Top 10 Education and Employment Resources for Veterans

There are many education and employment resources for veterans that can help with transitioning to civilian life and finding a career. The challenge is finding the right resources for your particular needs. Here is a top list of resources for veterans broken down by category. Of course, if you need legal help or want to file for VA disability, Quinn Veteran Law will speak with you for FREE. Click here to schedule a consultation.

Top 5 Places to Get Money for Veterans Education

• GI Bill. The GI Bill can help to pay for your education or you can transfer your benefits to a dependent. Click here to learn about the Post-9/11 GI Bill that can cover up to 100% of your tuition, the Montgomery GIL Bill, and scholarships.

• Yellow Ribbon. The Yellow Ribbon program reduces the cost of secondar education at some universities. Essentially, you could get the same education but at a reduced price if a university participates. Click here to learn more.

• OJT. On the job and apprenticeship training programs may be paid for, at least in part, by the government if you qualify for the GI Bill. This is ideal for veterans who want to go into a career that requires specific training and certifications, but not the traditional bachelor’s degree. See if you qualify here.

• Scholarships. Universities, foundations and non-profit groups have scholarships available for veterans. These can range from $500 to paying for your entire college tuition. Many veterans don’t take advantage of these because of the work it takes to apply. Still, it’s worth it and can save you thousands. Click here to search for veterans scholarships.

• Business training. Want to own a business instead? The Entrepreneurship Boot Camp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) is an experiential training programs in entrepreneurship and small business management for post-9/11 veterans with disabilities resulting from their service to our country.

Disabled veterans (those who have a disability rating through the VA) may qualify for additional education benefits, on top of their monthly financial compensation and healthcare. At the 100% disabled rating, dependents may also qualify for educational benefits. This is an excellent way for disabled veterans to send their spouse and children to college. To find out if you qualify for VA disability, or to see if your rating can be increased, schedule a FREE consultation with a lawyer.

Top 5 Employment Help for Veterans

Your military branch is likely to have you participate in pre-separation training. In addition, there are support services and resources for veterans looking for a civilian job.

• Recruit Military. Like Indeed for veterans, RecruitMilitary.com connects employers with veterans looking for jobs. What we like about it is that the site is just for veterans, unlike most job sites that have only a portion of the site or jobs dedicated to veteran job openings. Big companies like USAA, O’Reilly, Koch, Pitney Bowes and Accenture all advertise here and at last check there were over 240,000 job listings.

• Career One Stop. The Veterans and Military Transition Center at Career One Stop provides transition resources and can help to match a veteran with civilian job opportunities based on the jobs and training they had in the military. What we love about this site is how easy they make it. Just type in your MOC code and branch to get ideas for matching civilian jobs. This awesome tool is especially helpful for anyone who is trying to figure out ways to make military skills match up with the demands of civilian employers.

• FedsHireVets. So, you may have heard that the federal government is supposed to hire veterans. The problem is that most veterans don’t actually get hired by the government when they transition to civilian life. So, how do you get a comfortable government job? Start by visiting FedsHireVets.gov. The website answers important questions like “how are federal jobs filled?” and “where can you find veteran employment program offices?” They help to walk veterans through the process and what they need to know to prepare for, and get, a job with the federal government.

• Veterans.gov. The Veterans.gov website provides a list of employers who are committed to hiring veterans. Many have pledged to hire a certain number of veterans so it is important to list your service on your resume when applying.

• State Resources. Many states have programs in place to hire veterans for government jobs, or to connect veterans with private employers. Do a search for what is available in your state and connect with your local representatives.

• AbilityOne. Over 45,000 people with disabilities, including 3,000+ wounded warriors, are employed through the AbilityOne program. This independent federal agency coordinates with 500 nonprofit agencies and operates at more than 1,000 locations that include 40 government agencies in all 50 states. Disabled veterans should click here to search for opportunities.

The VA has a lot of information online about their resources, including educational and workforce benefits. Click here to learn more.