Veteran Employment: A Complete Guide to Ease Your Transition into Civilian Life

As military servicemen, you have been trained to master a series of skills that were used during your military career, and that can serve you to find suitable jobs as you go back to your civilian life. However, the transition can be harsh for some veterans as the benefits that come as part of military life disappear, and you have to look for a stable job with a steady income to cover for your needs. Additionally, the veteran employment market can be a difficult path to go through if you don’t have the right information to start a proper job hunt.

The employment options for veterans can be perceived as limited if don’t know where to look. Many servicemen enter the force right after high school and don’t have further studies. However, this is not an obstacle to find a good job that pays well and helps you have all the benefits you used to have in the force.

Veterans know how to handle stress and can work under pressure, see the value of discipline and teamwork, can design a strategy to meet an objective, and can follow a leader and know how to lead as well. Remember that frustration is the enemy of motivation; therefore, it is essential to have a sense of achievement after every job interview. Stay focused, keep reading and follow these suggestions carefully before you embark into the veteran employment quest.

1.     Analyze and Identify Your Skills

It is very important to look for an option that matches your skills. If you can’t type, it is useless to look for secretary positions, right? Alternatively, you can search for professional help to identify your skills. Take a vocational test and determine which job options work best for your individual skills.

2.     Build a Network with Your Peers

Finding a job can be very hard if you go solo. It is crucial to have a support network to stay informed and discuss your strategy so you can learn if you’re doing something wrong and thus, plan a new strategy. Compare your resume with that your peers and research for places that are recruiting even though they haven’t posted any ads yet. If possible, hire a recruiter to help you find the options with the least competition possible.

3.     Update Your Skills

The competition is fierce out there! Stay up to date with the new technology and techniques used in your field so you can increase your chances to be selected. You could enroll in adult schools or further your studies at the university. You could also join in the NPower program, a federal government program sponsored by foundations and grants. NPower offers veterans a chance to improve their skills or learn new ones in a completely free program. Remember to update your resume as you develop your skills.

4.     Use Social Media on Your Favor

Social media is everywhere and that includes job recruiters. Follow companies that might offer jobs that suit your profile. You could also benefit from LinkedIn —try to keep your profile updated and look for job opportunities. Check your email regularly; you might lose a job opportunity if you wait too long to answer. You could also create a profile in job marketplaces and filter your job search to fit your skills and needs.

5.     Inform Yourself about Government Programs

There are federal programs that offer help to veterans looking for a job. The Veterans’Preference Hiring Program, for example, helps those heroes that have served the military forces and want to start their lives as civilians again. The Veterans’ Preference Program gives veterans the first option to get federal job positions. Even though the program offers job positions for all veterans, it provides special attention to those service members that have suffered accidents with permanent consequences and are considered disabled.

Having a veteran as part of your workforce should bring pride to any company. They are highly-trained physically and mentally, plus they have strong values that could greatly benefit the growth of any business.

- Employers: each time you review the resume of a veteran, think of all the skills you will be adding to your workforce.

- Veterans: never settle for less than you deserve. Make a wise job search and find a job position that makes you feel comfortable.

Our veterans have set an example of discipline and love for the country, showing our gratitude is the least we can do for them.