From renewable energy to energy-efficient manufacturing, green industry is growing like never before. Wise energy use is on everyone’s mind, and the force of the concept has created thousands of green industry jobs in recent years. As the green sector becomes a major player in the economy and job market, green companies have grown exponentially. With this growth has come the need for new employees to be introduced into the industry, but the challenge is finding the right people to hire for these forward-thinking positions. Fortunately, there is a largely untapped source of high-quality men and women who are ideal candidates ï military veterans. The qualities they possess make them some of the best employees a company could ask for. Here are the reasons why veterans are some of the best potential employees around.
Solid Character
Military organizations are famous for their disciplined approach to training, teamwork and leadership. Military men and women develop incredible integrity, loyalty and reliability to go along with top-notch leadership and teamwork skills. These are exactly the kind of traits employers dream about finding in the employees they hire. All the technical skills in the world are worth very little in green industry jobs if the character of the employee is lacking. Regardless of what role veterans are hired to fill, they can be counted on to foster a culture of doing things the right way and treating others with respect. Due to the leadership and teamwork focus in the military, veterans often find themselves quickly moving into management positions where they have even greater influence on others in the company.
Desire to Give Back
Finding employees with good character is important, but nothing multiplies the productivity of a worker like a passion for the job. The entire green industry itself is based on the idea that preserving and protecting the earth and its resources is possible, and the advancement of the industry is motivated by a sense of duty and a desire to give back. Veterans are perfect for this type of environment because much of their military career was similarly motivated by a desire to protect the greater good. Green employers usually find that veterans come alive at the prospect of continuing to give back. This energy is contagious, so adding the fire of veterans to the workforce can create a synergistic effect that ripples throughout a company.
High Adaptability
Adaptability and versatility are hallmarks of the best armed forces around the world. More so than in many other industries, green industry jobs require those two qualities because of the evolving nature of green technology. Veterans are uniquely suited to step into roles that will require constant critical thinking and reassessment. Veterans are even highly adaptable to the peripheral aspects of green industry jobs such as relocating. Most military personnel are required to move to a new location every few years, and while most veterans probably do not like relocating more than the next person, they are at least better equipped to handle such changes when necessary.
Directly Transferable Skills
Another unique quality found in veterans is the experience they often have in the technical aspects of green industry jobs. The military trains people in everything from information technology and communications to construction and engineering. Green sector companies often find that veterans need only a minimum amount of job-specific training because they have an extensive background in the skills needed to perform the job well. Additionally, because the military consistently adapts to equip its personnel with state-of-the-art resources and methods, veterans often have more experience with the latest technology than the average non-veteran employee. As is the norm when it comes to military training, the training veterans receive during their service is second to none. These factors combine to make veterans valuable assets that can make an immediate impact.
More Than Just Your Average Employee
Veterans and green industry are, in many ways, a match made in heaven. Green industry is growing and needs good people to explore new frontiers of innovation. New waves of veterans are finishing their military service and looking for their next challenge in the civilian world. Recruiting veterans for your green business is a smart move that not only helps the green cause but can also put some more ïgreenï in your business’ pocket. Check out the multitude of other resources here at Mighty Recruiter to learn about more ways to improve your business and make all-star hires.