By Robbie Gould
Staff Writer
For many servicemembers, leaving military service marks the beginning of an entirely new challenge.
Stepping into the civilian workforce often means translating years of military experience into terms employers immediately recognize. A military job title might not look familiar on a resume, even if the work required solving problems under pressure, mastering highly technical skills, leading teams or managing complex operations. That disconnect can make the transition more difficult than many people realize.
National Hire a Veteran Day, observed each year on July 25, was created to help close the gap between military service and the civilian workplace. Established in 2017 by Marine Corps veteran Dan Caporale, founder of Hiring Our Heroes®, National Hire a Veteran Day encourages employers to take a closer look at the experience veterans bring to the workplace and raises awareness about the job opportunities available after military service.
Why Should Civilian Employers Hire Veterans?
Veterans often have considerable experience working in environments that demand adaptability, accountability and collaboration. They are also trained to make sound decisions in high-stakes situations.
But in the civilian world, military experience isn’t one-size-fits-all and neither are the careers veterans pursue after leaving the armed forces. Veterans choose to pursue careers in nearly every industry, such as:
- Engineering
- Logistics
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Education
- Business
- Public service
- Cybersecurity
Why National Hire a Veteran Day Matters
National Hire a Veteran Day is a reminder to employers that job candidates with military experience deserves a closer look. Understanding how military service translates to civilian work can uncover highly qualified candidates whose skills might otherwise be overlooked.
Imagine that you’re an employer reviewing two resumes. One resume says the applicant managed a regional supply chain, supervised dozens of employees and coordinated projects involving millions of dollars’ worth of equipment.
The other resume lists a military occupational specialty (MOS) unfamiliar to you. That candidate’s resume is filled with military jargon that makes it hard for you to gauge if that applicant is a good fit for your company.
Although both resumes feature people with remarkably similar experience, the difference is how that work is described.
National Hire a Veteran Day was created to address this challenge. Military job titles, responsibilities and accomplishments don’t always neatly translate into civilian language. As a result, veterans can find themselves explaining not just what they did, but how those responsibilities apply outside the military.
Common Misconceptions about Hiring Veterans
It’s easy to make assumptions about military service, especially if you’ve never served yourself.
Some people assume military service only prepares people for careers in law enforcement or security. Others believe military jobs are simply too specialized to apply elsewhere.
However, military service is far more diverse than many people realize. Servicemembers work in a variety of industries, including:
- Healthcare
- Engineering
- Aviation
- Cybersecurity
- Logistics
- Construction
- Communications
- Finance
- Intelligence
There’s also a misconception that veterans struggle to adapt to civilian workplaces. In reality, military life is built around constant change, with new assignments, new teams, new locations and new responsibilities.
Consequently, servicemembers must be adaptable and flexible. Many veterans have spent years learning how to adjust quickly while continuing to perform under pressure.
Another misconception about military service is that it’s too specialized to translate into civilian work. But when you look through job ads, you’ll see that employers often require skills such as:
- Strong communication skills
- Sound judgment
- Adaptability
- Teamwork
- Leadership
- Problem-solving abilities
A veteran candidate who coordinated logistics in the military may have managed people, equipment and tight deadlines across multiple locations. Another veteran may have worked in cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, engineering or communications.
The job titles may be unfamiliar, but the responsibilities aren’t. Once employers understand what veterans have done in the past, they often find experience that fits naturally into their companies.
Finding the Right Career Path After Military Service
Finding a civilian career isn’t about starting over. For veterans, it’s often about learning how to describe years of experience in language that civilian employers recognize. That can mean:
- Translating military job terms into terms civilian employers understand
- Highlighting leadership experience in measurable ways
- Demonstrating the responsibilities behind a particular role
Fortunately, veterans don’t have to navigate the military-to-civilian transition alone. Organizations like Hiring Our Heroes, SkillBridge®, RecruitMilitary® and local American Job Centers offer various services to people transitioning out of the military. These organizations offer career coaching, networking opportunities, resume assistance, and other resources.
There’s no single career path after the military. Some veterans continue working in highly technical fields like engineering, information technology, healthcare or cybersecurity. Others move into manufacturing, education, business, public service, entrepreneurship or other industries that have little connection to the jobs they held while serving.
Honoring Veterans Beyond National Hire a Veteran Day
National Hire a Veteran Day draws attention to veteran employment and encourages more thoughtful veteran hiring, but supporting veterans shouldn’t be limited to a single day on the calendar.
For employers, effective veteran recruitment starts with taking the time to better understand military experience, challenging their own assumptions about military careers and creating workplaces where veterans have opportunities to grow.
When employers take the time to look beyond unfamiliar job titles, they’re often rewarded with something every organization wants: capable people with proven experience and a willingness to keep learning.
For veterans, it means recognizing that the skills developed during military service are useful in the civilian world, even if those skills need to be described in a different way.
National Hire a Veteran Day reminds us that military experience doesn’t lose its value when someone leaves the service. Sometimes, it simply needs to be translated in a better way.
Need some help with your military resume? Career Services offers free resume reviews and other services to both AMU and APU current students and alumni. For details, email careerservices@apus.edu.
Hiring Our Heroes® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
SkillBridge® is a registered trademark of Nehalkumar R. Patel.
RecruitMilitary® is a registered trademark of RVet Operating LLC.
About the Author
Robbie Gould is a staff writer for the University with a knack for creating compelling and effective content across multiple platforms. He holds a B.A. in English Studies and a minor in Marketing from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, as well as an MFA in cinematography and film production from the New York Film Academy.
Robbie combines his passion for storytelling with a strong foundation in SEO and digital marketing. His expertise in crafting data-driven content has helped elevate brand identities and engage audiences, driving significant improvements in key performance metrics. He is currently pursuing an MBA at Boston University.
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