Career & Professional Development
Your military 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.
ⓘ Start here: Baylor Career Center assigns every student a dedicated Career Success Professional (CSP) by major/area of study — including a specialization for veterans. Book yours through Handshake (see "Prepare for the Hiring Process" below) before working through anything else on this page. If you want to confirm the current veteran-focused contact by name, check the Veteran Support Contacts page or ask Kevin Davis directly.
Find Your Direction
Not sure what career or major fits you yet? Start here.
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.
Want the Focus 2 Assessment and the MOS-to-career translator tool? Those, plus how to actually find and apply for a job, live on Find Your Direction & Opportunities.
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.
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 →
For internships, volunteering, and building soft skills through a student org, see the "Build Experience" section on Find Your Direction & Opportunities.
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.
- Log in to Handshake
- Click the Career Center tab on the left
- Click Appointments → Schedule a New Appointment
- 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.
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:
- Who are you? Your degree, field, and professional direction.
- What experience do you bring? Translate military and Baylor leadership into relevant strengths.
- Where are you going? The type of role, organization, or problem you want to pursue.
- 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.
Ready to Find the Job or the Funding?
Employer connections, on-campus paid work through VA Work-Study, and grad-school prep all live on one page, so this one doesn't turn into an endless scroll:
Go to Find Your Direction & Opportunities →
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 my Career Success Professional (CSP)
Which Option Fits My Goal?
| If your goal is... | Explore... |
|---|---|
| I don't know my career direction yet. | Find Your Direction & Opportunities + your CSP |
| I want to know what my MOS translates to. | Find Your Direction & Opportunities (MOS Translator) |
| I want to name my natural leadership talents. | CliftonStrengths / CELO Leadership Capacities Index |
| I want free, in-demand technical skills. | LinkedIn Learning & Google Career Certificates |
| I need my resume and interview skills ready now. | CSP Coaching + Résumé Resources + STAR Stories |
| I'm actively job/internship hunting. | Find Your Direction & Opportunities (Seek Opportunities) |
| I want paid, resume-building experience now. | Find Your Direction & Opportunities (VA Work-Study) |
| I'm considering grad school instead of a job. | Find Your Direction & Opportunities (Grad School Prep) |
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 → | Book Your CSP via Handshake →
Questions? Contact Kevin Davis, VETS Program Manager, at Kevin_Davis1@baylor.edu or (254) 710-7264. For career-specific help, book your assigned CSP through Handshake, or check Veteran Support Contacts for the current veteran-focused contact at the Career Center.