Military employment opportunities offer options for almost everyone depending on motivation, goals, education, age and commitment. You may find yourself eligible for military employment and civilian military jobs even as a civilian with no previous military background. Your searches will turn up military contractor jobs and military government jobs in dozens of career fields. Additionally, you'll find opportunities for joining the military as active duty, guard or reserve members.
On the flip side, there’s many military job opportunities for retired or honorably discharged military veterans. They possess numerous resources that help them locate post-military jobs, and advertisements for employment for military veterans pop up all the time. Civilian sector employers recognize the strengths veterans bring to the table because of their former military jobs–strengths like leadership, discipline, an enormous amount of responsibility throughout their military careers, integrity and education background. Consider the following as you search for jobs for veterans, military careers or civilian military jobs:
1. Make use of online job databases.
2. Learn about your options if you're thinking of joining the military and wearing the uniform.
3. Start now on your resume for civilian employment for military positions.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Use online databases when researching civilian careers in military specialties
Several resources exist for civilian job seekers looking for militaryfederal employment.
I recommend: Go to
USAJOBS, the official site for federal job listings, and begin your search. You can also try the
Defense Finance and Accounting Service for job vacancies.
Search online job databases for post-military jobs
Job seekers leaving military careers and jump starting civilian careers can locate numerous resources online.
I recommend: Check out
Bradley-Morris, Inc. for free tips and sample resumes for officers and enlisted members transitioning out of the military.
MilitaryHire also offers online career tools and a job search database for veterans.
Learn about your options before joining the military
You won't just decide Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy or Coast Guard. The options of active duty, guard or reserve service deserve careful consideration, too, so spend time thinking about the commitment you'll make and why you'll make it. Check for sign-on bonuses available.
I recommend: Start your search at Military.com's
10 Steps To Joining The Military where, among other things, you can compare the services and learn more about military careers and guard and reserve opportunities. Also check out each branch of service that interests you since they each maintain recruiting pages on their own websites. Armed with that information, seek out local recruiters in your area for face-to-face meetings about careers in military specialties.
Build the right resume when seeking civilian/federal jobs
The resume you used for job hunting in the civilian sector won't cut it when you search for careers in military fields. Finding military jobs for civilians previously involved creating different resume formats when applying for different positions. Fortunately, the Federal Government's Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has created one resume format applicants now use for Federal job openings.
I recommend: Civilians and veterans looking for military/Federal jobs should start at the OPM's USA JOBS website,
open an account and begin creating a new resume. Before you start writing, check out USA JOBS
resume writing tips
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- As a veteran (retired or honorably discharged), know you can earn veteran's preference points when you apply for federal jobs. You can receive either 5 or 10 points depending on length of time served, when you served, disabilities and a few other factors. These points will provide you with an advantage when you submit military/federal job applications.
The official source of Military Jobs is the Military Jobs page at Business.com
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