n today’s America, the best jobs for veterans are often the ones that utilize some of the skills they developed while serving. And, believe it or not, those types of jobs can be found in almost every industry. After all, former service members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard frequently make outstanding employees because of their transferable skills, disciplined work ethic, and cooperative attitudes. But when it comes to transitioning back into civilian life as a military veteran, jobs can seem elusive, at least in the early stages.
Just know this: Over the long term, America’s military vets tend to have an advantage in the job market over their non-veteran counterparts. Even though the initial transition from military to civilian employment can be difficult, veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces mostly experience lower rates of unemployment over the course of their entire working lives than those in the general population.
So the jobs are out there. But for a newly discharged veteran, employment in the civilian world is something that is often found only through persistence and extra effort. Think about it: Every year, between 240,000 and 360,000 U.S. servicemen and women leave the military. And that’s on top of the millions of other veterans who are already out of the service. (In 2015, America was home to 21.2 million military vets, according to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on the employment of veterans.)
As a result, it isn’t unusual for young or recently discharged veterans to experience a period of unemployment after leaving the military. Learning how to qualify and compete for civilian jobs can take some time. It’s normal. That’s why, in 2015, about 43 percent of the 495,000 unemployed veterans in America were under the age of 45, according to the BLS.
That doesn’t mean that good veterans jobs only go to older vets. On the contrary, there are frequently a lot of civilian jobs for veterans who are younger or less experienced. But attaining those jobs often requires that you get some additional training or education, which you can often pay for with your military benefits. It also requires that you know how to conduct an effective veteran job search, including how to find companies that hire veterans.
Of course, a lot of veterans simply don’t know what type of career to pursue in the first place. Without the structure of military life, it’s easy to feel lost when confronted with the larger, different world of civilian occupations and expectations. However, allowing yourself the freedom to get acquainted with several possibilities is a good way to start transitioning into your new life. At this stage, your mission is simply to explore without putting too much pressure on yourself.
To read more on the best jobs for veterans, click here.
