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Incentives and Tips for Hiring Veterans

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Ross Myers:
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center

University of Arkansas at Little Rock - College of Business
Donald W. Reynolds Center for Business and Economic Development
2801 S. University / Little Rock, Arkansas 72204
Phone: (501) 683-7700   Fax: (501) 683-7720

11/24/2010

Veteran Unemployment Remains High; Incentives and Tips for Hiring Veterans
by Timothy Lee, Associate Extension Specialist, UALR Lead Center

The recent Veterans Day observances brought attention to a silent crisis affecting many of our nation's and state's veterans - high unemployment. While the unemployment rate among all veterans is about 16 percent higher than non-veterans, young male veterans (those ages 18 to 24) have an unemployment rate of about 21 percent. In response, many organizations have launched projects to increase veteran employment.

For example, a Job Corps program open to vets ages 20-24 provides free housing and offers training in more than 100 career fields, such as construction, automotive repair, information technology and advanced manufacturing. National companies like Walmart and Microsoft have begun special veteran hiring initiatives.

Consider hiring a veteran for your small business. Here are some key steps:

1. Become familiar with the benefits of hiring transitioning service members, veterans and "wounded warriors."

2. Learn about tax incentives associated with the hiring of veterans as well as disabled veterans. Did you know your company could save up to $4,800 per veteran hire? The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit that offers an incentive for private-sector businesses to hire veterans.

3. Establish your company and its job application process as veteran-friendly. Mention on your website and in recruiting materials that your organization values the service veterans and their family members have given to our country and that you support the hiring of returning service members and military spouses.

4. Access credible resources to help you look for qualified veterans and wounded warriors who are seeking employment. Official Wounded Warrior programs are sponsored by each of the five military service branches. http://VetSuccess.gov, a website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, provides a place for veterans to post their resumes and for employers to post job openings.

5. Know what you can and should not ask during an interview. Questions relevant to experience or training received while in the military, or to determine eligibility for any veteran's preference required by law, are acceptable. However, some questions to avoid include: type of discharge, membership in the National Guard or Reserves, and questions related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

6. Keep informed via social networking and e-news. If your company does business using social networking platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, consider joining groups pertaining to veterans and veterans' employment.

For more information on how to hire a veteran for your business, visit
http://www.americasheroesatwork.gov.

Source: http://asbtdc.ualr.edu/enews/rss.asp?print=Y&aid=1548&utm_source=rss-bizbytes&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rssfeedjQuery(document).ready(function($){jQuery(function(){jQuery("#msg_22369").css("min-height", "50px");jQuery("#msg_22369").hoverIntent(function(){jQuery("#msg_22369").css("overflow-y", "hidden");jQuery(".sharethis_22369").delay(100).fadeIn();},function(){jQuery(".sharethis_22369").delay(300).fadeOut();});});});Tweet

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