17 Jobs for Veterans Looking for a Change

There are countless jobs for veterans due to their extensive military experience. If you’re looking for a job outside of military work to embark on, you’ll find that all of the jobs for veterans on this list have transferable skills and easy requirements for obtaining certifications or licensing as needed. Whether you’re looking for something fast-paced or more intellectually challenging, you’ll find a variety of roles for former military personnel.

17 Jobs for Veterans Looking for a Change

1. Cybersecurity Analyst

One of the jobs for veterans is cybersecurity analyst which is great for veterans who have experience in IT security, intelligence, or working with classified information. There are countless transferable skills that a veteran would have that makes them ideal for this role, such as risk assessment and threat mitigation, attention to detail, understanding of security protocols, and being able to work under pressure. Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing and in high-demand industry, allowing a veteran to find an abundance of work with ease. There are cybersecurity bootcamps and job training programs a veteran can complete in a short period that will allow them to develop the certification for a job quickly without much schooling needed.

2. Logistics Manager

A logistics manager is a great choice when it comes to jobs for veterans. In the military, there are times when you need to move personnel, equipment, and other materials or resources across the world. Veterans with experience in logistics or working in supply chain management will likely find a smooth transition as a logistics manager after their service is complete. Some of the transferable skills you might have are supply chain coordination, inventory and asset management, crisis management, and organizational skills alongside some leadership skills too. Because of the massive growth of e-commerce and global trade, veterans who work in logistics will find that they will likely continue to find work in this growing industry.

3. Project Manager

Project management is a good area of expertise to find jobs for veterans. Veterans often have to work in roles where they manage missions, personnel, and resources. Some of the transferable skills you might’ve developed during your time of service might include roles like leadership and team coordination, risk management, budgeting and resource allocation, and crisis communications. Veterans can easily gain certifications, such as PMP (Project Management Professional) to allow them to transition into this industry with ease. There are countless industries like construction, IT, and healthcare that actively hire project managers allowing veterans to have some freedom of choice in which industry they’re most passionate about joining.

4. Operations Manager

Veterans can work in operations jobs relatively easily as you might’ve had experience in overseeing unit operations and working to make things more efficient, compliant, and productive in your role. Some of the transferable skills you might’ve developed during your time in the military is process optimization, leadership, problem-solving, crisis management, and time management. Veterans who have experience leading teams or improving and optimizing processes will likely enjoy operations management roles. Industries like tech, manufacturing, retail, and healthcare often hire operations managers giving you multiple growing industries to choose from.

5. Truck Driver

One of the easiest jobs for veterans to attain is truck driver. Many veterans have experience driving large vehicles and transporting goods across long distances, or managing convoys. Some of the transferable skills you might’ve developed during your time in the military include: heavy vehicle operation, route planning and navigation, safety awareness, and adaptability to long hours. Due to the popularity of ecommerce and a growing demand for supply chain needs, truck drivers are able to quickly get a job after attaining a driver’s license and some training.

6. Law Enforcement Officer

Many veterans choose to enter law enforcement after their time in active-duty service. You’ve already spent time in security or combat or military policing giving you the experience of working in dangerous situations where you need to make the right decision in the middle of a crisis. Some of the transferable skills you might’ve developed include crisis response, firearms training, situational awareness, discipline, and teamwork. Those hiring new law enforcement officers often hire veterans due to their transferable skills and the ability to work well in a team-oriented environment.

7. Aircraft Mechanic

Veterans who’ve worked on maintaining aircraft in the Air Force, Navy, or Army could find jobs as an aircraft mechanic. Veterans often have transferable skills in things like mechanical troubleshooting, safety compliance, hands-on experience technical expertise, and they’re highly attentive to detail. The aerospace industry is booming and the licenses to work in this industry are not too difficult to attain for someone with military experience so they can easily transition into an aircraft mechanic role.

8. IT Specialist

If you’re interested in working in the tech industry, one of the jobs for veterans that might be a good fit for you is IT specialist. If you’ve got experience working in communications, cybersecurity, or IT infrastructure from your time in service, you might find it pretty easy to work in an IT role. Some of the transferable skills you might have are network security and maintenance, problem solving, technical troubleshooting, and learning new tools and technology quickly. The IT industry is constantly changing and growing as a result. If you have special security clearances in your military role, working as a contractor in the government and defense space might also be a good fit for you when it comes to IT.

9. Data Analyst

If you want to work in tech, finance, or healthcare, a data analyst role might be a good fit for you. These roles tend to have high salaries because of how valuable the information you extract is. If you’re looking for jobs for veterans with intelligence experience or who worked in strategic planning roles in the military who’ve got a lot of experience working with data, data analyst or scientist roles might be a good option for you. In this role, you’ll need to interpret data, think critically, recognize patterns, and make tough decisions without being completely sure, which are some of the transferable skills you’ll have from your time in the military. Data analysts can work in many different types of businesses, especially in top fortune 500 companies, giving you the option to not only find a job easily, but you can find one at a top company. If you have an analytical mindset, you would be the perfect candidate for a job like this.

10. HVAC Technician

Many former military service members have worked been trained in working with mechanical and electrical systems. As a result, jobs for veterans in the HVAC niche tend to be a good fit for those with experience maintaining equipment. Some of the transferable skills you might have from your time in the military include, equipment maintenance, problem-solving, working in diverse environments, and technical knowledge. With more HVAC professionals retiring, there’s a lot of demand for these types of jobs allowing you to find opportunities with ease. You’ll need to be certified to work in this line of work but the certifications aren’t too challenging to attain.

11. Firefighter

When it comes to jobs for veterans, it’s no surprise that many turn to emergency services. You’re likely used to working in crisis situations so this type of work will require the physical and emotional demands you’re used to from your time in service. Many veterans choose to work in emergency response roles, such as search and rescue where they can help save lives. Some of the transferable skills you’ll have to work as a firefighter include: physical fitness, teamwork skills, decision-making, risk assessment, and leadership. A lot of the firefighter work you’ll be doing will require fast reaction times and working under pressure. The stakes can be high. Firefighters often have strong team dynamics and camaraderie, which is why many veterans find roles in fire departments with ease.

12. Electrician

Veterans who went to school for engineering or worked in technical fields have already built the foundation of mastering electrical training. Some of the skills you might’ve developed in the military include electrical system maintenance, problem-solving, and following safety protocols. There’s growing demand for electricians as many are retiring. These blue collar jobs require apprenticeship programs to be completed before embarking on the career. However, you’ll be paid for your time as you learn and develop your skills.

13. Intelligence Analyst

Military personnel who work in intelligence often have numerous job opportunities available to them. You can find security roles in government or in the private sector after working in intelligence in the military. Some of the transferable skills you might’ve developed include analyzing threats, gathering information, critical thinking, and security clearance advantages. Whether you choose to work at private security firms or in defense contracting, you’ll likely find an abundance of opportunities to apply your intelligence experience in a new work environment.

14. Drone Operator

If you were a pilot in the military, you might like jobs for veterans that involve operating drones. Many veterans have experience in drone piloting allowing them to develop skills like remote piloting, surveillance and reconnaissance, and situational awareness. Drones are growing in popularity expanding into use in security, deliveries, and infrastructure inspections, giving you options of whether to work in helping with the shipment of deliveries or protecting people. You’ll be able to work in industries like aerospace, agriculture, security, and shipping.

15. Physical Therapist Assistant

Jobs for veterans like physical therapists can be fulfilling for those who like to help people. Many veterans may help with physical rehabilitation. You’ll have transferable skills in working with injuries, having soft skills like empathy, patience, and adaptability too. Since there’s an increase in aging populations, you’ll have a ton of work when it comes to helping people with physical injuries rehabilitate and receive treatment for their injuries. The G.I. Bill covers training for this line of work.

16. Security Consultant

Veterans can also work in jobs as a security consultant. Since veterans have a solid understanding of threat detection and risk management, they make a good choice for corporations looking to hire someone for corporate or cybersecurity. Transferable skills you’ve developed being a veteran include surveillance, crisis response, and risk assessment. Many corporations hire security knowledge experts to help them prevent and manage cyber security and physical threats.

17. Medical Equipment Technician

If you’re passionate about the healthcare industry, you might choose a career path as a medical equipment technician if you’re a veteran looking for a job. Veterans trained in medical logistics or who have experience in equipment maintenance can easily transition into roles. There’s a growing need for medical equipment technicians in hospitals and you can use G.I. Bill to cover your training for this job.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many jobs for veterans that you can apply to since you have many transferable skills to do these jobs. Whether it’s security, data, or something more technical, there are overlapping fields where you can take your skills and apply them to something new. If you love dealing with crises, there are jobs for veterans that have higher stakes. If you’re looking for something more low-key, you can work in the trades or in white collar jobs around data and IT. If you’re looking to start working on your resume for one of these jobs for veterans, you can use an AI resume builder, by signing up for Huntr today.