Tesla Motors Is a Favorite Employer Among Veterans

Tesla Motors has made it clear they want to be more than just a car company. They have been pushing for the environmental benefits of electric vehicles, going even so far as to offer their patents free for use by other companies, for the larger good. Now Tesla is being praised for efforts to help United States military veterans.

Many veterans face difficulty finding civilian jobs after they return from deployment. San Jose Mercury News determined that Tesla is currently well on their way to "becom[ing] a leading employer of America's military veterans." Currently, Tesla has about 6,000 employees— 300 of these are veterans. In addition, 600 more veterans are in the "hiring pipeline." 

Ted Daywalt, president and CEO of VetJobs (a military job board,) said when it came to employers for veterans, "Tesla has risen to the top. They have a good reputation. They hire veterans who can talk to other veterans. There is a language in the military, and having someone who can speak the lingo is important." This is because the company has essentially created a recruitment system, a work environment, and positions that are suited to the strengths of military members. 

The veterans are hired for various positions, though many end up on the technical building team, as they developed the relevant technical skills during their military service. Additionally, the Tesla technical building department works in a team, and the company has found the veterans work exceptionally well in this dynamic. 

Tesla also employs a former Army intelligence analyst in their human resources department. They focus on recruiting veterans through word of mouth referrals, partnerships with veteran organizations, and veteran-geared recruitment events. Every month, the company hosts a gathering for their military employees. 

They also employ active duty military members. In the event an employee has to return to duty, Tesla holds their position and keeps in contact with the employee throughout their tour.