Having trouble filling your talent pipeline with diverse candidates experienced in leadership or crisis management?

How many veterans have you hired?

You’re not alone - the US Department of Labor reports the joblessness rate among young veterans, aged 20-24, was double the national average for all adult workers in 2006.  The unemployment rate skyrockets for wounded veterans.

This is truly a national crisis.  Regardless of one’s political opinions, these soldiers - and by extension their families- are being largely ignored by employers.

So what can your organization do to hire great talent coming out of the military?  According to today’s webcast presenter, Otis Collier, former Naval recruiter, AIRS trainers and now recruiting consultant, talent acquisition professionals should start by forming relationships at some of the many channels dedicated to placing vets in jobs, like:

—Internal Resources and Contacts (who at your company has a military background?)

—Career Fairs and Base Hiring Events

—Service Academy Career Conferences

—Job board posting and resume mining sites (there are a host of niche sites dedicated to returning military)

—Military Spouse Corporate Career Network

—Army Spouse Employment Network

—Disabled Veteran Services (like AMVETS, ASDV and foundations like The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.)

—Department of Labor (has a number of services to vets and employers- check out Hire Vets First.)