1. SHRM Poll: Military Employment
February 20, 2012

2. Key Findings
 Are organizations hiring veterans? Roughly two-thirds of organizations (64%) have
hired veterans within the past 36 months. This percentage has increased 11
percentage points compared with 2010 (53%). Larger organizations (100 or more
employees) were more likely than smaller organizations (1 to 99 employees) to
have hired veterans within the past 36 months.
 Do organizations make specific efforts to hire veterans? Of organizations that have
hired veterans in the past 36 months, 45% had made specific efforts. Of
organizations that have not hired any veterans in the past 36 months, only 15% had
made a specific effort to recruit veterans.
 Are organizations aware of effective resources for recruiting veterans? Only 13% of
organizations are very familiar with effective resources for finding veteran job
candidates. Government agencies were more likely to be aware of effective
resources for recruiting veterans. Only a small percentage of organizations are very
familiar with, and use, the Depart of Labor’s Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program
(3%) and/or Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (4%).
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 2

3. Key Findings
 What online job boards are the most effective in helping to recruit veterans as
potential job candidates? HR professionals indicated that Career Builder (39%),
Monster (34%) and Indeed (23%) were the most effective for recruiting veterans.
 What are the benefits of hiring employees with military experience? Among the
organizations that had hired veterans within the past 36 months, the top three
reported benefits were the candidate’s strong sense of responsibility (97%), and
ability to see a task through to completion (96%) and the organization’s ability to
give back to U.S. veterans by showing gratitude for their service (95%).
Organizations that had not hired veterans within the past 36 months reported
similar potential benefits.
 What are the challenges of hiring employees with military experience?
Approximately half of the organizations that have hired veterans in the past 36
months agreed or strongly agreed that the biggest challenges of hiring individuals
with military experience are difficulty transitioning from a structure and hierarchy in
the military culture to the civilian workplace culture (52%) and translating military
skills to civilian job experience (50%). Post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental
health issues (42%) were also reported as challenges when hiring veterans.
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 3

4. Within the past 36 months, has your organization hired any veterans
as full-time, part-time or temporary/contract workers?
64%
Yes
53%
36%
No 2012 (n = 297)
2010 (n = 328)
47%
Note: Respondents who answered “Not sure” were excluded from this analysis.
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 4

5. Within the past 36 months, has your organization hired any veterans as
full-time, part-time or temporary/contract workers?
Comparisons by organization staff size
Larger organizations (100 or more employees) are more likely than smaller organizations (1 to 99 employees) to have hired veterans
within the past 36 months.
Smaller organizations Larger organizations Differences based on organization staff size
100 to 499 employees (68%)
500 to 2,499 employees (74%)
1 to 99 employees (41%) Larger organizations > smaller organizations
2,500 to 24,999 employees (76%)
25,000 or more employees (94%)
Comparisons by organization sector
Publicly owned for-profit organizations and government agencies are more likely than privately owned for-profit organizations to
have hired veterans within the past 36 months.
Organization sector Differences based on organization sector
Publicly owned for-profit (82%) Publicly owned for-profit
Privately owned for-profit (55%) > privately owned for-profit
Government (91%) Government
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 5

6. Did your organization make a specific effort to recruit and hire
veterans?
Have hired a veteran Have not hired a veteran
in the past 36 months in the past 36 months
2012 2010 2012 2010
Yes 45% 50% 15% 11%
No, but planning a
13% 11% 14% 11%
recruitment effort
No, and don’t have
42% 39% 71% 78%
any plans to
Note: n = 133-150 (2012); n = 145-175 (2010).
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 6

7. Did your organization make a specific effort to recruit and hire
veterans?
Comparisons by organization staff size
Of organizations that have hired veterans in the past 36 months, larger organizations (25,000 or more employees) are more likely to
have made a specific effort to recruit and hire veterans compared with smaller organizations (1 to 499 employees).
Smaller organizations Larger organizations Differences based on organization staff size
1 to 99 employees (37%)
25,000 or more employees (85%) Larger organizations > smaller organizations
100 to 499 employees (31%)
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 7

8. How aware is your organization of effective resources for finding
veteran job candidates?
Not at all aware 35%
Somewhat aware 52%
Very aware 13%
n = 250
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 8

9. How aware is your organization of effective resources for finding
veteran job candidates?
Comparisons by organization sector
Government agencies are more likely to be very aware of effective resources for finding veteran job candidates compared with
privately owned for-profit organizations.
Privately owned for-profit
Government agencies Differences based on organization sector
organizations
Government agencies >
8% 32%
privately owned for-profit organizations
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 9

10. How familiar are you with the following Department of Labor (DOL)
veterans’ programs? Have you used either of these programs in your
organization’s recruiting?
Not at all Somewhat Somewhat Very familiar, Very familiar
familiar familiar, but do familiar and but do not use and use
not use use
2012 2010 2012 2010 2012 2010 2012 2010 2012 2010
Disabled Veterans’
Outreach Program 67% 70% 21% 19% 4% 6% 5% 3% 3% 2%
(DVOP)
Local Veterans’
Employment
64% 68% 21% 16% 7% 9% 4% 3% 4% 4%
Representative
(LVER)
Note: n = 291 (2012); n = 364-365 (2010).
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11. How familiar are you with the following Department of Labor (DOL)
veterans’ programs? Have you used either of these programs in your
organization’s recruiting?
Comparisons by organization staff size
Larger organizations (25,000 or more employees) are more likely to be very familiar with and use the Disabled Veterans’ Outreach
Program compared with smaller organizations (1 to 99 employees and 2,500 to 24,999 employees).
Smaller organizations Larger organizations Differences based on organization staff size
1 to 99 employees (3%)
25,000 or more employees (25%) Larger organizations > smaller organizations
2,500 to 24,999 employees (2%)
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 11

12. Within the past 36 months, how effective have the following national
online job boards been in helping your organization recruit veterans as
potential job candidates?
Not applicable; my Not at all effective Somewhat effective Very effective
organization does not
use this source
Vault 95% 3% 2% 0%
Militaryhire.com 94% 2% 3% 1%
Vetsuccess.gov 91% 2% 6% 1%
HireVetsFirst 90% 2% 6% 2%
Recruit Military 90% 2% 6% 2%
Jobcentral 88% 4% 7% 1%
Vetjobs.com 88% 2% 9% 2%
CareerOneStop 87% 4% 7% 2%
Simplyhired 84% 4% 9% 2%
HotJobs 77% 9% 12% 2%
Indeed 69% 8% 19% 4%
Monster 47% 18% 31% 3%
Career Builder 46% 15% 32% 7%
Note: n = 277-293. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 12

13. In addition to the job boards listed above, what other sources does
your organization use to recruit veteran job candidates?
 Civilianjobs.com
 ClearanceJobs.com
 Craigslist
 Employerpartnership.org
 HirePatriots.org
 Hireveterans.com
 Industry contacts
 Job fairs
 JSFirm.com
 LinkedIn
 Military.com
 Recruiters and/or staffing agencies
 Rigzone.com
 State or local sponsored programs, employment listings or job boards
 USAJobs.gov
 Word of mouth/referrals
 WorkSource
Note: List is not inclusive of all responses.
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 13

14. How likely is your organization to actively recruit unemployed veterans
and/or unemployed veterans with disabilities now that there is a tax
credit available?
8%
23%
Unemployed veterans (n = 168)
54%
15%
12%
Unemployed veterans with 27%
disabilities (n = 158) 53%
8%
Very unlikely Unlikely Likely Very likely
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 14

15. To what extent would each of the following help your organization’s
efforts to recruit and hire military veterans?
Would not help at Would help a little Would help Would help a lot
all somewhat
2012 2010 2012 2010 2012 2010 2012 2010
Assistance identifying and reaching out to
6% 9% 17% 20% 31% 39% 46% 32%
qualified veterans
Information about how military skills map
8% * 14% * 34% * 44% *
to civilian job-related skills
Programs to help veterans transition their
7% 11% 16% 18% 38% 35% 40% 36%
military skills to the civilian workplace
Programs to help veterans transition from
military culture to civilian workplace 8% 12% 19% 22% 36% 35% 37% 31%
culture
Programs to train veterans with additional
8% 12% 20% 16% 40% 33% 33% 39%
skills for the civilian workplace
Information about and support for dealing
with potential challenges veterans may
12% 18% 21% 24% 36% 32% 31% 26%
face, such as PTSD or other mental health
issues
Information about and support for dealing
with potential challenges veterans with 11% 17% 26% 24% 34% 35% 30% 24%
physical disabilities may face
Note: n = 266-277 (2012); n = 302-335(2010). Respondents who answered “N/A – Experienced in this area, do not need assistance” were excluded from this
analysis. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding. An asterisk (*) indicates that this response choice was not available in 2010.
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 15

16. Do you agree that the following are benefits of hiring employees
with military experience?
Organizations that have Organizations that have Organizations that have
hired veterans in the not hired veterans in not hired veterans in
past 36 months the past 36 months, but the past 36 months and
(n = 99-160) have made an effort to have not made an
do so effort to do so
(n = 13-17) (n = 84-119)
Strong sense of responsibility 97% 94% 99%
Ability to see a task through to completion 96% 94% 98%
The organization’s ability to give back to U.S.
95% 100% 99%
veterans by showing gratitude for their service
Promoting patriotism at the organization 94% 101% 95%
Ability to work as part of a team 94% 94% 99%
Ability to work under pressure 94% 94% 98%
High degree of professionalism 93% 88% 97%
Strong leadership skills 90% 100% 95%
Positive enhancement of the organization’s
90% 100% 94%
image and/or credibility
Note: The percentages above reflect only the responses of “strongly agree” or “agree.” Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 16

17. Do you agree that the following are benefits of hiring employees
with military experience? (continued)
Organizations that have Organizations that have Organizations that have
hired veterans in the not hired veterans in the not hired veterans in the
past 36 months past 36 months, but past 36 months and have
(n = 99-160) have made an effort to not made an effort to do
do so so
(n = 13-17) (n = 84-119)
Strong problem-solving skills 90% 87% 97%
Technology/information technology skills
88% 87% 91%
and training
Ability to multitask 88% 79% 94%
Ability to adapt to changing situations
87% 94% 99%
quickly
Job-specific skills 86% 85% 85%
Global perspective 80% 93% 87%
Strategic planning/foresight 79% 86% 88%
Fulfillment of federal and/or state
78% 87% 89%
affirmative action requirements
Knowledge/expertise of defense issues 77% 87% 89%
Note: The percentages above reflect only the responses of “strongly agree” or “agree.” Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 17

18. Based on your overall experience, do you agree that each of the
following is a challenge in hiring employees with military experience?
These employees tend to be underqualified for the positions they apply for 12% 72% 12% 4%
Combat-related physical disabilities 10% 65% 21% 3%
These employees tend to be overqualified for the positions they apply for 9% 67% 19% 4%
The amount of time it takes for these employees to adapt to civilian
8% 58% 29% 6%
workplace culture
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health issues 6% 53% 36% 6%
Difficulty transitioning from the structure and hierarchy in the military 5% 42% 42% 10%
culture to the civilian workplace culture
Translating military skills to civilian job experience 4% 46% 40% 10%
Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree
Note: n = 154-159. Only respondents whose organization had hired veterans in the past 36 months were asked this question. Percentages may not total
100% due to rounding.
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 18

19. Demographics: Organization Industry
Industry Percentage
Manufacturing 20%
Professional, scientific and technical services 15%
Health care and social assistance 13%
Finance and insurance 11%
Other services except public administration 8%
Educational services 7%
Public administration 6%
Construction of buildings; heavy and civil engineering construction; specialty trade
4%
contractors
Transportation and warehousing 4%
Accommodation and food services 3%
Retail trade 3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 3%
Note: n = 290. Percentages do not total 100% due to multiple response options.
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 19

20. Demographics: Organization Industry
Industry Percentage
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3%
Utilities 3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 2%
Information, publishing industries 2%
Mining 2%
Wholesale trade 2%
Management of companies and enterprises 1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 1%
Religious, grant-making, civic, professional and similar organizations 1%
Repair and maintenance 1%
Personal and laundry services *
Note: n = 290. Percentages do not total 100% due to multiple response options. An asterisks (*) indicates < 1%.
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 20

21. Demographics: Organization Sector
Publicly owned for-profit organization 20%
Privately owned for-profit organization 53%
Nonprofit organization 14%
Government agency 9%
Other 4%
n = 291
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 21

22. Demographics: Organization Staff Size
1 to 99 employees 27%
100 to 499 employees 31%
500 to 2,499 employees 16%
2,500 to 24,999 employees 20%
25,000 or more employees 6%
n = 283
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23. Demographics: Other
Does your organization have U.S.- Is your organization a single-unit company or a
based operations (business units) only multi-unit company?
or does it operate multi-nationally? Single-unit company: A company in which
the location and the company are one 38%
U.S.-based operations only 73% and the same.
Multi-unit company: A company that has
Multinational operations 27% 63%
more than one location.
n = 259 Note: n = 296. Percentages do not total 100% due to rounding.
Are HR policies and practices determined by the
What is the HR department/function multi-unit corporate headquarters, by each work
for which you responded throughout location or both?
this survey? Multi-unit headquarters determines HR policies
46%
and practices
Corporate (company wide) 56%
Each work location determines HR policies and
Business unit/division 24% 3%
practices
Facility/location 20% A combination of both the work location and the
multi-unit headquarters determine HR policies 52%
n = 188
and practices
Note: n = 189. Percentages do not total 100% due to rounding.
Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 23

24. SHRM Poll: Military Employment
Methodology
 Response rate = 13%
 Sample composed of 359 randomly selected HR professionals
from SHRM’s membership
 Margin of error is +/- 5%
 Survey fielded January 4-22, 2012
For more poll findings, visit www.shrm.org/surveys
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Military Employment ©SHRM 2012 24