Navy veteran Anthony Juarez left active duty expecting to start a civilian job. The offer fell through. In a 2019 VA interview, he described working in home health care before joining the VA and finding a role that put him back in direct patient care. His experience shows how to approach a job search when the first plan changes. VA’s interview with Anthony Juarez

Every year, men and women who served our country come home and start over. They look for work, find a place to live, and learn a new rhythm of life outside the military. All of us at Corona Shoutouts appreciate everything veterans have done for us, and one of the most practical ways to show it is to help make that first civilian year a little smoother. The U.S. Department of Labor says its transition programs serve more than 200,000 service members who leave the military each year, so chances are good that someone in your circle is going through this right now.

When a job offer falls through

Juarez told the VA that he had also been preapproved for a VA home loan. Without the expected job and unable to find another right away, he lost the loan and rented space in a living room while relying on his savings. His account shows how closely housing decisions can depend on the timing of a job search. VA’s account of Juarez’s transition

“When I left active duty, I did everything I could to not become a statistic,” he told the VA. He also said something that every neighbor should hear: he was very fortunate to have fellow veterans who worked at the VA as his support system, in a city where he knew only a handful of people. A few people who checked in on him made a real difference.

He took an in-home health care job before starting as an advanced medical support assistant at the VA in August 2016. Once there, he applied to become an intermediate care technician. In the interview, he described doing patient intake, documenting visits, and assisting with biopsies. He said the chance to work directly with patients again and serve fellow veterans drew him to the position. VA career interview

His path also shows how a skill set can find a new home. Juarez had served as a Navy Fleet Marine Force hospital corpsman. While working in a VA clinic, he talked with a nurse manager about his clinical experience and leadership roles, and she pointed him to the intermediate care technician information page. One honest conversation about what he had done in uniform opened the next door. The VA reported that he still serves in the Navy Reserve and was nominated as a Navy Reservist Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Sailor of the Year. He also started a nonprofit, Operation Sacred Response Foundation, which he said provides care packages to people who are deployed and care backpacks to veterans who are homeless.

Describe the work in terms an employer can use

Start with a job posting and underline the tasks it actually asks someone to do. Then find a military or civilian example that shows you can do each one. “Trained new staff on equipment checks” gives an interviewer something to ask about. Add the size of the team or the frequency of the checks when you can verify those details.

If a friend offers to review your résumé, ask them to mark any terms they don’t understand. In a practice interview, have them ask what you were responsible for, what went wrong, and what you did next. Those follow-up questions help you explain your role without relying on a job title or acronym.

Juarez’s own advice to other veterans followed the same idea. When he talks with service members who are about to separate, he told the VA, he first gets to know who they are, what drives them, and what their experiences have been. Then he talks about how that translates to a career. That is a good model for any friend or family member who wants to help: start with the person, then the résumé.

How neighbors can help

You don’t need to be a recruiter to make a difference. If a veteran in your neighborhood, church, or workplace is job hunting, here are a few small ways to help:

• Offer to read a résumé or cover letter and point out any military terms that might confuse a civilian hiring manager.
• Run a practice interview over coffee and ask the follow-up questions a real interviewer would ask.
• Introduce them to one person you know in a field they are curious about.
• Invite them to something you already do, like a walking group, a volunteer shift, or a weekend game, so they have familiar faces nearby.

Those gestures cost very little, and they echo exactly what Juarez said helped him most: people who stood with him while he found his footing.

Find help with the next step

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Transition Assistance Program lists employment workshops and career navigation resources. Start with the option that matches the decision in front of you, whether that’s finding a job that uses your existing skills or deciding what training would open a different line of work. Explore Department of Labor transition resources

The Department of Labor describes several of those options on its official page. Employment Fundamentals of Career Transition is a one-day workshop on job-search basics. The two-day Department of Labor Employment Workshop covers résumés, networking, interviewing, and negotiation. Career and Credential Exploration is an optional two-day track for people deciding on a career and the training to reach it. The department also lists one-on-one help through its Employment Navigator and Partnership Program, and workshops for military spouses and caregivers. Transitioning service members can contact their installation TAP office to ask about registration.

Thank you for your service, and welcome home

The first year after the military is a big change, and nobody should have to navigate it alone. If you are a veteran starting over here in Corona, Norco, or Eastvale, we are glad you are here, and we are grateful for everything you have done for all of us. If you know someone in that first year, reach out this week. A résumé review, a phone call, or a friendly introduction might be the second plan that works. For more ways to show your appreciation, see our guide, How to Honor Veterans on Veterans Day and All Year Long. You can also explore our Veterans Day support guide.