Last year we put together a list of our favorite veteran employment resources. After we published this blog we were contacted by organizations in the veteran community that offer valuable resources to military service members transitioning back into civilian life.
According to a recent study, “44 percent of veterans experience high levels of difficulty when reintegrating into civilian life“. Luckily, The National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 mandates several improvements to the Transition Assistance Programs (TAP) that provide service members with resources to help the transition.
While these improvements are a well-received addition to the suite of support services available, many organizations find they can still offer aid in areas the transition assistance programs don’t reach.
With that said, here are the resources featured in part 2 of our favorite veteran resources:
COVID-19 Resources for Veterans
Type: Military transition resources
Link: https://benefits.va.gov/TRANSITION/coronavirus.asp
COVID-19 has made the already-challenging transition from military to civilian life experience even more stressful for many service members and veterans. This resource offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is solely dedicated to providing transitioning service members and veterans support and access to trusted, immediate information and resources during these uncertain times.
There are COVID-19 specific videos that cover topics like the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), finding mental health services during the pandemic, career planning and guidance advice, and information on the unemployment resources that are available to veterans.
Military-to-Civilian Transitioners LinkedIn Group
Type: LinkedIn Group
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1870541/
A networking resource for all military-to-civilian transitioners and those who want to share civilian opportunities for transitioning military. A LinkedIn group that is over 22,000 have frequent job alerts and support posts to help military professionals ease back into civilian working life.
Financial Relief & Discount Guide For Veterans With Disabilities
Type: Finance relief guide
Link: https://dealaid.org/do-good/disabled-vets-finguide/
From the publishers: “In this guide, we update and list the latest government, non-profit and private resources that offer financial assistance to veterans with disabilities. It covers housing, health care, education, career, business, COVID-19 and other available financial relief programs for disabled veterans and their families.”
Veteran Employment Training on LinkedIn
Type: Employment training
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/linkedin-for-veterans-2/welcome
If you are not on LinkedIn, this resource is a great guide on how to get started.
LinkedIn have an in-depth and interactive collection of training modules to help military service members learn how to set-up a LinkedIn profile to enter or re-engage with the civilian professional network. Developed by Marine officer Greg Call and communications expert May Chow, the course is tailored to a military perspective.
The training covers how to set-up your profile ,grow your network, and find a job on the platform. For veterans who may not be used to seeking jobs in civilian sectors, the training offered by LinkedIn is a guided approach to entering the digital space of the civilian job market.
Military Transition Resource List
Type: Military transition resources
Link: https://www.military-transition.org/resources.html
One of the most complete resource collections we have seen, military-transition.org have collected resources that range from job boards, recruiters, news, and advice, to mentor groups, training, benefits, and reading materials – all listed in one place.
If you’re looking for a lead on where to find a mentor program or support assistance, the Military Transition Resource List should be your first go-to.
They also have resources listed for military spouses facing transition and links to resources for employers seeking to hire veterans.
Silent Professionals Job Board
Type: Job search
Link: https://silentprofessionals.org
From the Founder of Silent Professionals: “The current situation is impacting people’s careers, and our veterans were already battling against unemployment before this global pandemic began. Which is why I’d really appreciate your consideration in adding our site to this page, as many veterans don’t know our free service is available to help them find work.
As a combat veteran myself, I know how challenging it can be to transition to civilian life, which is why I launched this site to help others with their transition by helping them find work using the skills they gained in military service.”
CareerOneStop
Type: Job search, military transition resources
Link: https://www.careeronestop.org/Veterans/default.aspx
CareerOneStop is exactly as advertised. With a job search function that connects you to jobs based on your military occupation code and a benefits and assistance section of the site, CareerOneStop is truly a one-stop shop for veterans seeking employment advice, jobs, and information on the assistance programs that are available after military service.
Are we missing something? Point us in the direction of your favorite veteran employment programs, toolkits, resources, and agencies.
