Veterans Day provides us all with an opportunity to honor those who’ve served our country. At the same time, it is important to stop and reflect on the roles we play to support those who have vowed to protect our freedom—while they are serving and after. McCarthy Building Companies has a proud history of supporting and building for the United States Armed Forces. Not only have we built healthcare facilities that serve our military (Omaha VA Ambulatory Care Center and William Beaumont Army Medical Center Complex at Fort Bliss), but we have a variety of efforts underway to make sure we are an employer of choice for members of our armed services.
MCCARTHY COMMITMENT
McCarthy is committed to recruiting, training, and developing Veterans and transitioning military members. In fact, McCarthy currently has more than 300 Veterans on staff in a variety of capacities from laborer to regional president.
Serving our Veterans and finding a place for them among our workforce is the right thing to do, it also makes business sense. To successfully build the best projects for our clients and communities, we need the best people on our team. Veterans and transitioning military members consistently provide a source of well-trained top talent. Their drive for excellence, strong work ethic, and team mentality are qualities that seem to be engrained, and organizations would be foolish not to find every opportunity to plug in with this prime talent pipeline. These behaviors, plus a commitment to quality and safety, and willingness to tackle the challenges that come with the complex work we take on, mirror McCarthy’s culture and values.
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS
However, none of this is news to organizations who focus on finding top talent. Veterans and transitioning military members have lots of options when considering their career path, and McCarthy is one of many great organizations vying for their attention. To increase our chance for success at getting noticed, we’ve partnered closely with organizations that already have relationships with military bases or have ready access to pools of Veteran talent. These organizations, which are often owned or run by Veterans, have the infrastructure already built that help Veterans be as successful as possible at McCarthy. This infrastructure is typically inclusive of recruiting, training, administrative, and housing support. McCarthy’s partnerships include Hiring our Heroes, ArmyPaYS, Adaptive Construction Solutions, and HBI.
Through our partnership with Hiring our Heroes’ corporate fellowship program, McCarthy pinpoints management level positions for career military members whose transition dates are forthcoming. For those who select McCarthy for their fellowship, they will spend 12 weeks at a jobsite and receive professional training and hands-on learning.
One of our most successful partnerships has been with Adaptive Construction Solutions (ACS). With ACS, McCarthy gains access to candidates sourced from the Department of Defense databases of Military Occupation Specialties that are conducive for success in construction. Together, ACS and McCarthy interviews candidates and if selected, candidates have an opportunity to join our Apprenticeship program. Recognized by the Department of Labor (DOL), our Registered Apprenticeship Program is a detailed, built-out plan that allows employees to learn a skilled occupation through paid on-the-job training under the supervision of a professional combined with related classroom instruction. ACS serves as a liaison for McCarthy with the DOL and State workforce boards and provides administrative and compliance services for our Veteran Apprenticeship Program. We are proud that more than 100 Apprentices have been enrolled in the Veteran Apprenticeship Program since we began our relationship in January 2021. Successful apprentices are eligible to be hired full time and continue to work with McCarthy on solar projects around the country.
We are also excited to embark on a new relationship with HBI. HBI partners with military bases across the country to provide 12 weeks of construction education to transitioning military members which will prepare them for life after the armed forces. McCarthy is specifically working with HBI programs at Fort Hood and Fort Bliss to recruit into our Renewable Energy program. We have multiple career paths available for those interested in electrical apprenticeships or a career as a foreman directing work on our utility scale solar projects.
CLOSING THOUGHT
McCarthy is committed to recruiting, training, and developing Veterans and transitioning military members. Providing a path for a long-term career in construction is good for our company and good for the industry.
About the Author:
Erica Gilliland is director, craft recruiting with McCarthy Holdings, Inc. For more, visit www.mccarthy.com.
Modern Contractor Solutions, November 2022
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