Hiring for any company can be a challenge. It takes time, diligence, and patience to find the right person for the right role. So how do you find a good fit? CoreCivic has found success working with veterans transitioning out of the military.

"Military veterans should be a match for CoreCivic," said Nick Tompkins, managing director of talent acquisitions at CoreCivic. "They have gone through training, they are not afraid of hardship or relocation, and they understand a chain of command with strict rules."

Along with traditional methods, CoreCivic has teamed up with the Whalls Group, a veteran owned company focused on finding employment opportunities for former military members that match their unique skill set. In 2019, CoreCivic partnered with the Whalls group to hold 12 events that included 447 participants. One such event led to one of the largest training classes in years at Crossroads Correctional Center in Shelby, Montana. 

Due to its remote location, it can be challenging to hire local candidates at Crossroads. However, after working with the Whalls group to host a hiring event in Seattle, Washington – far from the facility itself – the facility had a training class of 22 new staff members, which included 19 military veterans. Typically, veterans make up around 10 percent of CoreCivic's overall staff.

So why was this event such a success? Nick believes it's due to the investment CoreCivic makes to recruit, retain and celebrate veteran employees. "Our military veterans are a great asset to our nation," said Tompkins. "And we know that they can also be a valuable asset to Team CoreCivic. We want them to know they are welcome here."