They have veteran advocates that help veterans make the transition to civilian life.
Capital One has excellent benefits for activated reservists. They are number 10 on Military Times list of top military-friendly employers. They are also in the top 100 for best companies to work for in 2016 according to Fortune.
Amazon has worldwide operations and is actively recruiting veterans. They employ thousands of veterans and military spouses. In May, they pledged to hire 25,000 veterans and military spouses over the next 5 years.
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service has more than 40,000 jobs in 20 different career areas. They employ over 4,000 veterans and continue to hire more daily.
BNSF Railway operates one of the largest freight rail transportation networks in America. They have been hiring veterans since the end of the civil war. BNSF Railway has hired more than 9,000 veterans since 2005 and have pledged to hire 5,000 more by 2018.
CSX Transportation is the largest eastern railroad and one of the top military-friendly employers. They are part of a group of more than 80 companies that have come together to collectively hire 100,000 veterans by 2020.
General Electric employs more than 10,000 veterans. Amazingly, one in 14 GE employees is a veteran. They have transition assistance programs, military employment programs and veterans networking.
Each of these companies has their own recruiting methods and veterans can apply to them directly.
There are many avenues veterans can use to seek help with preparing resumes, cover letters or with filling out applications such as the Veterans Employment and Training Service. Other groups include Feds Hire Vets, Hire Heroes USA, We Hire Heroes and the National Association of American Veterans.
