Many veterans attend universities, seeking employment in various sectors after graduation, but rarely look to the university they attended, or any other university, for that job opportunity. Universities and colleges don't only provide the knowledge and skill sets to find gainful external employment. In fact, the same knowledge and skill set gained through educational experiences can be valuable to the institution from which the student veteran has graduated or any other higher education institution across the country. So, why don't veterans seek job opportunities from these institutions? More importantly, why aren't universities or colleges taking advantage of the opportunity to hire candidates with proven talent and capabilities? There may be a gap on both ends of the equation.

The Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) explains why military experience makes someone a considerable candidate for many higher education jobs. Many military jobs have close counterparts in higher education; unsurprisingly, the skills and knowledge required to run a college campus mirror those needed to operate military units. Most campuses have a police force, logistics operations, facilities management, maintenance, financial offices, human resource functions, etc. The key is for everyone, especially veterans, to understand that higher education institutions aren't only hiring professors and that staff, administrative, and other roles are plentiful.

Another reason veterans are strong candidates is their ability to work with people in a diverse environment. The commitment to mission objectives and flexibility through change are essential qualities that veterans present to any potential employer. With these and many more skills to bring to the table, another gap must be considered, which is at the higher education level.

Hire Heroes USA conducted a panel composed of veterans employed within various higher education institutions. It provided in-depth views on why higher education should seek veterans for job openings and why there is a shortfall of veterans working on campus. Their research found that veterans working in higher education chose to do so as an extension of their military service, which aligned with fulfilling institutional values, traditions, and leadership opportunities. Further, the veterans who work in higher education demonstrate more mission focus, strategic thinking capabilities, adaptability to change, resiliency, and leadership. Additionally, the most mentioned skill for higher education veteran employees was their experience with diverse communities. This was the most critical asset for implementing change and leading others on campus.

Their research also found that veterans' top entry barrier into higher education is the lack of direct pipelines for veteran outreach and recruitment, leaving all the responsibility to veterans through networking efforts. Organizations that seek to increase talent acquisition and understand that the veteran population provides significant opportunities for this purpose must develop ways to find, attract, and hire these individuals.

So, how do we get the message out to the plethora of higher education institutions across the country? One way is for veterans currently working in higher education to become involved in the process. Here are some ways this can be accomplished:

• Express the importance of paying attention to military-connected students already on campus.
• Extend opportunities by making job postings available to student veterans before they graduate and leave or utilize internship opportunities to get them immersed.
• Recruit and hire internal candidates already committed to the university or college, this seems like a no-brainer.

So, while higher education works to develop ways to reach the veteran talent pool, veterans themselves should begin networking. Hire Heroes USA suggests starting with alumni chapters and veterans already working in higher education. Veterans should connect with as many people as possible in the higher education industry and reach out when appropriate. Last but not least, veterans should ensure that their resume correctly translates their military skills into recognizable civilian skills. This has proven to be veterans' most significant challenge when transitioning from the military to the civilian job market. For best results, FlexJobs recommends gathering work history, utilizing Military.com, O*Net OnLine, or Military Connection to help with job or skills translation. Veterans should tailor their resume to the job they are applying for and list all of their awards and honors.

There are likely more reasons than the few mentioned in this article for the lack of veteran employment within higher education. The phenomenon could surely be unpacked over and over again. Unfortunately, there is no one solution to the situation, but possibly collective efforts can move the needle.

If the job-seeking veteran networks diligently, the veteran working in higher education advocates vigorously, and the universities and colleges develop methods that engage military-connected campus students, then maybe momentum can build towards the mission of increasing veteran employees within higher education institutions.

The Department of Defense has provided interested employers a free opportunity to intern transitioning military members through the DoD SkillBridge Program. This program initiative has seen large-scale success rates for employers and veterans and is a true win-win. For large organizations such as universities and colleges, large-scale changes may need to occur in minor adjustments over time.

This is why it is essential for veterans to work together to increase awareness and knowledge of job availability in higher education and work to better educate higher education leaders on the advantages of recruiting and hiring qualified veterans.

There is a common saying..."you don't know what you don't know." As a veteran who works in higher education, it is my goal to provide fellow veterans with the knowledge and information needed to guide them toward the careers in higher education that they seek...because I personally know what they bring to the table. I also aim to inform higher education leaders, in all ways possible, that their organization will benefit significantly from hiring veterans within their departments. My vision is for all my fellow veterans to join me in this important endeavor to create opportunities for veterans and higher education organizations to connect and create mutually beneficial professional relationships through employment.

Article Topics

Job Search Advice Military Friendly Institutions Serving Military in HigherEd Women Veterans Working as a Veteran in HigherEd

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