Returning to civilian life after military service presents many challenges — and one of the biggest is finding stable, meaningful employment. Veterans often leave the military with a wealth of experience, discipline, and leadership skills, yet still face barriers when entering the job market. In Baltimore, several organizations are working hard to change that by offering specialized job training, career counseling, and employment support tailored to the unique needs of veterans.
From workforce development programs to employer partnerships, Baltimore is building a stronger path to employment for those who served. In this blog, we’ll explore the employment resources available to veterans in the area, highlight some of the most impactful programs, and walk through how to get started.
Sheppard Pratt’s Veterans Services Center: Career Support with Compassion
Sheppard Pratt is widely recognized for its work in behavioral health, but its Veterans Services Center is also a hub for veteran employment resources. Located in Baltimore, the center provides comprehensive assistance to veterans who are unemployed or underemployed and need help entering or re-entering the civilian workforce.
Their support begins with personalized career counseling. Veterans meet one-on-one with employment specialists who help translate military experience into civilian job qualifications. This process can include everything from resume writing and interview preparation to identifying which industries best align with the veteran’s interests and skills.
The Veterans Services Center also connects clients to job training programs in high-demand fields such as IT, healthcare, construction, and logistics. For those who may be navigating mental health or housing challenges at the same time, Sheppard Pratt offers case management and behavioral health support in tandem with job placement services. It’s a holistic approach that ensures long-term success, not just short-term employment.
Veterans can also get help applying for VA education benefits, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and guidance on how to leverage those benefits for career advancement.
Maryland Department of Labor: Veteran-Focused Employment Programs
The Maryland Department of Labor operates several employment programs designed specifically for veterans. Through the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning, veterans can access priority services at local American Job Centers across the state, including multiple locations in Baltimore.
These centers offer:
- Resume and cover letter assistance
- Career assessments and job matching
- Access to hiring events and job fairs
- Connections to apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs
Veterans are given priority of service, which means they receive access to job postings and training opportunities before non-veterans. This head start can make a significant difference in landing competitive positions, especially in growing industries like cybersecurity, construction, and skilled trades.
Veteran representatives at these centers are trained to understand the challenges of military transition and often have military backgrounds themselves. That connection can help veterans feel more comfortable asking for help and more confident navigating their employment journey.
Hiring Our Heroes: Bringing Businesses and Veterans Together
Another standout initiative available to Baltimore veterans is Hiring Our Heroes, a program run by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. While not exclusive to Baltimore, it partners with local employers and offers job fairs, fellowship programs, and direct connections to veteran-friendly companies.
Hiring Our Heroes runs Corporate Fellowship Programs that place veterans into 12-week internships with major businesses. These fellowships allow veterans to gain real-world civilian experience while maintaining their military benefits, and they often lead directly to full-time employment. Several Baltimore-area employers have participated in this program, creating a local pipeline of opportunity.
This organization also provides a Digital Resume Engine that helps veterans create resumes using military-to-civilian translation tools, making their skills easier for employers to understand.
The Baltimore Station: Workforce Readiness for Veterans in Recovery
For veterans navigating substance use recovery or homelessness, The Baltimore Station is a key resource. This nonprofit offers a long-term residential treatment program for veterans that includes job readiness training, financial literacy, and structured support to help them rebuild their lives from the ground up.
While the program’s primary focus is recovery, employment plays a critical role in long-term stability. Veterans at The Baltimore Station work with case managers and employment coordinators to identify goals, explore careers, and transition into the workforce with confidence. Local employers often visit the facility to conduct mock interviews or recruit directly from the program.
By addressing employment within a broader context of recovery, The Baltimore Station provides a unique and essential service for veterans facing complex challenges.
Nontraditional Paths: Entrepreneurship and Skilled Trades
Not every veteran is looking for a 9-to-5 office job. Many prefer self-employment, skilled trades, or hands-on careers that offer flexibility and independence. Fortunately, Baltimore offers a wide array of nontraditional employment paths that can align with a veteran’s unique strengths.
Programs like SCORE Baltimore and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offer free mentoring for veterans who want to start their own businesses. From navigating licensing and legal paperwork to creating marketing plans and financial projections, these organizations offer a roadmap for veteran entrepreneurs to get up and running.
In the skilled trades, Helmets to Hardhats connects veterans to apprenticeship programs in construction, electrical work, plumbing, and related fields. These apprenticeships provide paid, on-the-job training and a direct path into union jobs that offer benefits and long-term stability.
Veterans often find these environments familiar — structured, mission-focused, and hands-on — making for a smoother transition from military life.
The Value of Peer Support in Career Services
One of the most powerful tools in veteran employment isn’t found in a resume or job board. It’s peer support. Many veteran-focused programs in Baltimore use peer mentors or veteran employment specialists to guide their clients through job training and placement. These mentors understand the transition from military to civilian life because they’ve lived it themselves.
This peer-to-peer model creates trust and accountability. It also helps reduce the stigma some veterans feel when asking for help. Veterans often say they’d rather talk to “someone who’s been there,” and programs like Sheppard Pratt’s Veteran Services Center recognize that dynamic, building it directly into their staffing and service model.
Removing Barriers to Employment
While there are many resources available, Baltimore’s veterans still face significant barriers to employment. These include:
- Difficulty translating military skills to civilian job descriptions
- Gaps in employment due to deployments, injury, or treatment
- Limited access to transportation or childcare
- Mental health challenges, including PTSD and depression
Fortunately, local programs are working hard to break down those barriers. Case managers help veterans advocate for themselves in interviews, tailor resumes to civilian job postings, and connect with wraparound services like housing and mental health care.
Veterans who are justice-involved or have less-than-honorable discharges can also find specialized programs designed to help them re-enter the workforce. These second-chance opportunities are crucial for veterans who may have hit roadblocks on the path to stability.
Getting Started: Who to Contact
For veterans in Baltimore ready to take the next step toward employment, here’s where to begin:
- Sheppard Pratt’s Veterans Services Center – Offers job placement, mental health support, and training programs.
- Baltimore American Job Centers – Provide resume help, career counseling, and hiring events.
- Hiring Our Heroes – Connects veterans to internships and employment at major companies.
- The Baltimore Station – Offers employment support for veterans in recovery.
- SCORE Baltimore & SBDC – Help veteran entrepreneurs start their own businesses.
- Helmets to Hardhats – Links veterans to skilled trade apprenticeships.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. These organizations are here to support you every step of the way — whether you’re starting over, switching careers, or finally ready to pursue your dream job.
A Future Full of Possibility
Baltimore is not just a city of monuments and history. It’s a place where veterans can build a future, not just remember their past. Through job training, career support, and community investment, Baltimore is working to make sure no veteran is left behind when it comes to employment.
The road to a new career may feel uncertain at times, but the resources are there. With the right guidance, the right support, and the courage that service members already possess, the journey from military service to civilian employment becomes not just possible — but full of potential.
If you’re a veteran looking for your next opportunity, now is the time to take that first step. Baltimore is ready to walk alongside you.