Leaving The Military? Here’s How Veterans Can Prepare For A Corporate Career

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Most U.S. veterans say their military service was useful in giving them the skills and training required for careers outside the military. Specifically, 29% say it was very useful while another 29% say it was fairly useful, Pew Research Center reports. Working age veterans also typically fare just as well as non-veterans when it comes to gaining employment. Entering the corporate world after leaving the military can be challenging, but not as difficult as you may think. By tapping all available resources and strengthening your existing skills, you can improve your chances of landing a corporate job after leaving the military.

Take Advantage of Available Support 

Fortunately, support is available to help veterans in all areas of civilian life from careers to housing. For example, a Hero Loan program is available to make it easier for veterans and their families to secure a home loan. VA loans require no down payment and offer low interest rates. They also involve limited closing costs since they’re backed by the Department of Veteran Affairs. When it comes to securing your new career, start by getting in touch with your local transition assistance office for a free career assessment. A career assessment will look at the skills and strengths you developed in the military and how they can best be applied to a corporate job.

Translate Your Military Skills and Experience 

Civilian employers don’t always recognize military licenses or certifications. To bridge this gap, the Army’s COOL (Crediting Opportunities Online) can help you turn your skills and experience into industry-recognized qualifications in high demand by civilian employers. COOL can help you find out about various licenses and certificates relevant to your experience and interests. They can help you learn more about whether you should try one of the many trade school programs out there to learn something new, for example. Through this program, you can strengthen your skills — either in your current military occupation specialty (MOS) or in an entirely new area you’re planning on entering as a civilian professional. You also won’t have to pay; COOL funding is available for any credential offered. You get more information and locate your service branch’s COOL website by visiting the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service website.

Contact Your Transition Assistance Office

Get in touch with your transition assistance office, which offers a number of helpful services, including their Transition Assistance Program (TAP). The TAP provides information, tools, and training to aid the transition to all areas of civilian life for veterans and their families. In particular, the Department of Labor Employment Fundamentals of Career Transition offers a comprehensive introduction to a plethora of resources and tools designed to help service members find information about civilian employment, assess their career options, and understand the basic steps of the employment process.

For veterans, transitioning from the military to a corporate job is an exciting yet challenging step. By taking advantage of all available support, translating your military skills and experience, and getting in touch with your transition assistance office, you can stand out to employers and land your desired job as quickly as possible.

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