Military veterans possess skill sets that line up well with baking industry needs and have access to unique government benefits that can produce cost savings for employers.
That’s why hiring veterans represents a great opportunity for the baking industry, said Lisa Rosser, Founder, and CEO, The Value of a Veteran, during an American Bakers Association webinar on this topic.
Rosser said hiring service members isn’t just a patriotic move; it also generates business benefits. A larger-than-usual pool of candidates will be available in the near term as the U.S. economy opens up.
“Now’s a great time to develop a strategy for recruiting veterans if you don’t have one,” she said.
The webinar was moderated by Lauren Williams, ABA’s Director, Government Relations.
Baking Industry Already Employs Veterans
The baking industry already has experience in hiring candidates with military backgrounds. ABA’s Baking Works career site notes the following:
“The baking industry is proud to employ veterans and military spouses from all branches of service. We partner with USO Pathfinder® Transition to help connect transitioning service members and military spouses with baking industry careers.”
Reasons to Further Leverage Veterans
The industry has opportunities to further leverage veterans in its hiring. During the ABA webinar, Rosser underscored how these candidates are good matches for the industry’s needs. She pointed to a page on the Baking Works site that outlines specific baking industry career paths and roles.
“There’s a correlation between what you need and what the military offers,” she said. “For no other reason, you need to look at military recruiting.”
Incentives that Achieve Employer Cost Savings
Veterans come with unique opportunities for benefits that can save employers money.
- Tax credits: Employers may be eligible for federal and state tax credits — such as the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC).
- Post 9/11 GI Bill: Veterans can use this bill’s features to obtain required education for selection or promotion into advanced roles. The benefits can be used for college or state-approved apprenticeship programs. Veterans can also obtain housing supplements for approved apprenticeships.
- Relocation benefits: Active duty members are entitled to government-paid relocations to return to their homes or an equivalent distance, as long as this is planned six months before they leave the military.
Opportunity to Diversify Workforces
At a time when many companies are embracing workforce diversity, hiring military veterans is an effective way to make progress, Rosser said.
The pool of service member candidates is highly diverse in life experience and other metrics — including minority (41%), female (25%), service-disabled, and LGBTQ.
Resources for Finding Veterans
The webinar pointed to multiple resources to help companies navigate veteran recruiting.
- Companies can post jobs at no cost with the National Labor Exchange.
- State employment agencies have Veterans Representatives who can assist employers in finding local veteran talent.
- The U.S. Department of Labor website includes a range of resources for assistance.
Next Steps for Success
Hiring managers interested in recruiting veterans should avoid looking at resumes and skillsets too narrowly. That’s because veterans may not have direct prior experience in baking industry roles, Rosser said. However, they bring flexible skill sets, such as with using equipment and are highly trainable. They also have valuable soft skills.
“They communicate, problem solve, take initiative and troubleshoot,” she said. “Employers who hire a military veteran soon ask, ‘where can I find 10 more?’”
