Navigating your career journey can feel stressful, especially if you’re not sure where to begin. This section is designed to help you take that first step with confidence. Whether you’re exploring career options, searching for internships or jobs, or thinking about how to talk about your veteran and military service in a professional setting, we’ve gathered some key resources to support you. Start with an overview of the career exploration process, explore top tools for guidance, and check out job boards specifically for job seekers with veteran and military backgrounds.

This web page is designed to be open to all Binghamton University students, faculty and staff regardless of race, color, national origin, or sex, and is consistent with all current governing federal and state nondiscrimination law.

Your career and professional development support system

Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development

The Fleishman Career Center supports students as they explore career options, gain experience, and transition into the workforce by providing:

  • 24/7 access to career tools and resources via our virtual career center
  • Programs, workshops, and events to help you gather career information, gain skills and build connections
  • 1:1 career consulting drop-in sessions and appointments tailored to your needs including:
    • Job and internship search strategies, including disability-friendly employers and tips on disclosing a disability
    • Post-graduation planning including graduate school search
Office of Veteran and Military Services

The Binghamton University Office of Veterans and Military Services supports students by providing:

  • Guidance, resources and information as students transition from military to academic life and the civilian workforce

Resources to get you started

Veteran and military-connected students bring a wide range of valuable skills and experiences into their academic and career journeys, including leadership, teamwork, discipline, adaptability, and problem-solving. As you transition into civilian career pathways, you may also be working to translate your military experience into language and skills that align with employer expectations in different industries.

This section is designed to support that transition by highlighting strategies for communicating your experience effectively, identifying employers who actively recruit military talent, and connecting with organizations that provide mentorship, career coaching, and structured support for veterans entering the civilian workforce. These resources can help you build confidence as you explore career options and navigate next steps.

The Fleishman Center has developed The Path to Career Confidence and Clarity to help students identify what stage of the career journey they’re in. It’s a simple four-step journey all about helping you go from understanding yourself to making confident career decisions. We’ve designed it to help you explore your options with purpose and reflect on what you learn along the way. If you’re unsure which stage you’re in or need help developing a plan, make an appointment with the Fleishman Center! It can be helpful to talk to a career consultant in person or on Zoom!

Click here to make an appointment with the Fleishman Center

A light green stick figure stands in front of an oval mirror, looking at its reflection. The stick figure is depicted with a round head and a simplified body, while the reflection in the mirror is also a stick figure, showing the head and upper torso.

This is the first and most important step in figuring out your career path. Before you can connect with different jobs, you need to understand who you are. This means thinking about your interests, what’s important to you (your values), what you’re good at (your skills), and what drives you.           

Ask yourself:

  • What truly gets you excited?
  • When do you feel like you’re doing your best work?
  • How do your personal values guide your choices?
  • What challenges might you face, and how can you overcome them?

Now that you know more about yourself, it’s time to connect that knowledge with different career paths. This will help you find careers that bring you confidence and clarity. Our goal is to help you narrow down your interests to a few areas by doing some focused research.                            

A simplified icon of an open laptop is depicted in a light green color.

Ask yourself:

  • What do I already know about different job opportunities?
  • Have I explored a variety of options, or just a few?
  • Am I ready to do some research to find facts that will help me make good decisions?

If you’re at this stage, you’re ready to explore and take action! Getting hands-on experience is key. Take the career areas you’re interested in and find ways to get involved.                    

A light green icon depicts a person in a thinking pose. Above and to the right of the head is a thought bubble, suggesting introspection or ideas.

Here are some ideas:

  • Internships
  • Job shadowing (following someone at their job for a day)
  • Volunteering in your community
  • Getting involved with campus clubs or activities
  • Studying abroad
  • Doing research

Think about: What kind of experience makes the most sense for the area you want to explore?

You’ve gained valuable experience and are closer to feeling confident and clear about your career! Now it’s time to get more experience, improve your skills, and grow your network.

A simple light green outline icon depicts a stylized person walking forward, with their legs appearing to move as if striding. A thick horizontal arrow extends from behind the person to the front, pointing to the right, indicating movement or progression.

Think about:

  • What events or opportunities can help you connect with more people in your field?
  • What experiences or skills are you missing?

Below are tips and best practices for career success for Veteran students

Focus on leadership, logistics, operations, team coordination, and problem-solving rather than military terminology when building resumes and interviewing.

Many employers actively recruit veterans through structured programs designed to support career transition into civilian roles.

Many employers actively recruit veterans through structured programs designed to support career transition into civilian roles.

Federal agencies and defense-related industries often have established veteran hiring preferences and structured onboarding pathways.

Networking with civilian professionals is a key step in expanding career opportunities beyond military-connected circles.

We’ve compiled a list of 7 top resources to support your career journey. Click each box below to learn more about the resource. See the resources section for a more comprehensive list.

Provides free career coaching, resume assistance, and job placement support for veterans and military spouses.

View resource

Offers structured career transition programs focused on networking, professional development, and employer engagement.

View resource

Connects veterans and military spouses with mentors across industries for personalized career guidance.

View resource

 Provides virtual mentorship connecting military-connected individuals with professionals in civilian industries.

View resource

Supports student veterans through leadership development, advocacy, and campus-based programming.

View resource

Focuses on providing career resources and opportunities available to veterans, transitioning service members, and military family members as well as a direct pipeline into federal employment.

View resource

Provides information related to relevant career advice and veteran-friendly employers.

View resource

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Get In Touch

Phone
607-777-2400
Email
careers@binghamton.edu
Address

University Union 133

Office Hours

Monday 9 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday 9 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Learn more about career consulting appointments here!