Is your time in the service coming to an end? Do you have a plan for the future?
Have you figured out what your next career move is?
Maybe all of these questions have your head spinning.
The possibilities of what your future holds are endless—there are so many things to consider.
Even after all the classes, counseling, and separation meetings, many veterans find themselves struggling to answer these questions.
It’s completely normal to feel a little lost.
Whether you’re preparing to leave the military, or you’ve already transitioned but haven’t found the job, we’re here to help.
In this guide, we’ll provide five resources available to soon-to-be veterans to help you find clarity, prepare for the transition, and get hired.
Career And Veterans Employment Assistance
Nearly one-third of veteran job-seekers are underemployed.
In fact, according to The New York Times, veterans are 37% more likely to be underemployed than nonveterans.
During their time in the service, many service members are given strict orders on how to do their jobs. When entering the civilian workforce, this lack of structure can seem overwhelming.
Getting out of the military and starting over can make them feel overwhelmed and lost.
Oftentimes, veterans aren’t provided with enough information about finding a new career.
One of the most common misconceptions military members struggle with when looking for a job is:
I am not capable of landing the job I really want because I don’t have a degree.
The truth is:
You don’t need a college degree to find your dream job.
In fact, you just have to know how to position yourself to potential employers.
Veteran employment assistance programs not only help you find a job, they also teach veterans how to:
- Standout from all the other applicants
- Show potential employers how you can add value to their company
- Know how to translate your military experience into terms civilian employers can understand
Some of the top traits that potential employers look for in an employee include:
- Leadership
- Flexibility
- Perseverance
- Work ethic
- Interpersonal skills
Each of these traits would make you a valuable asset to any team you join.
To help you find the job of your dreams, we’ve created this guide full of resources that help veterans by providing job placement assistance and more.
If You Haven’t Yet Separated From The Military:
As your time in the military comes to an end, you might be asking the following questions:
How can I find a career outside of the military that I will be successful in?
Where do I start?
Are there resources that make the transition easier?
Maybe you’ve been Googling, “Veteran job assistance near me” and haven’t found the results you were expecting to find.
You’re not alone.
These types of concerns are common among the 200,000+ men and women who leave the military each year.
Fortunately, there are many programs and resources available to veterans and their families, including:
- US Department of Veterans Affairs Employment Resources
- TAP Programs for each branch of service
- American Dream U’s Military Separation Guide
- GI Jobs
- LinkedIn For Vets
- And more
Keep reading to learn how you can benefit from these resources.
If You Own A Small Business:
Whether you’re looking to upscale your business or looking to start a business for the first time, there are tons of resources available to you.
At Dream U, we are proud of our service member’s accomplishments and we want to see your business succeed.
We understand how big of an investment your business is, so we’ve created a guide full of free resources, specifically for veteran entrepreneurs.
The Vets First Verification Program is a great example of one of the resources available to you as a veteran.
Vets First Verification Program
The Vets First Verification Program helps create economic growth by stimulating the small business community.
Each year, the government spends over 3 billion dollars to help eligible veteran-owned small businesses. This program is run by the government.
It allows qualifying businesses to get access to resources and support, and to bid on federal set-aside contracts.
Here, you can find more information on:
- ow the program works,
- Learn if you qualify
- How to get started.
If You Are Looking For Veteran Job Search Assistance:
Your career not only contributes to your bank account, but more importantly, the wellbeing of yourself and your family.
Making the “right choice” can be terrifying, especially, when you don’t know where to start.
We’ve helped hundreds of veterans ease their minds by taking our free online course to help figure out just which direction they want to go.
To start your dream job search, we recommend taking some time to envision what your ideal future looks like.
When thinking about the kind of career you want in your post-military life, consider asking yourself some of these questions:
- What field will you be in?
- What’s your work day look like?
- How many hours a week do you work?
- Do you work from home or in an office?
- Is there travel involved?
Creating a clear picture of the goals you’re trying to reach can help create a more successful search.
It’s difficult to know where to start, which is why we’ve compiled the following resources to get you started.
5 Resources To Help You Navigate Veteran Employment
Over the years, a multitude of different organizations have been created:
- To provide veterans with job assistance
- Further their education
- Become employed
To save you time and frustration, we’ve done the research and found five of the best veteran employment resources available:
GI Jobs
GI Jobs main goal is to “ensure every veteran has a kick-ass transition out of the military and into the rest of their life. By ‘joining the ranks’ we’ll make sure you get the best-of-the-best of everything we’ve got.”
The company provides vets with two free guides:
- Mother Of All Transition Guides: Get out, Get Going, and Hit Civilian World with A Bang!
- According to GI Jobs, this guide has everything a soon-to-be veteran needs to know about transitioning out of the military
- ‘Getting A Job’ Field Manual:
- This manual is chock-full of information on how to begin your job search, learn interview best practices, and gain an understanding of how much money you “need to earn.”
Did you know that there are employers that are ready to hire veterans and their spouses right now?
GI Jobs is connected with hundreds of employers who want to hire veterans and their spouses.
The company also provides tons of helpful information about going back to school and provides resources for vets who are looking to start their own business.
How Do I Enroll?
To receive…
- Job alerts
- Weekly updates
- A monthly copy of the company’s digital magazine
…all you have to do is “join the ranks.”
Click the “Join the Ranks” button on their website, add your email, and you’re set. After you sign up you’ll receive emails monthly.
They have also created a web app that gives veterans access to thousands of jobs looking to hire veterans every month.
To sign up, you give the website a few pieces of information, including:
- our name
- Branch
- Years of service
That’s it. You’re enrolled and can start your job search in under two minutes.
Hiring Our Heroes
Hiring Our Heroes was launched in 2011 as a nationwide initiative to help veterans, military spouses, and transitioning service members find meaningful careers.
Hiring Our Heroes offers valuable resources to veterans and their spouses including:
- Fellowship Events
- Digital Programs
- Hiring Events
How Do I Sign Up?
For regular updates on job opportunities, Hiring Our Heroes offers a monthly newsletter sent straight to your inbox every month.
If you’re looking:
- For resume help
- To join a fellowship program, or any of their digital programs
You can click here for more information.
CareerOneStop Veteran And Military Transition Center
CareerOneStop is a website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
CareerOneStop’s goal is to be a one-stop-shop for all veterans’ needs as they transition out of the military.
What Do They Provide?
CareerOneStop provides veterans and their families with resources for:
- Transitioning out of the military
- Searching for jobs
- Unemployment issues
- Education benefits
- Finding Housing, food, and other essential needs.
- Disabled veteran job assistance
LinkedIn For Vets
LinkedIn offers veterans a free one-year subscription to their Premium Careers plan.
The subscription also includes access to LinkedIn Learning.
LinkedIn Learning offers hundreds of video courses created by different industry experts to help build on the skill sets already have, or are looking to learn.
This offer is not only available to veterans but their spouses as well.
Be sure to sign up within six months of your separation date to ensure you don’t miss out.
How Do I Enroll?
Learn more about what LinkedIn for Vets has to offer, and how to subscribe to the program, by clicking here.
Hire Heroes USA
Hire Heroes USA is a nonprofit organization that:
- Provides employment assistance to thousands of veterans, and their spouses, every year
- Connects companies with opportunities to hire veterans
- Partners with multiple companies to provide scholarships and training for military members, veterans, and military spouses.
Since they were founded, the nonprofit has helped over 43,000 people find jobs and get hired.
Where Do I Sign Up?
Signing up is easy, just head over to their website and click “Get Started.”
Follow the prompts, answer a few questions, and you’ll be on your way to finding your dream job, scholarships, or training to help you land the job.
Let ADU Provide You With Veteran Job Assistance
At American Dream U, our mission is to see every veteran and military spouse find success as they transition out of the military.
Whether you’re looking to…
- Further your education
- Find your dream job
- Open your own business
…we’ll be with you every step of the way.
