Capital One Celebrates National Hire a Veteran Day

Every year, approximately 200,000 men and women leave U.S. military service and return to life as civilians.  

The resilience, integrity and ingenuity of America's veterans and military families make them uniquely positioned to drive growth and innovation in our communities. And yet too many members of the military community face financial challenges and hurdles when entering the civilian workforce. To help alleviate these problems, Capital One offers robust recruiting and professional development programs, as well as entrepreneurship and financial education initiatives geared toward the military community, so that we serve them in appreciation for their service to our country.

For National Hire A Veteran Day, recognized on July 25, Capital One’s Carl Ciovacco, Senior Director and Head of Commercial Business Operations, and Valerie Jeffries, Head of Diversity Talent Acquisition shared tips for transitioning servicemembers. Ciovacco and Jeffries formerly served as military officers in the U.S. Army, and both now serve in leadership positions in Salute — Capital One’s Military business resource group that supports nearly 6,000 veterans, military spouses, and allies. 

Military Officers from Capital One Offer Advice for Fellow Servicemembers

Explore your education benefits: “The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a variety of programs to help servicemembers pay for their education, like the Post-9/11 GI Bill which can be used to supplement Tuition Assistance Program funding,” Ciovacco said. “I pursued continuing education after receiving my bachelor’s at West Point, and I encourage servicemembers to understand their eligibility for grants, loans, tax credits and deductions that can help make education affordable. Also, many employers, including Capital One, provide education benefits such as tuition reimbursement. These benefits may help their employees start a degree or professional certification, or take the remaining courses to complete their degree requirements." 

Find companies that understand veterans: With almost half of veterans leaving their first post-military job within a year, finding the right job fit is incredibly important to those with military experience. 

“Many organizations in the civilian world value your experience, skills, work ethic and training from the military,” Jeffries said. “Hiring Our Heroes helps job seekers get employment-ready with career development workshops, on the job training, networking groups and hundreds of annual job fairs. Capital One has supported Hiring Our Heroes since its inception in 2011 as part of our commitment to creating a place where associates of all backgrounds can thrive, including military talent. It’s important to find companies that understand and value your military background.” 

Lean into “soft skills” and mentorship: When interviewing, many recruiters and hiring managers look for transferrable hard and soft skills that candidates can bring to their civilian roles. Military experience offers the greatest leadership development and training. 

“Veterans are some of the most desirable candidates for civilian jobs because of the soft skills they learned during their time in uniform, not despite them,” Jeffries said. “Whether you’re a veteran with civilian work experience, or transitioning out of the military, we’re looking for a range of skills and talents at Capital One. Our company offers internal resources, including a mentorship program for the military community, to accelerate onboarding and help enable associates’ career growth. Both mentors and mentees build community and learn more about available opportunities for growth within the enterprise.” 

Veterans can also explore military family support options.

“My wife was in the military and my son is currently in Air Force ROTC, which makes me a military spouse and a military parent, in addition to being a veteran,” Ciovacco said. “Military families are up against additional roadblocks, not experienced by others – whether it is needing to relocate on short notice or having to take on additional responsibilities when a loved one is on deployment. It’s important to find an employer who has programs and benefits to support your unique needs.”

Capital One is proud to support military spouses and family members. With robust communities and support networks to aid in the personal and professional success of military spouses, Capital One earned the 2023 Military Friendly Spouse Employer designation, among others. Capital One also takes great pride in its role as a longstanding prominent partner and member of both the Veterans Employment and Military Spouse Employment Advisory Councils for Hiring Our Heroes.

If you’re transitioning out of the military or are a veteran with civilian work experience, we encourage you to visit https://www.capitalonecareers.com/military.