10 Nov Honoring veterans in the workforce

As we honor our service men and women for Veterans Day, we’d like to recognize not only the sacrifices our veterans have made for our country but the important role our veterans play in the civilian workforce.
In addition to their detailed technical training, veterans often possess skills invaluable in the private sector, such as attuned leadership skills and the ability to work in multifaceted, fast-paced, constantly evolving work environment.
As valuable as these traits are in the workplace, transitioning from the military into the workforce has been historically challenging. Luckily veteran unemployment has been decreasing, with 2015 marking the lowest unemployment rate in nearly eight years, according to the U.S. Department of Defense, but there is still room for improvement.
Headway has been made in assisting veterans during the difficult transition into the private job sector, but the youngest veterans, ages 20 to 24, have a 7.3 percent unemployment rate compared to the overall 3.6 percent unemployment rate for all veterans.
The transition from military to civilian employment is often especially dramatic for those who joined the military directly after high school. If you’ve never been employment outside of the military, career basics like preparing for an interview or writing a resume may be foreign, and it can be difficult to explain how military skills translate in the civilian workplace.
Likewise, moving from the strong influences of military culture with its tightly hierarchical structure into to the comparatively lax civilian workplace can be an uncomfortable adjustment.
Onin is passionate about bridging the gap and connecting talented and tested veterans with employers who can engage veterans’ skills. As an employment agency, we know we have a unique opportunity to play a role in supporting veterans as they enter the workforce, and we’re proud of our branches around the country who have taken part in this important mission. We celebrate the Neosho and Monett Onin Staffing branches for winning the Flag of Freedom Award for their efforts to employ veterans and the determination of other branches, such as Onin Staffing of West Columbia’s work with Operation Palmetto Employment.
We know more efforts need to take place to ensure veterans are able to find meaningful employment opportunities and are set up for success during the difficult transition.