This Veterans Day, Randstad celebrates America’s veterans and honors all that you do. We’re thrilled to report that veteran unemployment is the lowest it has been since 2001, but we also know that an estimated 188,000 veterans separate from active duty annually, meaning competition for the jobs most relevant to veterans is fiercer than ever. That’s why we’ve put together the following skill set matches — to help you navigate between your military experience and the exciting civilian career that awaits you.
problem solving
Your military training likely made you an expert at prioritizing resources, identifying essential infrastructure and efficiently arriving at outcomes — skills that are well-suited to a career in logistics and supply chains. And did you know that logistics and supply chain jobs requiring trained, experienced workers are forecast to grow at a rate of 30 percent annually? Take the trucking industry, for example: the American Trucking Association estimates that there is currently a labor shortage of 48,000 truck drivers — a shortage projected to increase to more than 175,000 by the year 2024.
communication
The ability to communicate clearly in today’s economy is good as gold, and direct communication is one hallmark of military life. It’s a trait that will serve you well in a number of administration roles, like administrative assistant or customer service rep. Did you know that customer service reps today are among the most sought-after professionals in virtually every industry? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for customer service representatives will grow 10 percent between 2014 and 2024, faster than the average growth across all occupations.
attention to detail
You wouldn’t have made it through basic if you weren’t scrupulously attentive to detail. That’s a trait that can open doors to a variety of career paths. For instance, you might seek out training to begin a career in controls, whether as part of a quality audit team or as an engineer. And Randstad’s research has identified validation engineers — professionals who help test the systems and equipment used in manufacturing — as one of 2017’s top-five hot jobs in engineering.
collaboration
Teamwork is so fundamental to military life that you probably do it all the time without even realizing it. That’s great news for you, because the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team to drive outcomes has probably never been as in-demand as it is today. If you’re technically savvy, a career in IT might be a good fit for you, where teamwork is the norm. (Also, if you have security clearance, that might be a differentiator for some organizations, especially if you are pursuing a career in cybersecurity.) Alternately, consider working in construction or manufacturing, two industries expected to grow in the future. In fact, in addition to the 12.4 million manufacturing workers currently in the U.S. — 9 percent of the workforce — manufacturers are predicted to fill close to 3.5 million jobs over the next decade.
Whichever career path you choose, Randstad is marching in step with you every step of the way. We know that veterans make great candidates. Your rare mix of hard and soft skills, combined with your experience, will enhance the productivity and culture of any organization you join.
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