New ASU certificate to address veteran underemployment
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Veterans and military spouses bring a wealth of talent to the corporate world. Unfortunately, human resources and hiring managers without military backgrounds often struggle to understand the subtleties and terminology associated with military service experience and culture. This lack of knowledge prevents hiring teams from easily recognizing veteran skill sets, effectively assessing veterans during the talent selection process, and adapting the organization’s onboarding and development programs, all of which contribute to veteran underemployment.
"We have a responsibility to ensure our HR professionals know how to assess and develop veteran talent so they can obtain the careers they’re looking for when exiting the military," says Eric Knott, an assistant teaching professor of management who has served on the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) of Greater Phoenix's board of directors for 23 years.
"About 60% of veterans have a college degree, yet 64% of veterans are unemployed or underemployed. HR professionals review resumes and conduct interviews, but they often don’t know how to bridge the gap between military culture and corporate culture."
To ensure HR professionals across industries successfully serve veterans and their families, Knott partnered with the W. P. Carey Executive Education unit to launch the Certificate in Veteran Employment and Development. A first-of-its-kind certification for HR professionals and hiring managers, the program addresses the subtleties of recruiting, hiring and developing veteran talent.
The certificate was created with the support of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families; labor and employment law firm Ogletree Deakins; SHRM; SHRM of Greater Phoenix; and the Arizona SHRM State Council.
While a handful of human resources organizations provide broad information related to the business case for employing veterans, as well as an overview of employment law, through efforts like SHRM's Veterans at Work Certificate Program, W. P. Carey's Certificate in Veteran Employment and Development goes far beyond any current veteran employment programs by providing participants with in-depth knowledge on how to read veteran resumes, a detailed understanding of how skills like effective communication and relationship management may arise during veteran interviews, and specific best practices for onboarding, developing and retaining veteran talent.
"W. P. Carey is focused on developing programs and initiatives that align with our vision of access, excellence and innovation in business knowledge," says Ohad Kadan, Charles J. Robel Dean and W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair. "This certificate is a wonderful example of our commitment to supporting veterans by educating HR professionals on the valuable skill sets veterans bring to the workplace."
The 12-hour, self-paced program is eligible for 12 SHRM recertification professional development credits (PDCs) and uses anonymized resumes to help hiring professionals define and understand military vocabulary related to rank, teams, responsibilities and culture; identify and demystify interview behaviors displayed by veterans that civilians often misinterpret; detail strategies to successfully develop and retain veteran talent; and recognize the unique value of employing military spouses.
The certificate also features interviews with Thomas Winkel, executive director of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families, and Nonnie Shivers, managing partner for Ogletree Deakins, both of whom share their expertise on improving veteran employment and the legal complexities business leaders must navigate.
“Providing HR professionals, and even hiring managers, with the knowledge of how to truly and meaningfully leverage our veteran talent will add significantly to organizational success and tremendously improve the experience veterans have as they exit the military and embark on their civilian careers. Truly, it’s the least we can do for these heroes,” Knott says.
"Eric identified a critical need to address underemployment and unemployment in the veteran community," says Ryan Chase, senior director of W. P. Carey Executive Education. "The lack of awareness related to military resumes, onboarding and retaining veterans and military spouses is a chronic issue in our society that we're striving to improve upon."
Learn more about the Certificate in Veteran Employment and Development and W. P. Carey Executive Education.
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