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Holiday notice: OESC offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 28-29 for Thanksgiving. Weekly benefit payments and automatic transfers may be delayed due to bank closures during the holiday.

Hiring Veterans


Hiring veterans brings immense value to employers, as these individuals possess strong leadership skills, discipline and a commitment to teamwork. Veterans often excel in high-pressure environments and bring unique perspectives that can drive innovation and resilience within a company. OESC and its Veteran Services team specialize in educating and helping employers leverage resources to effectively hire and retain veterans. OESC aims to bridge the gap between military experience and civilian workforce needs, ensuring both veterans and employers thrive.

Connect With Your Local Veterans Employment Representative

OESC's Veterans Program includes multiple Local Veterans Employment Representatives, covering the entire state, who advocate for the hiring of veterans by connecting qualified veteran job seekers with employer career opportunities, educating employers on hiring and retention practices for veterans, and how to leverage various incentive programs for hiring and retaining veterans. Employers can also discover opportunities to attend military and veteran specific job fairs or "Veteran Job Clubs" across the state to connect directly with military and veteran job seekers through their Local Veterans Employment Representative.

Veteran Job Clubs & Hiring Events

Each month, OESC hosts "Veteran Job Clubs" across the state which are smaller more intimate hiring events specifically for veterans and military. Employers have the opportunity to present their opportunities and company information to veterans and then have a chance to meet with each interested veteran one-on-one to review qualifications, answer questions, connect with hiring managers or gather information to do follow-up, formal interviews.

For details on upcoming Veteran Job Clubs or other Veteran Job Fairs, visit the Events Calendar page and select the "Veterans - Military Career Fair" category. To participate in an event, contact an Oklahoma Works office and speak with the Local Veterans Employment Representative.

Top Reasons to Hire a Veteran

There are many reasons to hire those who have served in the U.S. military, whether they are actively serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, retired or a veteran. See below for some of the top reasons to hire and retain military and veteran talent.

Veterans have the proven ability to learn new skills and concepts. In addition, they can enter your workforce with identifiable and transferable skills, proven in real-world situations.

The military trains people to lead by example as well as through direction, delegation, motivation, and inspiration. Veterans understand the practical ways to manage behaviors for results. They also know the dynamics of leadership as part of both hierarchical and peer structures.

Veterans understand how genuine teamwork grows out of a responsibility to one’s colleagues. Military duties involve a blend of individual and group productivity. They also necessitate a perception of how groups of all sizes relate to each other and an overarching objective.

Veterans have learned to work side by side with individuals regardless of diverse race, gender, geographic origin, ethnic background, religion, and economic status as well as mental, physical, and attitudinal capabilities.

Veterans understand the rigors of tight schedules and limited resources. They have developed the capacity to know how to accomplish priorities on time, in spite of tremendous stress. They know the critical importance of staying with a task until it is done right.

Veterans have gained a unique perspective on the value of accountability. They can grasp their place within an organizational framework, becoming responsible for subordinates’ actions to higher supervisory levels. They know how policies and procedures enable an organization to exist.

Because of their experiences in the service, veterans are usually aware of international and technical trends pertinent to business and industry. They can bring the kind of global outlook and technological savvy that all enterprises of any size need to succeed.

Veterans know what it means to do “an honest day’s work.” Prospective employers can take advantage of a track record of integrity, often including security clearances.

Thanks to extensive training, veterans are aware of health and safety protocols both for themselves and the welfare of others. On a company level, their awareness and conscientiousness translate into protection of employees, property, and materials.

 In addition to dealing positively with the typical issues of personal maturity, veterans have frequently triumphed over great adversity. They likely have proven their mettle in mission critical situations demanding endurance, stamina, and flexibility.