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8 Jobs for Veterans
Management Consultant
(Average annual salary of $88,707)
A management consultant provides expertise to help organizations solve business problems. Companies recruit management consultants to improve their sales, streamline the way they do things, and train their human resources.
This job is suitable for veterans because consultancy is a game of experience. If you have a track record of solving managerial problems in your previous line of work, you can share that knowledge as a consultant.
To be a management consultant, you have to be knowledgeable about and experienced in the problems you want to solve. Interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate both written and spoken information are important attributes in this job. In addition, management consultants need to think analytically and plan strategically.
How much does a Management Consultant earn?
Management consultants make an average of $88,707 per year.
Management Consultant pros
Job variety
Several options to advance your career
Many networking opportunities
Great learning experiences
Management Consultant cons
High workload
Uncertainty about the next opportunity
Financial Advisor
(Earn up to $150,000 per year)
A financial advisor is an expert that helps clients to develop a plan to meet their financial goals. These goals can range from budget, investment, insurance, and credit goals. Financial advisors are sometimes attached to a professional firm, but some individuals have been successful on their own.
The average age of financial advisors today is 55, making this job suitable for veterans. Moreover, financial advisors manage other people’s fortunes, meaning trust and experience is at the center of this relationship.
Professional financial advisors need to have a firm grip on the technical principles of wealth management. Other important attributes you need to have as a financial advisor include analytical thinking, client relationship management, detail orientation, and current industry knowledge.
How much does a Financial Advisor earn?
A financial advisor in America earns around $87,000 a year, with top professionals making up to $150,000 annually.
Financial Advisor pros
No ceiling on how much you can earn
Flexible work schedule
Fast-growing industry
Ability to manage your finances
Financial Advisor cons
Requires continuous professional development
It takes a lot of effort to build your clientele
Registered Nurse
(Earn around $75,000 per year)
A registered nurse is a licensed medical worker that provides health care services in several situations. These include managing medical equipment, recording patient history, administering drugs, educating people on health matters, and performing different kinds of therapy.
If you are a registered nurse you deal with people from all walks of life. Empathy, communication, attention to detail, and responsiveness should be your strong points. To become a registered nurse, you need an Associate Degree in Nursing and a pass on the NCLEX-RN exam.
Nursing and veterans have a lot in common. As a veteran, you might want to consider becoming a Veteran Affairs nurse. This is a specialized nurse that serves patients that were once in the US military.
Besides that, ordinary registered nurses work in high-stress environments. Although these workplaces don’t come close to veteran experiences, veterans are one group of people that would thrive in nursing environments.
How much does a Registered Nurse earn?
In the US, the average registered nurse earns about $75,000 a year.
Registered Nurse pros
Different nursing areas to specialize
Variety in job tasks
High demand for nursing services
Decent pay
Registered Nurse cons
Long working shifts
Under-appreciated by some
High-stress environment
Sales Manager
(Earn an average annual salary of $72,000 plus commissions)
A sales manager oversees the sales department in an organization. Some of the duties involved in this job include hiring salespersons, motivating them, creating sales goals, and making plans to achieve the goals.
Sales managers are usually one of the most inspirational people in an organization. They are good listeners, communicators, and they lead by example.
Veterans might find this job interesting because of the teamwork involved in meeting sales targets. In addition to that, if you had a knack for getting people to do things, this might be the career for you.
How much does a Sales Manager earn?
Sales manager salaries vary from organization to organization, but on average their annual salary is about $72,000, with extra income from commissions.
Sales Manager pros
Commissions that boost your income
Flexibility in meeting goals
Highly valued in an organizations
Sales Manager cons
High expectations
Unstable income due to commission method of payment
Software Engineer
(Earn around $114,150 per year on average)
Software engineers design and create computer software. From mobile apps that scan documents to large proprietary software that predicts music preferences, software engineers are the backbone of today’s digital technology.
Software engineers do not necessarily have to be college graduates. You can work for several clients that outsource freelancers for different projects. These companies value cost-efficiency, time management, and sheer grit when they assign tasks – values that you most likely possess as a veteran.
Good software engineers have a strong proficiency in at least one programming language. In addition to that, they have an affinity for problem-solving and working knowledge in popular software development tools.
How much does a Software Engineer earn?
The average annual salary of a software engineer in the United States is $114,150.
Software Engineer pros
High demand
High wages
Flexibility to work from home
Opportunities to work abroad
Software Engineer cons
Lack of social interaction due to remote work
Stiff competition
Need for continuous learning
Operations Research Analyst
(Earn up to $112,680 per year or more as a top-level operations research analyst)
An operations research analyst uses high-level scientific methods to advise business managers on the right course of action to solve a problem. Every day, organizations face issues concerning sales forecasting, logistics management, manufacturing bottlenecks, and so forth.
An operations research analyst uses mathematical modeling, data mining, statistical analysis, and other tools to develop strategies to solve these problems.
This job requires you to have excellent mathematical skills, research capability, logical reasoning, and the ability to organize information.
How much does an Operations Research Analyst earn?
Operations research analysts make on average $84,810 a year. Top professionals in the industry, however, can earn up to $112,680 per year or more.
Operations Research Analyst pros
High salary and benefits
Great career advancement opportunities
Usually work in a comfortable environment
Operations Research Analyst cons
Requires extensive skills and knowledge
Long working hours
Above-average stress
Information Security Analyst
(Average annual salary of $83,732 per year)
An information security analyst manages the security needs of an organization’s software and networks. They install defense software such as firewalls and continuously monitor the safety of a company’s network. Most employers prefer to recruit analysts who have a background in computer science or a related field.
Skills to have in this job include analytical thinking, problem-solving, and detail orientation. You may not need to know how to code but you’ll need a firm foundation in information technology, computer forensics, and knowledge about hacking.
Information security analysts are high-value workers in any organization. They demonstrated leadership, reassurance, and continuity. These are traits that a veteran will effortlessly bring to the table.
How much does an Information Security Analyst earn?
Information security analysts in the United States earn around $83,732 a year.
Information Security Analyst pros
Promising job growth
Valued in organizations
High salary
Opportunities for career advancement
Information Security Analyst cons
A lot of overtime work
High-pressure job
Law Enforcement Officer
(Earn up to $121,000 per year as a top FBI agent)
Law enforcement involves putting laws into action and protecting public safety. Law enforcement officers apprehend, investigate and detain suspected lawbreakers. Jobs are spread across different agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Law enforcement officers may include FBI agents, detectives, prison wardens, border patrol agents, and probation officers.
Veterans often go on to have exemplary careers as law enforcers. The job requires teamwork, tact, resilience, and staying calm under pressure. These requirements make police work a great option for veterans, especially for those with combat experience.
How much does a Law Enforcement Officer earn?
Earnings vary depending on the job position and the government agency you work for. The average salary for a police officer in the US is $53,617 per year. However, top FBI agents can earn up to $121,000 per year.
What Jobs are Good for Ex-Military?
Although the jobs on this list are fit for many veterans, some stand out as more suitable for them. Veterans carry a unique skill-set that can smoothly transfer into specific jobs. The best of these jobs is law enforcement, followed by registered VA nurses.
Do Veterans Get Hired More?
In some jobs, veterans get hired more. Police departments and law enforcement agencies are always seeking to hire veterans. Research shows that 10% of police recruit budgets are spent on hiring military veterans.
In addition, military candidates get extra points on exams during law enforcement recruitment.
Outside law enforcement, close to 50% of employers say they pay more attention to veteran applications. 68% of employers also say they are more likely to award a veteran a job if they were going against another equally qualified non-veteran.
What is the Best Job for Veterans Without Degrees?
The best job for veterans without degrees is law enforcement. Not only does the job fit naturally in the repertoire of most veterans, but it has a few barriers of entry.
Particularly, veterans should look out for correction officer jobs. These require one to ensure the safety and security of inmates in a correctional facility such as a juvenile hall or state prison.
The other job that veterans without a degree can consider is operations manager. Veterans can transfer the knowledge of running an organized unit into a factory setting or complex logistics environment. Operations managers ensure that work runs smoothly from production to the point a consumer receives a product.