Healthcare, Government and Defense Contracting Jobs Rank as Top Three Career Opportunities

VIENNA, Va. – Navy Federal Credit Union, in partnership with Hire Heroes USA, has released a Best Careers After Service list, a comprehensive look at career paths best suited for servicemembers leaving the military and entering civilian careers.

Nearly 250,000 military members transition out of service each year and, according to data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 44% of veterans leave their first post-military job within a year.

To identify the Best Careers After Service, Navy Federal partnered with Hire Heroes USA, an organization that truly understands the complexities of military transition and the tools and resources needed to help veterans with diverse backgrounds land on their feet with a career that will set them up them for long-term success.

The Best Careers After Service study was an online survey fielded among 1,001 U.S. Veterans between August 29 – September 10, 2019. All of the Veterans that participated in this study are employed full-time, part-time, or are self-employed / working as an independent contractor.

The top 10 career paths are:

1. 1. Health care
   2. Government/Public Administration
   3. Defense Contracting
   4. Information Technology
   5. Financial Services
   6. Education
   7. Law Enforcement
   8. Retail
   9. Manufacturing
   10. Transportation/Warehousing

“As we started researching Best Careers After Service, we discovered that factors like the overall mission of the organization and a support structure for veterans are often just as important as compensation and benefits,” said Jaspreet Chawla, vice president of membership with Navy Federal Credit Union. “With nearly half of U.S. veterans leaving their first civilian job within a year, it’s important for transitioning servicemembers to reflect on what motivates them and to know which industries offer opportunities that align with their personal career drivers.”

Best Careers After Service is the most recent product from Navy Federal in its ongoing support of veterans and their families. In February 2017, Navy Federal’s field of membership expanded to include veterans and their families; today, about a third of all Navy Federal members are active-duty servicemembers and veterans.

In November 2018, Navy Federal introduced Best Cities After Service to help identify the top cities in the U.S. for military members who recently completed active duty service. In addition to Best Careers After Service, Navy Federal also provides members with a number of resources to ease the transition into civilian life.

“We are grateful to have Navy Federal as a partner in our commitment to providing exceptional career support programs that serve the whole military and veteran community. Together, our services enable financial security and professional success, leading to increased satisfaction and participation in their local communities,” said Christopher Plamp, chief executive officer of Hire Heroes USA.

For more information about the Best Careers After Service rankings, visit navyfederal.org/bestcareers.

About Navy Federal Credit Union: Established in 1933 with only 7 members, Navy Federal now has the distinct honor of serving over 8 million members globally and is the world’s largest credit union. As a member-owned and not-for-profit organization, Navy Federal always puts the financial needs of its members first. Membership is open to all Department of Defense and Coast Guard Active Duty, veterans, civilian and contractor personnel, and their families. Dedicated to its mission of service, Navy Federal employs a workforce of over 18,000 and has a global network of 336 branches. For more information about Navy Federal Credit Union, visit navyfederal.org.

Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Opportunity Employer

About Hire Heroes USA: Hire Heroes USA empowers U.S. military members, veterans, and military spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce. As the nation’s leading veteran employment organization, Hire Heroes USA offers personalized one-on-one coaching, professionally revised resumes, mentoring, workshops, a job board, career fairs and more, to tens of thousands of job-seeking veterans annually. Hire Heroes USA prioritizes transparency, earning a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, and the GuideStar Platinum Seal. Funded exclusively through public donations and private grants, we provide our services at no cost to clients. For more information about our mission, services, and how you can help, please visit us at  hireheroesusa.org.