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Student Veterans

  • As a veteran, you’ve developed a skillset highly sought by employers. 
  • Veterans are employed in every sector, industry, and job type out there. Your military experience has helped prepare you for a wide range of responsibilities. Exploring your interests and determining how you want to highlight your military service (or not) during your job search will help you make a successful transition to a civilian career.
  • We want all who have served and continue to serve this nation to know that the University of Tennessee and the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration are places where our student veterans can succeed and achieve.

CCDAE Commitment

  • As staff and aspiring allies at the Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration, we strive to:
    • Create a safe and welcoming environment for veterans
    • Provide a welcoming, affirming, and flexible career services support model
    • Encourage students veterans to discover and explore their individual strengths and skills, and to help you make a more informed choice about internship opportunities and employer selection
    • Increase awareness of resources and services available to support veterans in making informed career decisions.

Support on Campus 

Researching Internships, Jobs, Opportunities and More

There are no limits to the range of employment possibilities available to you. To help narrow your search, try using “veteran” in keyword searches to find specific opportunities where an employer has specified a preference for hiring veterans or strongly encourages applicants with military experience. There are also many job boards dedicated to the military and veteran community.

Crafting Your Resume for Civilian Positions

Whether you choose to include your military experience on a resume is a personal choice and there is no correct answer. The skills gained through service, including teamwork, leadership, communication, decision-making, work ethic, and more, are highly sought after by employers, and highlighting them effectively can help improve your candidacy. If you do choose to include service experience, it’s likely that a hiring manager will not be familiar with military terminology or references, so use common/civilian language.

Addressing Combat Experience or Disabilities During the Job Search Process

If you have combat experience or any service-related disabilities, choosing whether to share that information with a prospective employer is highly personal. You are not required to disclose this information, even if asked, however, employers may be required to make appropriate accommodations if requested, as many veterans are protected by discrimination in employment under the Americans with Disabilities Act.