Mortgage fintech aims to hire 5,000 veterans and military spouses by 2025
As America paid tribute to its veterans, Better.com made a pledge to give jobs to thousands of veterans and military spouses.
The mortgage fintech said it will hire 80 veterans over the next few months through shift.org, a hiring pipeline from the military to how-growth startups; and 5,000 veterans and spouses by 2025.
“Veterans are an untapped source of talent that learned, operated and adapted to some of the world’s most innovative technologies from VR to robotics, nuclear technology and cyber,” said Vishal Garg, CEO and Founder of Better.com. “Whereas most managers may feel confused when staring at the resume of a Bomb Disposal Officer, I see that as invaluable experience that shows qualities of an employee who can improvise, adapt and stay cool under pressure.”
The firm has grown rapidly in the last year with 800 new employees and three new offices – in Charlotte, Costa Mesa and Oakland – with plans for three more in 2020.
It also moved its headquarters to 7 World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan.
Veterans unemployed
Recent stats show that 250,000 people leave the military each year but more than 800,000 are unemployed. Among military spouses, the unemployment rate is 16%, far higher than the 3.4% of the wider US population.
“I vividly remember my first day out of the military and how it took me about a full year to acclimate back to civilian life,” said Andrew Kilburn, Strategic Partnership Manager, Better.com’s first hire on the West Coast in 2017 and HM2 with the United States Navy. “One of the biggest challenges for vets is that employers hire based on resumes and college degrees and not real world experience. And yet, the time management skills, ability to learn and rapidly adapt are all key attributes that vets possess. I’ve had the privilege of being part of a team with unrelenting energy and desire to accomplish a mission. These are all key traits the military instills that would truly benefit any hyper-growth startup like Better.com, arguably more so than a college degree.”
More information is available at better.com/veterans
