Career & Professional Development

Your experience already gave you a head start on the civilian job market. These resources help you name that experience clearly, build on it with real skills and credentials, and connect it to an actual career.

Find Your Direction

Not sure what career or major fits you yet? ⓘ Start here.

Focus 2 Assessment

A career/major-fit assessment that matches your personality, passions, and skills to potential paths.

Take the Focus 2 Assessment → (linked from the "Set Your Career Goal" page)

Translate Your Military Experience

Google's military skills translator tool takes your MOS and populates common civilian careers that match it.

Find the MOS Translator Tool → (same page as above)

CliftonStrengths / CELO Leadership Capacities Index

A free self-assessment naming your natural talents or leadership capacities — see the Certificates & Academic Programs page for the full leadership-assessment writeup, or go directly to the source below.

View Leadership Resources →

Build Your Skills

Once you know your direction, add credentials and experience that prove it.

LinkedIn Learning FREE

16,000+ courses included with your Baylor login, including curated leadership learning paths.

Access LinkedIn Learning →

Google Career Certificates (via SVA) FREE

IT Support, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, UX Design, and Project Management — free for student veterans through Student Veterans of America.

Enroll via SVA's Professional Development Series →

Build Soft Skills in a Civilian Setting

Take a leadership role in a student organization — Baylor Connect lists every registered student org you can join. Internships (organized by industry) and volunteer opportunities are also strong resume builders while you're still a student.

See "Add to Your Tool Belt" →

Prepare for the Hiring Process

Career Success Professional (CSP) Coaching FREE

Every student has a dedicated CSP for resume/cover letter review, mock interviews, career fair prep, personal branding, and job-offer negotiation.

1. Log in to Handshake
2. Click the Career Center tab on the left
3. Click Appointments → Schedule a New Appointment
4. Select your area of study to book with the right CSP

See the Career Center FAQ for full booking details →

Résumé Resources

Templates, guides, and best-practices before your CSP appointment.

View Résumé Resources →

See "Prepare for the Hiring Process" (Baylor VETS) →

Build Your Professional Introduction

Before any career fair, interview, or networking conversation, be ready to explain yourself in 30–60 seconds without relying on military jargon. Answer these four questions:

1. Who are you? Your degree, field, and professional direction.
2. What experience do you bring? Translate military and Baylor leadership into relevant strengths.
3. Where are you going? The type of role, organization, or problem you want to pursue.
4. What's the connection? Why your background is relevant to the opportunity in front of you.

STAR Stories

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result — a structured way to answer behavioral interview questions with a clear before/after story. Prepare 2–3 of these in advance, covering times you led, solved a problem, or produced a measurable result.

VA Work-Study Positions FREE / PAID

Paid, on-campus positions within Baylor VETS itself — a direct way to build transferable soft and hard skills toward your career goals while still enrolled.

To apply: submit a VA Work-Study Application Form and cover letter to Kevin_Davis1@Baylor.edu. Your cover letter should name the area you'd like to serve in (e.g., Career Services, Family Support, Wellness) — be creative.

View VA Internship Opportunity →

Headed to Grad School Instead?

If graduate school is the better fit for your career goals, your undergrad years are the time to start building that application.

• McNair Scholars Program: targets under-represented students, building the network, resume, and research experience that translates directly to a PhD.
• Veteran to Veteran Advice: read from other student veterans who went on to grad school.

See "Grad School Prep" (Baylor VETS) →

Seek Opportunities

Once you're ready, here's how to actually find the job or internship.

• Employer partners: a list of employers partnered specifically with Baylor VETS (currently under construction).
• Hiring events, employer workshops & Career Treks: on-site excursions to visit top employers, arranged by the Career Center.
• Baylor VETS LinkedIn page: connect with fellow veterans and employers (currently under construction).
• CareerShift: a professional networking and job-search tool available through the Career Center, alongside LinkedIn
• Handshake: hundreds of internship and full-time postings, updated daily Job or Internship Search

Read more on "Job or internship Search" →

Are you an alumnus or employer wanting to connect with Baylor's student veterans? Reach out through the same page above.

Career Readiness Checklist

Before your next career fair, application, or employer conversation, confirm:

• I've identified target career fields or roles
• My résumé translates military terminology into civilian language
• My résumé includes quantified accomplishments, not just duties
• My LinkedIn profile reflects my current professional direction
• My Handshake profile is complete and current
• I've prepared at least two strong STAR stories
• I can introduce myself professionally in 30–60 seconds
• I've met with or scheduled time with a CSP.

Which Option Fits My Goal?

Apply What You Learn

A polished resume is stronger when it's backed by a real mentor and a real network. Pair your career prep with the Mentorship & Networking page — a working executive mentor or a national veteran fellowship makes everything above land harder in an interview.

Explore Mentorship & Networking →

Different Paths. A Stronger Future.

Baylor VETS is here to help you connect your education, leadership development, and career goals.

Return to Leadership Development →  |  Talk with Kevin Davis  →