JAGUAR LAND ROVER’S COMMITMENT TO HIRING VETERANS
27 April 2016
Jeff Jennings, Director, Jaguar Land Rover Training, explains how the employment plan will be as beneficial to retailers as it is for Veterans.
What has the feedback been from your retailers on the initiative?
Our retailers think ensuring our Veterans find gainful employment is absolutely the right thing to do. Jaguar Land Rover is expanding at an all‑time rate and our retailers are in need of talented, experienced technicians. Many of the Veterans who have already applied have the most remarkable resumes; we have applicants who have worked on attack helicopters, complex weapons systems, and have identified and resolved issues with the most‑sophisticated electronic equipment. Being former military, they are extremely disciplined, loyal, understand structure and are highly‑motivated and organized. We feel honored to have these men and women working on our customers’ Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.
How has the new program’s response been so far?
The initial response has been tremendously positive. Right now, 81 of our 217 retailers have signed up and that number is increasing every day. We launched the applications on March 4, and already have more than 150 applicants, and that number is growing significantly.
Can you tell us how JLR will use the Invictus Games as a recruitment platform?
Jaguar Land Rover is presenting partner of this year’s Invictus Games, which is taking place in Orlando, Florida. On May 5, three days before the Games open, we are holding a Recruitment Day for Veterans. We’ll have speakers from CALIBRE Systems, Inc., as well as our training department, and will also be bringing along Jennifer Meldahl, our first Veteran female technician employed under this new program. Jennifer has just started working in the service department at Land Rover Cary, near Raleigh, North Carolina. Mike Snyder, who is service manager at Land Rover Palm Beach and last year’s Master Guild winner of Land Rover North America’s top service manager award, will also be sharing his experience. Mike is also a 21‑year Marine Corps Veteran, and we’re proud to have him on our team.
How has CALIBRE Systems, Inc assisted in the hirings?
All the key people of CALIBRE Systems, Inc. are ex‑military, and are passionate about finding career opportunities for personnel after they have served their country. They’ve worked as recruiters during their military careers and know how the processes and systems work. They have also developed similar programs for other luxury automotive companies and have a proven track‑record and a proven model. While our initial plan was focused on recruiting technicians, we have expanded to recruiting Veterans, with the skill set, to work in our dealerships in positions ranging from service advisors to parts managers and sales specialists.
Those interested in Jaguar Land Rover’s Veterans recruitment program may apply online at www.jlrvets.com