Veterans Resources

At Clark College, we are dedicated to providing a variety of quality resources to help our veteran students succeed both in the classroom and upon graduation.  To help veteran students make a successful transition into the civilian workforce, Career Services has assembled this list of resources specifically tailored to help veterans search for and acquire a job in the civilian realm.  Many of these resources also provide tips and assistance to military spouses and partners.

For more information about veteran specific resources and how Clark College can help veteran students succeed, contact or visit the Veteran Resource Center.

Tips Sheets for Veterans

• Resume Tip Sheet
• Resume Example
• Cover Letter Tip Sheet & Example
• Transferrable Skills Tip Sheet
• Additional Resources

Career Resources for Veterans

Choosing to make the transition from a military career to a civilian one can present a variety of unique challenges when a veteran begins the job search.  These websites provided numerous resources for the transitioning veteran, such as interview tips, job search advice, job listings, and more.

• Corporate Gray offers military-niche employment resources, connecting transitioning and former military members with employers for those switching from military blue uniforms to corporate gray suits.
• Transition Assistance Online assists our country's heroes in gaining employment at the world's finest military-friendly companies.  From a job board to job search tips, TAonline provides many resources to individuals transitioning from the military to a civilian career.
• Career OneStop’s Veterans ReEmployment is a one-stop website for employment, training, and financial help after military service. The website includes a job search tool where veterans and service members can search for jobs based on the skills and experiences they gained in the military. The site also includes tips for job searching and links to national, state, and local resources specifically for veteran job seekers.
• Next Steps for Vets is a partnership between the US Chamber of Commerce and NBC News dedicated empowering veterans and military spouses with employment and education opportunities.
• VetNet knows transitioning from military to civilian life presents unique challenges. To make things easier and provide structure, a few of the leading organizations in veteran career development have combined forces to create one, easy place to start.
• G.I. Jobs aims to simplify the military transition experience using education and employment tools and resources to guide veterans to a successful career.

Job Search Websites for Veterans

In addition to the Career Services list of job search resources and websites, many additional job boards are available specifically for veterans. Here is a sampling of some of the job boards that exist to help veterans find a job:

• Hero 2 Hired is a Department of Defense sponsored website that offers easy-to-use search features, a military skills translator, a resume builder, a career assessment survey, tips and advice, and professional networking opportunities.
• The Employment Center for Job Seekers is provided by eBenefits, a federal program offered through a partnership between the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Department of Defense that offers online career and transition resources for veterans.
• Military Times offers an easy-to-use job board with open positions searchable by keyword, location, and previous military position.
• VetCentral provides a searchable database of jobs which allows visitors to search by location, keyword, job title, and previous military position.

Transferrable Skills

Your military tour is over and you're about to enter or return to the civilian workforce. How do you transition from wings and 0900 hours to wingtips and 5:00 p.m. occupations? Answer:  focus on your transferable skills.   Check out our tip sheet to help you translate your military experience.

• The WOIS/Career Information System offers a database of military occupations that detail specific job duties and transferrable skills that can be helpful in writing a resume or cover letter, and preparing for an interview.  Additionally, related civilian opportunities are linked on each occupation page. (*This resource must be accessed by using a computer connected to the Clark College network or by visiting the Career Center.)
• Military.com and Monster.com have partnered together to provide a military skills translator that allows veterans to enter their service branch, pay grade, and job title to help them find civilian jobs that have similar skills and duties to what they did while in the service.
• My Next Move for Veterans provides lists of skills, abilities, and education necessary for a wide variety of civilian jobs.  Using this tool can be helpful for veterans to identify what skills they have that match up with what skills are needed for their desired career.  My Next Move is created for the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration, by the National Center for O*NET Development.

Local Career Resources for Veterans

A variety of organizations and agency in Washington and Oregon offer employment services and resources for veterans.

• WorkSource Washington is the State of Washington's official site for online employment services.  These services can help veterans in Washington find a job, get job search help, locate workforce services, access career information and more.
• WorkSource Vancouver provides a variety of events and workshops that can be accessed for free by veterans.  Check out the WorkSource event calendar.
• The Washington State Department of Veteran Services connects veterans and their family members to the benefits and services they earned through their military service.
• WorkSource Oregon provides the veterans of Oregon with resources on transitioning back into the civilian workforce and training opportunities available to veterans.
• Oregon Veterans Services and Resources are offered by the State of Oregon to qualifying military veterans with the goal of providing the maximum level of employment and training opportunities for veterans.
• Returning Veterans Project is based out of Portland, OR and aims to provide free counseling and other services to returning veterans and their families.

In addition to all of these online resources, the Career Services library has a variety of books related to career development and the job search, with some providing information specifically for the military-to-civilian transition.  Stop by the office today and ask a staff member to locate some of these resources for you!

Volunteer Opportunities

Are you looking to add additional skills and experiences to your resume? Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, develop and refine skills, and give back to the community.  Here are a few of the websites available to help you find opportunities in the Vancouver area and beyond:

• Team Rubicon (This is an initiative that unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams.)
• Volunteer Connections
• Hands on Portland
• Volunteer Washington
• Idealist
• Volunteer Match
• AmeriCorps
• Places to volunteer in Clark County and surrounding areas (Google Map)

Co-op/Internship Program

An additional way to gain new professional skills is by completing a Co-op or Internship while attending Clark College.  Co-ops/internships may be paid or non-paid positions with for-profit or non-profit organizations that have the opportunity to be completed for academic credit.  To learn more about these experiences, stop by or call Career Services to make an appointment with Carolyn Johnson, the Co-op/Internship Coordinator. Carolyn can be reached at (360) 992-2902 or cjohnson@clark.edu.