While it may not feel like it to those on a prolonged job search, there are businesses out there that hire veterans. Specifically, businesses that want to hire veterans because of their unique skillset.
George Anders wrote about this in his LinkedIn news article titled, “Veterans’ newest career map is here: standouts range from cyber to Seattle.”
We’re going over that discussion here. This article on veteran careers will be a summary of the above, plus some unique career tips. Keep reading to get the full sitch, below.
The LinkedIn Article
Instead of asking for the summary or the main points, kids these days ask for the “TLDR” or too long, didn’t read. The TLDR on the LinkedIn article is that many veterans are going back to school for higher education or are working in tech.
In his article, George Anders lists Booz Allen Hamilton as a business that is seeking to hire 2,000 veterans. The people at that company say that veterans fit what they’re looking for. They especially want to hire veterans with program management, IT, and cybersecurity experience.
They also don’t want you to worry if you don’t have the official certifications or skills that you see listed on job applications. They’re happy to teach you what you need to know. They trust the dedication and work ethic of veterans enough to hire and train them on the more technical aspects.
However, Anders says that there are plenty of cheap and online ways to get those certifications. Sites like Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn premium have courses you can take for cheap. These courses result in a certificate you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Testing for and gaining LinkedIn badges are another way to go. You can find study guides for them online, and taking them is free!
Where to Live for Career Success as a Veteran
The article goes on to discuss that it’s still not easy to get a job after service. Honestly, it’s not easy to get a job right now, period. But there are specific US locations that value veteran employees more than others.
According to the article, those places (in order), include:
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Norfolk, VA
- San Antonio, TX
- Washington D.C
- Jacksonville, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Las Vegas, NV
- San Diego, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Seattle, WA
The graph specifically looks at military veterans with a bachelor’s degree or higher. They rated the cities on their likelihood to have veterans in “manager-level and higher roles”.
Veteran Careers and Higher Education
The article goes on to discuss that more veterans than ever are seeking higher degrees. There has been an increase in the number of veterans getting graduate degrees and even Ph.D.s. The article suggests that those who have at least a bachelor’s degree are more likely to get hired post-service.
Would you consider going back to school?
Veteran Jobs and the Best Veteran Careers
The best career for veterans is one with a potential for growth, respect for what you’ve been through, and an appreciation for the military leadership style. Whether you choose to apply to certain companies or move to one of the cities above, we wish you luck.
To learn more about veteran careers and continuing in the military, click here.
This article was originally posted on USMilitary.org and has been shared with permission.
K,
It could be that your husband’s resume and/or cover letter (he should be writing a cover letter each time he applies for a job) aren’t properly selling his skills and how he can help a given organization. Or it could be the job interview that isn’t turning out well for him.
Your husband should take a good, honest look at these things and see how he can improve them to increase his chances of getting hired. He may also want to ask the decision maker(s) why he is not being hired. I wish him well moving forward.
My husband is 5 years retired from the military. He has 2 bachelors degrees, a masters, and leadership degree. He applied for over 200 management jobs, and was told he didn’t have any civilian experience. So many hiring managers past him over because they didn’t see the value of his resume and the education, leadership, and skills he acquired in the military and offered to a position. After 25 years in the military, companies wanted him to start at the bottom with college graduates. Not many companies valued his military training and experience. Now I understand the struggle of transitioning into civilian life. It’s a real shame the struggle he had after serving his country for so long. My children and I served with him for 10 years moving, switching schools, and doctors until the next orders came and it was time to move again.
Grad. USCGA
BS ENGINEERING
Wall street. 15 years
Silicone vaey 12 years
Hard to believe you with this grammar.