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America is renowned worldwide as a nation that supports its military. Regardless of political affiliation or social views, the military is generally cheered for its selfless bravery and unbridled enthusiasm to defend freedom and justice and that's why we here at American Grit are always looking out for companies that have jobs for veterans as a big part of their strategy.Alas, many of our dedicated soldiers return home to find limited job opportunities, especially in positions commensurate with their skills, education, and training. Political higher-ups often tout programs and projects to correct the problem but it not only lingers, it increases every day.In recent years, the private sector has stepped up to help. From technology to hospitality, retail, and more, major companies across the nation are focused on putting qualified vets at the tops of their hiring lists.
How They Do It
Best for Vets, a listing of everything transitioning vets need to know including top jobs, colleges, and housing, is published annually by Military Times. To be eligible for their top jobs list, applicants have to complete an exhaustive survey with almost 100 questions regarding recruitment practices, policies and procedures for vets and reservists, and company culture. Only the top contenders make the list and in 2017, service members or veterans made up 26 percent of overall hires in the latest year for which relevant statistics were obtainable.
Company Strategies
Every company has different approaches to giving jobs for veterans. The most common and successful strategies stress closely tracking vet applications, making contact through vet recruiters, and giving vets a hiring preference.
Current Opportunities
The 2017 Best for Vets career opportunities list includes occupations at major companies in the fields of:
- Financial Services
- Aerospace
- Consulting
- Transportation
- Utilities
- Automotive
- Retail
- Telecommunications
- Insurance
- Media
- Engineering
- Pharmaceutical
- Energy
- Consumer Products
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Health Care
- Industrial
- Research & Development
- Environmental Services
- Semiconductors
- Food
- Fashion & Textiles
Company Profiles
Profiling all 82 companies on the Best for Vets list is impractical. Here’s a random sampling of six companies who made the popular list that have some of the best jobs for veterans:
Booz Allen Hamilton
One of the leaders in consulting, Booz Allen Hamilton employs 22,600 people and over 25% have military or spouse of military backgrounds. The company provides strategic planning, analytics, digital solutions, engineering, and cyber options in a wide range of industries from energy to defense, health, and international development.
Xcel Energy
At the forefront of delivering renewable energy and reducing carbon and other emissions, Xcel Energy’s operations include the management of four entirely owned utility subsidiaries for electric and natural gas customers in eight states. With headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Xcel Energy employs 11,299, including almost 2000 with military and spouse of military histories.
La Quinta Inns & Suites
With more than 870 hotels across the U.S., plus Mexico and Canada and over 7000 employees, La Quinta Inns & Suites is well-known for its dedication to veteran support. They concentrate on employing vets and military spouses, partner with nonprofit community outreach programs for military vets and families, and attempt to use veteran-owned and military-spouse-owned vendors for purchasing and other outsourcing needs.
Academy Securities Inc.
Nearly half of Academy Securities staff is comprised of vets and military spouses, mostly in leadership roles. Founded in 2009 by former US Naval Officer Chance Mims, it’s recognized as America’s first and only investment bank and broker-dealer owned and operated by a post 9/11 military veteran and disabled veteran. The company offers career opportunities to vets and their spouses in Equity & Debt Capital Markets, Public Finance, Institutional Agency Trading: Equity & Fixed Income, and Investment Banking.
Grunt Style LLC
Grunt Style’s mission is to help all citizens show their American pride and fighting spirit, regardless of their military affiliation. They sell a complete spectrum of clothing and accessories that reflect pride in self, military, and country for men and women. Although they’re a relatively small company, over half their employees are military vets and spouses of vets and the rest are company categorized as patriots.
Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation
Founded in 1999, Rey Almodóvar and Harold Brewer, both who had flourishing career histories with the Department of the Army, founded Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation. After they concluded the only way to reach top management positions that would give them the control they needed, the pair created a company that could provide the best technical solutions for the Department of Defense. Nearly half of their employees are vets or military spouses so they always have jobs for veterans at this company.
