Walmart, the world’s largest retailer announced Tuesday, it will speed up the hiring process for veterans to 30 days, from job application to final offer, huffingtonpost.com reported. The giant retailer’s commitment comes on the back of an earlier pledge in January, to hire 100,000 veterans over the next five years.
Walmart’s announcement also came on the same day, Joining Forces, a public-private partnership, spearheaded by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice-President Joe Biden, declared that the targets set for hiring veterans and military spouses had been exceeded.
In August 2011, President Barack Obama challenged the private sector to hire and train 100,000 veterans by the end of 2013, but by last August already 125,000 jobs had been filled with commitments to hire 250,000 more. At the present time, American’s businesses have hired or trained 290,000 veterans and military spouses and in addition to Walmart, companies like UPS, Home Depot, the Blackstone Group, McDonald’s and Target have committed to hiring and training another 435,000 veterans and military spouses over the next five years.
While some have suggested that, Walmart’s expedited veterans hiring process would not necessarily lead to more hires, the giant retailer will offer jobs to recently separated veterans, giving priority to those who have separated from active duty within the last 12 months.
“Veterans who have been honorably discharged from the U.S. military within the last 12 months would be eligible for priority application status,” the mega-retailer said in a statement. “Veterans who have been separated for more than 12 months will not be eligible for priority application status, but will be highly valued candidates based on their military training and experience.”
As the number one retailer, Walmart said its focus on veterans allows the company to “maintain its competitive standing through acquiring top talent” and for “sourcing future leaders while giving back to those who served our communities and our country.”
Walmart will launch its hiring process on May 27, Memorial Day.
