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Veterans Employment Toolkit Handout banner with a dark blue gradient background containing logos for the National Center for PTSD and Veterans Affairs.

Created April 6, 2012

Resources for Veterans

Employment is an important issue for Veterans. Helping Veterans find and obtain employment, as well as advance their civilian careers is a high priority. The information provided here is designed to provide you with answers and resources in finding and obtaining employment, as well as making career decisions and excelling in the workplace.

Looking for help creating a resume, writing a cover letter, or completing a job application?

The Department of Veterans Affairs' VetSuccess provides a section for Veterans where you can build a resume (https://www.vetsuccess.va.gov/public/resume_tools.html), find help to translate skills (https://www.vetsuccess.va.gov/public/military_skills_translators.html), and search for both federal and private sector jobs (https://www.vetsuccess.va.gov/public/jobs.html).

Real Warriors also discusses how to translate military experience to civilian employment in a resume. http://www.realwarriors.net/veterans/treatment/civilianresume.php*

Trying to describe your military experience, skills, or positions in civilian terms?

The Jobs Thesaurus finds job descriptions to describe a job you held while in the military. http://www.taonline.com/jobsaurus/*

Want more information about what to do in a job interview?

The Department of Defense's TurboTAP (http://www.turbotap.org/register.tpp*) also provides information on a number of relevant topics, including:

Need to find job listings or career fairs to attend?

A number of organizations offer job listings and career fairs that are available both in-person and virtually to help Veterans find employment. Check these out; you might find an interesting job that fits for you.

Interested in a website with workforce preparation and training?

VetNet (http://www.vetnethq.com/*) is a technology-based platform positioned to assist Veterans, transitioning Service Members, and their spouses, find and prepare for meaningful post-service careers.  VetNet is a dynamic and interactive platform, where each week live content will be delivered and focused across three ‘tracks’ of workforce preparation and training.  These tracks include:

  • Basic Training Track: Get ready for the workplace with resume writing workshops, learn and understand paths to work, school, or self-employment…and also connect directly to a database of over one million Veteran-preferred jobs.
  • Career Connections Track: Learn about different career options and opportunities by participating in weekly video chats with industry experts, and get advice from Veterans eager to share their career experiences.
  • Entrepreneur Track: Is business ownership is right for you?  If so, participate in online seminars focused on the nuts & bolts of business ownership, and weekly ‘hangouts’ with experienced entrepreneurs.

Looking for federal employment or internship opportunities?

USAJOBS (http://www.usajobs.gov/*) houses all federal employment listings.

Mil2FedJobs helps translate military occupations to federal jobs. http://www.dllr.state.md.us/mil2fedjobs/*

The US Department of the Treasury posts job positions and offers non-paid internship opportunities to wounded warriors and Veterans through the Operation Warfighter and Non-Paid Work Experience programs.

The US Department of State participates in Operation Warfighter, has a Veterans Program Office, and employs military spouses using a hiring mechanism, the Family Member Appointment (FMA).

Operation Warfighter offers civilian agencies the opportunity to provide temporary/part-time internship opportunities for injured Service Members recovering at DC-area military medical facilities. http://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/operation-warfighter/*

Interested in working for the VA?

Visit VAforVETS to search job listings, see job fair postings, and visit the Career Center. http://vaforvets.va.gov/veterans/Pages/default.aspx

The Career Center links you to the Military Skills Translator, as well as job assessments and a Resume Tool (both require creation of a login). https://mst.vaforvets.va.gov/career-center
https://mst.vaforvets.va.gov/mst/va/mos-translator

Want to post your resume online for employers?

A number of websites allow you to create an account and post your resume online for employers looking for Veterans to employ. These include:

Interested in starting your own business?

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has an Office of Veterans Business Development (http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/1/2985*) that provides Veterans counseling to start, grow, and succeed in their businesses. The site also provides information on how you can get help accessing capital, competing for federal contracts, and creating jobs. In addition, SBA also supports the National Guard and Reserve and their military families when a small business owner is called to serve. Some of their programs include (but are not limited to):

  • Entrepreneurship Boot Camp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV): training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 Veterans with service-related disabilities. http://whitman.syr.edu/ebv/*
  • Women Veterans Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE): training, networking, and mentorship for women Veterans. http://www.whitman.syr.edu/vwise/*
  • Operation Endure & Grow: online business training for National Guard and Reserve members, their families, and business partners. http://www.whitman.syr.edu/endureandgrow/*

Interested in a specific career field or industry, such as…

Teaching? Troops to Teachers is a U.S. Department of Education and Department of Defense program that helps eligible military personnel begin new careers as teachers in public schools. http://www.proudtoserveagain.com/*

Construction? Helmets to Hardhats connects Veterans to promising careers in construction. http://www.helmetstohardhats.org/*

Healthcare? Inova Health System's Military to Medicine program is a career pathway for Veterans, military spouses, and recovering wounded Service Members. It includes education, training, and hiring programs. http://www.militarytomedicine.org/*

Computers and technology? Military@Microsoft is Microsoft's Military Outreach program targeted towards assisting transitioning Veterans with navigating the private sector job market. http://www.microsoft-careers.com/content/military/we-still-serve/*

  • Their Military Job Decoder allows Veterans to enter their branch of service and military code and be linked to open jobs that Microsoft thinks will best utilize that military specialty.
  • You can also chat with current employees who are Veterans via an email request on their site.

Law enforcement? The International Association of Chiefs of Police has a current project aimed at Employing Returning Combat Veterans as Law Enforcement Officers. http://www.theiacp.org/Employing-Returning-Combat-Veterans-as-Law-Enforcement-Officers*

They have created the following guidebooks.

  • Veterans Guidebook
  • Family Guidebook
  • Leader’s Guidebook & Training Curriculum

Environment? Veterans Green Jobs helps Veterans transition into their communities and find career opportunities across all environmental sustainability sectors of our economy. They offer training and experience, directly employ Veterans, and offer entrepreneurial opportunities. http://veteransgreenjobs.org/*

Welding, plumbing, pipe fitting, sprinklerfitting? The United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Sprinklerfitters (UA)'s Veterans In Piping (VIP) Program provides returning Veterans with 16 weeks of accelerated welding training. The program is preceded by an additional two weeks of transitional training to help returning Veterans to adjust to civilian life. http://www.uavip.org/*

Financial services? The Wall Street Warfighters Foundation prepares disabled Veterans for careers in the financial services industry. http://www.wallstreetwarfighters.org/about.html*

Were you wounded or injured or have a disability?

Real Warriors provides a descriptive list of programs and resources available to wounded and injured Veterans. http://www.realwarriors.net/veterans/treatment/career.php*

The list includes:

Interested in what employment services the VA offers?

The Veteran Employment Services Office (VESO) was set up to fill open jobs in VA with our nation's Veterans, support them while they work at VA, help them as they deploy to serve in the National Guard and Reserve and ease reintegration back into the VA workplace. VESO oversees all VA Veteran employment initiatives and manages VA for Vets, its flagship initiative. http://vaforvets.va.gov/sites/veso/Pages/default.aspx

VA for Vets is a comprehensive program that provides employment and career management resources designed to attract, retain, and support Veteran employees at VA, including those serving in the National Guard and Reserve. VA for Vets also offers HR professionals, supervisors and hiring managers’ resources to enhance the work they are already doing to support Veterans and Military Service Members – from recruitment to work at VA to deployment and reintegration. http://vaforvets.va.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Compensated Work Therapy is a VA vocational rehabilitation program that focuses on matching and supporting work ready Veterans with competitive jobs. Additionally, it provides information on consulting with businesses and industry regarding their specific employment needs. Programs at different locations include Incentive Therapy, Sheltered Workshop, Transitional Work and Vocational Assistance, Supported Employment and Post-Employment Supports, and Transitional Residence. http://www.va.gov/health/cwt/veterans.asp

The Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service (VR&E) VetSuccess Program assists Veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. For Veterans with service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, VetSuccess offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible. http://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/index.asp

Looking for other resources on employment?

The Department of Labor's VETS offers a variety of resources, including information on the Federal Veterans Hiring Initiative, information on USERRA laws for members of the National Guard and Reserve, and much more. http://www.dol.gov/vets/*

The Department of Labor's My Next Move is a website that helps you find out more about careers (including describing types of jobs, education needed , and skills and abilities that will help one succeed), browse careers by industry, and find careers like your military job. http://www.mynextmove.org/vets/*

Call of Duty Endowment is a non-profit public benefit corporation that helps military personnel transition to civilian careers by assisting organizations that provide job placement and training to Veterans, as well as engaging the media and public forums to raise awareness about the issue. http://www.callofdutyendowment.org/*

Furthering your education to obtain employment?

Check out the student Veterans of America, a coalition of student Veterans groups on college campuses across the United States. The coalition's mission is to provide Veterans with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and following graduation. http://www.studentveterans.org/*

Veterans Employment Toolkit Handout

www.va.gov/vetsinworkplace

*Links will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs web site. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.