Veteran service members come with various ‘hard’ skill sets learned during service and are as varied as their backgrounds. Likewise, their ‘soft’ skills, like leadership, organization, communication, and team-based problem solving are developed through training and experience throughout their service. As veterans transition to civilian life, many find their soft skills to be well-developed to thrive within a new environment, however, their ‘hard’ skill set may not be applicable to their selected career outside of their service.
Many veterans and service members will adapt or pivot their service ‘hard’ skills into a career in civilian life. For example, specialized technical work such as engineers, technicians, and pilots, will look for graduate programs in the STEM field where they can further develop their technical skills. Many service members may be interested in applying their leadership skills within the business field and look for MBAs with concentrations in leadership or management. Many looking to earn a college degree want to find ways to gain credit for their military training. Fortunately, the ACES guide for military occupation & credits provides a way to add potential credit for their training and military education.
Common pathways and programs for service members include graduate STEM, educational Leadership and public policy programs, in addition to MBA or MS programs with a focus on management and leadership. Within these programs, veterans and service members often research the networking and internship programs available, and what kind of job placement support will be available as the program concludes.
There are several action items your institution can take to help the program standout to service members.
First, in consultation with any prospective student, encourage them to reflect on what kind of position or industry they would like to enter after graduation so you can help create a clear pathway to success in their coursework and career-related opportunities. You can encourage them to take an interest or career aptitude test like the examples listed below.
Career OneStop
Career Aptitude & Personality Test
Work Values Matcher
123 Career Aptitude Test
Skills Matcher
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
O*NET Interest Profile
Official Career Aptitude Test
Second, emphasize how transferrable soft skills will help support their educational journey and how their experience in service can help prepare them for the next set of challenges and opportunities. The hardest part about a career move is not knowing what career to move into. Oftentimes, veterans and service members do not know what possibilities are available to them. Help them identify their next move by exploring opportunities as they transition to civilian life. These include:
Work Profile
Career Explorer
Occupational Outlook Handbook
My Future Career
Career Pathway
Third, in the marketing materials include network and engagement opportunities, highlight any internships or job placement programs that may be beneficial, and demonstrate what your school’s community includes. Asynchronous programs are highly desirable to service members who need flexible schedules, but that isn’t all they look for in a program. Veterans and service members will look for opportunities to help them prepare for the transition to civilian life and civilian careers and a community of like-minded people while in a program.
Some tips for assisting and supporting veterans and service members include:
- Advertise in Military sponsored magazines and associations
- Showcase your program’s community and how service members can stay connected
- In conjunction with your Veteran Affair’s department, highlight communication systems that help veterans receive academic, career, and financial advice before they encounter the challenge
- Provide an orientation specifically for newly enrolled veteran and active service members
- Provide virtual career fairs specifically for veterans and service members
- Collaborate with the local communities and outside organizations to provide engagement opportunities
- Read about more ways to support service members at Veterans Education Project
And finally, include any financial opportunities specific to them, including GI bill, Tuition Assistance for those on Active Duty and Reserve status, and Yellow Ribbon program status information. Syracuse University’s website provides a great breakdown with clear steps to applying for and using these resources. Some additional resources include:
Workshops for Veterans
Post-9/11 GI Bill Overview
Veteran Education and Training Resources
Montgomery GI Bill
How to Use Your GI Bill Benefits
Montgomery GI Bill-Guard & Reserve
Resource Links
ACES Guide supports academic institutions in awarding college credit to military-connected learners based on their military training and occupations.
Resources for Potential Students
Veteran and Service Member Facts
- Active Duty: 1.3 million members
- Veterans: 20 million members
- Reservists: 450,000 members
- Active-Duty members planning on continuing higher education: 88% (1.14 million members)
- Veteran members planning on continuing higher education: 69% (13.8 million members)
- Average household income: $74,500-$88,000
- States with large military bases: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington D.C.
