Counselors Campus to Careers Toolkit

For career counselors who guide student veterans
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A veteran with a prosthetic leg is gaining on-the-job experience in a furniture factory and collaborating with two factory employees.

Career Reconnaissance

Supporting veterans in exploring career choices

Question 1:

Veterans with disabilities should begin their career exploration by considering how their disability might impact the careers they can pursue.
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Answer: False

Begin the career exploration by exploring aspirations, talents, and strengths. Then, consider how a disability might impact the chosen career path and what accommodations or adjustments might be needed to pursue a job in this career path.

Question 2:

Pay attention to career aspirations, even when they seem wild or far-fetched.
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Answer: True

No matter how crazy a persistent career aspiration might seem, there is always something about it that you need to pay attention to. Why is this career so compelling to the veteran? What draws them to this career? If it is truly unattainable, is there any way to express this aspiration in a different way?

Question 3:

Use career exploration tools, surveys, and assessments wisely.
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Answer: True

Veterans, and particularly veterans with disabilities, might have serious “form fatigue.” Be wary of asking them to complete any tool/assessment that involves them working alone on it for more than about 15 minutes.

Question 4:

A key step in exploring career options for veterans is to figure out how the veteran can build upon the skills and jobs they pursued in the military.
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Answer: False (sort of)

It does make sense to build upon skills learned in the military if the veteran wants to pursue this career path. However, many veterans want to change their career direction after they’ve served. So, a key step is to explore whether the veteran wants to build upon skills learned in the military or to pivot to a new career direction.

Question 5:

Self-employment can be a good option for veterans with or without disabilities.
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Answer: True

Veterans choose self-employment more often than nonveterans. And, when they do, their businesses tend to be more successful. There are a range of services and funds available for veterans with and without disabilities who want to be entrepreneurs.