Employment

State Employment

Veterans receive preference in testing for open and open nonpromotional entrance examinations requiring college graduation AND less than two years of experience. The examination will state whether or not veterans preference credit will be granted. Eligible veterans and eligible spouses of 100% service-connected disabled Active Duty veterans receive additional points added to their final passing scores. No veteran’s preference credits will be allowed once a veteran achieves permanent civil service status.

Please visit CalVet’s Veterans State Employment page for eligibility requirements and more information regarding veterans preference in employment with the State of California and the Personnel Board’s Veterans Preference page.

Federal Employment

Veterans receive preference in the appointment of federal employment over many other applicants. Veteran’s preference does not guarantee veterans a job and it does not apply to interagency promotions, transfers, reassignments and reinstatements. Veterans and certain family members may be eligible for preference in appointment over others. There is no limit to the number of times veterans preference points can be used in federal employment. However, it is important to know that veteran’s preference does not apply when an agency is using merit promotion procedures to fill a position.

Please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov and http://www.usajobs.gov for eligibility requirements and more information regarding veterans preference in employment with the Federal Government.

Employment Assistance

California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) offers employment assistance to those veterans looking for employment.

EDD’s Job Service works in partnership with local employment and training agencies to assist veterans in finding employment. Job services staff are located in One-Stop Career Centers. Job seekers may get information about other services , such as job search workshops to develop and practice job finding and interviewing skills, and referral to employment-related training. To see a brief description of services available to veterans seeking jobs please visit Employment Assistance page.

To locate the nearest One-Stop Career Center, call the America’s Service Locator toll-free at (877) US-2JOBS or visit One-Stop Career Center webpage.

Unemployment Insurance

Unemployment Insurance (UI) is a program that operates under federal and state law to provide benefit payments to eligible workers who have been unemployed through no fault of their own. Recently retired and separated military members may be eligible to receive payments for a maximum of 26 weeks, provided they are able and willing to accept a suitable job. Regardless of whether the veteran voluntarily separated or required to separate, former service members should apply for UI benefits immediately upon separation from active military service.

For more information on Unemployment Insurance, please visit EDD's Unemployment Insurance page or contact Employment Development Department toll free at (866) 333-4606.