When I got out of the Navy, I had a career plan. Well, I actually enlisted with the post-Navy career plan in mind. I enlisted to pay for school so I could go get another degree in order to be able to earn my teaching license. I busted my butt while I was active duty, knocked out the new bachelor’s degree I needed and even started my master’s degree before my enlistment ended. I worked hard to ensure I had every requirement for the state I lived in so my licensing paperwork could go smoothly. I was in a new career within months of separating from the Navy because I had prepared prior to enlisting and reached out to the right resources as I transitioned into the civilian world again.
Sounds great, right? This is a path all military members should take when they start to transition out of active service, right? Everyone knows how to do this, right?
WRONG!
There are so many service members who separate either at the end of one enlistment or retire at the end of their career and have no clue what to do next. The branches all have some sort of separation classes for service members to go through to assist with the process of becoming a civilian again, but few of those programs dig deep into how to find meaningful, long-term career options. And even if they start, they don’t keep up with the service members after the week-long class for transitioning out.
So, what can these service members do?
Well, go to Google!
I don’t mean search on Google for “how to be a civilian again.” I mean look at the Grow with Google program. This program is “helping transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses build meaningful careers and providing veteran-led businesses with tools to grow.” One major way they are doing this is with the Career Forward program. And this isn’t just for the service member! While many programs for the military community focus on active duty or veterans, Career Forward also wants to make sure that the family members supporting the service members are set up for success as well.
“Hiring Our Heroes recognizes that military spouses’ careers are impacted by their service members’ military service. That’s why every Hiring Our Heroes event and program is open to all military, veteran, and Gold Star spouses.”
Career Forward falls under the Hiring Our Heroes umbrella of Google support services. Funded with a grant from Google.org, it gives military members and their spouses access to Google Career Certificates in data analytics, IT support, project management, or user experience design at no cost. These certificate programs are learner paced with no prior educational background required and no professional experience mandatory for enrollment. They are all offered online so the programs can keep up with the travel and relocation demands of a military family.
Additionally, Career Forward does not just help participants with the certification process, but sees them through internships, fellowships, and direct hiring. They offer resume-building, mock interview practice, and networking opportunities for those who complete their certificates with them. One of the most impressive opportunities is a 12-week, paid fellowship with one of the 400+ employers that work with Hiring Our Heroes. These companies include Booz Allen Hamilton, Freedom Learning Group, Verizon, and Google! Career Forward does not want to just train people for new careers, they want to help find careers with longevity and portability. After all, everyone in the military community knows that just as soon as you feel like you’re setting down roots, another PCS comes around and changes everything. The certificates earned and fellowships available allow those in the community to train and become certified in careers that are supported by the ever growing remote working world while still being careers, not just jobs to kill time until the next move.
For more information on the Hiring Our Heroes program, and specifically the Career Forward certification process, visit https://hiringourheroes.org/career-services/education-networking/career-forward.
Who knows what doors will open for you if you’re ready to take the first step!