5 Groups That Help Veterans Find Jobs

These organizations ensure you’re never alone in your job search

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Vicki Salemi,

AARP Experience Counts

Published November 10, 2022

The transition from military to civilian life may feel daunting, but several organizations help veterans ease the transformation from combat zone to conference room.

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You can subscribe here to AARP Veteran Report, a free e-newsletter published every two weeks. If you have feedback or a story idea then please contact us here.

They value your service and recognize your skills by reviewing your résumé, pairing you with mentors and networking your way through the door — all for free.

Here are five groups that help veterans land jobs.

American Corporate Partners (ACP)

Since 2008, 25,000 veterans have participated in ACP’s mentorship program. The free service pairs veterans who have served at least 180 days of active duty since 9/11 with the organization’s 100 corporate partners.

The online application process asks candidates about their goals. Then, ACP pairs mentors with applicants (4,000 pairs annually) to begin monthly conversations. The yearlong, one-on-one mentorship is tailored to each situation.

“A lot of the mentorships lead to jobs,” Colleen Deere, vice chair of ACP’s board of directors and the wife of a veteran, told AARP Veteran Report. “It’s the power of the mentor’s network — introducing someone they know, and that can lead to a job, too. Some of our applicants meet 15 to 20 new people.”

RecruitMilitary

Veterans can set up job alerts and apply to vacancies on RecruitMilitary’s job board, and sign up for its monthly newsletters and hard copy magazines. They can attend in-person and online career fairs and bimonthly webinars covering topics such as how to create an effective elevator pitch and how to ace a career fair.

“We’re connecting my fellow veterans with meaningful employment, and that’s important because you have to have that to feel valued in your life,” said Mike Francomb, chief technology officer and an Army veteran.

The site makes 30,000 connections each month between employers and veterans — whether it’s meeting at career fairs, connections and chats on a virtual platform or job applications through the job board.

Corporate Gray

You can also apply to jobs at Corporate Gray, which helps veterans connect with employers. The site has a military-to-civilian skills translator, 18 résumé templates for a variety of jobs, and sample templates for cover letters and thank-you notes.

Corporate Gray runs virtual job fairs that veterans can attend for free, along with transitioning service members and spouses. Screening interviews with employers typically last about 10 minutes.

“Our approach is to give the job seekers as much information as we possibly can to better prepare them to execute their own job search,” said Carl Savino, Corporate Gray president, Army veteran and coauthor of The Military to Civilian Transition Guide.

Onward to Opportunity

The online learning management system offered by Onward to Opportunity has helped 70,000 veterans since 2015. The free program provides professional certification and employee support services.

In-person programs last three to five days and cover topics such as personal branding and networking. They’re held at 19 Department of Defense installations around the country.

“Every learner can enroll in employment services — résumé and interview assistance and connections to employers — at no cost within 180 days of enrollment,” said Michael Bianchi, senior director of education and career training, who spent 28 years in the Army.

Hiring Our Heroes

Through its virtual career training, Hiring Our Heroes covers topics including leadership, civilian career preparation, industry knowledge and overall well-being.

Veterans are eligible to participate in the 12-week HOH Fellows Program, encompassing industry-focused internships connecting veterans, spouses and caregivers to companies. Professional training and hands-on experience in data analytics, IT support and UX design are on offer.

Another free program, Career Forward, enables veterans to gain industry-recognized skills by earning a Google Career Certificate in data analytics, digital marketing and e-commerce and more. A virtual education and training center has resources such as workshops and webinars.

You can subscribe here to AARP Veteran Report, a free e-newsletter published every two weeks. If you have feedback or a story idea then please contact us here.

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