Unemployment is a challenge many Veterans are facing with the recent federal workforce cuts and hiring freezes. As of late, the federal workforce has seen a number of changes, and the future can look murky. With that uncertainty, Veterans may find themselves either out of work or considering a new career. With federal hiring freezes, fork in the road options, and many either contracted federal workers or new federal employees finding themselves out of work, it can make finding a new job feel even more stressful.

Luckily, there are resources for Veterans who are either considering a career change or need to find a new job because they were laid off due to federal workforce cuts.

While the Veteran unemployment rate has continued to stay low, the future is uncertain. But thankfully, for those who have lost their job already, there are resources that can help. In this article, we will discuss what Veterans need to know about the current hiring environment, tools you can use, and other resources available.

The Office of Personnel Management Releases New Guidance from the Federal Government

Merit Hiring Plan

On May 29, 2025, the federal government laid out a plan for the future of the federal workforce.

In the memorandum, Vince Haley (Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy) and Charles Ezell (Acting Director, U.S. Office of Personnel Management) outline a plan on how the federal government will meet Executive Order 14710, Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service.

In the memo, 7 goals are laid out, as directed by President Trump. They are as follows:

• Prioritize the recruitment of individuals who want to increase the efficiency of the federal government, and are committed to upholding the US Constitution.
• Prevent the hiring of individuals based on their race, sex, or religion. Prevent the hiring of individuals unwilling to defend the Constitution.
• Implement technical and alternative assessments as required by the Chance to Compete Act of 2024.
• Decrease government-wide time-to-hire under 80 days.
• Improve communication with candidates to provide more clarity on application status, timelines, feedback, etc.
• Integrate modern technology to support the recruitment and selection process.
• Ensure Department and Agency leadership are actively implementing new processes and throughout the full hiring process.

Performance Plan

On June 17, 2025, a memorandum from Ezell expanded on President Trump's goal to transform the federal government workforce.

The memo discusses establishing a high-performance workplace culture that rewards strong performance, and swiftly addresses those who do not perform, including termination.

It also details a few key changes including:

• Ending the inflation of employee performance ratings.
• Employers must establish clear expectations for the employee.
• Supervisors must perform regular performance check-ins.
• OPM must create a schedule policy/career.
• Agencies have more flexibility in terminating probationary or trial period employees who fail to adequately perform.

Federal Hiring Freeze Exemptions

Despite the federal hiring freeze, the federal government is still hiring Veterans for certain positions in areas such as national security, law enforcement, and within the VA.

However, those looking for a federal job need to be aware of the limited opportunities, and be on the look out for the positions that are open.

For example, the VA recently announced over 100 positions that were added to the list of exempt positions from the hiring freeze. Some positions on the list include:

• Social science program specialist (Silent Monitor, Includes Lead, Supervisory and Non-Supervisory, VCL)
• Peer Support Apprenticeship/Peer Specialist (Includes Lead, Supervisory and Non-Supervisory, VCL)
• Social Service Assistant ( Includes Lead, Supervisory and Non-Supervisory, VCL)

You can see the full list of exempt positions here. In the meantime, it is important to continue monitoring USAjobs.gov to see when new positions open up.

How Can Veterans Best Position Themselves to Secure Employment?

The most important things Veterans need to do when looking for a new position is to ensure they can speak the language and can translate their skills.

In anticipation of beginning a new job search, consider revamping your existing resume. When it is time to apply to new positions, try to avoid using military jargon, and to include your military job title, skills, and experiences in terms that employers can easily understand.

When redesigning your resume, you might consider painting a complete picture of your military experience. For example, you might highlight any technical skills you acquired during your time serving.

It is also important to highlight leadership experience or interpersonal skills you have acquired. Consider providing examples of how you united people to accomplish a certain goal, or any leadership experience you have.

What Tools Are Available for Veterans?

There are several free tools available for Veterans even after they leave the military. Examples of these tools include:

• The Veteran and Military Transition Center where you can connect with employment services and jobs that specifically use the skills you learned in the military. You can also get help searching for jobs, and getting copies of your military records.
• Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) helps Veterans find employment resources. You can also get advice on how to protect your employment rights.
• Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) helps service members who are about to be discharged with job seeking skills, such as resume writing, to help with their transition into the civilian workforce.

A Career Change Isn’t Always Bad

Making a career change is a big decision, and takes quite a lot of pre-planning. However, it can be very beneficial for those who are looking for new challenges, a change of pace, and a better work-life balance.

There can be several reasons for a career shift, whether that be for an increase in salary, to follow a passion, a desire to make a difference, retirement from the military, or simply to find a new challenge.

Regardless of the reason behind a career shift, it is important for Veterans to focus on the skills they have learned during their military career, and during their time after the military.

When making a career change, Veterans can begin to think about the following questions:

1. What are the skills you are developing?
2. How are you able to apply them?
3. Are you able to think dynamically in these situations, and how can you articulate that to a future employer?

There are so many opportunities out there, and while losing your job and having to figure out what is next can feel overwhelming, Veterans do not have to do it alone. There are a number of resources available to help you find the next opportunity.

Your Job Search Resource List

Below is a list of useful resources that you might want to consult as you look for your next job opportunity.

Federal Unemployment Office: You can find information about unemployment benefits you may qualify for. There may be Veteran unemployment benefits available at the federal or state level as well.

RecruitMilitary: A recruiting company that focuses on connecting Veterans and military spouses with civilian job opportunities primarily through job fairs across the country.

VetJobs: A Department of Veteran Affairs run online platform with job postings. Here, employers can advertise job openings to Veterans.

LinkedIn: Creating a LinkedIn profile is a great way to network with other Veterans and find your next career. LinkedIn also offers LinkedIn premium accounts to Veterans for a year.

Clearance Jobs: For those leaving the military with a security clearance, Clearance Jobs is a great resource for connecting with cleared agencies for your next position.

Suggested reads:

• The Best Career Options for Vets With an Administration and Recruitment MOS
• How Vets Can Find Civilian Public Service Jobs That Fit Their MOS
• So You Slept Through Your Transition Assistance Program...Now What?