Guide 100 US Veterans/Spouses To Rewarding Careers

Overview

Hire Heroes USA is deeply grateful for the GlobalGiving community's support, which empowers us to equip transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses with essential tools for civilian careers. Each client comes to us with unique career goals and challenges, and we proudly support them through our four cornerstone programs: the Partnered Career Transition Program, Women Veterans Program, Junior Enlisted Program, and Serving Spouses Program. These programs offer tailored career counseling, resume assistance, and job search and placement support. Additionally, we offer vital support services through our Referral and Training Partners Program, which connects clients with valuable resources and continuing education opportunities, our Client Learning Program, which provides professionally developed webinars, training sessions, and e-learning modules, and our extensive Volunteer Network, which offers mentorship and industry-specific insights. With each donation, we can continue delivering these critical, life-changing services free of charge, ensuring our clients have every tool they need to succeed in the next chapter of their lives.

Impact

Thanks to the steadfast support of our GlobalGiving community, Hire Heroes USA continues to deliver vital, no-cost career services to veterans, military members, and their spouses. Since launching our GlobalGiving project on September 21, 2023, through October 31, 2024, we have assisted 22,693 individuals, resulting in 14,912 successful hires with an average starting salary of $71,221. Beyond securing employment, our clients are building meaningful careers, as demonstrated by a 84% six-month job retention rate. Hire Heroes USA is thrilled to share a significant milestone in our mission to support U.S. military members, veterans, and military spouses. Since 2005, we have dedicated ourselves to serving the veteran and military community. As of September 2024, we are proud to have achieved 100,000 lifetime hires. This milestone reflects the transformative impact of our efforts and is best appreciated by reading the unique journeys of our clients. Vernon and Gentil’s journeys illustrate how GlobalGiving’s contributions create life-changing opportunities, empowering those who have served our nation to thrive in the civilian workforce.

Success Stories

Vernon, Marine Corps, E-5

Hired As: Case Manager

Vernon was a Marine veteran who was facing a daunting challenge while preparing to transition into the civilian workforce. Despite his extensive experience and education, he felt overqualified for the positions he was applying for. He shared, "I would go to many interviews and would never get a call back." Feeling frustrated and uncertain about his future career prospect, Vernon registered for Hire Heroes USA free career services for guidance. Upon connecting with Hire Heroes USA, Vernon was paired with a dedicated Transition Specialist who ensured that Vernon’s resume highlighted his transferable skills and experiences. In addition to the resume assistance, Vernon took full advantage of the services offered by our Volunteer Network. This included participating in mock interviews, which helped him refine his interviewing techniques and allowed him to receive mentoring from an industry professional who provided valuable insights and guidance on how to present his value proposition effectively. With his new resume and enhanced interview skills, he soon was offered a role as a Case Manager. The employer specifically mentioned how impressed they were with his resume, which stood out among other candidates. Reflecting on his journey, Vernon advises other transitioning service members, "Utilize Hire Heroes USA to the fullest. They are patient, caring, knowledgeable, and can help you with making an effective resume that will catch potential employers' eyes."

Gentil, Military Spouse

Hired As: Relationship Banker

Military spouse, Gentil, was eager to start a new career that matched her education. Despite her qualifications, she was concerned that her lack of direct experience in the banking industry  would hinder her from securing a meaningful position. With a competitive job market and unsure of how to effectively present her skills and education to potential employers, Gentil was referred to Hire Heroes USA for expert career guidance. After completing her initial assessment, Gentil was enrolled in the Serving Spouses program where she immediately saw the benefits of working with her Transition Specialist. "My specialist helped provide me with a very clean and professional resume that detailed my skills, experience, and education”, she shared. Together, they tailored her resume to the different positions she was interested in. With the unwavering assistance and guidance from Hire Heroes USA, Gentil successfully secured the role of Relationship Banker with a national bank, a position that perfectly aligned with her career aspirations. Reflecting on her journey, she encourages other military spouses looking to pivot in their careers: "Trust the process and follow through with your intentions. It can be intimidating, and you might feel tempted to end your job search prematurely, but stick with it. Reach out to HHUSA for the essential resources and support you need to succeed."

Overview

Hire Heroes USA delivers a wide range of programs designed to support clients in their pursuit of fulfilling careers. We offer specialized services for transitioning military members and veterans, alongside tailored initiatives that cater to the specific needs of their spouses, ensuring personalized support for each group. All clients begin with our Partnered Career Transition (PaCT) program which pairs job seekers with an individual transition specialist who guides the job seeker with personalized support as they transition into the civilian workforce. Beyond the PaCT program, Hire Heroes USA offers a range of specialized services, each carefully designed to meet the unique needs of specific populations. 

The Serving Spouses Program addresses the distinct challenges military spouses face, such as employment gaps and frequent job changes due to relocations. Our Junior Enlisted Program, which served 26% of our clients in 2024, provides targeted solutions and career opportunities to empower these individuals, many of whom joined the military directly after high school and have limited experience in resume writing or navigating the civilian workforce. Historically, women veterans—particularly women of color—have faced significant barriers, including limited options for childcare, gender pay gaps, and difficulty securing stable employment. Our Women Veterans Program, which supported 28% of our clients in 2024, is dedicated to breaking down these barriers by providing comprehensive services that address their unique needs. 

Impact

Through the generous support of our donors, grant funders, and the GlobalGiving community, we continue to offer these vital, no-cost services to our clients. Since launching our GlobalGiving project on September 21, 2023, through July 31, 2024, Hire Heroes USA has served a total of 17,116 individuals, resulting in an impressive 11,261 successful hires with an average salary of $70,656. It is noteworthy that clients are not just getting any job, but getting the right job which we see validated by retention data with 70.16% of clients still being in their jobs six months-post hire. The testimonials below from Thomas & Lasonja reflect the powerful impact of the GlobalGiving community’s support for the service members we assist. 

Success Stories

Thomas, Army, O-3

Hired As: Prototype Coordinator

After earning his Bachelor’s Degree, Thomas proudly served in the U.S. Army for five years. As he prepared to enter the civilian workforce, he faced a daunting challenge: translating his military experience into skills that would resonate in the engineering field. “My biggest challenge was converting my military experience into skills that were attractive to prospective employers in the civilian world,” Thomas explained. Realizing he needed expert guidance to make his resume stand out, he turned to Hire Heroes USA’s no-cost career services. Upon completing his initial assessment, Thomas was matched with a Transition Specialist who provided crucial support for navigating the job market. With a tailored resume in hand and several one-on-one mentoring sessions under his belt, covering everything from interview strategies to salary negotiation and LinkedIn profile optimization, he was well-prepared to pursue his career goals. His revamped resume showcased his superior qualifications, leading to an offer for the role of Prototype Coordinator with a prestigious Defense Contracting company, a position he eagerly accepted. Reflecting on his experience, Thomas offered this advice to fellow veterans: “Leverage the expertise Hire Heroes USA offers to connect with the industry you want to work in. Their resume-writing skills and tools help you tackle the most challenging part of job searching, getting your foot in the door.”

Lasonja, Air Force, E-7

Hired As: Global Force Management Analyst 

Lasonja, a proud Air Force veteran, dedicated 21 years of service to our country. Eager to transition into the civilian workforce, she recognized the importance of a strong resume to secure meaningful employment. Referred by her local USO, Lasonja quickly registered for Hire Heroes USA’s career services. Paired with a Transition Specialist, Lasonja experienced firsthand the power of expert guidance. “My Transition Specialist transformed my resume and encouraged me to start applying early,” she shared. Along with a tailored resume, she received a revamped cover letter, personalized mentoring sessions, and valuable resources from our Referral & Training program. Following her Transition Specialist's advice, she began applying for jobs and soon landed a role as a Global Force Management Analyst earning a salary higher than she even anticipated. Thankful for our services, Lasonja offered this advice to fellow service members: “Take full advantage of the Hire Heroes USA's services, from resume writing to video calls for salary negotiations. It makes all the difference.”