What advice do you have for transitioning and unemployed veterans?

2014-01-24T17:41:13-05:00

I recently began a position working as a workforce coordinator helping homeless, unemployed veterans transition back to the workforce and to regain their independence. I feel well prepared for the position but I was wondering if anyone had any specific advice, resources, etc. that would be of use either to myself or the veterans I am working with?

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2014 6:31 PM

2014-01-24T18:31:02-05:00

Often, the amount of information and services available can be quite overwhelming. First things first, find out what the veteran needs - employment, housing, education, etc. You are a network to the veteran you serve. Utilize people you know and organizations that you are affiliated with to help connect the veteran to what he/she needs. Know what's in your community as well as online.

There are so many discussion groups on LinkedIn centered around veterans and the military community. Also, start subscribing to mailing lists that provide veteran services, information and events.

For example, I subscribe to many LinkedIn military-only discussion groups and the California State Veterans Newsletter (CalVet), and I am affiliated with the local veterans organizations in my community such as The Vet Center and the Employment Development Office, Veterans Division as well as the local Dept of Veterans Affairs Health System in LA.

Of course, maximize RallyPoint and connect with other service members and military organizations on here as well so that you can further expand your network and continue to serve other veterans in a larger capacity.

Also, if you know veterans in California, please feel free to refer them to me for assistance, information and resources.

Response by CMSgt Dan Santos made Jan 26 at 2014 11:27 AM

2014-01-26T11:27:33-05:00

James,

Send me an email to [login to see] .mil and will share an email with information that may help.

Dan
Retired AF

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2014 12:06 PM

2014-01-26T12:06:32-05:00

SGT Elphick,

http://www.facebook.com/Service2School

Try this site a good friend of mine swears by it!

Good luck and thanks for you service!

V/R

1SG Haro

Service 2 School

Our mission is to help every military veteran transitioning to school win admission to the very...

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2014 3:08 PM

2014-01-26T15:08:13-05:00

Take advantage of the many resources that are offered to veterans and the benefits you have earned!

In Transition counselors help with linking resources and benefits available to you.

Most know about the federal resources and benefits, but there is many that are only offered by the state, know them.

Biggest thing, have a smart plan that contains options!

Response by SGT James Elphick made Feb 21 at 2014 11:45 AM

2014-02-21T11:45:27-05:00

Thank you everyone for the information you have provided. This helps tremendously

Response by SSG Maurice Wright MS/MBA made Mar 12 at 2014 9:48 AM

2014-03-12T09:48:53-04:00

Here is an awesome opportunity you can give each veteran seeking employment. This company is perfect for leaders with military backgrounds.

http://www2.5linx.net/Maurice_Wright/opportunity/

5LINX | The Premier Home Based Opportunity!

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Mar 19 at 2014 12:42 AM

2014-03-19T00:42:44-04:00

engage in the conversation. Get a library card. Collaborate with neighbors. Meet new acquaintances. Do not isolate yourself, because if you go before a civilian judge, isolation is a red flag for idleness and civilians are goofy about people who have alot of time on their hands and are too quiet.

Response by PO1 Danilo Banta made Mar 19 at 2014 5:30 PM

2014-03-19T17:30:54-04:00

Greetings SGT Elphick,

As veterans, we have a lot of training that makes us favorable entrepreneurs. Discipline, leadership, strategic planning, follow up, and higher risk tolerance are attributes that give us an advantage over the non-veteran demographic. I forgot the actual statistics, but veterans have a high success rate in starting businesses. With todays technology, there are many different opportunities online to make income especially with todays global economy. I'm actually in the process of putting together a blog/resource site for entreprenuers in which I will be providing strategies, tips, and resources on building online businesses. How many would actually be interested if I made a resource site specifically for veterans?

V/rDanilo Q. Banta

Response by SGT James McCue made Mar 26 at 2014 1:07 PM

2014-03-26T13:07:34-04:00

I am an unemployed National Guardsmen/recent college graduate.

The problem I learned is that we live in a saturated environment of college graduates. As a vast majority of troops do not possess a degree, I always stress it to my soldiers. A bachelors is the new high school diploma/GED.

However, I do notice a shortage in trades, such as welding. A great lesson I learned from one of my privates is that college is not for everyone, and learning a trade such as welding can lead to great results.

While this my be irrelevant to your situation, this is what I have learned in during my job hunt.

Response by TSgt Kevin Buccola made Mar 26 at 2014 1:14 PM

2014-03-26T13:14:37-04:00

Need to use all available resources - TAP programs, vaforvets.va.gov, https://www.hireheroesusa.org/; VAcareers.va.gov;

Home

Hire Heroes USA is dedicated to creating job opportunities for veterans and their spouses through military transition training and corporate partnerships.

Home

Hire Heroes USA is dedicated to creating job opportunities for veterans and their spouses through military transition training and corporate partnerships.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made May 16 at 2014 1:02 AM

2014-05-16T01:02:35-04:00

My advice is...While interviewing or counseling veterans, work on a specific life structure, a daily plan, a work plan, or a leisure/fun plan. Vets need structure to stay busy and promote a healthy life style. IMO

Response by SP5 Rod Cross made Nov 10 at 2014 10:54 AM

2014-11-10T10:54:07-05:00

Waste Management, Inc offers a wealth of employment opportunites for qualified personnel tranisitioning from the military. Candidates interested in seeking employment should visit our website at http://www.wmcareers.com. They may also contact Rod Cross at [login to see] .

Response by SP5 Rod Cross made Nov 10 at 2014 10:58 AM

2014-11-10T10:58:26-05:00

Response by Elizabeth Malkin made Jan 19 at 2015 6:32 PM

2015-01-19T18:32:55-05:00

SGT James Elphick, good for you for taking on your new role. We need many more men and women like you! RallyPoint has started to build out an 'Essential Support' page which you can find here: https://www.rallypoint.com/resources/essential-support

If any of those resources are helpful for you or for others that you work with then please feel free to use them. Similarly, if/ when you come across resources in your job that would be valuable additions to this page for our members then please do let us know!

RallyPoint - The Professional Military Network

Our servicemembers and veterans value their privacy. Please confirm your service on the next page for free, permanent access to your military network.

Response by 1SG David Lopez made Feb 9 at 2015 4:54 AM

2015-02-09T04:54:52-05:00

Well paying job, CDCR is hiring and Veterans get fast tracked. Contact if you have any questions or concerns.

http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Career_Opportunities/index.html

Career Opportunities with CDCR

Career Opportunities for Peace Officers, Medical Careers, Executives, Education and more.

Response by SPC Angel Guma made Mar 30 at 2015 7:06 PM

2015-03-30T19:06:53-04:00

I could write loads on this, but, having gone through this myself, here how I see it:

1. They need honest realism on how employable they are. Some military job specialities transition well, some do not. They need to know precisely where they are, and no BS on it.

2. Veterans need to avoid college scams. I would even advise having a separate veteran resource SPECIFICALLY for the purpose of helping protect veterans from predators such as these. Here is a few examples:

a. Any Political Science degree. Unless a veteran has friends on the inside of major institutions that would hire for these, or otherwise knows that a friend or family member has well paying jobs tucked away JUST FOR them, avoid getting degrees that are inherently unmarketable and not self-sustaining. People who do get jobs despite getting these degrees are outlyers, well its well and good for THEM, conning veterans on making hugely impactful decisions based on a statistical rarity is just plain evil.

b. Liberal Arts degrees. Again- unless the veteran has family or friends that will open doors for them in places despite being unemployable otherwise, veterans really need to steer clear of liberal arts.

c. Any sort of higher education that is just difficult to market. For example, if getting an Accounting Degree, focus on the CPA. Don't just get the Accounting Degree without the CPA, that can be disasterous for someone without experience. Getting into IT, focus on IT skills that are widely marketable, and at the same time harder to get. Why get a Comptia Network +, when the CCNA is far more rigorous, and covers everything the Network + does? Comptia has a reputation for passing people that just breathe, while the CCNA has a first time failure rate of above 60%, making it just as shitty as the CPA. But one person has everything the other does, and above and beyond skills that the Network + guy does not. And it goes on from there.

d. Watch out for schools with some sort of vague but palpable racial or female agenda. And by that I mean: do they seem to widely accept minorities without rigorous academic abilities, just to watch them fail as they go through their courses? If so, watch out. Again- I would HIGHLY advocate a stand-alone veteran group just for helping shield veterans against predatory tactics. Or about female veterans: if the female veteran has children, the school should have sensible facilities to help with childcare while going to school. It may sound sexist coming from me as a guy, but this is a hard truth. Young women with kids are always going to be targeted by predators, being a young female veteran only amplifies that. If they have a ton of female-lib courses that they require you take, but absolutely nothing or just the bare minimum to help females get by, it really shows complete lack of regard for young female veterans. And this just isn't limited to females with kids.

3. Help veterans get into decent trades. These pay decently, and can be an excellent transitory job before moving onto something professional. Or, perhaps the veteran may have a talent for a trade, why not have incentive packages for them? Plumbers have a dirty job for sure, but society needs them, and they pay darn good for entry level.

4. If the veteran is coming from a chaotic family situation, perhaps a closed-doors but realistic way they can gain access to substantive help while transitioning. We know leaving rough backgrounds is why a lot of us joined, so lets own up to it.

5. Above all: be careful who you talk about your military service with. This is just common sense, but it can still be a hard lesson. Keep it simple: you served, you did your time, you are out. Rallypoint is a good place to reconnect with the military community, but keep it low key. Beyond the Support the troops movement, most people are honestly shallow if not hostile to the fact you served and did something, while they didn't.

Response by D. Cree Crawford made Sep 15 at 2017 11:37 AM

2017-09-15T11:37:11-04:00

A friend in the Texas AG office shared there are many open positions.
If you or have friends/family members who are interested. Shoot me a PM at: [login to see]
VR
DCC

Response by Carrie Nowocin made Oct 2 at 2017 5:19 PM

2017-10-02T17:19:18-04:00

Please connect with me. I am a civilian and an advocate for veterans! Everyone's needs will be different, so having an assessment sheet is something you should have first and foremost. From there, you can fill the gaps in services the person needs.