Application of person–organization fit to military veterans

Purpose – Human resource management professionals strive to establish a high person–organization (PO) fit when hiring, as doing so ultimately reduces turnover and increases employee performance outcomes. However, tailored strategies toward improving the PO fit of military veterans have yet to be exp...

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Main Authors: Meliza Figueroa-Torres, Josh Jordan, Michael J. Kirchner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Publishing 2025-05-01
Series:Organization Management Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/OMJ-05-2024-2182/full/pdf
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author Meliza Figueroa-Torres
Josh Jordan
Michael J. Kirchner
author_facet Meliza Figueroa-Torres
Josh Jordan
Michael J. Kirchner
author_sort Meliza Figueroa-Torres
collection DOAJ
description Purpose – Human resource management professionals strive to establish a high person–organization (PO) fit when hiring, as doing so ultimately reduces turnover and increases employee performance outcomes. However, tailored strategies toward improving the PO fit of military veterans have yet to be explored – a particularly concerning oversight considering the prevalence of veteran hiring initiatives and correspondingly high turnover rates of former servicemembers in their first nonmilitary jobs. This paper aims to explore the PO fit model’s application toward military veterans in nonmilitary organizations. Design/methodology/approach – A review of veteran transition literature was conducted to identify aspects of military veteran career transition issues, which suggested a perceived gap in fit between their job or organization. Findings – The review revealed prevailing transition challenges which likely arose, at least in part, due to veterans’ lack of fit in nonmilitary organizations. The findings informed development of a veteran–organization fit model based on a needs-supplies conceptualization of PO fit. Research limitations/implications – The authors apply the needs-supplies perspective of PO fit to address identified veteran career transition challenges. Importantly, the authors offer organization management scholars concrete steps for assessing the impact of integrating the proposed framework within civilian organizations. Practical implications – This study sheds light on how PO fit practices can be tailored and integrated by HR professionals for their military veteran newcomers. The authors offer HR practitioners POF strategies for military veteran newcomers in nonmilitary organizations. Originality/value – This paper offers organization management and HR scholars and practitioners a needs-supply informed approach toward improving PO fit of military veteran newcomers.
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spelling doaj-art-0c8ae5f9e80f48c39557f5cd40d82f562025-08-20T03:14:28ZengEmerald PublishingOrganization Management Journal1541-65182025-05-0122212613810.1108/OMJ-05-2024-2182Application of person–organization fit to military veteransMeliza Figueroa-Torres0Josh Jordan1Michael J. Kirchner2Department of Human and Organizational Psychology, Touro Worldwide University, New York, New York, USADepartment of Management, Davenport University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USADepartment of Organizational Leadership, Purdue University-Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USAPurpose – Human resource management professionals strive to establish a high person–organization (PO) fit when hiring, as doing so ultimately reduces turnover and increases employee performance outcomes. However, tailored strategies toward improving the PO fit of military veterans have yet to be explored – a particularly concerning oversight considering the prevalence of veteran hiring initiatives and correspondingly high turnover rates of former servicemembers in their first nonmilitary jobs. This paper aims to explore the PO fit model’s application toward military veterans in nonmilitary organizations. Design/methodology/approach – A review of veteran transition literature was conducted to identify aspects of military veteran career transition issues, which suggested a perceived gap in fit between their job or organization. Findings – The review revealed prevailing transition challenges which likely arose, at least in part, due to veterans’ lack of fit in nonmilitary organizations. The findings informed development of a veteran–organization fit model based on a needs-supplies conceptualization of PO fit. Research limitations/implications – The authors apply the needs-supplies perspective of PO fit to address identified veteran career transition challenges. Importantly, the authors offer organization management scholars concrete steps for assessing the impact of integrating the proposed framework within civilian organizations. Practical implications – This study sheds light on how PO fit practices can be tailored and integrated by HR professionals for their military veteran newcomers. The authors offer HR practitioners POF strategies for military veteran newcomers in nonmilitary organizations. Originality/value – This paper offers organization management and HR scholars and practitioners a needs-supply informed approach toward improving PO fit of military veteran newcomers.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/OMJ-05-2024-2182/full/pdfMilitary veteransPerson–organization fitHuman resource managementVeteran career transitionOnboarding
spellingShingle Meliza Figueroa-Torres
Josh Jordan
Michael J. Kirchner
Application of person–organization fit to military veterans
Organization Management Journal
Military veterans
Person–organization fit
Human resource management
Veteran career transition
Onboarding
title Application of person–organization fit to military veterans
title_full Application of person–organization fit to military veterans
title_fullStr Application of person–organization fit to military veterans
title_full_unstemmed Application of person–organization fit to military veterans
title_short Application of person–organization fit to military veterans
title_sort application of person organization fit to military veterans
topic Military veterans
Person–organization fit
Human resource management
Veteran career transition
Onboarding
url https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/OMJ-05-2024-2182/full/pdf
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