Texas Workforce Commission

Through its network for 28 local workforce boards, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) will be the primary entity used by Veterans Referral and Resource Specialists (VRRSs) to assist returning veterans as they transition to civilian life. VRRSs will work closely with Employment Services (ES) staff in the Workforce Solutions offices, as well is TVC staff of Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOPs) and Local Veterans' Employment Representative (LVERs).

Working in Texas

Your transition from the military profession to a civilian job maybe one of the toughest obstacles to overcome as you return home, however it is not insurmountable. There are many employers out there who are looking for your skills; the challenge is relating those skills in a manner that they can understand. This website is designed to help you find the assistance and information you need through available online resources as you go through the employment process. And because it is a process we have arranged the information in a manner that would follow an average employment scenario. Note that if you are from Texas or live in Texas and think you need a more one-on-one service contact your nearest Workforce Solutions office.

It is also important to realize that employers are working at a different pace than what you are used to in the military. They are searching through possibly hundreds of resumes to fill one job vacancy. After possible applicants are selected it takes even more time to arrange for interviews that fit everyone's schedule. Then after the interviews the employer may have an approval process that the selected applicants have to go through. The job could require more interviews, tests and/or background checks. In other words the hiring process could be a lengthy one, so the sooner you get started on finding employment the better things will be.

Separation Brief

Your first step in transition begins before you even leave the military and that is through the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). TAP is available for those active duty, reserve and National Guard who have served a "180 or more days of continuous active duty." By law service members must attend a TAP/DTAP class from one year to 90 days before they separate from the service and assistance is available for up to six months from their release from active duty. Access to this assistance is as simple as contacting a nearby military instillation or a local Command Career Counselor.

Online Transition Guides:      Preseparation Guide Active Duty         Transition Guide Guard/Reserve

TAP classes are given from the member of a military installation's Transition Assistance Staff. While the law that created the TAP classes created a joint venture between the Departments of Defense (DOD), Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Transportation and the Department of Labor's (DOL) Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) each branch has a different name for the Transition Assistance Programs:

• The Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP) is a military personnel function and the Centers are found under the Director of Human Resources (DHR) or the Military Personnel Office (MILPO).
• Air Force: Airman and Family Readiness Center. You can find the nearest office using the military installation finder at Military HOMEFRONT.
• Navy: Fleet and Family Support Center. Navy personnel should make an appointment with their Command Career Counselor for a preseparation counseling interview at least 180 days prior to separation.
• Marines: Career Resource Management Center (CRMC)/Transition & Employment Assistance Program Center.

The Transition Assistance Program is broken down to three components with a fourth component for those leaving the military with a service disability rating:

• Transition Counseling -- mandatory and conducted by the Military Services
• Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Briefing that is normally conducted by a representative from the Department of Labor (DOL).
• Veterans Benefits Briefings -- facilitated and sponsored by VA
• Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP) -- facilitated and sponsored by VA and conducted in conjunction with the TAP briefing.

Subjects covered during the class include:

• How to plan for your transition.
• How the change will affect you financially and emotionally.
• Employment programs and assistance to include veteran's preference in employment.
• Small business opportunities and entrepreneurship.
• Government jobs.
• Education, job training and assistance in transitioning your military job skills to the private sector.
• Health and Life Insurance.

During your TAP class you will be asked if you want assistance in creating a resume- do not turn this opportunity down. It will be discussed later that while each resume needs to fit the job that you are applying for having a professionally done resume will definitely give you something to work off of when you tailor it to different jobs.

Learn more about the Transition Assistance Program and what it can do for you.

Each service uses a different format to assist you in translating the skills you learned in your MOS to its civilian counterpart. Find out how your military skills transfer over.

Where to Live In Texas

You might have joined the military to gain experience and training in a job field that you knew you would want to do for years to come or maybe now you want to do something different. No matter what your situation is you are going to want a job that is (1) in a field of work that you are interested in, (2) provides you with the life style that you want and (3) has upward mobility.

1. There are many services available to assist you determine what jobs you might find interesting. Some of these services are free and some charge a fee. A quick note, you are applying for a job that you want, in your resume there is no need to reiterate this. An employer is interested in what you can do and have done, not in what you want to do.

After you have decided what type of jobs you might be interested in there are many resources available to you to find out what those jobs pay. Military.com is one example that does exactly that. What makes this website a little more interesting is that it allows for variations in geographic locations. For example a Drilling Operations Director in Abilene Texas has a median pay of $143,000 while that same job in Dallas Texas is $160,000.

2. Pay is not the only thing that effects your life style but the cost of living. For example depending on your situation that $143,000 salary in Abilene Texas may go farther than the $160,000 salary in Dallas Texas considering the cost of groceries will go up 8% and healthcare will cost you 12% more but your utilities will drop 4% on average. To weigh out these factors use CNNMoney.com. There are other factors that cannot be weighed out and will take research on your part: such as the housing market, medical needs (VA Hospitals), commute to job site, schools, and preference for living conditions.

CareerOne Stop is a U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored Web site that offers career resources and workforce information.

3. One other thing you need to examine is the likelihood of that job being around ten or twenty years from now. The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) has Veterans Employment Representatives (VER) across the state that can assist you with what jobs are growing in the area they represent. Find your local VER, also known as DVOP and LVER.

Now that you know what kind of job you want, you need to find that job. There are many ways to do that. Websites, which are probable more practical if you are still stationed outside the state and are returning soon, will be discussed later. If you are a veteran in Texas you are going to want to visit your local Workforce Solutions office. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) along with the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) will be major players in assisting you to prepare and find a job here in Texas.

The Texas Workforce Commission oversees 28 local workforce development boards in Texas that are designated geographically. Workforce Solutions offices within the board areas provide local delivery of services such as assistance with your resume, interview skills and search for employment. The Texas Veterans Commission houses VERs in the Workforce Solutions offices to specifically assist veterans in finding employment. If a VERs is not present in the Workforce Solutions office there are Employment Service Officers who can assist you.

We invite you to contact our Veterans Resource and Referral Specialists (VRRS) before you separate from the service, but it is never too late to contact your local VRRS. There is one working in each Workforce Development Board to specifically assist returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. They can be a great asset in referring you to the right assets in not only getting the job that you want but other services as well.

Your Resume

Veterans seem to do great in job interviews, good posture, polite, dressed appropriately (spit shines are okay but ditch the chloroframs), and the ability to respond to answers quickly and efficiently. The first step to the interview, the resume, seems to be the most difficult step for most veterans finding employment to the private sector and government jobs. To overcome these problems veterans need to understand a few of the many rules:

• There is no one resume fits all. The resume you are creating must be made to fit the job you are applying for. For example let's say that you are applying for a welding job and they will train you to do the job. If you were a welder in the military you would definitely want to present that fact along with your experience (amount of experience, level of experience, different environments). However if they are willing to train they are possibly looking for other skills as well, what are known as "soft skills." Some examples of these skills are intangibles such as discipline, dedication, the ability to learn new skills, integrity, leadership and even something as simple as able to show up to work on time. The following link can help you with your resume.
  Resume Checklist
• While you want to tailor your resume you also want to be sure to include any other skills you may have. If you were infantry and applying for a job with the police department you may want to include and advanced first aid classes, advanced marksmanship/instructor classes and certifications or experiences that deal with crowd control.
• There is no set format for a resume. For example you will see some resumes where the applicant has an express desire for this position and in the section following their information they state so in the "career objective." This can be a good and a bad idea. Good in the sense that it shows that you have a direct interest and qualification in what they are looking for. Bad in the sense that it possibly limits you to that one job position and not other positions that you qualify for. Remember, on average, when employers look through resumes they are getting rid of those that do not qualify for the position and are then looking through the resumes on those who have the best qualifications that they are looking for.
  Resume Guide    Create the Perfect Resume   Resume Tips
• More and more employers are scanning resumes for key words when they are trying to fill a position. While it is highly unadvisable to cut and paste the job posting on to your resume, it is highly advisable to use the company's vocabulary.
• Don't lie or be shy. If you don't have an asset or skills don't write that you do; it could mean a short career if they found out you lied on your resume. However for most veterans they have the exact opposite problem in that they do not elaborate enough on their skills and experience. The veteran may have been a helicopter mechanic but not mention that they have performed this operation in the desert (dealing with problems with sand abrasion) or high winter climates (adjusting the operation of the helicopter to the thinner air).
• Less is more. Benjamin Franklin was thanked for writing such a long letter; his reply was an apology that "he did not have time to write a short one." A good resume will be precise and to the point. Leave the job interview for any further elaborations if needed. For example if you served in combat put it down in the resume where it is applicable but this does not mean that you have to start going into war stories. Preferably you might put "works well under pressure in high stressed situations" or "able to perform and succeed in ever changing surroundings and situations."
  BaseOps.Net

Remember resumes are your foot in the door. Most are about one page long but depending on your experience they can be as long as two pages. Each military branch has a different system for reporting your military and civilian education and training. This can be an asset in creating your resume. The following links will lead you to where you need to go to get this information:

Discharged Veterans -- Veterans can request this information from their parent service. However if there are any problems you may need to submit a DD-295 form along with a DD-214 Discharge Document to the military branch that you served with to receive credit for your experience.

Web Based Services

Several places offer you the help you will need to find the job that's right for you. Check out these websites for more information:

WorkInTexas

WorkInTexas is a state run website for employment but has several veteran friendly benefits. For one, employers can post their jobs as "Veterans Only" for "First Day Only" or "Always." Only those who are veterans can apply for these jobs. These jobs are designated by the Hire Vets First icon. Employers can also browse for potential applicants by veteran status as all veterans registered in WorkInTexas have an American flag by their name.

  Hire Veterans identification icon.

USAJOBS

USAJOBS is the official job site of the United States Federal Government. It is the one-stop source for Federal jobs and employment information and the job openings are for the general public. However veterans and certain family members may qualify for a 10-point preference in federal jobs.

Military.com

Military.com offers job listings for "employers looking for military experience," and a variety of services such as military information, résumé and interview tips, job fair locations, and the most sought-after jobs and their locations.

RecruitMilitary

Act now to get a great civilian job - and register at RecruitMilitary as a job seeker. You get access to thousands of jobs that employers have posted on our Web site. And as you register, you create a profile that becomes available to thousands of employers that search our database of job seekers. When you also take the time to post a resume, you increase your chances of being found by an employer that's right for you.

CareerOne Stop

CareerOne Stop works in conjunction with local Workforce Solutions offices, more commonly known as one-stops, and also has other service provider locations relevant to employment, training, and economic development. By entering a zip code you can locate jobs positions in that area. Or just pick up the phone and dial 1-877-US2-JOBS (1-877-872-5627) for direct assistance!

Corporate Gray

Corporate Gray links employers with transitioning and former military personnel through their Corporate Gray Series of military-to-civilian career transition books, Corporate Gray Job Fairs, and Corporate Gray Online.

Monster

Monster is one of the larger databases of employers seeking to have positions filled and covers over 40 countries.

Job-Applications.com - Armed Forces Jobs

Job-Applications.com - Armed Forces Jobs - Now more than ever, our brave men and women need your help. You can apply online for the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard. Whether your passion is demolitions, speaking a foreign language, learning about other cultures, fixing and piloting helicopters, or breaking codes, there are jobs waiting for you in the military. Behind a desk or in the field, if you have a need to serve your country, want to see the world, and make money to accomplish your dreams, then the United States military wants you! Apply online now at Job-Applications.com.

Hire A Hero

Hire A Hero is dedicated to helping returning service members and their families connect with employers who are interested in rewarding service members for their service.

VetCentral

VetCentral VetCentral was established nationally to assist employers who receive federal contracts in complying with their federal requirement to list their job openings with local one-stop centers. VetCentral receives job postings from many employers that are seeking federal contracts and are required to notify veterans of job openings and provide them with priority in hiring. VetCentral is a subsidiary of Jobcentral.

Hire Heroes USA

Hire Heroes USA is the link to career opportunities nationwide for returning service men and women - our Heroes - to ensure they have the opportunity to enjoy the freedoms they fought to preserve. Through a personal approach, Hire Heroes USA serves as the bridge to rewarding careers for our returning veterans, specializing in the career placement of those wounded or with any level of disability. This organization specifically works with veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Job Fairs

If you are not into websites and prefer to meet the people who represent the companies you are interested in, job fairs might be your answer. But just as you are meeting the employer, they are meeting you. Make sure that you have a prepared resume and are dressed accordingly. You might be asking how is it possible to prepare a resume as discussed earlier in that it is targeted for a specific job when there will be so many employers with so many different job opportunities. The answer is preparation. Most job fairs will announce ahead of time a list of the employers and the positions they have open. By tweaking each resume to fit the jobs you are interested in you will be able to present yourselves in a positive light as being someone who is not only interested, prepared but a self-starter. For some job interview tips and rules go to the following websites:

For a local job fairs check local papers and these websites.

The Interview

After you have submitted your resume to the employer they will want to meet you in person. Depending on the size and policy of the company you are interviewing with this will be done either by someone in the company's Human Resources Department or possibly the person who the position is posted for.

Some of the questions the employer will ask will be to determine your qualifications, concerns or clarify something in your resume that they have a question about. There is a great article written by Carole Martin about job interviews for veterans called "10 Killer Job Interview Questions and Answers"

A rule of thumb on attire is to dress one step up than the position you are applying for. If you are applying for a job that would require blue jeans and a t-shirt when you work, then dress business casual. If you are applying for a job that requires business casual on most days, then you should dress business formal. If either business casual or business formal you should always dress conservatively, basic solid colors that are not bright or flashy. Once you get the job you will more than likely attend a new employee orientation that will inform you on what the company considers proper work attire. If the company does not afford such training, simply observe how other successful people around the workplace dress.

For more information on job interviews visit Military.com.

Remember that all job interviews should be followed up within 24 hours by a letter thanking the person you met with for their time and the opportunity to interview for the position. Some ideas for interview thank you letters can be found at QuintCareers.com.

Apprenticeship Programs and Other Job Opportunities

There are lots of reasons to take on an Apprenticeship Program versus other traditional job opportunities or educational institutions. For instance:

• Earn a wage while avoiding student debt.
• Gain valuable qualifications in a job skill that has high demand
• Once you have earned your title as a certified journeyworker you will qualify for higher wages.
• You will have training and certifications that meet industry, employer and state standards.
• More competitive in the job market because of the quality and versatility of your skill.

U.S. Department of Labor provides information about apprenticeship and training programs nationwide.

There are several programs including TWC Apprenticeship Program and Helmets to Hardhats to assist you in starting your apprenticeship and earning your journeyworker certification.

Determine the trade in which you would like to pursue a career. Find an employer who will hire you and agree to train you as an apprentice. After you have registered with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship, you learn the skills of your trade by working closely with a skilled journeyworker in this business. For the work you do, your employer pays you a wage that increases with your skill level over the length of your apprenticeship.

Most candidates will enter an apprenticeship program where they learn a trade through on-the-job training supplemented by classroom instruction at state-of-the-art training facilities. Typically, there is no charge for the training and you will be paid for the time you are working. The pay you receive from an employer can be supplemented by education benefits under the G.I. Bill, adding hundreds more dollars each month to your take home pay. An apprentice's pay increases periodically over the course of the job, and as the apprentice becomes more skilled. Many apprenticeship programs have arrangements allowing individuals to obtain college credit for classroom work. Upon graduation, you will become a journeyman -- a craftsperson recognized for his or her knowledge and ability in the selected trade. In some cases your military experience can give you credit towards journeyman status and allow you to enter an apprenticeship program at an advanced level or be classified as a journeyman immediately.

Troops to Teachers is similar to an apprenticeship program in that it lets you earn while you learn your new profession. Texas Troops to Teachers (TTT) is a federally funded program designed to assist retiring and separating military veterans to become teachers in their next careers. Since its beginning in November 1995, the Texas Troops to Teachers Office has counseled 15,500 veterans, advising them on routes and programs to achieve full teacher certification in Texas, and referring them to districts for employment. Texas leads the nation in the number of veterans who have become teachers, with over 1650 hired since 1995.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has established the Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative that assists veterans in starting or expanding their own businesses. Eligible military community members include; veterans, service-disabled veterans, active-duty service members eligible for the military TAP, reservists and National Guard, spouses of any of the afore mentioned, widowed spouses of a service member or veteran who died during service or of a service-connected disability. Visit the site in order to learn more details.