Opportunity abounds in Iowa for Veterans, transitioning service members, and their families. With unique support programs like Home Base Iowa and IowaWORKS.gov, the state’s largest jobs bank, there’s never been a better time to enter the workforce in a career after military service.
Iowa is committed to providing quality employment and training services through our IowaWORKS centers around the state. We do this by bringing Veterans and employers together to capitalize on the variety of workforce programs, incentives, and initiatives available in Iowa.
Employment Resources
Veterans in search of a new career can receive assistance from multiple resources:
Each IowaWORKS office also has a dedicated Career Planner to help Veterans prepare for the workforce and find meaningful employment. Career Planners work one-on-one to guide you through the job search process. Services include:
Development of an Individual Employment Plan to establish a clear path that helps you reach your goals.
Referrals (if necessary) to partner programs such as Adult Basic Education, Dislocated Worker, or Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
Assistance with internet-based job searching to maximize your opportunities.
One-on-one career and job counseling.
Labor market information to help you research growing career fields.
Help with tailoring skills and abilities to a new job.
How Veterans and Families Can Get Started
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Begin your journey to finding a new career by registering on the IowaWORKSfor Veterans Portal. Once registered you'll unlock a number of critical resources, including access to career planners and the ability to upload your resume so that Veteran-friendly employers can directly find you in Iowa's largest jobs bank.
When on the page, select “Individual Registration" and follow the steps.
NOTE: If you already have an IowaWORKS account, you can sign in with your username and password on Option one or on the IowaWORKS.gov homepage.
You can select one of two options to get started:
Comprehensive Registration: Select this option to not only upload your resume, but to also gain access to a number of critical resources, including customized job searches, training programs, workshops, career guidance and more.
Register with a Resume: Select this option to quickly upload an existing resume and gain access to resources to help you in your job search.
Alternatively, you can elect to first connectwith a Veterans Career Planner who is a part of the IowaWORKS system and who is readily available to provide one-on-one assistance with all the steps you need to find employment.
These services include resume building, advising on different pathways available in Iowa, and connecting you with job openings that match your interests and skillsets.
Home Base Iowa is integrated with the IowaWORKS reemployment system, matching job opportunities, business partners, and career resumes together to create the best spot for Veterans and families to find jobs in Iowa.
When reaching out, you can let staff know that you or your spouse have served in the United States Armed Forces. All veterans, service members, and spouses can take advantage of the no-cost services available at any IowaWORKS center.
After connecting, the respective IowaWORKS office will connect you with a dedicated Career Planner to help you prepare for the workforce and find meaningful employment.
Veterans with at least one day of active military service and eligible spouses are entitled to receive Priority of Service. Priority of Service Veterans and Eligible Spouses (a.k.a. covered persons) have the right to take precedence over a non-covered person in obtaining any employment and training services funded, in whole or part, through the Department of Labor (DOL). If you served in the U.S. Military or you are the spouse of a service member, please identify yourself as such to your local IowaWORKS staff.
Other Career-Related Programs for Veterans
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Home Base Iowa is the state's premier program for recruiting and supporting Veterans in their careers after service. Additional programs exist to help servicemembers and their families find a pathway after their time in uniform.
Iowa supports the Department of War (DoW) SkillBridge Program, which helps transitioning military members find skilled jobs in the workforce. Iowa is now a third-party administrator for SkillBridge and is working to expand its impact.
The Hilton Honors Military Program is available in Iowa to assist veterans, Transitioning Service Members, National Guard/Reserve Service Members, and qualified spouses with the following employment-related travel activities:
To attend a confirmed job interview.
To participate in training leading to a certification or to keep a job.
For pre-employment testing (physicals, aptitude, etc.)
As an Honors Military Member, Hilton will donate a maximum of 100,000 lifetime points to support your employment-related travel activities.
This Iowa Hilton Honors Flyer will give you additional information on how to get started and initiate the process with your local IowaWORKS Center or the Iowa Workforce Development Hilton Honors point of contact.
Resources for Employers Seeking to Hire Veterans
Home Base Iowa (HBI) acts as the connection point between Veterans and thousands of Iowa businesses and communities looking to welcome their talents. Working through the IowaWORKS system, HBI helps companies attract and retain this workforce by providing access to resumes of those with desired traits and skills. To call specific attention to those Iowa employers who want the skills and characteristics that come with military experience, HBI also oversees a process to certify an Iowa business as "Veteran-Friendly."
