Hello Dopers, I’m asking for help with job applications regarding my veteran status. On every job application I’ve submitted recently there is a question as to if the applicant is a protected veteran or not. The question typically offers three choices for answers:
I am not a protected veteran
I identify as one or more of the classifications of a protected veteran
I don’t wish to answer
The question is required to be answered.
If an applicant is a protected veteran, what does that mean for the hiring companies? And what does it mean for the applicant? Is the person treated differently during the application and screening process? Or is the situation applicable only if the person is hired, then the company has to “count” that person in a different category?
What are the advantages and disadvantages to being a protected veteran, in terms of hiring or employment?
Basically I’m trying to figure out if it’s advantageous for me to say that I am, or if I’m better off declining to answer. I’ve filled out dozens of applications recently and I’m beginning to wonder if I’d be better off declining to answer. This is GQ so I’m looking for factual answers, not opinions. Thanks!
Here’s the U.S. Department of Labor Factsheet (PDF). Basically, employers can’t discriminate against you due to your veteran status, and must make reasonable accommodations for service-connected disabilities. If you’re applying for a government position, there’s usually a veteran’s preference. Private companies aren’t required to give you any preferential treatment, they just can’t discriminate against you (some companies may give veteran’s preferences at their own discretion).
This is totally MY opinion and not backed up by facts or cites, but…as a Vet I would suggest that unless you get some sort of known advantage for truthfully claiming the correct status, don’t tell.
While a lot of jobs give lip service to supporting vets and equal access for the disabled, they really don’t want to risk having to spend money on accommodations. Popular media displays vets as mostly having mental and physical disabilities, so you need to be careful about what you disclose.
If I had an ethnic name, I might be tempted to use a white sounding nick-name on resumes as well. Just because of the ingrained biases out there.
A “protected veteran” is not the same thing as a “veteran”. @gdave’s pamphlet explains who does and does not qualify as “protected”. e.g. I personally am a veteran, but not a protected veteran. So for me the truthful answer is #1.
That’s the end of my facts. On to the rampant opinion / speculation …
IMO …
If the employer is heavily dependent on the federal government for their business then the OP admitting to protected veteran status is probably beneficial to their employment chances.
If the OP is a protected veteran by virtue of a no kidding disability for which accommodation will be required, it probably makes sense to admitting to protected veteran status. As between accomodating an e.g. 1-armed guy who lost it in a war or in a farming accident, the former is going to give a big business more “credit” than will accomodating the latter.
For businesses not obviously heavily dependent on Federal government contracts I’d (reluctantly) agree with @JaneDoe42 that declining to answer is probably best. The smaller the business you’re applying to the more this is true. If you get to the interview and see that veteran status would probably help, you can bring that up then.
The more flag-wavy the business the more I’d lean the opposite way. Play up your veteranness and if relevant, protected veteranness.
All my opinion and worth every penny you didn’t pay for it.
An interesting aside is the way you phrased the second choice:
I identify as one or more of the classifications of a protected veteran
The use of the terms “I identify as” says at least to me that they view protected status as a matter of your opinion. That’s very different from a second choice of “I am a protected veteran.”
IOW, it sounds like choice 2 means “You objectively meet the legal standards for PV AND you subjectively choose to consider yourself as meeting the objective standards, but you’re under no obligation to do so.” IOW, someone who meets the objective PV standards can legitimately choose to say “Nope, I just don’t feel like I’m a PV” and the employer is permitted (required?) to take your decision as fact.
If indeed I’m parsing all this correctly, you can legally and truthfully select choice #2 even if your service fits the legal definition of PV.
If this is true (and I make no guarantees; I’m making this up figuring this out as I’m going along) my bet is that choice #2 would be better than choice #3 on a job application.
Any employer, and especially a big one, dislikes any evidence of evasion or unwillingness / uncooperativeness. It’s just not a good look on a candidate. The law says they can’t discriminate regardless of which box you check. But ref all we know of the evils of the business world, it’s pretty clear which box is the good one in the general case: “I’m not a protected veteran.”
As to the objective criteria, here’s the wiki list of campaign medals. If you have one of these medals, you’re a PV.
Here’s the list of operations which should have resulted in the award of the Armed Forces Service Medal. If you have this medal you’re a PV.
Since you say you’re not disabled, and presumably have been out more than 3 years, then if you have neither of the above, you’re definitely NOT a PV per that DOL pamphlet.
Subject to my comments above about what “I identify as …” means.
Yes, but that’s a different statute. The Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 grants employment protections for protected veterans with service-connected disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 provides similar employment protections for all Americans with disabilities. It’s possible there are some significant differences in the wording of the two laws or their enforcement mechanisms, but I Am Not A Lawyer. I’m just going by the FAQ I linked above, which specifically references VEVRAA and not the ADA.
Circling back with a nice update here. I got hired! My last day at my current job is tomorrow. I gave notice 2 weeks ago. I’ll have a couple of weeks off to enjoy the holidays and then I start my new job the Monday after New Year’s Day.
Thanks for the good advice upthread, and I hope y’all enjoy your holidays.
In the US, you were asked this question on your application because the employer is required to collect this information on all applicants in case they are audited for non-discriminatory fair hiring practices. It does not really convey any benefit to you directly in hiring. When you process your hiring paperwork, you will be asked the same question again because the employer is also required to collect this information on all employees, for the same purposes. Similar to asking about your race/ethnicity, the information is gathered (generally) statistically, and is not intended to be specific to individuals.
If you are being hired by a government agency, separately you may be asked a similar (but not identical) type of question to convey veterans preference in the hiring process. Basically, they use a point system, and you get additional points for being any of a number of veteran categories, including the surviving spouse of a veteran.
Thank you @JaneDoe42 and @Icarus. It is looking like a good job that I will be happy doing. Let’s hope it plays out that way. I don’t need to make a lot, I just need enough to pay the bills and I will be so that is good! And thank you for the explanations and answers to my questions. Makes sense.
Take care and enjoy the holidays. I hope you and yours are staying safe and well.
