Transitioning from soldier to civilian can be a stressful task and there’s not much we can do about it.
Learning how to find a job after your military service is just one of many obstacles and I want to show you how you can land some work that doesn’t involve flipping burgers, guardin
As much as Uncle Sam tries to prepare you for regular life, there’s really only so much that can be done as it is a lot harder than most people think.
I know this because I was once in your shoes and I didn’t plan for anything before I got out of the army.
Finding a job wasn’t the hardest thing as I landed one almost immediately but didn’t jump on it because I figured a nice break would be great after a deployment.
So before you enter the work force, here are some tips to consider before landing your next job that isn’t being a soldier or airman.
Understand Your Benefits
There are so many things that service members know nothing about and as much as they try to get the word out, there is only so much that can be done.
Whether you plan on working tomorrow or taking a break, take advantage of the services and opportunities that are available to you.
Explore.va.gov has all the benefits you are entitled to, so definitely check them out before anything else.
Some of these benefits require you to go in and of course will take some time to get compensated for, so consider doing that now.
If you know you are mentally not prepared for civilian life, go and get some counseling so that you can be pointed in the right direction.
Veterans Have Priority
As a vet, you almost proceed to the front of the line in civilian life.
From flying first class, to getting hired for a job over some kid fresh out of high school, you have priority.
Just don’t be like some vets that feel privileged and give others a hard time.
We know you’ve served your country but try to stay cool and understand that everyone around you was not in the military.
Don’t ruin it for everyone and use your priority to YOUR advantage as it is there for a reason.
Explore Your Options
With the many jobs out there specifically for veterans, there is no need to flip burgers or settle for some job that you don’t even like.
There are online jobs from companies like Xerox, that are specifically designed for veterans that pay pretty well.
Amazon is always hiring.
Uber is another option.
There are many things to do but I recommend you start with something you are actually interested in doing.
Just like in the online world and making money from it, it all starts with your passion.
How About Getting Paid to Go to School?
Most military personnel feel the need to jump right into a job simply because they need money.
But of course.
What most don’t know is that the Montgomery GI Bill has revamped the program a million times in the span of just 5 years and it has really changed for the better.
If you’ve served your country, you might just be able to get paid to go to school so talk to a representative from your area to see what you might be able to receive.
You can have your whole tuition paid.
And if you plan on joining a reserve or National Guard component, you might just have your tuition paid by them as well.
So if that ends up happening, you my friend will be pocketing some money.
On top of that, you may also qualify for a monthly stipend for housing, which is dependent on the cost of living for your state, so look into that as well.
Some exceed $2500/month so be sure to make sure you use that version of the GI bill if you want to skip work for a while before landing your next day job.
Furthering your education and being able to afford to pay for rent is a great deal, so definitely consider this option before getting employed.
Unemployment
Most soldiers don’t know that their state gives them some money after serving and I thought I’d mention that just in case you were one of them.
As a veteran, some of you are entitled to unemployment, which is supposed to assist you financially until you are able to gain employment.
It usually keeps money in your pocket for 6 months but I believe you are able to go for another year if need be.
Again, this all depends on your state, so not everyone will be able to receive this benefit.
I wasn’t able to claim unemployment because of my state so you might want to see if you are eligible here.
Your Skills
I don’t care what MOS you came from even if you were a ground pounder in the infantry.
I was personally a grunt myself but I didn’t let that limit me to some type security forces position like everyone else ended up with.
There are grunts that work for USPS and there are others that work online like myself.
If starting your own online business is something you might be interested in, you can checkout a program called the Wealthy Affiliate, which is the same exact place that I learned everything I know.
Being able to work from home for the past 4 years has been great and I owe it all to them.
Now if you simply want the routine of something “normal”, you can checkout these 5 jobs that some of your skills might be capable of getting.
Conclusion
Work when you are ready.
If you aren’t comfortable being around a lot of people, don’t work somewhere that does involve a lot of people.
Work around you.
Take advantage of what you are entitled to so you can prepare yourself for the work force.
Take all the time you need but please don’t get carried away and end up doing nothing like some vets are doing.
Working not only keeps you financially stable but it keeps you busy as I’m sure a lot of you are like me and you just can’t keep still.
Hope this article helps you in landing your next job and remember to always strive for better.
Forever Green MLM Review: Do These Products Actually Work?