Introduction
The transition from military service to civilian life presents unique challenges for veterans. While the veteran unemployment rate has reached historic lows, underemployment remains a significant issue, affecting nearly one-third of those who have served. Recognizing this gap, organizations like Easterseals Veterans Staffing Network (VSN), under the leadership of David Muir, are dedicated to connecting veterans with meaningful career opportunities.
In this insightful interview, Mikey Meagher from DirectEmployers speaks with David Muir, Head of the Veterans Staffing Network at Easterseals DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Muir, a veteran himself, shares his journey, the skills veterans bring to the civilian workforce, and how Easterseals VSN is making a tangible difference in veteran employment and overall well-being. While not explicitly focused on a program to directly help veterans pay for care in the way the keyword “Abc David Muir Program To Help Veterans Pay For Care” might suggest, the core mission of Easterseals VSN directly addresses a critical factor in veterans’ ability to access comprehensive care: sustainable employment and financial stability. By securing fulfilling and well-paying jobs, veterans are better positioned to manage all aspects of their lives, including healthcare and long-term well-being.
David Muir’s Journey: From Military Service to Veteran Advocate
David Muir’s commitment to veterans is deeply rooted in his own experience. Enlisting in the Virginia Army National Guard at 17, he served as a machine gunner for six years. Though his military service was during peacetime, the values and skills instilled during this period profoundly shaped his career path.
After transitioning out of the military and exploring a culinary career, Muir found his way back to serving veterans through professional staffing. He recognized a critical need for updated job search training for transitioning service members, leading him to redesign the Department of Labor’s employment workshop – now a cornerstone of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). This initiative demonstrated his early commitment to improving veteran outcomes, even before his leadership at Easterseals VSN.
Muir emphasizes that the military instills invaluable, transferable skills often overlooked on a traditional resume. “Discipline, respect, commitment, efficiency, resilience, and leadership,” are just a few of the qualities ingrained in service members. He notes that veterans are inherently project managers, problem-solvers, and team players, even if they don’t recognize these labels in civilian terms. Easterseals VSN bridges this gap, helping veterans articulate these skills and employers understand their immense value.
The Power of Military Skills in the Civilian Workforce
A key aspect of Muir’s work is highlighting the disconnect between how the military and civilian sectors view skills and training. The military hires based on aptitude and trains individuals for specific roles. Civilian employers, often wary of training costs, seek candidates who are “ready to go.” This creates a challenge for veterans who possess a wealth of skills but may not present them in a way that resonates with civilian hiring practices.
Muir points out that veterans often downplay individual accomplishments, focusing instead on team achievements, a hallmark of military culture. However, employers need to understand individual contributions. He shares a powerful anecdote about a Navy veteran who, as the “air boss’s right-hand man” on an aircraft carrier, managed complex operations involving billions of dollars in assets and hundreds of personnel. The veteran himself didn’t initially recognize these experiences as significant accomplishments translatable to the civilian world.
This story underscores the importance of employers probing beyond the surface during interviews. Instead of generic questions, behavioral questions that prompt veterans to describe situations where they demonstrated key skills are crucial. For example, instead of asking about “customer service skills,” asking a veteran to “describe a time you had to help someone you didn’t know with a problem” can unlock relevant experiences and highlight transferable skills.
Redesigning the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
Muir’s passion for veteran support led him to a significant undertaking: redesigning the Department of Labor’s employment workshop within the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Recognizing that the existing program was outdated and ineffective, Muir spearheaded a revamp to better prepare transitioning service members for the civilian job market.
The original TAP program, as Muir observed, lacked essential elements like guidance on leveraging social media for job searching and effective employer engagement strategies. Muir’s redesigned curriculum focused on equipping veterans with practical, actionable tools and techniques, essentially providing a “job search blueprint” for individuals with varying levels of job search experience.
This redesign was a collaborative effort involving multiple government agencies, reflecting a nationwide recognition of the need to address veteran unemployment. Making the revised TAP workshop mandatory for all transitioning service members was a crucial step. With over 200,000 individuals leaving the military annually, this program has had a far-reaching impact on veteran employment rates, contributing to the significant reduction in veteran unemployment seen in recent years. The ongoing evolution of the TAP program, incorporating modern job search tools and techniques, demonstrates the sustained commitment to veteran success.
Easterseals Veterans Staffing Network: A Sustainable Solution
Driven by a desire to create a more inclusive and sustainable support system for veterans, Muir joined Easterseals to lead the Veterans Staffing Network (VSN). Unlike traditional government-funded programs with access limitations, Easterseals VSN aimed to build a self-sustaining model that could serve all veterans and their families, regardless of era or service background.
Easterseals, a century-old organization with a deep history of community-based services, provided the ideal platform for this innovative approach. The VSN operates on a social enterprise model, partnering with businesses seeking top-tier talent. Employers pay Easterseals VSN staffing fees, which are then reinvested directly into veteran career coaching and support services. This creates a virtuous cycle, where business needs fuel veteran support, making the program independent of fluctuating grant funding and ensuring long-term sustainability.
To date, Easterseals VSN has placed over 1,200 veterans and military spouses in jobs across 30 states, impacting over 12,000 individuals through career coaching and support. This impressive reach highlights the effectiveness of their model and the significant demand for veteran talent in the civilian workforce. The success of Easterseals VSN demonstrates a powerful approach to veteran support, moving beyond charity to create a mutually beneficial ecosystem where veterans thrive and businesses gain access to exceptional employees.
How Employers Can Partner with Easterseals VSN
For employers seeking to tap into the veteran talent pool, Easterseals VSN offers a streamlined and impactful partnership model. The process begins with a consultative conversation to understand the employer’s staffing needs and determine if a staffing service partnership is a good fit. VSN works with businesses of all sizes across various industries, focusing on connecting veterans with living-wage jobs that offer career growth potential.
Once a partnership is established, Easterseals VSN collaborates closely with HR and hiring managers to define ideal candidate profiles, understand company culture, and refine evaluation criteria. Leveraging partnerships with veteran service organizations, government agencies, and military communities, VSN actively sources qualified veteran candidates nationwide.
Easterseals VSN goes beyond simply placing veterans; they offer free consultations to partner employers on developing robust military employment programs. This includes guidance on:
- Executive Sponsorship: Identifying and empowering an executive champion to drive veteran hiring initiatives within the organization.
- Military-Friendly Marketing: Crafting inclusive marketing materials and recruitment strategies to effectively reach veteran job seekers.
- Skill-Based Interviewing: Training hiring managers on effective interview techniques that uncover veterans’ transferable skills, such as “pool interviewing,” which focuses on extracting relevant experiences through rephrased questions.
- Retention Programs: Developing low-cost, high-impact retention strategies to support veteran employees long-term.
This comprehensive approach positions Easterseals VSN as a true partner in building veteran-inclusive workplaces, not just a staffing agency. Their commitment to long-term success for both veterans and employers sets them apart in the veteran employment landscape.
Dispelling Myths About Veteran Hiring
Despite the clear benefits of hiring veterans, persistent myths can deter employers. David Muir directly addresses some common misconceptions:
- PTSD Myth: The myth that all veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is inaccurate and harmful. While PTSD is a real concern for some veterans, it is not universal. Muir points out that approximately 9% of the general workforce experiences some form of post-traumatic stress, arising from various life events. Furthermore, veterans have access to robust support systems both during and after their military service, often exceeding those available to the civilian population.
- Rigidity Myth: The perception that veterans are overly rigid or inflexible stems from their training in structured environments. However, this “rigidity” translates to efficiency, discipline, and a strong work ethic – highly desirable qualities in any employee. Veterans are trained to work within systems and prioritize task completion, which can sometimes be misconstrued as inflexibility by those accustomed to less structured work environments.
By debunking these myths, Muir encourages employers to look beyond stereotypes and recognize the immense value veterans bring to the workforce. Their unique experiences foster resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to mission accomplishment – assets that can significantly benefit any organization.
Advice for Employers: Starting and Expanding Veteran Hiring Programs
For employers new to veteran hiring, Muir advises starting with commitment and seeking guidance. Engaging with organizations like Easterseals VSN can provide invaluable support and expertise. Key steps for building a successful veteran hiring program include:
- Internal Assessment: Understanding the current veteran representation within the organization.
- Executive Champion: Appointing a high-level leader to champion veteran hiring initiatives and ensure organizational commitment.
- Resource Allocation: Budgeting for veteran-focused recruitment and support programs.
- Recruiter and Hiring Manager Training: Educating hiring teams on veteran skills translation, inclusive interview techniques, and understanding military culture.
- Community Engagement: Connecting with local veteran service organizations, employment agencies, and military installations.
For companies with established veteran programs, Muir encourages continued growth and expansion, emphasizing the importance of “giving back” to the broader veteran community. Mentoring other organizations, sharing best practices, and actively promoting veteran employment are crucial for creating a truly veteran-inclusive workforce nationwide. Highlighting veteran employees within the company, like Hilton’s practice of displaying service branch insignia on veteran name tags, is a simple yet powerful way to foster a welcoming and appreciative environment.
Conclusion
David Muir and the Easterseals Veterans Staffing Network are at the forefront of connecting veteran talent with civilian career opportunities. By understanding the unique skills and experiences veterans possess, and by dismantling harmful myths, employers can unlock a vast and valuable talent pool. While the keyword “abc david muir program to help veterans pay for care” may narrowly focus on direct financial care assistance, the work of Easterseals VSN addresses a foundational need: empowering veterans through meaningful employment. Sustainable employment is a cornerstone of overall well-being, enabling veterans to secure financial stability and access the resources they need to thrive in civilian life, including comprehensive care for themselves and their families.
For employers ready to tap into the veteran advantage and partner with Easterseals VSN, connecting with David Muir is the first step towards building a stronger, more inclusive workforce.
