MilitaryStars Blog

Get The Right Master's Degree For the Right Career

Whether you're thinking about getting a Master's degree online or in rooms where the desk's attached to the chair, check out these specialized Master's programs that can land you a career anywhere from the UN to the NFL.  If your career plans are specific, this is a serious way to get your education working for them.  The article comes courtesy of a gentleman who wrote a book called How to Get Any Job with Any Major - certainly sounds like a helpful read too!     

Aircraft Careers For Indy Army Veterans

Good one here from an area of the country not on our tour schedule (for now): Indianapolis-based AAR Aircraft Services is guaranteeing interviews and strongly favoring placement for transitioning Army veterans (link from WISH in Indy; video version available there as well).  They represent a civilian industry with a strong presence at our events, and one that couldn't be more perfect for certain military skillsets.  Just as more state and local governments commit to hiring initiatives, every employer that does so becomes part of a bigger movement.   

Civilian Hiring Prep, Tools, and Info

Sometimes it may seem unclear how you're supposed to take all the different organizations out there ready to help you - us included - and utilize them in the most effective way.  You don't want to stop in at Point A and be told you need to go to B first, even though you already checked C and D and they do the exact same thing.

This article from Northern CA's Times-Standard Online paints a much clearer picture.  The local Veterans Resource Center gets money.  This money gets the local transitioning veterans on their feet in simple, specific ways - the center pays for their work boots & vest, or their textbooks, whatever they need to prepare for the work they're interested in.  After they've been prepared, they begin looking for work with specific employers, which is where we come in. 

Find the resources near you that can help you prepare similarly - it may not be free books, but it may be other benefits, or a stockpile of articles online or library resources.  Attending a career event without knowing what you want to do is OK too, and recommended as far as a year out from transitioning.  Just understand why you're there to assure you get the most out of it.  The first trip is part of this research phase; you're there to gather information.  When you come back, it will be as a prepared job seeker; you're there to get a career.  With good preparation, you'll definitely be able to tell the difference.

Careers in Washington for Wounded Warriors

The House of Representatives' Wounded Warrior Program stepped up its commitment in a big way today, with a concept we especially appreciate: service injured veterans will now have the opportunity to work in Congress.  Whether working directly for a Congressman or Congresswoman, serving on a committee, or in a leadership or support office, these are fantastic positions, brought about by a retired Marine taking over the Wounded Warrior Project.  Their dedication and teamwork will definitely serve them well in this arena!  Spread the word to someone who might be interested and have a great week.

Hiring Military Just Saved You A Bundle...

Proof of what can happen when things move beyond the proposal stage: Employers in the state of Texas saved $188 million in taxes this year, through a Texas government program offering tax credits for hiring, among others, veterans.  If you're an employer and you need facts and figures to justify the intangibles championed here - there you go.  I would also add all the time you can save by knowing you're getting a responsible, committed hire, the money you save just by knowing they'll show up to work on time, on down the line.  We love coming to Texas and will soon be hosting our first event in Houston, with employers who know your value.

Young Veterans' Hike For Brothers in Arms

Here's a wonderful response to a world that too often says "Someone should do something about...".  Two young Army buddies are getting the word out and raising resources for the nation's homeless veteran population by hiking the Appalachian Trail, start to finish, Georgia to Maine.  Many homeless veterans, as the article notes, served in the Vietnam era, and these two, twentysomethings, say a couple months of hiking is nothing compared to improving the lives of their fellow veterans.  Outstanding story I've seen quite a few places; this link includes info on how to support their cause.

Reasons to Hire Citizen Soldiers

Organizations are out there working hard to support the citizen soldiers of the National Guard, while many headlines detail their struggles to find new careers or keep their old ones.  Employers would do well to check out this profile of a Guard battery in Washington state.  The piece provides fantastic details demonstrating how the Guard members' civilian careers - law enforcement, engineering, management, and more - make them better soldiers.  Civilian and military career experience grow together in these individuals to create incredibly dedicated, responsible team members for any organization.  Keep that in mind whether you're hiring or ready to be hired, and have a great week!

Governator Commits To Careers for CA Veterans

As I cover state leaders here stepping up to support their veterans, I'd be severely remiss if I didn't mention this one - you may have heard his name before.  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier this week announced $6 million in grants to help transitioning California veterans find careers.  We love coming to California throughout the year; our first visit this year will soon be bringing us to San Diego.  Like the Governator (any time you get the chance to make such a comparison, I think you should), we are committed to helping Golden State veterans find meaningful careers in high-growth industries!

Hoosier Employers: Increase Military Hires

A state representative in Indiana is the latest wanting to make more jobs available for the veterans she represents.  Suzanne Crouch's proposed bill will encourage Hoosier employers through incentives for hiring veterans.  Many employers already know that a veteran employee brings incentives of their own to any organization.  For those that need more encouragement, nothing wrong with legislation like this giving it to them and supporting the cause... they should also read what other employers are saying! 

Civilian Resume Tips Straight From the Top

Sandra Westlund-Deenihan is the president of a US manufacturing company and has been crusading for over a year to close the skills gap present in many industries across the US workforce, advocating veterans as the answer.  She has mentioned a fact we know well here: many veterans' resumes aren't "civilian-ized" enough to break through to employers.  She also said she was working on doing something about it, so it's great to see her latest piece here, with solid, specific examples of civilianizing details for a transitioning veteran's resume.  Give it a look with your resume at MilitaryStars!