Studies show that approximately 200,000 military service personnel enter the civilian workforce every year. Many struggle with translating their military experience and skills into challenging (and lucrative) civilian careers.

For many Veterans, this inability to navigate the civilian career landscape results in low-paying positions that undervalue and underuse their talents making Veterans one of the most underemployed populations in the US workforce.

What many Veterans don’t know is that they’re well suited for the technology industry. Their ability to problem-solve, lead, and complete projects/missions positions them to excel in this booming business sector.

Stepping into tech doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. Below are three key tactics Veterans interested in a tech career can use to get off to a strong start.

#1 Add New Skills to Your Military Basics

Veterans catch employers’ attention. Your military experience tells them a lot about you: you understand teamwork, you can problem solve effectively, you’ll see a project through, you’re disciplined.

These “soft skills” are a solid foundation to build on. The key to add in-demand tech skills to your resume. Depending on your interests and military experience, these can include:

• Data analytics
• Data engineering
• Business analytics
• IT security
• Cybersecurity
• Business intelligence

In many cases, you can acquire this learning via veteran training courses or Veteran-specific bootcamp programs. These are typically accelerated programs that allow you to use your GI Bill benefits and become job-ready quickly. Employers recognize these programs and often accept them in lieu of four year degrees for entry level positions.

#2 Get a Mentor

Navigating the job search process is hard, especially on your own. Connecting with a mentor eases the burden, provides guidance, and gives you access to a business network.

Studies show that mentorship also has an enormous impact on mentees’ careers across various measures. A survey conducted by CNBC and SurveyMonkey shows that 4 out of 10 workers without a mentor are unhappy with their jobs. By contrast, the study showed that 9 out of 10 employees with a mentor experience a higher level of job satisfaction. 

Many Veteran-focused training programs, like CCS Learning Academy’s veteran training programs include mentorship with a working professional in your chosen tech field. They provide guidance during your training as well as once you’re employed. It’s a great way to diminish the uncertainty and misgivings associated with not only stepping into a new career, but the civilian workforce as a whole.

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#3 Connect With Vet-Friendly Organizations

This seems like a no-brainer, but many Vets miss tapping into valuable Vet-specific resources when they begin their job search. This is unfortunate as these organizations typically connect to Vet-friendly employers.

We’re one of these organizations.

As well as providing a full range of training programs to veterans, we also provide a path to employers and government entities who hire Veterans. We frequently facilitate job placement for Veterans in roles they would not have found on their own. 

We’re also keenly aware that many Veterans need to get into the workforce quickly. Our bootcamp programs are designed to help get you into your tech field in less than six months. We offer programs ranging from cyber security to business and data analysis. Our bootcamp programs put you on the path to careers like:

• Business Analyst
• Network Engineer
• Software Engineer
• Cloud Security Engineer
• Help Desk Technician
• Cybersecurity Analyst
• Cybersecurity Engineer
• IT Security Specialist
• IT Project Manager
• Solution Architect
• Cloud and Infrastructure Engineer
• System Administrator

Conclusion

Tech is a booming sector and projected to stay on an up track. It’s an optimal industry for Veterans looking to leverage their military experience and credentials in their civilian careers. Adding these three key tactics to your job search efforts will help you land the tech job of your dreams.

Need more information about Vets in tech? Interested in our Veteran Program? Contact us! Our experienced, Vet-friendly team is happy to help you get started.