Employment Important Issue for Veterans after Completion of Military Service

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn

With employment an important issue for Veterans completing their military service, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a Veterans Employment Toolkit designed to provide those who have served their country with resources on how to find jobs, make smart career decisions, and advance in the civilian workplace.

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

The Veterans Employment Center (VEC) connects transitioning Servicemembers, Veterans, and their families with tools to translate their military skills into plain language and build a profile that can be shared with employers who have made a public commitment to hire Veterans.

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

The Jobs Thesaurus helps Veterans find job descriptions to best explain the position they held while in the military.

Need to find job listings or career fairs to attend?

The Veterans Employment Center contains links to Upcoming Veteran Career Fairs.

Interested in a website with workforce preparation and training?

VetNet assists Veterans, transitioning service members, and their spouses find and prepare for meaningful post-service careers with live content focused across three ‘tracks’ of workforce preparation and training:

• Basic Training Track: Learn and understand paths to work, school, or self-employment while connecting 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 houses all federal employment listings.
• The U.S. Department of the Treasury posts Open Positions and offers non-paid internship opportunities to wounded warriors and Veterans through the Operation Warfighter and Non-Paid Work Experience programs.
• Helping Military Families and Veterans, 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.

Interested in working for the VA?

Visit VAforVETS to search job listings, see job fair postings, and find resources to help you transition from the military into a new career at VA.

Interested in starting your own business?

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has an Office of Veterans Business Development that provides Veterans counseling to start, grow, and succeed in their businesses. Some of the programs funded by the SBA and run by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families include:

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

Interested in employment resources for women Veterans?

• The Department of Labor (DOL) website includes employment statistics on women Veterans as well as resources and tips for women Veterans seeking work.
• Joining Forces for Women Veterans and Military Spouses Mentoring Plus offers free coaching, mentoring, and professional guidance for women Veterans, spouses, and caregivers.
• For women Veterans interested in federal employment, the VA has created a handout covering a range of topics specifically related to the federal job search and transition support for women Veterans.

The Veterans Employment Toolkit from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is available at www.va.gov/vetsinworkplace/veteranresources.asp. A full version of the Resources for Veterans (Handout) list is available for print and download at www.va.gov/vetsinworkplace/docs/em_fullVetResources.asp.

In addition, Silent Professionals – a website launched by a combat veteran to help other veterans find work using skills gained in military service – has direct pipelines to a wide range of jobs in the defense and private security industry as well as unique corporate security job opportunities. To learn more, visit https://silentprofessionals.org/.

According to the History of Veterans Day page on the VA website, Veterans Day is an official United States federal holiday honoring people who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and is observed annually on November 11, a date marking the anniversary of the end of major hostilities in World War I on November 11, 1918.

Military veterans face unique challenges in the civilian workforce. Nearly two-thirds – 64 percent – of U.S. military veterans employed in white collar jobs in the civilian workforce say they are not using skills that could be relevant in the corporate world, according to a book about unlocking the value of Veterans in the workforce.

On this Veterans Day, Employment Screening Resources® (ESR) would like to thank the men and women who are Veterans of the U.S. military for their service to our country. For more information about background check services from ESR, please call us Toll Free at 888.999.4474 or visit us at www.esrcheck.com.

NOTE: Employment Screening Resources® (ESR) does not provide or offer legal services or legal advice of any kind or nature. Any information on this website is for educational purposes only.

© 2016 Employment Screening Resources® (ESR) – Making copies or using of any part of the ESR News Blog or ESR website for any purpose other than your own personal use is prohibited unless written authorization is first obtained from ESR.