Keep these tips in mind when listing education requirements.
Where appropriate, allow military service to substitute for education. This could be as simple as listing “bachelor’s degree or equivalent military service required.”
Don’t assume too much from a veteran’s rank. Not all officers are fully ready to lead, and enlisted service members are not simply followers.
Military Rank to Education
This chart gives you a quick look at how a veteran’s rank relates to their education level. (Keep in mind that these are general guidelines and may not apply to every veteran.)
JUNIOR ENLISTED E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4
These are entry-level positions that grow into technicians in their fields. They have a high school diploma, are individual contributors and will get the opportunity to lead or supervise a small team. They receive technical training and introductory leadership training.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER (NCO) E-5, E-6
NCOs are strong technicians who have advanced technical training as well as leadership training. They will manage or supervise small teams and direct day-to-day work activity. Generally, NCOs will be in the process of getting college degrees.
SENIOR NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER (SNCO) E-7, E-8, E-9
These are experienced people managers and technical experts, most of whom have college degrees and are mentors to junior officers. They manage leaders who manage teams. They set work priorities for teams to achieve mission success.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Now that you’ve learned all about veteran-friendly job descriptions, what’s next?
1. Modify your job description with the TRY IT editor
2. Save your job description as a separate veteran-friendly version
3. Post your job description on Virtual Job Scout or other veteran job boards