Step One: Choose the Right Career for You
You don’t want to waste your G.I. Bill and Tuition Assistance benefits by getting a degree that isn’t useful to you in the long run. That’s why it is so important to evaluate and determine your career goals and interests as a first step.
The current job market is competitive, so getting the right degree is especially important right now. This is particularly true if you are interested in pursuing one of the jobs listed below, each of which is predicted to grow rapidly over the next decade.
The First Decision
Let’s start with a broad question. Do you want to find a new career path, or would you rather use the skills you gained in the military to switch over to the civilian version of your occupation?
If you want to stay in the same field, you might need to do some research to learn the differences between the military version of your job and the civilian one. Our (military professionals) are well-versed in all military trades, and are more than happy to answer any questions you might have regarding your current skills and training to see which civilian jobs are a match. Feel free to ask them questions, such as possible income, required training information, and upward mobility speculation.
But perhaps you want to switch fields completely. You have a great opportunity to go to school and study any subject you please. But unlike most students beginning college, you already have skills that will help you in the workplace—no matter which field you choose. As a matter of fact, many military specialties offer skills that would be beneficial in human resource management, office administration, maintenance, data entry, and computer software engineering—just to name a few.
Make a Well-Informed Decision
Whether you are struggling to make the final decision about staying in the same career field or you are trying to find a new career path, there are a great number of resources available to you as a servicemember. You can use the services of a career counselor or an education service officer who can discuss options with you and conduct a career assessment that will highlight your interests and skills. Both active duty and reserve servicemembers should contact their local Education Service office or career counselor to set up a meeting. If you are no longer in active service, look to the Department of Veterans Affairs for similar types of assistance.
Career Paths to Consider
It is important that you choose a career path that is fulfilling and will help you meet your personal goals. That being said, you may want to look into the following careers—all of which offer job security and a nice paycheck. The Department of Labor predicts that the following will be among the highest paying and fastest growing jobs through 2014:
- Registered Nurse
- Network Systems Administrator/Analyst
- Physical and Occupational Therapist
- Health Diagnosis Technician
- Computer Software Engineer
- Dental Hygienist
- Law Enforcement Officer
- Teacher (All Levels)
- Accountant
Want more information about different career paths or to find job postings? Visit USMilitary.com’s Career Center.
Now you need to figure out which degree will both support your career path and give you the flexibility you need. Click here to read Step Two: Make Your Degree Support Your Career Path.
Sidebar: Interested in getting a degree? First, find the right military-friendly school with our School Finder. Then take advantage of our Scholarship Finder to save money on tuition and other expenses. Remember—all the education and career tools on USMilitary.com are free.
