by Bradley Hood
Contributor, In Military Education
While many veterans come to the end of their initial enlistment and decide to come out, it does not always mean an end to the desire to serve. I personally have known a large number of Marines who have gone on to serve as police officers, fire fighters, and other public servants after they completed their military obligation. While the processes for municipal or state jobs vary, opportunities in the federal government are invariably listed on the internet, through the site www.usajobs.gov. The competition for these jobs is intense, particularly given the widely distributed nature of an online format, but it is well maintained and is constantly updated with new opportunities. Once you create an account on the site and upload a resume, application to a job is extremely easy, and in some cases is as simple as clicking apply. The exact method of application does vary from department to department, and if an external application is required you will be redirected to the appropriate website upon clicking apply.
Some students may be familiar with the Pathways program, designed for students and recent graduates. There are opportunities for intern positions and jobs here, and accessing the site is as simple as a Google search for the Pathways program, or typing in www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads. Many of the programs available through this website require student status, which in some cases may apply to graduate students, or the completion of a degree in the past 2 year. In some cases veterans may have this requirement waived for up to six years, so even if your service prevented you from applying immediately after earning your degree, you may still be eligible to go through this process. The advantage of seeking an internship or job through Pathways is lower expectations of experience, and there may be an opportunity to begin a federal career after completion of the program.
Bio: Bradley Hood is a Marine Corps Second Lieutenant in IRR status with 5 years of prior enlisted experience. He is a recent graduate of American Military University, and currently is working towards a Master’s degree in Military History through Norwich. Bradley lives with his beautiful wife in historic NJ.
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