Posts by My Military & Money

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers assistance to U.S. military veterans who want to translate their military skills, experience and training into career options that best suit their capabilities. To get started, log onto https://mst.vaforvets.va.gov/mst/va/ and define your military experience by adding your Military Job Title (for example, your MOS, MOSC, Rating, Designator). Once this information is selected, you can add your subspecialties and training to further customize the job postings available to you. From CareerOneStop, a pathway to career success sponsored by the U.S.; Department of Labor, here are some specialty programs to help connect veterans to specific industries: * Troops to Teachers (https://www.proudtoserveagain.com/) is a U.S. Department of Defense program that helps current and former military personnel begin new careers as teachers in public schools. TTT helps participants identify certification requirements, programs leading to certification, and job opportunities. * Helmets to Hardhats (https://www.helmetstohardhats.org/military-service-members) is a national, nonprofit program that connects National Guard, Reserve, retired and transitioning active-duty military service members with skilled training and quality career opportunities in the construction industry. Most career opportunities offered by the program are connected to federally approved apprenticeship training programs. * Military to Mariners (https://www.marad.dot.gov/mariners_landing_page/veterans/Veterans-Military-to-Mariners.htm) helps connect veterans to careers in the U.S. Merchant Marine. The program, through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, provides information about the Merchant Marines as well as how to apply for certificates and licenses using Navy or Coast Guard experience. * Veterans in Piping (https://www.uavip.org/veterans) offers high-quality skills training and jobs in the pipe trades to U.S. veterans and active duty military personnel preparing to leave the service. VIP is a program of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States, Canada, and Australia.  LEARN MORE For more information from CareerOneStop on translating your military skills, visit:...

Transitioning from military to civilian life can seem like a daunting task. Here are some tips for a successful military transition from two experts on the employment front. From Lewis Lin, CEO of Impact Interview (https://www.impactinterview.com/) and formerly Microsoft’s director of product management and marketing: Think about transferrable skillsHow can you describe your military experiences for a corporate role? Take for example: * If you trained more than 200 people on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, think how your training preparation, delivery, and results could apply in a corporate classroom setting. * If you helped the Navy save $3 million dollars by administering 37 government travel accounts, think how this experience could apply to a financial controller position. * If you were in charge of an aircraft repair department, think how the Six Sigma principles you learned could apply to a manufacturing or operations job. Adjust from military to corporate speakA key to getting the job is fitting in — not only do you have to demonstrate the right skills, but you also need to adopt the right body language and speech. Here are a few examples: * Be wary of military jargon. Rather than say you were the “black swan” expert, explain that you developed contingency plans for rare events. * Rather than use military time, use civilian time. That is, instead of confirming an interview for 15-hundred hours, use 3 pm. * No need to address your professional contacts as Sir or Ma’am. You can typically address them by their first name. Play up your strengths as an ex-military candidate Military veterans are known for precise communication, individual accountability, impeccable execution and natural leadership. Don’t forget to showcase this during the interview. All four skills are in high demand, regardless of position. Give yourself credit for strengths that many non-military job candidates lack. Other key skills to play up: poise, ingenuity, and ability to handle stressful situations well. For more tips from Lewis, visit https://www.military.com/military-transition/employment-and-career-planning/secrets-for-successful-military-career-transition.html?comp=7000024628453&rank=22001   Stephen Cleare, of tap2-O.com, is a blogger and the author of “The Little Green Guide for Veterans.” He advises on https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/job-hunting/3-job-tips-for-veterans.html: Look the part. When one of my clients is hiring a veteran, he/she has a vision in their head about what...

Service members who are leaving the military now face another type of adventure: finding a job. According to Robert Half, many employers are honored to offer civilian jobs to veterans, as the skills you learned while serving translate smoothly into a number of civilian careers. While finding a job after the military that suits you can take time and effort, this employment firm offers some tips and resources to help you start your search: HOW TO FIND MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYERS All companies and organizations hire veterans, but some offer specific programs to attract former military personnel. Victory Media publishes an annual list of its top 100 military-friendly employers (https://employers.militaryfriendly.com/), which can be a useful research tool. VetCentral also publishes a list of federal contractors and other vet-friendly employers. These lists can be a good starting point for narrowing down your job search. OTHER RESOURCES FOR VETERANS For more ideas on finding military-friendly employers, consider visiting veteran-specific job boards such as Military Friendly (https://militaryfriendly.com/) and Robert Half’s own Career Opportunities for Veterans website (https://roberthalf-veterans.jobs/). Another great place to find employment is at military job fairs. There are several online resources available for researching job fairs based on location, such as Stars and Stripes Veteran Job Center (https://veteranjobs.stripes.com/military-events) and VR, or Veteran Recruiting (https://www.veteranrecruiting.com). Additionally, the U.S. government offers veterans many services geared toward helping them job search, obtain education and training, and sign up for benefits. The GI Bill (https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/) is one of the best-known programs. HOW TO MAKE A GREAT IMPRESSION Landing a job as a veteran requires standing out from the pack, just as it does for nonveterans. Here are a few ways to find and connect with companies that hire veterans: 1. Do Your Research To make sure you target the right companies, first study the occupational specialty codes used by the military and correlate them to skills being sought in the job market. Feds Hire Vets (https://mst.vaforvets.va.gov/mst/va/) is a free, handy tool that can help you make these correlations. 2. Showcase Strengths In the military, you cultivated powerful qualities that can and will set you apart, especially if the companies you target tend to hire veterans. In your resume, be sure to highlight qualities such as:...

Transitioning from the military to civilian life can be exciting. But it can also be challenging and overwhelming at times, given the complex process that’s involved. With that in mind, the U.S. Military established the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to meet the needs of separating service members during their transition period by offering job-search assistance and related services. Below are the names of each service’s TAP, and three key steps for getting the most out of their offerings, based on guidance from Military.com (https://www.military.com/military-transition/3-steps-to-getting-ready.html): Army: Soldier For Life — formerly known as the Army Career and Alumni Program, or ACAP (https://www.soldierforlife.army.mil/). Air Force: Airman and Family Readiness Center . Navy: Fleet and Family Support Center. Marines: Career Resource Management Center (CRMC)/Transition & Employment Assistance Program Center. Coast Guard: Worklife Division – Transition Assistance (https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Human-Resources-CG-1/Health-Safety-and-Work-Life-CG-11/Office-of-Work-Life-CG-111/).   Step 1. Schedule Your Pre-Separation Counseling One of the first things you must do is to make an appointment to meet with your Transition/ACAP Office or Command Career Counselor. In most cases, these professionals can be found in the Family Center of your military installation’s Transition Assistance Office. They can assist you with special transition benefits information, employment workshops, automated employment job-hunting tools and job banks, veteran benefits information, and other particulars. Best of all, their assistance is free of charge! Step 2. Review the Pre-Separation Counseling Checklist Your Transition Counselor or Command Career Counselor will walk you through the Pre-Separation Counseling Checklist. At this meeting, he or she will: Assist you in developing an individual needs assessment. Identify helpful relocation resources. Offer immediate and long-range career guidance. Provide benefits counseling. Refer you to other service providers for any additional assistance you may require. Step 3. Draft Your Individual Transition Plan Information on developing your individual transition plan (ITP) is available through the Transition Assistance Office. You may want to use your Transition Counseling Checklist as a guide for developing your own unique ITP. Three key decision points to be considered when creating your ITP are money, benefits and employment. Once you’ve created your ITP, review it with your spouse or another adult family member and get their feedback. It is recommended you also review your ITP with a Department of Veterans...

Saving for a “rainy day” or emergency fund can help protect you from having to use high-cost credit when you hit a rough patch. Getting started is the first and most important step, and fortunately, there are resources available to military members — at no charge – to help you start down the road to financial freedom. So, why not begin now? Here are three programs listed by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau: Begin with the Personal Financial Management Program Start on your installation by talking with the PFMP office located in military and family support centers. These offices are present on all Department of Defense military installations. Find location and contact information for yours by going online and choosing “Personal Financial Management Services” under program/service. National Guard and Reserve personnel not located near a military installation can access information and personalized financial counseling assistance through “Military OneSource” by calling 1-800-342-9647 or visiting it online at https://www.militaryonesource.mil/. Earn 10% interest with the Savings Deposit Program Military personnel have the opportunity to earn 10% interest on up to $10,000 in savings annually while deployed to or in support of a combat zone. Uniformed members of the Armed Forces can contribute to the Savings Deposit Program, which is administered by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, after 30 consecutive days of deployment outside the U.S., for as long as you are receiving hostile fire pay. Any military finance office in your area of deployment can help you establish an account and set up the deposit method most convenient for you. Retire/Invest with the Federal Thrift Savings Program The Thrift Savings Plan (https://www.tsp.gov/index.shtml) is a retirement savings and investment plan for Federal employees and members of the uniformed services, including the Ready Reserve. By contributing as little as $20 per payday, your savings could really stack up.   LEARN MORE: This content was developed using advice from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. For further information, visit the U.S. government agency’s website at https://www.consumerfinance.gov/servicemembers/planning/...