Monster Worldwide Inc. News Release (11/10/14)

Fewer than half of post-9/11 veterans feel they can effectively communicate how their military skills and experience translate to a nonmilitary work environment, according to the National Veterans Talent Index report from ASA corporate partner Monster and military.com. VTI results indicate that the unemployment challenge isn’t due to a lack of candidate skills or willingness of employers to hire veterans. The Employer Hiring Index, the section of the VTI measuring motivation to hire veterans, shows that more than two-thirds of employers say they have special talent needs that a veteran candidate would be more qualified to fill than a nonveteran candidate due to his or her specific military experience.

Additionally, nearly all employers report veteran workers perform their job about the same or better than nonveteran workers, and rate veterans about the same or higher when it comes to specific attributes such as career advancement, job turnover, and retention rate. The National VTI suggests the challenge continues to lie in getting veteran candidates over the initial “translation gap,” or aligning a veteran’s unique skills and experience to the requirements of an open job.