5 Proven Strategies from Shift Group
Talent competition is fierce, but the veteran workforce remains one of the most underutilized and undervalued pipelines in the market. Veterans bring discipline, leadership, and accountability, yet most companies don’t know how to find, evaluate, or engage them effectively.
That’s exactly why Shift Group exists: to help companies cut through the noise and connect with elite, business-ready veterans who are proven winners.
This post breaks down five proven strategies to help your organization attract veteran talent and how Shift Group can make it happen faster.
Start with a Veteran-Ready Value Proposition
Veterans are drawn to companies that mirror the best parts of military life: clear mission, structure, accountability, and purpose.
Most job descriptions don’t communicate that.
How to fix it:
Use language that emphasizes impact, growth, and team success, not just duties.
Showcase leadership opportunities and career progression.
Highlight your commitment to hiring and developing veterans — authenticity matters.
How Shift Group helps:
We train and prepare veterans to transition successfully, so when you meet them through Shift Group, they already understand how their skills translate, and they’re looking for employers who speak their language.
Build a Streamlined, Translation-Friendly Hiring Process
Many great veteran candidates are lost because traditional recruiters or hiring managers don’t understand military resumes or experience.
How to fix it:
Simplify screening: focus on competencies like leadership, execution, and teamwork.
Use structured interview questions that identify transferable skills.
Train recruiters and hiring managers to recognize military value.
How Shift Group helps:
We handle the translation for you. Every veteran on our platform has a digital profile that maps their background directly to business functions, so you see immediately how they fit into your org, whether it’s operations, business development, or strategy.
Tap Into Curated Veteran Communities
Posting jobs on generic boards rarely reaches high-performing veterans, especially those who are selective.
How to fix it:
Build partnerships with trusted veteran organizations and training programs.
Create internal referral programs for veteran hires.
Attend events or sponsor initiatives where veterans are actively engaged in transition.
How Shift Group helps:
We’ve already built the community. Shift Group gives you direct access to a vetted network of high-performance veterans, all trained and ready for business roles.
You’re not sifting through resumes, you’re choosing from a pool of proven winners.
Focus on Fit, Not Familiarity
Many hiring teams subconsciously look for backgrounds they understand, which means veterans can get overlooked simply because their experience looks “different.”
How to fix it:
Redefine what “fit” means internally — focus on mindset, not industry jargon.
Include veterans on interview panels when possible.
Lead with capability and potential, not past job titles.
How Shift Group helps:
Our coaching and evaluation process identifies veterans who excel in ownership, accountability, and adaptability, qualities that drive success in any business environment.
You get confidence that every candidate you meet is pre-qualified and ready to make an impact.
Make Veterans Central to Your Culture — Not Just a Checkbox
Attracting veterans isn’t just about hiring them, it’s about creating an environment where they want to stay and grow.
How to fix it:
Pair new veteran hires with mentors or veteran peers.
Celebrate veteran achievements publicly (Veterans Day, internal spotlights).
Encourage leadership development programs geared toward veterans.
How Shift Group helps:
We’re not just a sourcing platform, we’re a partner in retention and success. Our process ensures every candidate has been through professional development and mindset training, setting them (and your team) up for long-term success.
See how companies are building winning teams with Shift Group.
About Shift Group:
Shift Group is the premier talent platform for building high-performing teams. We turn the experience of athletes and veterans into business-ready skills, delivering a steady pipeline of qualified, pre-vetted candidates with the mindset, discipline, and work ethic to make an immediate impact.
For companies: Our platform accelerates sourcing and hiring, reduces risk, and improves retention and time-to-productivity. The result is a more efficient, data-driven hiring process and a competitive edge built on proven talent.
For athletes and veterans: We’re your partner in career transition. From functional skill training to interview prep and job placement, we guide you step-by-step. Our platform teaches you how to leverage your unique background and story through video to stand out to employers. And our curated job board gives you direct access to top opportunities, helping you launch a career that matters.
Shift Group connects elite talent with companies that value drive, resilience, and leadership, creating high-performing teams and meaningful careers.
