Veterans: How to Search for & Land a Civilian Job

Starting to job hunt as a Veteran can be daunting, but there are plenty of resources available to help you along the way.

Here are some things you can do to land your dream civilian job:

Look for companies that actively hire Veterans

Many top companies know that Veterans make extremely valuable employees, and actively seek to hire them.

Most Veteran owned small businesses (like VetFriends) want to hire fellow Vets, so if you know of any VOSBs in your area, give them a call!

If you want to enter a specific industry, here is a short list of companies to help get you started with your search:

• Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.

• USAA

 • AECOM

 • Merck & Co.

 • Enterprise Holdings

Apply for Jobs Similar to Your MOS

Sticking with a similar industry to your Military occupational specialty will allow you to get your foot in the door quickly.

Experience is the most important thing that hiring managers are looking for, which is exactly what you have! Service members get unparalleled training and real world experience, and companies will be eager to hire you.

Interested in getting into the private security job market? Click here.

Reconnect with your unit brothers and sisters who trained and served by your side here, or learn how to start your buddy search here.

Make a Resume

Most jobs will require you to submit a resume with your application, so making one now will save time.

Your Military service looks great to potential employers, and will make you stand out from other applicants.

According to this VA Resource, good resumes contain all of the following:

• Additional information

• Honors and awards

• Veterans’ Preference

• Level of clearance held

Google’s Veteran Job Search Feature

Google recently launched a new search feature that allows Veterans to search for jobs based on their branch’s Military Occupation Code (MOS/AFSC/NEC/Rating).

To access it, search ‘jobs for veterans’, then the image above will appear.

Enter your code and start searching!

Utilize Outside Resources

For resume and cover letter tips from the VA, click here.

To access the ‘Hire a Veteran’ Job Board, click here.

For assistance finding career and employment resources from the VA, click here.

For more Veteran employment resources, click here.

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At some point in your job hunt, you will need to prove your Veteran status.

VetFriends.com offers Veteran ID Cards that will allow you to quickly prove your Military Service & move forward in the hiring process.

We wish you luck with your search!