Introduction
The transition from the military back into the civilian way of life may be difficult for some military veterans, especially if they have spent a longer amount of time in the military. Many veterans choose to go back to school or even work, depending on their preferences and where they are in life. The majority of veterans aren’t at the civilian retirement age when they first leave the military, so finding a civilian job is an option for many. However, going back to civilian life (including work) may be a little overwhelming for some. Here are a few ways that military veterans can ease their way back into the workforce.
#1: Find Part-Time Work
Military veterans can easily find part time work with their background. This could be in any field; The main goal is to find work that will get veterans back into a civilian routine, versus a military routine. Again, military retirees are typically younger in age compared to civilian retirees, so they are still able to work. The military provides its soldiers with top-notch training in a variety of areas, so any of these part-time positions could be a good it:
- Administrative Assistant
- Bookkeeper
- Customer Service Representative
- Dental Assistant
- Home Health Aide
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Nurse Assistant
- Office Clerk
- Paralegal
- Receptionist
- Sales Associate
#2: Start Your Own Business
All military soldiers, whether active duty, reserve, or retired, receive many financial assistance and programs, and one of these includes VBOC, or Veterans Business Outreach Centers, a resource for veterans looking to start their own business. Military veterans have gained a lot of leadership skills during their time serving the country, so entrepreneurship is another good way to ease back into the civilian workforce. VBOC helps veterans to become successful entrepreneurs by evaluating their abilities, business consulting, skill development, implementing operations, and mentoring. The skills and knowledge learned will help veterans to be able to start, maintain, and grow their businesses successfully.
#3: Civilian Careers for Military
Sometimes the easiest way for someone to transition is to transition to something similar. Many military jobs translate into civilian jobs, and many military skills can be applied to civilian jobs. Some of the best fields and careers for former soldiers include:
Healthcare
Jobs in the health industry are some of the best-suited jobs for veterans because of many of the skills they’ve acquired in the military. Some of the top healthcare jobs include administrative work and nursing. Becoming a personal trainer can also be a good career path since the military requires daily physical training for soldiers… The healthcare industry is also a very rewarding career path that pays well and is very fitting for servicemen returning back to civilian life.
Contracting/Skilled Trades
Many military veterans are good with their hands and have learned how to build and repair things during their time in the military. In the civilian world, they can find contracting jobs working on home/building remodels, or mechanical jobs working on cars that were in car accidents. This is a very useful and much-needed trade to work in simply because people get involved in minor to serious accidents all the time, whether in fender-benders or even high-impact collisions.
This is also a good option for veterans who don’t have college degrees and aren’t looking into schooling. Jobs in the skilled trades usually require, at most, a two-year degree, but they also pay as well as many jobs that require a four-year degree. Veterans can look into something called defense contracting, where the primary duties include building parts that aid in national defense.
Law Enforcement
Law enforcement is another career field that veterans can easily go into. For example, a police officer’s main job is to protect and serve the community, and veterans are skilled in protecting and serving the country. Other law enforcement jobs include a corrections officer, emergency dispatcher, and crime scene investigator.
There are many options for veterans looking to go back into the workforce, and veterans can try out different options to see which one works the best.
