Whether you’re a student veteran, currently serving in the Guard or Reserve, an ROTC cadet, or transitioning from active duty — Veteran Career Services is here to help you navigate your career journey from day one through graduation and beyond.
Who We Serve
Veteran Career Services supports:
- Student Veterans
- Active Duty Service Members
- National Guard Members
- Reserve Component Members
- ROTC Cadets
- Early Commissioning Program (ECP) Cadets
- Military Spouses and Dependents
Not sure if you qualify? Most Syracuse University career resources are available to all students through Career Services and your college career center. Reach out to vetcareer@syr.edu, and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Your First Three Steps
Not sure where to begin? Start here. These three steps will orient you, connect you to your advisor, and get you plugged into the VCS community.
Career planning doesn’t start during your final semester — it starts now. Schedule a one-on-one appointment to discuss:
- Career goals and exploration
- Military-to-civilian transition planning
- Résumé and cover letter development
- Job and internship searches
- Graduate school options
- Exclusive VCS events & opportunities
- Networking strategies
Your First Appointment Checklist
Don’t worry if you don’t have everything yet. Bring what you have.
- ✓ Draft résumé (if available)
- ✓ Military or civilian work history
- ✓ Questions about internships, jobs, or graduate school
- ✓ Career interests (even if you’re unsure)
- ✓ Handshake questions
Handshake is Syracuse University’s career management platform and your gateway to everything career-related at SU. If you haven’t activated your account yet, do it now.
With Handshake, you can:
- Search jobs and internships
- Register for career fairs and employer events
- Schedule appointments with VCS
- Upload your résumé
- Participate in on-campus recruiting
Stay informed and never miss an opportunity. There are three ways to stay connected with VCS:
- VCS Daily Ops — daily opportunities, jobs, internships, scholarships, and events delivered every morning.
- Mission Mondays — one focused career action every Monday. One objective. Keep moving.
- ‘Cuse Vets Community — stay connected with the VCS community through Viva Engage, accessible via Microsoft Teams. A space for updates, reminders, and peer connection with other military-connected students at SU. Group-‘Cuse Vets Community | Community in Viva Engage
Understanding How Career Services Works at Syracuse
Many students don’t realize there are three distinct career networks available to them at Syracuse University. Knowing how they work together helps you get more from all of them.
Specialized support for military-connected students, including:
- Veteran-friendly employers
- Networking & employer-focused events
- Specialized career events and programming
- Career immersion trips: NYC, LA, Boston, Washington, DC, and more
- Internship Award: Funds up to $5,000
- Security clearances & federal hiring guidance
- Military experience translation
Industry-specific guidance related to your major. Each school at SU has its own career center staffed with advisors who know your field.
- Major-specific internship connections
- Industry employer relationships
- Alumni networks within your college
University-wide resources and employer connections are available to all SU students, regardless of major.
- Job and internship database
- On-campus recruiting
- Career fairs open to all students
- General career coaching
Handshake 101
What Is Handshake?
Handshake is Syracuse University’s primary career platform — used by students, employers, and career advisors across the university. For VCS students, it’s where everything starts.
With your Handshake account, you can:
- Search thousands of jobs and internships
- Register for career fairs and employer events
- Schedule appointments with your VCS advisor
- Upload and manage your résumé
- Participate in on-campus and virtual recruiting
- Follow employers you’re interested in
| Recommended Profile Checklist A complete Handshake profile makes you visible to employers and gets you into the right recruiting pipelines. Work through this list before your first VCS appointment. ✓ Complete your profile (photo, major, graduation year, bio) ✓ Upload a résumé ✓ Add your military experience ✓ Set your career interests and job preferences ✓ Enable job and event notifications ✓ Follow at least five employers you’re interested in | Get More from Handshake Once your profile is set up, go further. These habits separate students who get interviews from students who just have accounts. Save searches and create job alerts for roles you’re targeting Follow target employers to get notified when they post Register early for recruiting events — spots fill fast View OVMA Collections to identify veteran-friendly employers https://syr.joinhandshake.com/edu/collections/34701 Schedule recurring appointments with your VCS advisor each semester |
Don’t Wait Until Senior Year
The students who achieve the strongest outcomes don’t start in their final semester — they start now.
- Build résumés early and update them every semester
- Attend employer events and career receptions regularly
- Complete internships before graduation
- Grow their professional network while they’re still in school
- Meet with their VCS advisor consistently, not just at crunch time
Your first semester is the best time to start.
Get to know the team in your corner
Our team combines professional career expertise with military experience and a deep understanding of the transition from service to civilian careers. We’re here to help you navigate every stage of your career journey.