FAQs

Candidate FAQs

1. What is Work For Warriors (WFW) California?
Work For Warriors is a free career-assistance program sponsored by the California Military Department that helps members of the military community secure meaningful civilian employment.

2. Who is eligible for your services?
We proudly serve:

  • Currently serving Active-Duty, National Guard, and Reserve members

  • Veterans of all eras

  • Military spouses and dependents

  • California National Guard Youth Academy graduates

If you’re in one of these groups and living in or planning to work in California, our team is ready to help.

3. How much do your services cost?
Every service we provide is 100 % free to qualified candidates thanks to state and federal funding.

4. What services do you offer?

Service What you’ll get
Resume Building One-on-one guidance to craft professional or federal resumes that showcase your skills.
Interview Preparation Mock interviews, question drills, and confidence coaching so you walk in ready.
Direct Referrals We send your resume straight to hiring managers at trusted partner companies—no black-hole job boards.
Training & Education Access to certification courses, Boots-to-Business® entrepreneurship classes, and more.
Career Events Statewide job fairs, employer briefings, and virtual hiring days tailored to the military community.
Federal-Resume / USAJOBS Support 30-minute deep dives and profile walk-throughs at no charge.

5. How do I get started?

  1. Click “Find a Career” on our website or fill out the quick form on the Contact Us page.

  2. A Veteran Staffing Consultant (VSC) will schedule an intake call—usually within 1–2 business days.

  3. Email your current resume (if you have one) so we can hit the ground running.

6. Do you guarantee job placement?
We can’t guarantee a hire, but our Direct Referral Program dramatically boosts your visibility by putting your resume on the desk of decision-makers—not in an online queue.

7. What should I have ready before my first appointment?
A current resume (drafts are fine), preferred job titles or industries, and (if applicable) proof of service such as a CAC card or DD-214. Having these on hand speeds up referrals and interview prep.

8. Can my spouse or family member use WFW?
Absolutely. Spouses, dependents, and Gold Star family members qualify for the same free services.

9. I’m stationed outside California—can you still help?
Our primary focus is roles in California. If you’re relocating or separating here, we’ve got you covered. We also have sister programs in 19 other states and can connect you if you’re moving elsewhere.

10. Do you help with federal careers and USAJOBS?
Yes. We offer specialized sessions on federal resume formatting, USAJOBS profile optimization, and mock structured interviews—again, free.

11. How often are new jobs posted?
Partner employers send us openings daily, and we add them to our SmartJobBoard in real time. Check the board frequently or ask your VSC to set up tailored alerts.

12. How can I stay updated on events and opportunities?
Follow @WorkForWarriors on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X, subscribe to our monthly newsletter, and watch our Events page for upcoming job fairs and virtual info sessions.

Employer FAQs

1. How much do your services cost?
All employer services are 100 % free. Our state and federal funding allows us to source, screen, and refer candidates to you at no charge.

2. What recruiting support do you provide?
We can:

  • Source talent from our statewide candidate pool

  • Pre-screen résumés for required skills, certifications, and security clearances

  • Provide direct candidate referrals to your hiring managers

  • Promote your vacancies on our job board and social channels

  • Host or co-host hiring events, info sessions, and job fairs—virtual or in-person

  • Offer guidance on veteran hiring incentives and tax credits (e.g., Work Opportunity Tax Credit)

3. What types of candidates can I expect?
Our talent pool includes:

  • National Guard & Reserve members with current military commitments

  • Veterans from every branch and era

  • Military spouses and dependents with diverse professional backgrounds
    Skill sets range from logistics, cyber, healthcare, and maintenance to management, HR, and accounting.

4. How does the referral process work?

  1. You share job descriptions or skill requirements with our Veteran Staffing Consultants.

  2. We match and pre-screen candidates against your criteria.

  3. Qualified resumes are emailed directly to you.

  4. You interview and hire at your discretion. We follow up for feedback, that’s it!

5. Do you require an exclusive partnership agreement?
No. You may continue using any other recruiting channels. Our program simply supplements your talent pipeline completely free of charge. No contract obligation ever!

6. How do you ensure candidates are a good fit?
Veteran Staffing Consultants conduct intake calls to verify:

  • Minimum qualifications and required licenses/certifications

  • Geographic and schedule flexibility

  • Salary expectations

  • Cultural fit and career goals

7. Can you support high-volume or nationwide hiring?
Absolutely. While our primary focus is California roles, we partner with sister Work For Warriors programs in 19 other states for multi-state needs.

10. How do we get started?
Click on our Employers tab and fill out our registration form or email info@workforwarriors.org or call (916) 854-4426. We’ll outline your hiring needs, confirm points of contact, and start sending direct referrals.