For many service members, the toughest assignment is reacclimating to civilian life. To successfully stay on your feet, you need to secure a steady paycheck. But that doesn’t mean vets have to settle for just any position! Top Applicant is sharing the best jobs after the military that make the most out of your personality and experience in the military.
Keep reading to learn where you can make your next move, or log in to build your profile and see what’s available!
Qualifying for the 1st Civilian Division
Fields Beyond the Battlefield
Proud to Serve Patriots
Qualifying for the 1st Civilian Division
Before diving into our list of the best jobs after the military, understand what skills veterans have for life in the civilian workforce. While loading mortars, manning submarines, or jumping out of a plane may not be a part of your next career, each branch builds values that make veterans some of the most desirable applicants. Employers consider these factors when hiring former service members.
A Rock-Solid Resume
Even without a college degree, every tour of duty comes with an education unlike any other. From specialized training learned in basic to soft skills developed during hardship deployments, a military resume will include very different details than a typical civilian.
The key to sharing the value of your valor is simplifying military jargon and translating it to align with requirements for your desired career path.
Exceptional Experience
Many aspects of everyday life in the military make veterans very desirable applicants. Punctuality, attention to detail, and discipline are some of the most prevalent, but military life holds much more than meets the eye.
Courage under fire, high-pressure decision making, and emotional regulation are all valuable assets forged in the crucible of duty. We highly recommend that veterans share accounts of their experience to display the unique ways they developed these sought after qualities.
A Motivator Mindset
Motivators may lead formations on daily runs, but they also lead businesses in daily work. From getting those miles in to meeting quarterly KPIs, every organization needs a motivator keeping everyone moving.
Throughout your career, relentless positivity and focus can make you a leader in any field you choose. To share the experience, skills, and insights into your mindset, Top Applicant’s innovative features put everything on display. Landing any of the best jobs after the military starts with building a competitive profile!
Fields Beyond the Battlefield
As you look to build a career after your discharge, your service makes you a uniquely qualified candidate in many ways. In addition to the aforementioned qualities, jobs in the military that come with specialized training translate to some lucrative career paths! To break down the best jobs after the military, our list focuses on fields that demand these skills.
Logistics
Almost every service member handles logistics in one way or another in the military. Getting people and things from A to B under specific instructions are not only part of daily work in every branch, they’re also an essential part of commerce in civilian life! For low threshold of entry, steady work, and decent pay, these are some of the best jobs after the military:
- Supply Chain Manager: This role offers exceptional opportunities to hone your management style while flexing your problem-solving skills. These managers monitor and adjust the overall efficiency and effectiveness of an organization’s supply chain. Veterans with experience in managing resources, personnel, and detailed operations make great candidates for this role.
- Procurement Specialist: Vets with experience in procurement and contract negotiation can leverage their skills by helping people get what they need when they need it. This role involves sourcing and purchasing goods and services for a business or organization. Large restaurants, retail stores, and even non-profits need these specialists to keep their shelves stocked and patrons happy.
- Logistics Analyst: In this role, analysts process data and identify ways to optimize the supply chain. Many middle-ranking veterans come with experience in this type of analysis and problem solving, which can make them uniquely qualified for this role.
Trades
Another field devoted to keeping the world moving is the trades industry. Now before you scroll to the next set of our best jobs after the military, hear us out! Many careers in this field offer lucrative positions, on-the-job training, and the ability to be your own boss. In most cases, the GI bill pays for most, if not all, of the tuition required for trade school. How does high pay, low debt, and a path to entrepreneurship sound to you?
- Welder: Almost anywhere something needs to be built, you’ll find a skilled welder making it happen. Veterans with experience in metalworking, fabrication, and repair can find a rewarding career as welders. Even if you don’t have any experience, trade schools can help you find a niche in this highly lucrative industry that fits your skills!
- Mechanic: For more skilled labor opportunities, we recommend looking beyond the motor pool. The military is a gearhead’s paradise, with a wide range of vehicles that need maintenance. If you fall into this category, we highly recommend using this experience in domestic life to build a rewarding career as a mechanic! Most mechanic jobs also include specialized training to make a seamless transition between working on an APC and a 4-door sedan.
- HVAC Technician: This is one of the hottest trades for a reason (pun intended)! Even if you have no mechanical experience from the military, many HVAC companies have connections with organizations that specifically focus on getting vets into the workforce. In addition to steady, rewarding work, these high-demand positions don’t require a lot of schooling to get started.
Dive deeper into career opportunities after the military without a degree with our related read!
Top Applicant’s Top 3 Jobs for Veterans Without a Degree
Security
While security jobs may sound like a stereotypical career path after the military, this industry has many ways to thrive outside of being a “rent-a-cop.” You don’t have to be an MP to have applicable experience either! A strong sense of protocol, people skills, and proven performance under pressure can help you thrive in these positions.
- Security Supervisor/Manager: With military experience and further training, veterans can easily move into supervisory or management roles. These managers oversee teams of security officers, keep regular schedules, and enforce proper protocols. Leadership skills and experience in managing personnel help vets excel in these positions.
- Private Investigator: You may not be Thomas Magnum, but trust us, real-world private investigations are much less clandestine than you see on TV. Experience in military intelligence and an eye for detail can make veterans especially effective in investigative roles in the private sector. Typical duties include background checks, looking into potential fraud, and gathering evidence for legal cases.
- Security Consultant: Veterans with specialized training in security and risk assessment make ideal candidates for consultant positions. These roles include advising businesses and organizations on security risks, implementing best practices, and developing security protocols. As the need for private security grows, this also creates an opportunity for entrepreneurs to start very lucrative businesses!
Check out in-demand security jobs in one of America’s busiest cities with this related read!
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Technology
The US has one of the most technologically advanced armed forces in the world, so it’s no surprise that many veterans find success in the tech field. With the right training and mindset, you can break into lucrative positions as a civilian. These top positions may prioritize veteran experience.
- Cybersecurity Specialist: As the digital landscape demands better security every day, veterans with experience in military comms or cyber warfare will find themselves in demand. In this role, technicians protect computer systems and networks from threats and minimize vulnerabilities. To break into this role, you need certifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).
- IT Support Specialist: Information technologies support businesses just as they do the front lines of our military. Experience in networking and troubleshooting military operations make veterans excellent problem-solvers in IT support roles. We recommend getting certified in essential skills like CompTIA A+ or acquiring a Google IT Support Professional Certificate to excel in this role.
- Data Analyst/Scientist: Making informed decisions on the battlefield and in business requires keen analytical skills. To land the best jobs after the military in this arena, you’ll need analytical skills, a strategic mindset, and mission-planning experience. Certifications in SQL, Python, and a working knowledge of data visualization tools like Tableau will give you what businesses need to make every mission a success!.
Business
Trading in your BDUs for a polo and slacks can feel odd, but the business world and the military have many similarities. Experience with jargon, high stakes situations, and tight schedules make veterans exceptionally prepared for this career path. Skills like learning new lingo, staying punctual, and following orders to the letter all make you a great candidate for any of these positions!
- Project Management: Service members with experience planning, organizing, and executing complex projects can use skills developed in the military to help businesses thrive through every project. If you are comfortable with deadlines, highly organized, and a seasoned leader, your career can thrive in this position!
- Human Resources: Leadership skills from the military also help businesses, because veterans understand team dynamics, conflict resolution, and performance management. These skills make vets great candidates for recruiting, training, and employee relations.
- Sales and Development: Highly motivated and goal-oriented individuals comfortable with competition in the military make great candidates to drive businesses. With acute focus on objectives and hardened tenacity, many veterans elevate sales teams or business development.
Proud to Serve Patriots
Top Applicant proudly supports veterans every step of the way after they leave the military. Before your discharge, you want to build a resume and find a job, and we help you do both! With our revolutionary platform, veterans can share their stories, build modern resumes, and find employers ready to hire—all in one place.
Ready for your next mission? Discover the best jobs after the military right here by building your profile for free!
