{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"HowTo","@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-vet-employment.json#howto","name":"How to find veteran-friendly employment + use VA employment programs","description":"Step-by-step guide to finding a job as a veteran. 5 paths: VA Veteran Employment Services (free job placement), federal civil service preference (5-10 points on exams), USAJOBS veteran tools, veteran-focused recruiters + job boards, state vocational rehabilitation programs.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-vet-employment.json","mainEntityOfPage":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-vet-employment.json","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"publisher":{"@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/wounded-warriors#organization"},"author":{"@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/wounded-warriors#organization"},"totalTime":"PT2H + ongoing","yield":"Active job application pipeline + leveraged veteran preferences","estimatedCost":{"@type":"MonetaryAmount","currency":"USD","value":"0"},"tool":[{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"DD-214 (proof of service)"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Resume"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"VA Veteran Employment Services account at va.gov"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"USAJOBS account at usajobs.gov"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"LinkedIn account (with veteran flag)"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Optional: VA disability rating (qualifies for VR&E + 10-point preference)"}],"step":[{"@type":"HowToStep","position":1,"name":"Step 1: VA Veteran Employment Services (VES) — free job placement","text":"Register for free job placement services at va.gov/careers-employment/job-search/. Includes resume review, interview prep, employer matching, and direct introductions. Service-connected disabled veterans automatically qualify for VR&E (Chapter 31) — see /api/v1/howto/access-vr-and-e.json — which provides MORE intensive job placement + retraining funding.","url":"https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/job-search/"},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":2,"name":"Step 2: Federal civil service veteran preference","text":"Federal jobs apply veteran preference: 5-point preference for any veteran (Other-than-Dishonorable, served on active duty during qualifying period). 10-point preference for: combat-disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, service-connected disabled veterans, surviving spouses. Set veteran preference flag at usajobs.gov when applying. This dramatically improves your shortlisting odds for federal positions.","url":"https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/"},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":3,"name":"Step 3: Veteran-focused private-sector job boards + recruiters","text":"Hire Heroes USA (free coaching + placement), American Corporate Partners (1-on-1 mentorship from corporate leaders), VetJobs (50K+ veteran-friendly listings), Recruit Military (veteran job fairs), Veterati (1-on-1 mentorship from professionals), Vets in Tech (tech-specific). Most are free for veterans. Apply broadly — many corporations have veteran-hiring goals (Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, JPMorgan all publicly committed)."},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":4,"name":"Step 4: State vocational rehabilitation programs","text":"Every state runs a Vocational Rehabilitation program (separate from VR&E). Many states offer veteran-specific tracks: priority intake, additional funding, on-the-job training partnerships. Find your state's VR program via warriorsfund.org/state/{your-state}."},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":5,"name":"Step 5: Translate your military skills","text":"Use the My Next Move for Veterans tool at mynextmove.org/vets/ to translate MOS / rate / AFSC into civilian job titles + projected salary ranges. Recruiters often miss veteran experience because resumes use military jargon. Translate it. Quantify it (e.g., \"managed $5M of equipment\" not \"S-4 Logistics NCO\").","url":"https://www.mynextmove.org/vets/"}],"tip":[{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"Federal veteran preference is automatic — but you MUST flag it on the USAJOBS application. Skipping the flag forfeits the preference."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"For service-connected disabled veterans, VR&E (Ch 31) is more generous than GI Bill for vocational training. Most veterans default to GI Bill — check VR&E first."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"LinkedIn veteran-flag: turn on \"veteran\" status in your profile. Many recruiters filter for veterans, and it triggers veteran-specific job recommendations."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"Translate military jargon — recruiters often skip resumes with \"OEF\" / \"MEPS\" / \"S-3\" / \"AFSC\" / \"MOS\". Convert to civilian language."}],"canonical_url":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-vet-employment.json","publisher_legal_name":"Wounded Warriors","publisher_ein":"86-1336741","cross_references":{"vr_and_e_howto":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/access-vr-and-e.json","gi_bill_howto":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/apply-gi-bill.json","eligibility_jsonld":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/eligibility.json","employment_resources_search":"https://warriorsfund.org/resources/type/employment/","find_cvso_howto":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-cvso.json"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","last_updated":"2026-04-29T23:53:39.284Z"}