Employers appreciate the strong work ethic, discipline, perseverance, problem-solving abilities, and leadership skills that military veterans often bring to the workplace. Veterans are usually highly adaptable, which means that they have a number of career choices in the civilian world. They can use the skills they picked up on active duty to transition into a career where employers value what they bring to the table.
Security and protection jobs
Security and protection jobs can be a good fit for military veterans and can come with competitive earning potential. An entry-level security guard won’t earn much but elite private security professionals are often paid a large amount. Security and protection jobs require the same mission-critical mindset that veterans possess.
Pacific West Academy trains executive protection agents and provides students with the skills they need to be effective in any career in security and executive protection. The instructors have many years of military and executive protection training and experience that they incorporate into the course curriculum.
Technology jobs
The tech industry is constantly evolving and expanding. Those who spent time in uniform developing technical infrastructure or doing IT work may already have the type of experience civilian employees need. Employers are willing to employ them because they often know how to get the job done with a high degree of precision.
IT jobs offer competitive salaries and a clear path to career advancement. Specialized military experience can translate to a career in the tech industry but it may require taking additional training or refresher courses.
Some of the popular jobs for military veterans in the technology field include IT consultant, systems engineer, information security analyst, business development manager, IT network engineer and project manager.
Healthcare jobs
There are many military medical career fields so it makes sense that a large number of military veterans enter the medical field. Health care may require veterans to get updated certificates and further their expertise with continuing education programs.
Medical professionals, much like those in the military, have to think on their feet and quickly make important decisions. The accountability required in military service is also essential in the healthcare space.
It is not uncommon for veterans to pursue a civilian nursing career. Other popular career paths for those entering the healthcare industry include medical researchers, physical therapists, pharmacists, social workers, medical technologists and hospital operations and logistics managers.
Defense contracting jobs
There are many jobs available in defense contracting and these jobs allow military veterans the freedom and challenge of a civilian career while still keeping a toe in the military world.
Defense contracting involves the creation of materials for national defense. Ship, aircraft and weapon construction are just some of the job options. Modern weapons systems require smart, well-educated people to make sure development is smooth. Various other jobs military veterans can do include quality assurance manager, intelligence specialist, or contract management specialist.
Cybersecurity jobs
Cybersecurity is a fast-paced field and cybersecurity specialists are on the front lines to protect and minimize threats. Military veterans who have worked in cybersecurity can find many jobs in the civilian world where their skills are in demand. Veterans are accustomed to anticipating enemy strategies and know what it is like to anticipate threats.
Military veterans are also used to working in teams and relying on others which is essential in this type of work. Veterans are also used to adapting to new orders, new circumstances and new colleagues on a regular basis so the adaptable work style required for cybersecurity comes naturally to them.