Employment & Careers

SELRP — VA Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program

The VA pays off student loans for recent graduates in specialty clinical fields who agree to work at a VA facility. Targets specialty providers VA is short on (psychiatry, oncology, etc.). Applications now open as of May 2026.

Bridge My Return — AI-Powered Skill Translation + Job Matching

Bridge My Return is a VA-partnered AI platform that translates military skills, codes, and experience into civilian job titles + matches you to active openings. Specifically built for veterans coming off active duty who struggle to "translate" their MOS / AFSC / NEC / Rating into

VA Weekly Veteran-Hiring Job List

VA News publishes a curated weekly list of job openings specifically targeted at veterans. Includes federal positions (VA itself, DoD, DHS), defense-contractor roles, and major-employer programs (Amazon, Microsoft, USAA).

VA On-Demand Career Fair — Always Open

VA runs a permanent on-demand virtual career fair: walk through open positions, get resume feedback, video-chat with VA hiring managers, all from home, any time. No application deadline — refreshed continuously.

Project Opportunity — Free 11-Week Veteran Entrepreneurship Program

Project Opportunity is a free 11-week entrepreneurship training program for veterans who want to start or grow a small business. Curriculum covers business plan development, financial management, marketing, and access to a network of vet entrepreneurs + funding sources. PenFed Fo

SMART Heroes — Free Skilled-Trades (Construction) Training

SMART Heroes is a free 7-week skilled-trades training program for transitioning service members (last 180 days active) and veterans, certified through the SMART union. Covers HVAC sheet metal, with on-base cohorts at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (WA) and Air Force Academy Colorado Sp

Soldiers to Sidelines — Free Sport-Coaching Certification

Soldiers to Sidelines provides free coaching certifications to veterans and military family members through National Federation of State High School Associations + USA Football credentials. Graduates qualify to coach youth and high school sports immediately. Designed to channel v

Hire Heroes USA — Free 1-on-1 Career Coaching + Resume Review

Hire Heroes USA provides free unlimited 1-on-1 career coaching, resume writing, LinkedIn optimization, mock interviews, and job-board access to transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses. Coaches are typically veterans themselves. Average member places into a $

LinkedIn Premium — Free 1 Year for Veterans and Military Spouses

LinkedIn offers one free year of LinkedIn Premium (Career tier) plus full LinkedIn Learning access to U.S. veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses. Includes InMail credits, profile insights, competitive applicant data, and 16,000+ LinkedIn Learning courses (

DoD SkillBridge

Last 180 days of active service can be spent doing a civilian internship/apprenticeship while still drawing pay + benefits. Massive employer network.

SBA Veteran Business Resources

VBOC (Veterans Business Outreach Center) + SCORE mentors + SBDC + Women's Business Center — free counseling for veteran-owned businesses.

USASpending.gov NAICS lookup for veteran business contracts

Look up NAICS codes + government contractor spending at federal/state/county/city levels — find gov contract opportunities matching your business.

CareerOneStop + American Job Center + ENPP

CareerOneStop = free career research (wages, schools, certs). American Job Centers have veteran reps. ENPP (Employment Navigator Partnership Program) is the newer on-base employment counselor.

Federal hiring preference (5/10 point)

Veterans get 5 or 10 preference points added to competitive federal hiring scores. 10 points if service-connected disability or Purple Heart.

Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA)

Non-competitive federal hiring authority — veterans with required years of service can be hired without competing through USAJOBS.

VEOA (Veterans Employment Opportunities Act)

Lets eligible veterans apply for federal jobs open only to current federal employees ("internal" listings).

USERRA reemployment + benefits protection

Federal law guarantees Guard/Reserve members can return to their civilian job, pay, seniority, and benefits after military duty.

TAP (Transition Assistance Program)

Mandatory pre-separation classes covering finances, VA benefits, employment. Free, multi-day. Free workbook + counselors.

Hire Vets Medallion (employer recognition)

DOL medallion program rewarding employers who hire/retain veterans — searchable list of certified veteran-friendly employers.

SDVOSB — Veterans Preference in federal contracting

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business set-asides — federal contracts reserved exclusively for SDVOSB-certified firms.

VR&E Self-Employment Track (Track 5)

VR&E's least-known track: covers business plan development + startup equipment + working capital for service-disabled veterans starting a business.