Posted on Jan 24, 2014
What advice do you have for transitioning and unemployed veterans?
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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?
Transition
Employment
Career Advice
Homeless
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 18
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Thank you everyone for the information you have provided. This helps tremendously
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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.
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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
If you or have friends/family members who are interested. Shoot me a PM at: [login to see]
VR
DCC
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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.
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.
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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
http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Career_Opportunities/index.html
Career Opportunities with CDCR
Career Opportunities for Peace Officers, Medical Careers, Executives, Education and more.
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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] .
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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!
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James,
Send me an email to [login to see] .mil and will share an email with information that may help.
Dan
Retired AF
Send me an email to [login to see] .mil and will share an email with information that may help.
Dan
Retired AF
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