Feb 20, 2024
Heroes, Let Us Help You Get Hired
Reading time: 7 minutes
As veterans transition from the structured and disciplined environment of military service to the dynamic and often unpredictable landscape of civilian life, one of the paramount challenges they face is finding meaningful employment. In this post, PureTalk shares a number of excellent employment resources for service members and military spouses to use as they pursue civilian careers.
Types of job resources available to our Veterans
Veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce have access to a variety of resources designed to support their job search and career development. Some of these key veteran employment resources include:
Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs):
Organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) offer assistance, networking opportunities, and job placement services for veterans.
Government Programs:
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides employment assistance through programs such as the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment(VR&E). State workforce agencies also offer veteran-specific services.
Job Placement Services:
Many organizations specialize in connecting veterans with employers. Programs like the Veterans Employment Center(VEC) and Hire Heroes USA offer job boards, resume assistance, and career counseling.
Hire Heroes USA is a nonprofit organization that has been providing employment services to military members, veterans, and military spouses for more than a decade. The service is free, and it's effective: There have been more than 40,000 confirmed hires through the service. Hire Heroes USA provides career coaching services, resume reviews, interview prep, and job sourcing.
Military Skills Translators:
Tools like the Military Skills Translator help the veteran or service member translate their military experience into civilian-friendly language, making it easier to showcase their skills on resumes and during job interviews.
Educational Opportunities:
The GI Bill provides educational benefits, including funding for college degrees, vocational training, and certification programs, enhancing veterans' qualifications for civilian jobs.
Employer Initiatives:
Numerous companies actively seek to hire military service members and have specific veteran hiring initiatives. Websites like Military.com and VetJobs provide job listings from employers eager to hire veterans and connect with former service members.
Networking Events:
Veteran job fairs, career expos, networking events, and virtual job fairs create opportunities for veterans to connect with employers, recruiters, and fellow veterans in the civilian workforce.
Online Resources:
Websites like USAJOBS, LinkedIn for Veterans (which offers its Premium service to veterans for free), and MilitaryHire.com offer online employment services where veterans can search for job opportunities, connect with employers, and access career resources.
Explore several online programs to help connect you with employers who are looking to hire veterans.
Resume and Interview Workshops:
Workshops and coaching servicestailored to veterans help them refine their resumes, prepare for interviews, and develop effective job-search strategies.
Entrepreneurship Programs:
For veterans interested in starting their own businesses, programs like the Boots to Business initiative and the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Veterans Business Development provide resources and support.
These employment resources collectively aim to ease the transition for veterans, empowering them to navigate the civilian job market successfully and find fulfilling career opportunities.
Attention Employers
Are you interested in hiring veterans? The Veterans Employment and Training Service can help.
From the website: The U.S. Department of Labor VETS Regional Veterans’ Employment Coordinators (RVECs)work to help employers find service members, veterans, and military spouses.
They engage with local, regional, and national employers and connect them with Federal, state, and local resources to facilitate veterans’ employment.
Connects employers with resources
Helps employers understand their needs, address skill gaps, and attract veteran talent
Coordinates across local and strategic partnerships
Consult and coach employers in developing veteran hiring initiatives
Share industry recognized best practices
Leverages resources to reduce employer costs
Posted 2 months ago