Through Cultural Transference
By: Alan Hill
VETERAN ENGAGEMENT
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Veterans are not engaged like they were in the
military
 Companies believe there is benefit in hiring vets,
(dedication, loyalty, teamwork)


Can’t understand why vets don’t apply,
 ‘we

have the best benefits of our competitors’
Companies try to ‘force fit’ veterans into their process and
culture – creates isolation for vets


Try to train the veteran to be a better job applicant (resume and
interview coaching)
And employee (support, not challenge)
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES (CONT)

Motivation dichotomy
 Civilians
need a push from behind (support)
 Vets need a push from the front (challenge)

Programs developed by companies,
governments and non-profits
 Helping,
but not solving
 No challenge - doing TO the vet or FOR the vet
 Not asking the vet to do for others - VETS SERVE!
CULTURE DIFFERENCES

Military

Corporate
1.
Don't brag
1.
Promote yourself
2.
Buddy system
2.
Look out for number one
3.
Get involved
3.
Don’t volunteer
4.
Persistence wins
4.
Don’t make waves
5.
Promoted on merit
5.
Promoted on relationship
6.
Serve others
6.
Serve yourself
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES (CONT)
Veterans have tremendous networks in the
military, no network in the civilian community
 Number one way companies source
candidates: Employee Referrals

 Not
job fairs, websites, etc.
STRATEGY

Build the network – vets help vets

Re-create the culture across
 Departments
 Companies
 Industries
 Supply

Engage veterans through challenging corporate
missions


chains
Serve our companies like we served our country
Start with Senior NCO’s – weekly meetings
DETAIL

Veterans



Contact with community
resources (Yellow
Ribbon, WFC’s, CVSO’s,
etc.)
Vets are ‘checklist
driven’ through the
process
Network is ‘pre-built’ for
veterans inside target
companies

Companies



Sr. Officers obtain
business critical missions
from Executives
Sr. NCO’s assemble vet
affinity groups to
accomplish missions
Sr. NCO’s oversee veteran
interns and mentoring
programs
BENEFITS
Vets are engaged/challenged at all levels
 Vets are serving their company and community
like they served their country
 Vets deliver visible impact using their culture,
not just their skills
 Vets own the problem and the solution
 NCO’s take ownership for morale of companies
