Unemployment among military veterans has been a problem for decades, but thanks to many initiatives, it’s becoming less of a problem. Still, a big problem for many veterans looking for work is not knowing what the best careers for military veterans are. However, the unique nature of most veterans’ past experience makes them an ideal candidate for a number of careers, and can offer them a significant boost in the running for a position. We’ve gathered some of the top area where veterans can succeed, so keep reading to discover the best careers for military veterans.
Operations Manager
A very general title, operations managers have a remarkably similar set of duties to veterans with command experience, making it one of the best careers for military veterans. As companies expand, this position is expected to grow in demand, which will also greatly increase opportunities for veterans—as well as result in good competitive payments. These positions are especially prominent for veterans with a bachelor’s degree in industrial management or business administration.
IT Specialist
Information technology positions are popping up in businesses all over, as companies move to more digital systems that benefit from close maintenance and aid. This change is reflected in our own defense and security works, which makes information technology clearly one of the best careers for military veterans. With the new demand for IT specialists, the positon brings impressive amounts of benefits and job security, and any certification you may have achieved through military training applicable towards IT will give you a significant preference in hiring.
Law Enforcement
Predictably, there’s a very similar set of skills shared between national defense and law enforcement positions. As such, the transition between the two positions is much smoother than between a more civilian job. In addition, the shared skills that have already been learned provide a big boost in hiring as well as reducing training time. Long-term job security, excellent benefits, and even some G.I. Bill benefits to cover your police training costs will put a law enforcement position in high prioriy, making it the clear best career for military veterans for some.
Mechanic or Skilled Trades
Many military veterans have extensive experience working with vehicles, machinery, or other equipment on their deployment or at home. Car mechanic demand is on the rise, as well as a general increase in operators and maintenance providers for other mechanical systems. If you have obtained a certification in mechanical work, look into these as some of the best careers for military veterans.
Healthcare
The baby boom resulted in an inflated number of nurses, but as the years pass the majority of these medical workers will retire. After that, experts predict a never-before-seen rise in demand for these positions. Candidates for this position will ideally have a degree in some form of health service or science to be considered, as well as training during military service. If you have a degree and medical experience during your service, it is fairly easy to transfer what training you have to other fields through college programs, which are given preference because of past experience:
- Dental hygiene
- Physical therapy
- Lab technology
- Specialty doctor
Working with Consumers and Workers
While some veterans need to refine their people skills after returning from service, they need to hone their people skills again. However, those with active command experience have often quite the opposite experience—they return with a much clearer knowledge of how to work with people effectively. The need for employees to communicate efficiently and ensure that everyone under their responsibility is working the best they can will never decline, and this results in one of the best careers for military veterans. Look for an expected growth in this market in the coming years.
Drivers and Operators
Another skill that veterans often bring back from their service is advanced knowledge of operating vehicles and machinery, and these fields have abundant opportunities back in the civilian workforce. Two of the most popular of these positions, truck drivers and locomotive engineers, have been shown to earn on average more than $70,000 a year, making the position very attractive for returning veterans and easy because of acquired past knowledge. Both of these positions recruit veterans actively, knowing that they are some of the best careers for military veterans.
While veterans are most widely known for their service in the military, they bring substantial experience and skill to the workforce upon their return. The learning opportunities in the military prepare veterans for many ranges of occupations upon their return, and are reflected in the wide range of job opportunities and certifications they already have when searching for jobs after service. If you are a veteran, seriously consider these best careers for military veterans when undergoing your own job search. Many veterans are unfortunately unaware of how much they are gifted in the work world after they return from service, and they can use these benefits greatly to their advantage if they know where to look.