Summer 2022 | Page 27

THE VALUE OF A VETERAN
Throughout their time in the military , service members gain experience in a variety of disciplines that align well with the corporate world . A recent study by the Society for Human Resource Management found veterans provide organizations with a wide range of competencies , from information technology and logistics to supply chain management .
OUR PEOPLE
They also bring important strengths to the job , like the ability to thrive in an inclusive and diverse environment , a keen eye for detail and a tireless work ethic .
“ It ’ s the discipline , this structure and environment they come from ,” said Kevin Clark , a senior talent acquisition manager for Cox Communications . “ They ’ re very task-oriented individuals who are not averse to a hard day ’ s work .”
COX ’ S MILITARY OUTREACH
Cox ’ s talent acquisition team , in partnership with the Salute Employee Resource Group ( ERG ), has developed a full slate of strategies to recruit veterans , military personnel and their spouses :
• Military-Focused Hiring Events : Cox maintains a strong presence at virtual and in-person events such as RecruitMilitary ’ s national veteran career fairs .
• Transition Assistance Program : All service members go through this program following their active-duty service , and it presents our military outreach team with the perfect opportunity to engage with exiting personnel at more than a dozen military installations across the country .
• Nonprofit and Government Partners : Cox sends open job listings to veterans organizations weekly , and directly engages in bridge programs like Hiring Our Heroes and FourBlock to help veterans develop corporate experience and for our leaders to tell the Cox story .
The final piece of the puzzle is working to make the transition from military to civilian life a smooth one , especially for members of the National Guard who might have multiple deployments during their Cox career .
“ Cox values our veterans ,” said Nora Fulkerson . Nora has been called up several times during her time with Cox . “ My leaders were always really supportive , even trying to clear out my queue before I left so that I wouldn ’ t feel obligated to check back in ,” she said .
A SUCCESSFUL APPROACH
These efforts to hire our heroes are paying off . For example , last year Cox Communications hired more veterans for its field offices than ever before .
“ Over the years we have developed a comprehensive approach and have made a more concerted effort ,” said Kevin . “ The more we learn and the stronger relationships that we build , the more successful we ’ ve been .”
“ Veterans make great employees because they know how to close rank and are loyal to their teams .”
Nora Fulkerson , senior sourcing manager of IT at Cox Communications and member of the Army National Guard
Visit InSideCox . com to learn more about our veterans and the Salute ERG .
23