G.I. Jobs; Military Veterans Coveted to Lead and Staff Corporate America

(c)Copyright 2009, Investment Weekly News via NewsRx.com


2009 NOV 28 - (VerticalNews.com) -- Despite constant financial pressures for short term results, corporate America is maintaining its focus on long-term, strategic personnel needs with a firm commitment to hiring military talent, according to G.I. Jobs' seventh annual list recognizing the nation's top Military-Friendly Employers. A full list of all 100 Military Friendly Employers can be found at www.gijobs.com.

"At GE we are always looking for talented, dedicated people of character to lead our teams," said Jeff Immelt, chairman and CEO. "Veterans have these qualities, which is why they are a good fit with our culture."

Across all industries, from struggling banks to burgeoning energy firms, large corporations vehemently compete for 400,000 new civilian workers annually that retire or separate from the military. Aside from recent college graduates, the military is the largest, and arguably the most valuable, source of renewable, skilled talent in the country.

"All the things that made you successful in the military will make you successful in the business community," said Bill Simon, a Navy veteran who now serves as Walmart's executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Both GE and Walmart were honored on this year's Military Friendly Employers list. All companies with more than $500 million in annual revenues were eligible for G.I. Jobs' Military Friendly Employers list this year.

"We value the experience and leadership our employees with military backgrounds bring to our company," said Kirk Thompson, president and CEO for J.B. Hunt. "It is a tremendous honor to have these highly trained and skilled individuals as part of the J.B. Hunt family. They have helped make J.B. Hunt one of the most successful transportation companies in North America."

While unemployment rises and job losses exceed five million for the year, even companies with suppressed immediate hiring needs continue to develop access to military talent pools. Why? It's baby boomers stupid! Experts agree that current job loss and unemployment statistics would be far worse if baby boomers hadn't started retiring from the workforce last year.

The G.I. Jobs Military Friendly Employers list, in its seventh year, serves as the primary benchmark of corporate recruiting programs aimed at veterans. An annual survey is one of the primary tools G.I. Jobs uses to determine the nation's most Military Friendly Employers.

"This isn't about charity or patriotism. It's about good business. The companies on our list understand that," said Rich McCormack, who heads G.I. Jobs' list research.

Chris Hale, general manager of G.I. Jobs, notes that interest in hiring military veterans has never been higher. "This list serves to disprove a populist notion that veterans are having difficulty finding jobs when leaving the military." Hale bristles at what he calls inaccurate attention given to high unemployment rates for America's young veterans, citing the fact that many young veterans opt to take unemployment benefits before starting a civilian career. "Given the operational tempo we're putting our troops through, wouldn't you?"
Criteria for the rankings included assets dedicated to military hiring (28%), Reserve/Guard policies (18%), percentage of new hires who are veterans (14%), veteran training programs (10%) and previous three years' rankings (30%).