Job Hunting Advice: Resources for Veterans

Like many libraries, has a variety of resources – online and in print form – to assist veterans with job hunting and/or making the transition from military to civilian life. 

Servicemen and women who are leaving the military face the same challenges and stress when it comes to navigating a poor or struggling job market as anyone graduating from high school or college, or those changing careers.

Whether a veteran has just separated from the service, or has been in the civilian job market for years, the following are a few examples of resources available through the Chesterfield Township Library:

• Check out a copy of the book “Life after the Military: a handbook for transitioning veterans” by Janelle Hill, Cheryl Lawhorne and Don Philpott. According to Library Journal, the authors have “put together the information veterans need to more easily transition to civilian life."

They offer practical advice on finding employment or education, obtaining VA medical benefits, and planning finances. The authors provide the specifics of benefits, including names, phone numbers, and websites of the appropriate VA agencies for each claim.” The book also addresses the emotional and psychological aspects of returning to civilian life.

• Some other books in the library’s collection that can assist veterans include “Military-to-Civilian Resumes and Letters” by Carl S. Savino, “Military-to-Civilian Career Transition Guide: the essential job search handbook for service members” by Janet I. Farley, and “Military to Federal Career Guide: ten steps to transforming your military experience into a competitive federal resume” by Kathryn Troutman.
• Examples of helpful websites that veterans can use in the library include Career One Stop and Learning Express Library. People can use the Learning Express Library website in the library or at home for free after registering on the website at the library.  Like Career One Stop, the Learning Express Library offers powerful job searching (local and national) resources and in-depth career assessment programs.

The Career One Stop website can be accessed through the library’s website (www.chelibrary.org) and then clicking a link for databases. Along with offering transition resources and assistance with applying for benefits, Career One Stop provides a link to the Veterans Job Bank. There is also an area in the website where people can enter information about their military job in order for the site to match civilian careers that use similar skills. The website will also use the information a veteran provides to display job openings for civilian careers in their local area that matches their skills.

Library information

To find out more about print, online, and other resources available to research job listings, potential careers, and employers, visit the Chesterfield Township Library, call (586) 598-4900, or go online at www.chelibrary.org. 

Chesterfield Township Library is located at 50560 Patricia Avenue off Chesterfield Road in the Gratiot and 23 Mile Road area.  The library is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Fridays, and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays.