March 2020

The Best Jobs and Fields for Veterans

Log in to Making Careers Happen for Veterans: Community of Practice to share your thoughts or questions on this article.

Veterans have a variety of skills that lend themselves to many career fields. Some veterans pursue careers that closely mirror their work while in the military, leveraging skills gained during their service; other veterans look for careers that will allow them to gain additional skills and pursue fields outside of their comfort zones. Regardless of whether a veteran wants to seek employment that provides work similar to their experience during service or explore an entirely new area, there are many career paths to refer veterans to for employment.

As per an article on ZipRecruiter, veterans often enjoy working closely with others in hands-on roles. Additionally, industries such as security, construction, and supply chain/logistics typically employ large numbers of veterans because jobs in those fields offer work similar to the work veterans performed in the military. However, there are many fields suited to veterans. An article by Orion Talent lists some of the best industries and job positions for veterans across sectors. The company lists the following industries as key ones to consider as you help veterans find employment:

  • Aerospace & Defense
  • Construction
  • Distribution/Transportation
  • Logistics & Supply Chain
  • Manufacturing
  • Oil & Gas
  • Pharmaceuticals/Medical Device
  • Power Generation
  • Renewable Energy
  • Retail

Being informed about the job market, different industries, and specific job information can help you inspire and motivate veterans to find work that’s meaningful to them. This kind of information and data can help a veteran who is unsure about their next steps in employment figure out what opportunities to seek out. While veterans’ professional desires will vary from person to person, it’s important to recognize emerging trends.
In your day-to-day work as a veterans’ employment specialist, it’s critical to always focus on the individual veteran you are directly helping, and learn about their specific needs, passions, and skills.

For resources on job fields and jobs that are appealing to veterans, check out the articles below:
Industries and Positions for Veterans by Orion Talent – https://www.oriontalent.com/military-job-seekers/industries-positions/
The 12 Best Job Industries For Veterans by ZipRecruiter – https://www.ziprecruiter.com/blog/the-12-best-job-industries-for-veterans/
The 8 Best Cities For Veteran-Friendly Jobs by ZipRecruiter – https://www.ziprecruiter.com/blog/the-8-best-cities-for-veteran-friendly-jobs/
The Top-Rated Workplaces for Veterans in 2019 by Indeed.com – http://blog.indeed.com/2019/11/06/top-rated-workplaces-veterans-2019/
Jobs For Infantry Vets: What You Need to Know by MilitaryTimes – https://www.militarytimes.com/education-transition/2019/12/15/jobs-for-infantry-vets-what-you-need-to-know/

Use of the links on this page to find training information, resources, and a multitude of other information to assist you with your important mission. This project is funded by Department of Labor Veterans' Employment & Training Service (DOL-VETS) contract number DOL-OPS-16-D-0022. It does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner. Contact Management Concepts at [email protected] for information on re-use permission.