Job-Search Checklist

Here’s a basic checklist of some important resources you should consult in transitioning to the civilian job market. Of course there are many other programs and resources available – but this list provides is a good basis for starting your civilian job search. 

    1. Are you familiar with which civilian occupations will utilize your military experience? If not visit the Military to Civilian Career Translator to learn how to translate your skills to civilian-speak.
    2. Are you interested in going back to school for a degree, or for technical or apprenticeship training? You need to familiarize yourself with the Post-911-GI-Bill.
    3. Take a few minutes to read about the military’s extensive Transition Assistance Programs (TAP) which are available to you. Currently the Marine Corps is the only service branch that requires TAP briefings, and overall only about 2/3 of all separating active-duty service members attend TAP employment seminars. Yet the program has been shown to be very effective in assisting Vets in finding employers that have targeted hiring programs or jobs for Military Officers. 
    4. Are you a disabled Vet? Check out the Voc-Rehab (Veteran Readiness & Employment) program and the Disabled Transition Assistance Program
    5. Need to talk to someone knowledgeable about careers and Vet jobs in your field before you dive deeper into your job search? Take a look at  American Corporate Partners, which will connect you one-on-one with corporate professionals and managers.
    6. Are you familiar with the Veterans Employment and Training Services (VETS)? This is a major Department of Labor resource you should make use of. It offers a Job Bank, transition services, state by state American Job Centers, (One-Stop Career Centers) and much, much more. While you’re there read about the Jobs for Veterans program, which provides grants to state and local agencies to offer services, such as training, licensing and certification, as well as one-on-one employment counseling.  Of course, you definitely should make use of the huge resources of your State Veterans Administration Offices
    7. Interested in Federal government employment?. A good tutorial on how to apply is here. And the Feds offer a comprehensive website on the subject of Federal jobs for Veterans here.
    8. Did you know over 38 million Americans work for Fortune 1000 companies? These large companies often have dedicated Veteran Recruitment Programs, committed exclusively to recruiting qualified Vets, including Officers. Visit our Vet-Friendly Companies page for a listing of companies which have Veteran Recruitment Programs.
    9. Be sure to scan through our FAQ’s page. It provides answers to numerous important job-research questions.
    10. Visit our national Vet-Friendly Job Board., which is keyword searchable. And don’t overlook our Niche Job Boards page, which lists many industry-specific job boards.
    11. Register on our site, Military Officer Jobs, so we can enter your resume into our Military Candidates Database, which will make it available to employers..
    12. Still need help? Contact us for individual placement assistance. Headhunting is what we do, we’re recruiters.  Of course, there is no fee to candidates for placement services.

IMPORTANT:  If you are a present or former US military officer you will find suitable civilian employment. Thousands of companies across the US are interested in hiring Vets, including both retired and transitioning officers.  Here is a partial list of Vet-owned Vet-Friendly Employers.