Student Veterans

We look forward to partnering with you as you explore career options or continue your professional development! Check out all of our Info For pages for resources connected to your identities. CCE offers resources and services tailored to you, including: 

• Career Advising & Skill Development Programs
• Connections to Employers & Alumni 
• Jobs & Internships

We’re here to guide you through each step of the process. On this page, read about the many resources available to you as a student veteran:

• create a ‘civilian-friendly’ resume
• identify employers who value military experience
• learn about career fields
• find a mentor
• connect with people and communities who share your values or interests  

Key Resources for Networking and Mentoring

Connect with your peers, employers, and alumni early and often to build relationships and learn about potential career paths. Check out additional ways to connect through the Community & Community Service Projects section at the end of this page. Start with these key resources: 

• U.S. Military Veterans of Columbia University (MilVets):  Join the MilVets student group to connect with a community of student veterans at Columbia University. MilVets provides military veterans with resources, opportunities, and support at Columbia University, in order to facilitate a successful education and to provide a strong foundation for years to come.  
• Women Veterans of Columbia University (WVCU): Participate in professional development and community-building programs through WVCU. Connect with women veterans across the University.  
• American Corporate Partners:  ACP will connect you with a mentor and networking opportunities to meet business professionals from a variety of industries.
• FourBlock: Bridging the divide between transitioning veterans and the business community. FourBlock’s career readiness program equips veterans to pursue careers that fit their calling; connect with other student-veterans and develop networking skills.

Columbia Resources for Student Veterans

• GS Veterans Resources and Initiatives: Jazmin McBride serves as a central resource to veteran, military-connected, and NROTC students at the School of General Studies.
  • The GS Veteran Mentoring Program is designed to facilitate a peer-assistance structure for transitioning veterans into Columbia life.
  • Contact Jazmin McBride for support, information, referral and guidance as you navigate Columbia! 
• Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration: Tools and programming to facilitate your academic and professional development as you transition from active service to college and the workforce.  
• Columbia University Military and Veterans Affairs: Visit the website or office for information about Veterans’ benefits and resources.
  • GS students can contact the GS Office of Educational Financing or consult the GS Financial Aid Veterans Benefits webpage for more information.
• Counseling and Psychological Services: Dedicated to fostering personal wellness and development among student veterans and military personnel, CPS professionals offer individual & couples counseling, student life support groups, drop-in hours, medication consultations, and crisis intervention. Read about their Veterans Concerns team. Visit at Alfred Lerner Hall, 8th Floor; (212) 854-2878. 
• Disability Services at Columbia University: Disability Services facilitates equal access for students with disabilities by coordinating accommodations and cultivating a campus culture that is sensitive and responsive to the needs of students. Register early with the office to access support services, assistive technology, and resources. Drop-in hours are available in Wien Hall. 
• Resilience Center for Veterans and Families: Clinicians trained at the Resilience Center provide psychological services tailored to be relevant to and understanding of experiences unique to veterans and their family members. The VITAL Initiative focuses on maximizing veterans’ success in the academic setting. VITAL offers tutoring, work-study opportunities, individual counseling, and assistance with integration to VA healthcare and beyond. 

Develop a “Civilian-Friendly” Resume

Come in and see how we can support you.  We’ll help you to adapt your resume language to compete for jobs and internships outside of the military.

Use these tools below to translate your military experience and military occupation codes (MOC) into civilian terms:

• Sample Columbia student veteran’s resume: View sample resumes from a variety of backgrounds.
  • Sergeant, Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Marine Corps
  • Mobile App Developer in the United States Air Force
  • Administrative Specialist in the United States Marine Corps
  • Sergeant, Motor Transport Operator in the United States Army
• O Net Online:   Identify keywords to help you write effective bullet statements. Enter your Military Occupation Code into Crosswalk Search to translate your military assignment into a civilian occupation. 
• Veterans Employment Center: Use tools from the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn about job titles and qualifications, translate military skills, and start to build your resume.

Disabilities and the Workplace

In addition to Disability Services at Columbia University, check out these national organizations to connect with opportunities, resources, and information.  

• Lime Connect: Prepare for and connect to scholarships, internships, and full-time careers. Lime Connect works with corporate partners to rebrand disability through achievement.
• Warriors to Work: Match your skills and experience to the needs of hiring managers through this career support program of the Wounded Warrior Project.

Job Search Resources — General

• LionSHARE: Our online database is available exclusively to students and alumni served by the Center for Career Education (CCE).  
  • Fill out your profile and career interests to see relevant opportunities.
  • Sign up for career fairs and other events to meet employers & alumni, develop skills or explore interests.
  • Find out when employers will be on-campus for information sessions, industry showcases, career fairs or on-campus interviews.
  • Read about specific organizations in the company directory.
  • Search internship and job postings.
• LinkedIn Premium — Free premium careers subscription for veterans for a year including LinkedIn learning. See eligibility details.
• Career One Stop Veteran and Military Transition Center: One-stop website for employment, training and financial help. Use the Military-to-Civilian Job Search tool to find jobs based on skills and experiences you gained in the military.
• Hire Veterans: Connects U.S. Military Veterans with civilian careers. Use this to find jobs, employers, job fairs or job news relating to veteran hiring initiatives.
• Mynextmove.org: Investigate career possibilities and identify job titles. Explore with keywords, browse industries, or search by military classification code.

Job Search Resources — Veteran-Friendly Employers

Veterans Hiring Initiatives

In addition to the resources listed below, many organizations have Veterans hiring initiatives.  Search employer websites for “veteran” or check their diversity pages.  

• HIRE Vets Medallion Program: US Department of Labor’s program that awards employers who are committed to hiring veterans. You can view the list of awardees by geographic location.
• Military Friendly: List of the top 100 veteran-friendly employers, compiled by Victory Media and updated annually.
• The Value of a Veteran: Connect with employers who value and support military service.
• Virtual Career Fair: Provides real-time access to industry leading employers through virtual career fairs.

Creative Resources

Investigate CCE’s Arts and Communications & Media Industry pages, in addition to the resources listed below. 

• CreatiVets: empowers wounded veterans to heal through the arts and music. Podcast host guests from the veteran, music and arts communities. 
• Columbia Veterans Workshop: free creative writing course for veterans at Columbia. Open to people of all levels working in any genre.
• Frontline Arts: connects communities through socially engaging arts practices rooted in papermaking and printmaking. 
• Veterans in Media & Entertainment: unites and empowers military veterans working in entertainment and media. 
• Military Veterans in Journalism: builds community for vets, supports career growth, and advocates for diversifying newsrooms through hiring and promoting more vets.

International Relations Careers & Fellowships

U.S. Department of State offers many pathways to Foreign Service including paid & unpaid internships, a program for recent graduates, and several Fellowship Programs. Connect with a Diplomat in Residence to learn more about careers, internships and fellowships in Foreign and Civil Service. 

• Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship
• Charles B. Rangel International Affairs  Programs:  Graduate Fellowship  & Summer Enrichment Programs

The United Nations has many divisions; read about the UN System to better understand this complex organization. Check out career path options, including internships and the Young Professionals Programme on the UN Careers website.   

Visit CCE’s Graduate School Resources if you wish to pursue an advanced degree. Explore these resources to learn about Fellowships: 

• Columbia University’s Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URF) offers one-on-one fellowship advising, application tips, and database of opportunities.
• GS Fellowships works collaboratively with URF to help students to identify and pursue fellowships. The office provides advising, events, and information about how to apply.

Consult CCE’s Industry pages and Vault to learn more about careers in International Affairs, Government, Law, and Non-Profits & Social Justice.

Community & Community Service Projects 

• Minority Veterans of America: transforming the narrative of the American veteran. Creating community and delivering culturally informed programming. 
• Student Veterans of America: is the premier organization leading service, research, programs, and advocacy for veterans in higher education. Host of annual SVA Leadership Institute.
• Team Rubicon: veteran-led humanitarian organization that serves global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises. 
• The Mission Continues: empowers a movement of veteran-led volunteers to become community leaders and transform under-resourced communities in 40+ cities nationwide, through one day projects or  long-term action-oriented service programs.
• Task & Purpose: news, culture and analysis by and for the military community.
• Women Veterans Alliance: national network focused the overall well-being of women veterans.  Creates community through women veteran networking groups, events, and national conferences.