Factors affecting hiring decisions about veterans

• Veterans face stereotypes and stigmas during the selection process.
• Attributes of hiring managers influence their decisions about hiring veterans.
• Lack of understanding regarding military jobs and culture also affects hiring decisions.
• Strategies can be used to reduce veteran employment issues.

Military veterans have numerous problems gaining and maintaining jobs in the U.S., and their unemployment rates are consistently higher than nonveterans (Bureau of Labor Statistics 2013). Despite these problems, little theory and research in Human Resource Management (HRM) has focused on understanding the factors affecting hiring decisions about military veterans (e.g., Bordieri & Drehmer, 1984). Thus, the present paper modified an existing model of the treatment of persons with disabilities (Stone & Colella, 1996) to explain the issues that influence selection decisions about veterans. We also offered hypotheses to guide future research on the topic. Our modified model indicated that the (a) attributes of the veteran, (b) the characteristics of the observer, (c) the nature of the job, (d) the perceived transferability of skills from military to civilian jobs, and (e) the differences between military and civilian organizational cultures influence hiring decisions about veterans. We believe that an increased understanding of these selection decisions will help organizations utilize the many talents and skills that veterans bring to the workforce, and enable veterans to enjoy a more fulfilling work life and career.