DEVELOPING EMPLOYER RELATIONS1
The Developing Employer Relations guide helps YRRP staff members reach out to employers to
encourage them to consider hiring Veterans by providing strategies and examples.
NETWORKING STRATEGIES
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Develop solid partnerships with the Department of
Labor and the Chambers of Commerce.
Market your program in daily interactions with
employers.
Conduct briefings on your program at local businesses
and employer organizations, such as the Chambers of
Commerce, Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, etc.
Rent space at Business Expositions and spread your
message.
Ask your State Chairman to conduct personal meetings with mayors across the State to
promote your message.
Network with as many people and organizations as you can.
Build key alliances that can help lead you to other potential employers.
Host employer and job seeker workshops.
5 STEPS TO REACHING OUT
1. Gather information. Identify un- or under-employed personnel or organizations in the
area, and determine what resources you have available.
2. Build partnerships with employers and state, federal, and
private organizations.
3. Spread the word about your program and efforts through
traditional and social media, television or radio
announcements, and community networking.
4. Reach out to your target audiences; for example, host resumewriting workshops and job fairs.
5. Follow-up and expand. Continue to reach out to new potential
employers and employees, spread the word about your
message, and network.
1
Adapted from IL, ID, and KT; Last Updated March 2013
EXAMPLES
Idaho created a program entitled “Hire One Vet,” in which employers
were encouraged to hire one Veteran. The program reached out to the
Chambers of Commerce, who agreed to leverage their employer
relationships to benefit Idaho’s hiring initiative. They conducted
briefings about their program at a number of locations, including Society
of Human Resource Managers, the Association of Builders and
Contractors, Business2Business, and more. Ultimately, they used
networking as a powerful tool to help them reach out to employers to get more Veterans hired.
Illinois built strong relationships with organizations using a multiple-agency approach. It
focused on finding the place where Employer Associations, Military Programs, and State and
Federal Programs overlapped, such as the Illinois Veterans Commission, the Departments of
Labor and Veterans Affairs, and Local Workforce Investment Boards. Ultimately, they
approached these organizations with the catch phrase, “Make the Ask!” which emphasized
asking employers if they have jobs available and if they are expecting to hire in the future. In this
way, they could build relationships and network on behalf of Veterans.
Kentucky built a Campaign Plan with four basic phases: Rally the
Troops, Spread the Word, Execute Mission, and Follow-up and
Expansion. These four phases provided a strategic basis for their actions
moving forward. During the Rally the Troops phase, they focused on
gathering information and building partnerships with employers from
state, Federal, and private organizations. In Phase II, Spread the Word,
they utilized a variety of marketing strategies to reach out to potential
employers and employees, such as through the news, social media,
television and radio, and public service announcements. They also networked heavily. During
Phase III, Execute Mission, Kentucky conducted 3-day regional Employment Assistance
Workshops, which included resume writing assistance and preparation, translating and
converting military skills into civilian language, and developing interview skills and providing
attire advice. The Follow-up and Expansion phase monitored individual progress via the Unit
YRRP Reps, Command-directed monthly reporting of CEI Data, ensuring employment stability
via ESGR, and expanding their program across their area on a regional basis for all Reserve
Component Personnel. They even convinced one organization to invite only Veterans to apply
for positions at their company for one entire week – no civilian applications allowed.
Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program
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