The transition from military to civilian life is fraught with obstacles, but finding employment doesn’t need to be one of them.
As recruitment website Nexxt points out, the military offers plenty of training that can easily be applied to civilian fields. Moreover, many military skills are highly sought after by employers.
In a news release addressing veteran hiring trends, Rosemary Haefner, the chief human resources officer for another recruitment site, CareerBuilder, said: “Our veterans bring a unique blend of discipline, leadership, and problem-solving skills that employers would be foolish to pass up.”
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Here’s a look at some of the best employment fields for veterans to consider:
1. Information technology — While technology remains a growing field with lots of opportunities, there are two information technology positions that are particularly great for veterans: software development and cybersecurity.
In support of the White House’s Joining Forces initiative launched in 2011 to help military families, Intel — one of the world’s largest information technology companies — launched its Veteran’s Employment Training program.
Besides offering computer training, the program also offers behavioral interview training, mock interviews, mentor matching, and one-on-one coaching.
As Military.com points out, many veterans already have experience working with some of the most advanced technology in the world. But even if you don’t yet have that experience, veterans have great problem-solving skills, which could help make them ace software developers.
In the case of cybersecurity, U.S. Marine Major Nick Swaggert — who works for a New York-based staffing firm — told Monster.com that veterans have an edge in the field.
Otherwise known as information security analysts, cybersecurity professionals are basically responsible for protecting a company’s online assets.
Swaggert says it's veterans’ understanding of "defense in-depth, redundant systems and active defense" that makes them great in the role.
2. Skilled trades — Think diesel mechanic, electrician, welder, or carpenter. Trade-schools.net points out ex-military members are often used to working with their hands, making this a relatively easy transition.
There are also a fair amount of apprenticeship opportunities and training programs like Helmets to Hardhats and Veterans in Piping that help veterans learn specific trades.
According to Adecco, employees with vocational or trade skills are more in demand than ever now that Baby Boomers, who have held more traditional skilled trade positions, are starting to retire.
The good news is that companies like Adecco are working to promote skilled trades as careers. They have pledged to create 10,000 apprenticeships by 2020.
3. Transportation and logistics — This is another field in which military members’ great problem-solving skills come in handy.
According to AOL, there are a number of employers who are specifically looking for military veterans for logistics positions. That’s because vets often have experience managing supply chains and tracking inventory — skills that are in demand as commerce becomes more and more global.
Those who aren’t keen on being a pointman can also consider driving trucks. CBS News reported in 2012 that 330,000 jobs were expected to be created in the trucking industry before 2020.
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4. Industrial production — At the end of 2012, some of the United States’ largest manufacturers formed a coalition with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) to employ more veterans.
Speaking to Military.com about the Get Skills to Work Initiative, the program manager of Veterans Initiatives at General Electric, Kris Urbauer, said the coalition was formed to solve two problems: to fill the skills gap in manufacturing and to absorb the veterans who left the military during its downsizing phase.
“You've got these veterans with a great foundation of skills of being able to work in teams, solve problems, work fast, be flexible, and come to work on time in the right uniform. It's a great assortment of good worker skills,” Urbauer says.
According to Career Cast’s Veterans Network, manufacturing company Oldcastle, Inc. launched its Military Skills Translator in 2016 with the aim to match veterans with open positions.
Oldcastle’s human resources director Cindy Reeves told Career Cast that the company is an old, established one with thousands of locations.
"This decentralized company structure, family 'feel' and team environment is one which can be very appealing to a transitioning veteran," she said.
5. Government and public service positions — According to Military.com, veterans get preference over civilians when applying for federal jobs.
Nexxt adds that the skills learned on duty are particularly attractive to government agencies like the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
In the case of the VA, veterans have the knowledge and experience necessary to truly make a difference in the lives of other veterans.
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