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Military personnel and Veterans returning from service have many options available to them for employment in the civilian workforce. Many see military service as a good way to receive post-secondary vocational training and education when they otherwise would not have been able to afford it. Many jobs in the military transfer well to civilian service, including opportunities for disabled Veterans. Read on to learn more about programs and resources, as well as federal jobs for Veterans seeking employment after their military service.
Career and Employment Resources for Veterans
There are many programs available specifically aimed at assisting Veterans to find employment once they leave the military. Many of these include government initiatives, support programs, online programs, and other resources through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In addition to these programs, the GI Bill, which you can read more about at this link, also offers educational opportunities in conjunction with these Veteran jobs programs. Here are some of the programs offered to those looking for Veteran jobs:
VA for Vets: There are many VA careers for Vets within the Veterans Administration itself, and preferential treatment for some jobs is often given to former Servicemembers who apply. Employment with the VA and other Veterans Affairs careers are especially good jobs for military personnel.
FedsHireVets: There are many federal jobs for Veterans in a variety of departments, some of which specifically hire former military personnel for certain roles involving the military. There are also federal jobs for disabled Veterans and VA hospital jobs.
VMSTEP: The Veteran and Military Spouse Talent Engagement Program is a VA program that helps Veterans, military spouses, and transitioning service members find jobs in the federal government, either within the VA itself or other federal entities.
Veterans Employment Center (VEC): The Veterans Employment Center is a federal online tool that helps Veterans, retiring Servicemembers, and their families find jobs in the public and private sectors. The VEC connects job seekers with employers who are committed to hiring Veterans by providing access to job listings, resume and profile building, and help showing Veterans how their military skills might translate to a civilian role.
Helmets to Hardhats: This is a non-profit organization that helps military Veterans transition to civilian life by connecting them with construction industry careers. The program offers training, apprenticeships, and Veteran jobs opportunities.
Hire Heroes USA: This is a nonprofit that provides free job search support to U.S. military members, Veterans and military spouses.
Wounded Warrior Project: This is a nonprofit organization that helps wounded Veterans, Servicemembers, and their families. WWP offers programs and services to help Veterans transition back into civilian life, including career counseling and job-seeking help.
Paralyzed Veterans of America’s Veterans Career Program: This offers free employment support to Veterans, retiring Servicemembers, spouses, and caregivers. The program’s goal is to help people find meaningful employment, education, or volunteer opportunities through one-on-one support, accommodations, and other services.
Veterans Employment and Training Service: This is a federal agency that helps Veterans, military spouses, and transitioning Servicemembers find careers. VETS provides resources and expertise to help Veterans reach their full potential in the workplace, as well as seek employment with the VA or other Veterans Affairs careers.
How to Find VA Jobs
The VA offers many opportunities for Veterans seeking employment through its various assistance programs. If a Veteran wants to apply for VA jobs in their region or other VA careers, follow these steps:
- Research for Veterans Affairs jobs: Research the various jobs available through the VA by first visiting their career guidance website and determine which available role will be a good fit.
- Search for available jobs: Visit the USAJobs website and begin the process of searching for available employment within the VA. Often, numerous VA hospital jobs are available at any given time, making it an excellent place to start your Veteran jobs search.
- Submit your application: Fill out the application for the job you want, submit your resume along with the completed application, and include any relevant documents.
- Interview: Interviews are conducted in person, over the phone, or via video chat, especially for Veterans Affairs jobs. For VA careers, be prepared to discuss your military career and relevant experience.
- Accept an offer or re-apply: If you are accepted for the position, you will typically receive a phone call within 30 days.
Jobs for Disabled Veterans
Those who suffer a service-connected disability often find that they may not be able to work in the jobs they intended prior to their military service. Fortunately, for many, service-connected disabilities do not prevent a Veteran from working in some industries such as Veterans Affairs jobs, specific jobs for military personnel, and federal jobs. Some of these include vocational rehabilitation counselors, information specialists, administrative assistants, and jobs for military translators within the Veterans Administration or other federal jobs. In many cases, both civilian and federal agencies offer accommodations and supports for Veterans with disabilities, and jobs for disabled Veterans often allow for provisions and accommodations that allow a disabled Veteran to reach a full potential in the job. Federal jobs for disabled Veterans and other Veterans Affairs jobs also come with special pensions and disability resources, and many Veterans Affairs jobs and VA careers that employ disabled Veterans include counselors to other Veterans who have suffered a disability. Some of these programs and government policies are intended to help Veterans with disabilities find suitable work. Some of these include:
- Veterans Readiness & Employment program, which you can read more about here
- Ticket to Work for those on Social Security
- Veteran and Military Transition Center
Top Veteran Jobs for Military Personnel
There are many Veteran jobs for military personnel available that are particularly good for those who have gone through military service. Law enforcement and security are popular careers for combat Veterans, especially military police. However, some other top Veteran jobs include:
- Human resource manager
- Aircraft maintenance technician
- Electrician
- Automotive specialist
- Information management
- Engineers
- Intelligence analyst
- Mechanical engineer
- Operations manager
- Firefighter
Searching for Veteran Jobs Near Me
If you are looking for military-friendly jobs, a search for “Veteran jobs near me” often brings up results for Veteran jobs that cater specifically to Veterans. A good place to start might be your local or regional Veterans Administration office. In many cases, these regional offices have resources for Veterans looking for employment. There are also other ways to search for jobs for military Veterans.
- Talk to a local staffing agency about agencies and organizations that employ Veterans or know of jobs for military personnel nearby.
- Talk with a counselor at a Veterans assistance organization, such as the Wounded Warrior Project, for resources and information on organizations that hire Veterans.
- Ask your local library to research agencies that hire Veterans. Sometimes, libraries have career assistance specialists or librarians who assist with this type of search.
- Check with local volunteer and charity groups for information on organizations they work with that might hire Veterans.
How Hiring Veterans Benefits Employers
There are many industries that understand the advantages of hiring Veterans for specific Veteran jobs, and provide Veteran jobs for military personnel. Industries that require leadership and problem-solving skills within the workplace often look for those who have completed military service, understanding that these are individuals who have already received a good deal of leadership training that they can bring to the industry. There are even programs that incentivize businesses to hire Veterans, providing them with benefits such as tax credits and other federal grants. Some benefits to employers who are looking at hiring Veterans include:
- Strong work ethic, as Veterans are often recognized for their dedication to their work and strong sense of responsibility.
- Leadership skills, as military service puts heavy emphasis on leadership development that benefits civilian workplaces.
- Adaptability, as many who have been in the military must learn to quickly adapt to changing situations and solve complex problems under pressure.
- Teamwork, as Veterans are accustomed to working effectively within a team and collaborating towards the common goal.
- Accountability, as military training often installs a strong sense of discipline.
- Tax benefits with the federal government offering work opportunity tax credits to businesses that hire Veterans.
Frequently Asked Questions About Veteran Jobs
Visit VACareers.va.gov and search for Veteran jobs by location or job title. Here you will see what jobs are available at the VA and which you qualify for.
Visit VACareers.va.gov and search for Veteran jobs by location or job title. Here you will see what jobs are available at the VA and which you qualify for.
There are many resources available to Veterans who are looking to transition from military to civilian careers. One of these is the Transition Assistance Program, which provides information, resources, and tools to Servicemembers who are preparing to move from military to civilian life. There is also the Veteran Readiness & Employment program, which assists Veterans who may have disabilities in seeking out civilian jobs that accommodate their disabilities.
There are many jobs available for disabled Veterans, including some clerical or office jobs within the Veterans Administration itself, or other federal Veteran jobs. Depending upon the disability, Veterans can also apply for almost any regular civilian job that is willing to accommodate their disability. Some of these jobs for military Veterans might also make use of any military skills the Veteran acquired during service.
The salaries for both tend to be comparable, and both will offer accommodations for disabled Veterans, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, in some positions, it might take 10 years for the pension to get vested, whereas Veterans Affairs jobs take five years. Furthermore, VA jobs tend to prioritize preference in selecting candidates from former military, as opposed to other federal Veteran jobs, which might not.
VA careers offer life insurance benefits, healthcare, education benefits, competitive salaries, disability, Veteran jobs placement opportunities, annual leave, flexible scheduling, and certain on-the-job training.
Some careers that are the most Veteran friendly include defense, federal, healthcare, and technology. These might include weapons and security, VA jobs, public administration, government services, information technology, cybersecurity, manufacturing, transportation, and law enforcement.
Some of these obstacles include a lack of interest in military experience among some employers, a lack of a support network for Veterans, especially disabled Veterans, a lack of mental health or emotional support.
Often it is best to find a civilian career that makes use of the military skills you may have acquired. If you were a mechanic in the motor pool of a military unit, quite often these skills transfer to civilian mechanical experience. Likewise, those who were military police tend to find a home in law enforcement.
Services such as LinkedIn are a good place to start to begin networking with other Veterans and service personnel and those seeking to hire Veterans for their businesses.
Listing your education, certifications, and military skills relevant to the job you apply for is important.