National and Federal Veterans Career Resources
Veterans Resources
Making the transition from military to civilian life, whether it is after one enlistment or a full career, can be challenging. Adjusting to a new structure, figuring out what work you’d like to do, translating military rank and terminology to corporate speak—all of these things can take a lot of effort, and possibly some frustration, to figure out.
A good way to get started is to think about whether you want to continue doing the type of work you’ve been doing in the military (tech, cybersecurity, MP, and more administrative roles translate pretty evenly over into the civilian world), or whether you potentially want to do something like security contracting which might be similar.
On the other hand, you might choose to do something completely different, in which case, considering your skills and listing them out so you can think through where they might fit in the career world can be really helpful. It should be relatively easy to list out physical and technical skills—computer proficiencies, coding, accounting software, typing skills, management, supply chain, logistics, etc. However, soft skills might be more challenging. Communication might look different in the military than it does in the civilian world, as might leadership and supervision. Here’s a DoD primer on Service Members’ Intangible Skills that might be helpful in contextualizing how to talk about how your service translates into civilian job skills.
The DoDSkillBridge program enables you to gain industry skills during the last few months of your service through employer partners who recognize the skills and abilities military veterans bring to the job.
General Resources:
Below are some resources that help your translate your military experience to civilian skills. There are also several programs which help you make the transition to civilian life, as well as search sites which use your military rank or MOS to connect you to jobs that fit your background.
- com Veterans Bring Exceptional Skills, Including Soft Skills—a good breakdown of soft skills in military perspective.
- MilitaryFriendly’s yearly list of military friendly employees.
- Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program—Service-specific curriculum for making the transition to civilian life.
- American Corporate Partners (ACP) military mentorship program
- Duke Energy Careers/Military Programs website has a tool that helps you translate your military rank to where you might fit in the energy industry.
- The Veteran’s Employment Toolkit from the VA is geared towards convincing employers why hiring veterans is a plus, but it can also give you some insight into your skills and how they are an asset in the civilian workplace.
- Veteran Employment Services Office provides employment readiness assistance and outreach to transitioning service members, Veterans, and eligible military spouses
- Capital One’s Translate My Skills portal—enter your military rank/title and it connects you to jobs which fit those skills
- info’s list of companies with veteran’s hiring programs.
- Home Depot’s Military Skills Translator tool—enter your MOS and see what jobs coincide
- Northrop Grumman’s Military Transition Guide
- Robert Half Veteran’s Initiative provides career resources to veterans and military spouses and help veterans identify civilian career opportunities where both their military experience and their technical and soft skills will be understood and valued.
Corporate Initiatives:
Many companies recognize the benefit of hiring veterans, and offer leadership development and transition programs to help you make the switch. Below are just a few examples.
- Barclays AFTER Programme
- (Armed Forces Transition, Employment & Resettlement Programme) We know that ex-military and Armed Forces members have outstanding experience, skills and values and Barclays supports thousands of servicemen and women with their transition into civilian employment. Explore our exciting range of career opportunities within a supportive and dynamic environment.
- Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSSA) provides transitioning service members, Guard, Reserves and veterans, including those with clearance, with critical career skills required for today’s growing technology industry.
- For student veterans, Microsoft Aspire Experience is a two-year development experience for those who join Microsoft after graduating from an undergraduate, masters or a full-time MBA program.
- Walgreen’s Helping Veterans with Educational and Retail Opportunities (HERO) Program merges the opportunity to continue to enhance your leadership experience in the civilian world, while pursuing a bachelor’s degree to help you achieve your educational goals.
- IBM’s Veteran’s Employment Initiative provides software training, certification and job placement assistance to veterans pursuing careers as data analysts.
- BAE Systems Warrior Integration Program is a three-year rotational program designed to integrate Post 9/11combat-wounded, -injured, or -ill service members into BAE Systems, setting the stage for progression in a new career.
- Deloitte’s Career Opportunity Redefinition & Exploration (CORE) Leadership Program at Deloitte University, in Westlake, TX, helps armed forces members and veterans translate their skills, knowledge, and experiences into a business environment.
- Northrop Grumman Military Internship Program (DoD SkillBridge) is an opportunity for transitioning service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through an individual internship during their last 6 months of service, for up to 180 days.
Amazon’s Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Management training and hands-on experience in the civilian workforce. Active duty service members are matched with Amazon based on their skills and preferences for a 12 week internship program.
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The Veterans, Inc. Employment & Training Program is designed to help reintegrate homeless veterans into the labor force. This program is employment focused. Veterans receive job counseling, pre-employment services, job training, job development and placement services.
Troops to Energy Jobs provides veterans with a roadmap for entry into highly skilled utility and engineering occupations within the energy industry. The roadmap starts with exploring the energy industry and ends with applying for jobs.
You’ve served your country. Now you are ready for a new challenge. What do you want to do for a living?
NPower - Technology Service Corps
NPower will provide free technology and professional skills training for Veterans. We will offer mentoring from business leaders, paid apprenticeships and career development workshops at leading corporations and nonprofits, industry-recognized certifications as well as employment and alumni services.
The Veterans Certifying Official for a higher education institution provides certification to the Department of Veterans Affairs that a student is enrolled at the institution and in only those courses that meet the requirements of their specific program. This certification is required for tuition to be paid to the school for the veteran under the GI Bill.
Service Member Opportunity Colleges
Service Members Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium colleges and universities are dedicated to helping service members and their families get college degrees. Military students can take courses in their off-duty hours at or near military installations in the United States, overseas, and on Navy ships.
National Guard Family Readiness
The National Guard Family Program exists for the sole purpose of supporting and educating families along the path of their National Guard life. In addition to our national office in Washington, DC, there are staff members and volunteers in each of the States & Territories.
Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve.
Airman and Family Programs Office supports the military readiness of the wing by providing programs that enhance the welfare and morale of service members and their families.
Highlights the skills brought home by returning servicemen and women and their value to employers in the workplace.
National Association of State Approving Agencies
The National Association of State Approving Agencies is responsible for approving and supervising education and training programs for veterans, eligible members of the National Guard and the reserves, and other eligible persons.
Vietnam Veterans of America, Careers
One of the Vietnam Veterans of America’s most successful employment training programs is `Winning the Employment Game` (WEG). This program focuses on helping individuals achieve results by providing a personalized career exploration and job-search program. With a 90% success rate, `WEG` graduates attain jobs they want.
Swords to Plowshares is the only veterans service agency in the United States that provides a full continuum of care. We help vets, as well as families of vets.
American Corporate Partners (ACP) is a nationwide mentoring program dedicated to helping veterans transition from the armed services to the civilian workforce through mentoring, career counseling, and networking with professionals.
With the demand for truckers at an all-time national high, with trucking jobs filling the help wanted pages, it makes sense for many veterans to transition out of the military and into a truck. Whether tractor trailer, big rig, dump trucks or other commercial straight trucks, the pay is fantastic and the entry bar is low. Troops to Truckers assist veterans in understanding their options for Class A and Class B licensing and helps the move through the process to a great career!
Military Spouses Interstate License Recognition
Military spouses can search directly on the portal for guidelines and state laws on professional licensing, including information on how occupational licenses from one state can be recognized in another. The webpage features a map that shows which states offer temporary licensing, expedited licensing, or licensure by endorsement for relocating spouses.
Whether you are looking for work that’s full-time, part-time, or remote, we will help you meet your goals. Our services are personalized to you, and are available to U.S. military members, veterans, and military spouses for free.
Boots to Business (B2B) is an entrepreneurial education and training program offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program. B2B provides participants with an overview of business ownership and is open to transitioning service members (including National Guard and Reserve) and their spouses.
The program provides counseling and referral services for participants to help them meet education and licensing requirements to teach and subsequently helps them secure a teaching position. Every service member interested in a career in teaching will receive assistance to transition his or her leadership, training, and core values to teaching in kindergarten through grade twelve schools.
If you’re a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and were separated under honorable conditions, you may be eligible for veterans’ preference, as well as other veteran specific hiring options.
Military Spouse Corporate Career Network
A non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide unparalleled service in employment so that every military spouse, caregiver, and military family member can have a pathway to a portable career within their chosen career paths. Aimis to increase job placement and career development for military spouses and family members through the elimination of employment obstacles.
Career development program designed exclusively to supply talented military experienced personnel for employment in the telecommunications industry. Industry partners are provided with highly trained and motivated veterans tailored for their workforce.
American Corporate Partners (ACP) is a nationwide mentoring program dedicated to helping veterans transition from the armed services to the civilian workforce through mentoring, career counseling, and networking with professionals.
VETS, Veterans Employment and Training Services
VETS provides resources and expertise to assistance and prepare veterans to obtain meaningful careers, maximize their employment opportunities and protect their employment rights.
U.S. DOL Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program
This is a federal employment focused competitive grant program. Its focus is exclusively on competitive employment for homeless veterans.
VA for Vets is designed to help Veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses successfully find civilian careers in the federal government.
National Guard Tuition Assistance
The ARNG Federal Tuition Assistance provides financial assistance to ARNG soldiers in support of their professional and personal self-development goals.
Upon completion of the 20 week training program and associated requirements, the student will be considered a second year apprentice and will be guaranteed a job somewhere in the United States.
Veterans in Farming and Ranching
USDA wants to ensure that veterans looking to return home, or start a new career on a farm or in a rural community have the tools and opportunities you need to succeed.
Source U.S. Department of Labor
US Department of Labor Veterans Services Career Exploration and Planning Track - Includes a link to an extremely useful work book.
Military.com - Veteran Jobs Page
FedsHireVets Federal Job Listings for Veterans
