Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Let’s start with the basics: What is a military hiring company?
A military hiring company makes a business out of placing veterans into roles at companies across America. Most likely, they are working with a private company that is looking to hire veterans and they get paid when the veteran starts at that company.
Understand their incentive structure
I’ll be honest with you about how naive I was.
When I was a young lieutenant, I remember going to an informational meeting off-base held by a major military recruiting company. I remember being so amazed and thinking “Wow! These people are amazing and they just really want to help veterans! This is free for me??!! Great!”
Yes, it is free for you. But they are looking to get paid. I truly thought they were just doing this out of the kindness of their hearts.
(Insert cackling laughter from my NCOs)
A military hiring company wants to put you into a job because that’s how they get paid. And those fees can be quite significant. I have a friend who left the army and used one of these companies to hire someone at his new job and the fee was over $20,000.
They may mean well, but after they get you hired they will collect their check and move on to the next veteran.
This doesn’t make them evil
They are absolutely feeling a need in the market. Companies out there want to hire veterans but can have a tough time connecting to veterans about to get out of the military. Most people who work at a military hiring company are veterans themselves and so they can help the veteran in the job search, as well as help the company in understanding the skills of that veteran.
For a variety of reasons, a lot of veterans need to go right into the job market after they leave the military. Going through the job search process while also dealing with the VA, thinking about life after the military, and the general transition process can be stressful. A military hiring company can significantly help you by working with you to understand your skills and working to align those with the right kind of job for you.
Know your commitment
Before you sign anything with a military hiring company, read it. Then read it again. And, just to be safe, go back and read again.
Know what you are signing. Are you committing to only working with them? Are you agreeing to stay in the job they find you for a certain length of time? When will you have to start? And should you expect to have to move anywhere?
And what happens if you don’t find a job after a certain period of time?
Understand what you are agreeing to in working with them. And if that doesn’t match with what you want, then absolutely be ready to walk away from the deal.
Take advantage of their resources
A military hiring company can offer some resources that can seriously help.
You will get access to hiring conferences which can absolutely be a place to land a job. These can also be places to get some serious reps in on the interview process. At one of these events, you may be able to do multiple interviews — something that can just make you feel more comfortable with the process.
These companies will likely also offer help with resumes, LinkedIn, and compensation negotiation. And these are people who do it for a living, not part-time at the military transition center on base.
Know what you want
I hold the general belief that you can find utility in just about anything. You may be thinking of going to get an MBA or going to medical school after the military. Or maybe you want to learn to code and don’t need a military hiring company. And so a military hiring company isn’t going to fill your needs.
But there are absolutely cases where these companies can help. Maybe you have a family and you really need to get into a job right away after the military. Or maybe you just want to get out there and start working and you plan on figuring it all out later.
Your career is your career. No one should force you into any job that you don’t want to do. So if you find yourself using a military hiring company, be honest with them about what you want to do and what you don’t want to do. You will be the one working the job — not them.
Here are some of military hiring companies that exist:
National companies
Echelon Front Legion and Overwatch (article about them here)
These companies focus on placing veterans into positions via the Skillsbridge program, but these internships can often turn into careers
Hiring Our Heros Corporate Fellowship (technically this is a foundation of the US Chamber of Commerce so I don’t think they get paid if you get a job)
Related:
Johnson and Johnson Military Programs