Veteran’s Employment Opportunities – A Guide for Military Veterans

• Dennis Damp
• January 14, 2022

Leaving military service creates many challenges for veterans especially when confronted with finding viable and rewarding careers that compliment their active duty work experience.  I know only too well about the trials and tribulations associated with this often traumatic move.  My number was called for the draft during the Vietnam War in 1968. I passed my physical and was advised to report for duty in two weeks if I didn’t join another branch of service. I immediately crossed the hall at the Federal Building and joined the U.S. Air Force for a four year tour.  I served a total of 10 years, just over three years active and the remaining time with the Air National Guard.

I was fortunate, the Air Force trained me to be an avionics technician and my skill set was transferable to the private sector.  In my case I was hired by the Air National Guard as an avionics technician under the Palace Chase early out program as the Vietnam War wound down.  Others that entered the service at the same time were not as fortunate and most were left to their own devises to find and secure employment.  Many leaving the service at the time were out of work for a year or more and most had to be retrained. This also happened after 9/11 and according to David Henry Weiss, author of Operation Job Search, “Among post-9/11 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, 33 percent have been unemployed for longer than one year and 17 percent have been unemployed for more than two years.“

This doesn’t have to be your story. The truth of the matter is that no matter what duties you performed on active duty many facets of your service will enhance your private sector job search. None of the least is the disciplined life you led while serving, your attention to detail, and your ability to follow orders and not question everything that comes your way. Employers benefit from these skills and seek them out. Therefore, you are already ahead of the game if you know the rules to follow that will get you there.

Operation Job Search; A Guide for Military Veterans Transitioning to Civilian Careers by John Henry Weiss provides the game plan all veterans need to find their path in life. This new book is what I consider to be the job guide Bible for anyone leaving the military and for veterans who haven’t found their niche yet.  This new book outlines the process you will need to take, how to develop a viable and realistic job search plan, and you will learn about all opportunities including private sector and government jobs to considering starting your own business.  You will discover how to prepare for the job interview, what clothes to wear, and review numerous training and job apprenticeship programs with many companies nationwide.

This indispensible guide will improve your chances and help you obtain not just a job but the career of your dreams. Another advantage is that you don’t have to read the entire 466 pages. You can go direct to the areas of interest no matter where you are at in your search and get the help you need to succeed. There are also sections devoted specifically to female veterans.

This excellent reference is available at all bookstores and on Amazon.com. It may also be available at your local library.

In your search don’t ignore opportunities with the federal government. According to the Office of Personnel Management’s report titled “Employment of Veterans in the Federal Executive Branch, Fiscal Year 2014,” 30.8 percent or 612,661 current federal employees are veterans.  The Veteran’s Preference Program gives veterans a distinct advantage when applying for federal jobs.

Helpful Federal Career Planning Resources