"I thought I would have a job by now," a veteran told me in a free coaching session this month. "I've done everything. I'm applying. I'm networking. I'm getting interviews -- but no job offers." She lowered her voice. "I'm through my savings. I've got kids. I don't know what else I can do. Should I be taking a job with Uber?"
As the transition master coach for Military.com's Veteran Employment Project, I am always happy to field this kind of call. I'm not happy you are in this situation, but I know how painful it is for a veteran, spouse or military member in transition. Not only is joblessness a financial issue, but the feeling of being disconnected and unproductive at the same time is so unfamiliar, it is like wearing someone else's boots with no socks during Snowmageddon.
If you are without a job in these blustery winter months, here are some warm thoughts you can keep in mind to inform your job search and stay productive and positive until you land that offer.
1. It's Not You. It's the Season.
The period between Thanksgiving and Jan. 15 is always a slow time for getting a new job. Hiring falls to the bottom of the to-do list for many employers. And human resources departments have a ton of end-of-year activity to take care of before the kids get out of school for the holidays and everything grinds to a halt. This is temporary. The hiring market will warm up soon.
2. Winter Is the Time for Natural Networking
The poet Edith Sitwell said, "Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: It is the time for home." This is especially true during the job hunt, but we say, "Winter is the time for networking."
You should know that most of your employed friends and acquaintances are having a slowdown at work around the holidays. January and February are full of three-day weekends and winter breaks. Take advantage of these times to reach out to work friends and catch up. Be ready when they ask, "What kind of job are you looking for?"
3. The First 100 Days Are a Thing
Since Franklin Delano Roosevelt coined the term in 1933, U.S. presidents have been evaluated on the first 100 days of their presidency. With the new administration proposing plans to make sweeping changes in government, many defense companies are holding off on hiring until the situation is a little less foggy. Even though the federal government and the defense industry are traditionally strong options for transitioning military members, broaden your search this winter and check out our Top 25 Veteran Employers for 2025. We have a lot of options you have not thought of yet.
4. Let Defensive Pessimism Take the Wheel
How you think about the job process makes a lot of difference in your outcome. In studies of job seekers, the people who had the most success were not those bright and shiny optimists who spent their time trying to manifest their dream job with positive thoughts. It turns out those wishful thinkers sent out fewer applications, networked less, got fewer job offers and made less money. They simply did not try as hard.
The people who got jobs were defensive pessimists. They combined high expectations for a job with realistic thoughts about the process of getting a job. They recognized they had to do a lot of what they did not want to do for much longer than they wanted to do it. They got the results, and you can, too.
5. You Don't Know What You Don't Know -- and I Will Tell You
At the Veteran Employment Project, we have helped 23,000 military job seekers find their next high-impact job. The one thing transitioning military members all have in common when they first come to us is that they have already Googled all the things there are to know about the job hunt. Funnily enough, there are plenty of civilian-specific things they still don't know about the job hunt -- until we tell them.
That's why our master class video series is designed to identify the unspoken rules of the job hunt civilians know that most veterans are missing. It is mind-blowing and life-altering. Be sure to check out our master class, "Jobs in Management and Leadership for Veterans," and our upcoming class, "The Shoot-Me-Your-Resume Resume" -- the one-page networking resume that makes all the difference to your job hunt.
6. Face Your Fears Head-on
Maybe it is cold out there on the job market. Huddling over your keyboard and cruising the job boards endlessly is not going to help you pay the bills, though. If you get offered a short consulting project, go ahead and take it, even though the work is not full time. Companies often use consulting as a tryout to identify new hires. You might take on a side hustle while you continue to pursue a regular schedule of job-hunting actions. Finally, if you have not filed for unemployment, do it now through the unemployment compensation for ex-service members program.
7. Shovel Your Own Driveway First
When you are on the job hunt, it is so easy to get sucked under by reading how everyone else has a job but you. It is easy to tell yourself you are "researching" while getting snowed under by every negative news story on the planet. All those what-ifs do not help you find a job. They make you feel hopeless and powerless.
The one simple activity that has been shown to make a difference is easy to do. Instead of freaking out about the entire highway system, shovel your own driveway first.
Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper. On one side, list all the worrisome things you do not control about the job market: the world economy; the activities of the new administration; the activities of the old administration; the emergence of artificial intelligence; what Taylor Swift will do, post-Eras tour; the laws of gravity.
On the other side, list all the things you do control about your job hunt. Be sure to include applying relevant lessons from Veteran Employment Project master classes, how much time I spend networking, how much time I spend doomscrolling, how I write my resume, where I apply, how I practice interview questions, whether I ask for directions (not help) from my network, how I think about the word "network" and how much sugar, chips and beer I consume in the next 15 minutes.
8. Remember You Are a Veteran, and You Can Dig out of This
When I think about those who serve in our armed services, I think about a lot of hard workers who can face tough times and come up with a plan. It is no surprise to me that the unemployment rate for veterans is lower than it is for the population at large. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobless rate for all veterans fell significantly from 3.5% in August 2024 to 2.6% in November. The rate for female veterans, which had spiked to 7% in August, fell to just 3.6% in November. I know it is hard now, but keep moving forward.
9. Reach out for Help
Sometimes you can try really hard for a long time, and it is still hard to get a job. Reach out to the Department of Veterans Affairs' Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program. They offer career counseling, job training and education assistance specifically designed for veterans.
You can also find help through the Veterans Crisis Line, a 24/7 confidential hotline for veterans facing challenges, including job-search difficulties. You can call them by dialing 988, then press 1 to reach a real person qualified to work with veterans. Or you can text them at 838255.
While winter unemployment can feel like a setback right now, it's also a chance to regroup and rebound and regrow lost connections. You are still the worker you have always been, and this country still needs you more than you will ever know.
Find the Right Veteran Job
Whether you want to polish your resume, find veteran job fairs in your area or connect with employers looking to hire veterans, Military.com can help. Subscribe to Military.com to have job postings, guides and advice, and more delivered directly to your inbox.
