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Money January 2016

Dollar Sense

A High-Paying, Fast Growing Industry Made for Veterans Young or Old, with Free Training

By Teresa Ambord

You may be near or past retirement age and just want something to do with your days, or a way to bring in a little extra money or both. In 2013 two thriving companies announced they were committed to putting veterans (and in some cases their spouses) to work.

Security in general is a rapidly growing industry, and cybersecurity – also called computer security – is growing even faster. With an average annual salary of $116,000 this field pays nearly three times the average annual salary in the nation.

Some of the candidates who are best-positioned to transition into cybersecurity jobs are America’s veterans. That’s why the Department of Homeland Security and the Hire Our Heroes program have teamed up to provide veterans with free training in cybersecurity, that will prepare them to compete for top jobs in this area, around the country. The free courses to prepare for certification.

If you’re a veteran interested in cybersecurity training, you don’t need prior experience. Beginners can start with introductory courses, while those with training and experience can take advanced course curriculum. The training — called Federal Virtual Training Environment (FedVTE) is online and on-demand. FedVTE also offers prep courses you can use to get some of the most popular certification in the cybersecurity industry. For more information and to register please visit https://hireourheroes.org/veterans-training/.

 

More Interested in a Job than a Career?

You may be near or past retirement age and just want something to do with your days, or a way to bring in a little extra money or both. In 2013 two thriving companies announced they were committed to putting veterans (and in some cases their spouses) to work. Walmart pledged to hire 100,000 veterans within five years. Opinions about Walmart are all over the map. Younger generations especially love to hate Walmart (though I'm convinced they shop there undercover in the wee hours of the morning). Before you say no to the giant retailer, you should know much of what you may have heard is hype. Walmart recently raised their wages voluntarily, they give cash bonuses, and before the government forced businesses to offer health insurance, Walmart already offered affordable health plans that were better than many others available at the time.

Starbucks also pledged in 2013 to put veterans to work. They announced a plan to hire 10,000 veterans and/or their spouses by 2018. They recognize, as Walmart does, that veterans and their spouses bring unique skills – such as leadership and communication – to the workplace, that in many ways, make them the best kind of employees.

More and more, Americans are realizing that we owe veterans — from the oldest to the youngest — a debt we can’t pay. But the effort to hire veterans is not unselfish. Businesses know quality employees when they see them. Good jobs for veterans, great workers for businesses… win/win.

 

Teresa Ambord is a former accountant and Enrolled Agent with the IRS. Now she writes full time from her home, mostly for business, and about family when the inspiration strikes.

Meet Teresa