post originally published on this site

By:USAGov and the Federal Trade Commission

Date: July 17, 2017

Most service members transition out of the military into a civilian career or educational training. But not every training program or job service may be out to help you.

July is the Month of the Military Consumer. And Military.Consumer.gov can help you avoid common pitfalls when choosing a school or looking for a job. The site is
mobile-friendly and builds your financial readiness with short, actionable tips on a variety of subjects for military families.

To make the most of your time and benefits, research schools before you commit or spend money. Use the VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool to look up a school’s

  • Graduation rate: How many students are successfully completing programs at those schools?

  • Loan default rate: What is the share of students who have paid some of their debt within three years of leaving school? A high default rate could be a warning sign that graduates have too much debt or they can’t get jobs in their field.

  • Accreditation: It can affect your ability to transfer credits from that school to another one. Regional accreditation is often more beneficial; some institutions may not accept credit from a school with national accreditation.

Get all details and promises from a school or a job service in writing. If you can’t get the paperwork to review in advance, walk away.

Don’t send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request, whether it comes as a text, a phone call, or an email. Scammers can be convincing; sometimes they use information from social networking sites to make you think they know you.

Remember that no job service can guarantee you a job, and no legitimate job service will promise you a job if only you’ll pay them. If they do, walk away.

You can find free, official information about federal and postal jobs at USAJOBS.gov, FedsHiresVets.gov, and CareerOneStop.org. Your state’s Department of Labor may have job listings, contacts for local job offices, and resources for counseling and referrals.

Learn more on Military.Consumer.gov, where you’ll also find downloadable presentations you can share on a variety of topics. And stay up-to-date with consumer tips for military families on Facebook and Twitter.