U.S. Army, 9 years
Army Reserve, 2 years
Program Specialist (Legal Assistant)
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
Washington, D.C.

Army Veteran Nick Bastien was unsure his future after more than 10 years as a military police officer. Injuries from his last deployment forced him to consider a different career altogether. “I had a lot of sleepless nights worrying about what I was going to do next,” Nick recalled.

With the encouragement of his wife, Danna, an Army Veteran who recently began a new career at the Veterans Health Administration, Nick decided to explore opportunities at the VA for Vets Veteran Career Fair and Expo in Washington, D.C. Both were excited that he would have the chance to meet and interview for open positions.

To prepare himself for his interviews with hiring managers at the event, Nick took advantage of the VA for Vets Career Center. He created an online profile and used the military skills translator to tailor his existing resume. “The VA for Vets resources were very helpful,” Nick said. “I would definitely recommend [the Career Center] to other Veterans.”

Nick walked into the event with a game plan. Although there were more than 6,000 private and federal job opportunities available, he set his sights on a job at VA. “I want to work where I can help other Veterans like my wife and I,” Nick said. “It’s that common bond that makes VA the right choice for us.”

He found that the Veteran Career Fair and Expo connected him to the right hiring manager at the right time. “The event was amazing,” Nick said. “There were so many great federal agencies and private companies there. I had an interview with one federal agency five minutes after I walked in the door.”

At the event, Nick interviewed with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and was offered a position as a legal assistant. He loves his new civilian career and is thankful for the opportunity to work with fellow Veterans. “Before I was injured, I thought I’d retire from the military,” Nick said. “Getting a job with VA has taken a huge burden off my chest. I found my career and there’s not much more I could ask for.”

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