The Top 5 Best Jobs for Veterans in 2018
In the past, many U.S.Veterans faced problems when retiring and returning to the civilian sphere. Seeing how many veterans who had valiantly served their country couldn’t cope when coming back home, help to find the best jobs for veterans became a priority for the U.S. government, who passed the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act (VOW Act) in 2011 to match veterans with careers that are somehow related to their duties while they were in service.
And the law is well on its way to accomplish its goal. In the past seven years, unemployment among veterans has been cut in half. Moreover, the country´s overall economic performance has improved during the current administration.
There are many skills that people acquire during their time of service that apply to any job, and the best jobs for veterans who are transitioning into civilian let them make use of these unique skills:
• Technical skills: the use of specific software, hardware, substances, machinery, etc.
• Communication skills: military people need to convey information clearly, effectively an in a persuasive manner.
• Analytical skills: useful in carrying out research, compiling and interpreting data.
• Organizational skills: among these, we can mention multitasking, managing/coordinating projects and resources, excellent time-management skills, the ability to prioritize, and more.
• Interpersonal skills: military or ex-military people have the ability to take orders, but also to supervise, negotiate, listen and be part of or lead a team.
These are just a few examples of the transferable skills a veteran acquires or innately has that can lead to a successful transition from military to civilian life.
But what are the jobs that make the best of these skills and training?
Here’s a short but comprehensive list of the five best jobs for veterans:
Program/Project Manager
This is a position suited for veterans who thrive in their use of organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. The average annual salary for people in this line of work is a little over $80, 000.
Software developer
The U.S. military relies on advanced computer systems and communications technologies. Many military officers learn to code proficiently during their service, and if they don’t, they’re already so familiarized with advanced software systems that it is easy for them to learn. Software development is a career with a growing demand as technology is increasingly becoming a part of everyone’s everyday life. The average annual salary for positions here is a little over $100, 000.
Nurse practitioner
This is a career better suited for those who gained experience in helping or caring for injured military members or soldiers in the field. However, even if you want to get into the healthcare industry but have no experience or special medical training, you can gain qualifications from a related healthcare field relatively fast and start working in two years or less. Healthcare jobs pay between $55, 000 and $100, 000 depending on the job description and responsibilities.
Financial advisor
Military people are trained to think strategically, adapt to sudden changes, and lead and encourage people with diverse skill sets from a variety of backgrounds. This, added to the fact that they work well under pressure, makes being a financial advisor an excellent career choice for ex-military who have had leadership roles during service. A financial advisor makes an average annual salary of $90, 000.
Educator
Not as highly rewarding as the previous professions listed, but rewarding in so many other aspects nonetheless. To become a teacher, it is necessary to go through additional training, but the Department of Defense has a program called Troops to Teachers to help veterans and active members to become certified teachers. The military training provides the ability to mentor and train people, and this program helps them with the formal qualifications necessary to obtain a job in the public education sector. An educator can make between $21, 000 and $58, 000, depending on the position.
These are just five of the best jobs for veterans available in the market but there are plenty to choose from that fit any veterans’ professional and personal skills. The key is to take advantage of the jobs you excel at and choose a word line that is both rewarding and challenging for you.