It’s a fact – over 75 percent of the cleared professionals using ClearanceJobs.com are veterans. It’s an honor to serve those who serve but comes with obligation. With veteran unemployment above the national average, we all need to do our part to ensure that our nation’s heroes find a way to continue serving – through quality careers – once they return home.
Vets aren’t looking for a handout, they’re looking for an opportunity. Defense contractors largely know what a great option hiring a veteran can be – they come with valuable skills, experience and security clearances, often require little training and are eager to jump in, learn the ropes and get to work. Making the transition from service member to civilian isn’t without its struggles, however. And sometimes veterans have trouble navigating the transition. That’s why we’ve developed a host of online resources to help walk vets through some of the basics.
In honor of Veterans Day, here’s a wrap-up of some of ClearanceJobs.com’s top career tips, tools and resources for vets:
Job Search Mistakes Veterans Make
Learn from these mistakes to get your job search on track. From listening to everyone’s advice (but your own), to being unwilling to settle to limiting yourself, there are a number of things that can stand between you and the job you’re looking for.
Related: Translate Your Military Skills [Video]
Job Opportunities Available for Veterans
Learn how to take your coveted military skills and highlight them in your job search – from putting your disability or veterans status on your resume to why career fairs are an important part of landing a new career.
Related: Military Separation Guide
Common Military-to-Civilian Resume Mistakes
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, traditional resumes aren’t going anywhere. A new phenomenon for service members, it can be tough to encapsulate a 20-year career – or even a 3-year tour of duty – into a CV a civilian could understand. Here are the common mistakes and how to fix them.
Related: Bullet-Proof Your Defense Industry Resume
Recon Your Perspective Employer
Here’s a chance to put that military intelligence to use. Learning more about your potential employer than the other guy might be the critical factor in helping you ace the interview and land the job – here’s how to do it.
How to Sabotage Your Job Search
Civilian job interviews are a far cry from OERs (Officer Evaluation Reports) and performance reviews. Veterans will have to change their perspective, and perhaps they’re attitude, going into an interview if they want to get the job. A few simple things – like embracing specificity and sending a follow-up – can be key to landing the job you’re after.
Top 10 Certifications for Cleared Professionals
Certifications are increasingly important on the job, veteran or not. Especially if you plan to work in defense IT. If you don’t have commonly held certifications in your industry, consider using some of your GI benefits to enroll in a program to help you get them.
Standing Out From the Crowd in a Competitive Job Market
The fact of the matter is, today’s job search means more applicants applying for every position. For veterans, in particular, standing out from the crowd and highlighting your unique skills may be the ticket to landing a job.
