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VetAtlas

Career Explorer

Resources to help you find and land a civilian career that values your military experience. From translating your MOS to navigating federal hiring, everything here links to official sources.

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MOS Bullet Picker & Career Paths

Look up your MOS, see civilian-friendly bullet points, and discover career fields that match your military experience.

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USAJOBS Walkthrough

How to navigate USAJOBS, write a federal resume, read job announcements, and apply step by step.

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Federal Hiring Preferences

Veterans' Preference, VRA, 30% Disabled Veteran Authority, VEOA, and other special hiring paths into federal service.

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Security Clearance

How to leverage your military clearance in the civilian job market — levels, the 24-month window, salary premiums, and where to look.

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Veteran-Friendly Employers

Programs, industries, and companies that actively recruit and support veterans in the civilian workforce.

Free Career Help for Veterans

Hire Heroes USA provides free career coaching and resume writing. Hiring Our Heroes offers fellowship programs and hiring events. American Corporate Partners pairs veterans with Fortune 500 mentors — all free of charge.

USERRA — Your Employment Rights

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) is a federal law that protects your civilian job when you leave for military service. It applies to all employers regardless of size, including federal, state, and private employers.

Key Protections

  • Reemployment rights: Your employer must return you to the job you would have had if you hadn't left (the "escalator" principle) — same seniority, status, pay, and benefits
  • Anti-discrimination: You cannot be denied employment, reemployment, promotion, or any benefit because of military service
  • Training/requalification: Your employer must make reasonable efforts to retrain you for your position if needed
  • Health insurance: You can continue employer health coverage for up to 24 months while on military duty (you may have to pay up to 102% of the premium)
  • Pension protection: Military leave counts as continuous employment for pension vesting and benefit accrual

Deadlines to Return to Work

USERRA deadlines to return to work after military service
Length of ServiceWhen to Report/Apply
Less than 31 daysReport at beginning of next regularly scheduled work period
31 to 180 daysSubmit application within 14 days of release
181+ daysSubmit application within 90 days of release

SCRA — Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

The SCRA protects active-duty service members from certain civil obligations. Key protections include:

  • 6% interest rate cap on pre-service debts (mortgages, credit cards, auto loans)
  • Lease termination without penalty for PCS orders, deployment of 90+ days, or active duty activation
  • Foreclosure protection during service and for a period after — cannot foreclose without a court order
  • Eviction protection — cannot evict servicemember or dependents from rental housing without court order (if rent is below threshold)
  • Default judgment protection — courts cannot enter default judgments against active-duty servicemembers without first appointing an attorney
  • Civil proceedings stay — you can request postponement of civil court proceedings during service

If your rights are violated: Contact the Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) at dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/userra, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) at esgr.mil (1-800-336-4590), or the DOJ Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative at justice.gov/servicemembers. You can also seek free legal assistance at the nearest military installation.

Military-to-Civilian Tools

These free tools help you translate your military experience into civilian terms: