A Veteran’s Information to Getting a Job within the Photo voltaic Trade
About 200,000 veterans exit navy service yearly, starting the transition into civilian life and employment. On the identical time, the photo voltaic business is rising at an unimaginable price, creating an enormous potential for veteran photo voltaic jobs. In keeping with the 2021 Nationwide Photo voltaic Jobs Census, over 250,000 individuals work within the photo voltaic business, with tens of 1000’s of jobs added annually.
Since veterans usually possess abilities priceless to the photo voltaic business, the photo voltaic sector could be a pure match for these seeking to transition into civilian work. The U.S. photo voltaic business employs over 20,000 veterans, which equals about 8% of all photo voltaic employees within the nation — greater than the 5.6% of veterans within the general labor drive.
The Photo voltaic Trade and Veterans within the Workforce
A examine by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce discovered that veterans not solely battle to search out jobs, however to search out fulfilling work that makes use of their navy expertise successfully. That is often known as underemployment, whereby a number of employers think about veterans match for little greater than safety roles.
Nevertheless, the photo voltaic business is completely different. Most transitioning service members maintain abilities that overlap with these wanted to work for a photo voltaic vitality firm, together with:
- Management: Photo voltaic firms make use of a majority of veterans in crew or mission administration roles. Army management abilities and expertise are of nice worth in an business that makes use of quite a few groups resembling gross sales, set up and design.
- Teamwork: The navy is a corporation that is determined by teamwork, which instills every veteran with distinctive team-building skills. This ability is of nice worth within the photo voltaic workforce since most firms function as goal-oriented groups — just like the navy.
- Self-discipline: Few different organizations stress self-discipline as a lot because the navy. Equally, the accelerating photo voltaic business strongly values disciplined people, owing to the usually stringent timelines related to gross sales and installations.
- Sense of function: Maybe the most typical trait between the navy and the photo voltaic business is a way of function. Passionate photo voltaic professionals are pushed by bettering high quality of life by cost-effective, clear vitality.
- Technical abilities: Though veterans might not have particular technical abilities resembling panel wiring and set up, they probably have some coaching in mechanical or electrical expertise. This hands-on information makes it simpler to understand the technical abilities required within the photo voltaic sector.
What Varieties of Jobs Are Accessible within the Photo voltaic Trade?
With correct job coaching, veterans can deal with most roles within the photo voltaic business. Beneath, we detailed a number of roles well-suited to veterans, due to their current abilities.
- Photo voltaic installer: Because the photo voltaic business grows, increasingly technicians are wanted to put in photo voltaic panels on rooftops. Veterans with fundamental technical know-how can turn into wonderful photo voltaic photovoltaic (PV) installers or electricians.
- Photo voltaic security inspectors: Inspectors examine put in techniques for security and approve householders for permission to function. These roles are perfect for navy veterans with a concentrate on security.
- Photo voltaic system designers: Designers analyze a property and create a corresponding photo voltaic system plan. Most photo voltaic firms use devoted software program for system design, which is pretty easy to be taught with some coaching.
- Photo voltaic gross sales representatives: Clear, concise communication is essential within the navy. Communication abilities might help veterans turn into photo voltaic gross sales reps and talk the advantages of photo voltaic vitality to potential clients.
Photo voltaic Applications, Coaching and Fellowships for Veterans
A number of coaching and fellowship packages can be found nationwide to assist veterans put together for an appropriate photo voltaic vitality job. Now we have outlined some necessary workforce growth packages under.
Photo voltaic Prepared Vets Fellowship
About Photo voltaic Prepared Vets Fellowship: Locations active-duty navy service members in 12-week, work-based studying packages with photo voltaic employers. It focuses on administration {and professional} positions, resembling technical gross sales, system design, provide chain logistics, mission growth, operations and set up. The fellowship was launched as a pilot program by the U.S. Division of Vitality (DOE) in 2014 and has since break up into three completely different packages. It’s now run by the Interstate Renewable Vitality Council (IREC) in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Basis’s “Hiring Our Heroes” program.
Easy methods to apply: You’ll be able to apply for the Photo voltaic Prepared Vets Fellowship by IREC’s official web site. There isn’t any price related to this system.
Photo voltaic Alternatives and Readiness (SOAR)
About Photo voltaic Alternatives and Readiness: An consequence of the Photo voltaic Prepared Vets pilot program, SOAR connects veterans to photo voltaic coaching, credentialing, skilled growth and employment alternatives. Additionally it is managed by the IREC together with the North American Board of Licensed Vitality Practitioners (NABCEP) and the Photo voltaic Vitality Industries Affiliation (SEIA).
Easy methods to apply: Because the SOAR program can be part of the Photo voltaic Prepared Vets Community, you’ll be able to apply by IREC’s official web site.
Cyberguardians and STEM Warriors
About Cyberguardians and STEM Warriors: One other department of the unique Photo voltaic Prepared Vets pilot, this program trains and employs veterans in photo voltaic cybersecurity and data expertise. It makes use of strategies and assets that embrace on-line modules, accredited curricula and hybrid coaching packages to show veterans how you can design techniques for distributed vitality assets (DERs), grid operations, knowledge analytics, cybersecurity and funding choice assist.
Easy methods to apply: Veterans can apply for this system by IREC’s official web site.
Photo voltaic Vitality Worldwide Veteran’s Program
About Photo voltaic Vitality Worldwide (SEI) Veteran’s Program: Provides scholarships to assist energetic responsibility navy members and veterans entry the Photo voltaic Professionals Certificates Program (SPCP) and different coaching required to start out a photo voltaic profession. This program is obtainable in partnership with the SEI and the Division of Vitality’s SunShot initiative.
Easy methods to apply: You’ll be able to apply by filling out a kind on the SEI web site.
Veteran-Owned Photo voltaic Corporations
Latest years have seen a rise in veteran-owned photo voltaic firms. Veterans keen to affix the photo voltaic business and work for fellow veterans can look into the next firms.
Semper Solaris
About Semper Solaris: Based mostly in California, Semper Solaris is a veteran-owned firm that serves the Golden State, Arizona, Texas and Florida. It gives photo voltaic panel set up, photo voltaic batteries, roofing and HVAC companies.
Contact Semper Solaris: You’ll be able to name (888) 210-3366 or go to the corporate’s web site.
Ultimate Vitality
About Ultimate Vitality: An Iowa-based photo voltaic supplier, Ultimate Vitality began in 2009 and gives solar energy techniques to householders and companies.
Contact Ultimate Vitality: You’ll be able to name (800) 634-4454 or go to the corporate’s web site.
Texas Engineered Photo voltaic
About Texas Engineered Photo voltaic: One of many quite a few Texas-based veteran-owned photo voltaic firms, Texas Engineered Photo voltaic has roots that return to 2001. It gives residential and industrial photo voltaic and photo voltaic batteries.
Contact Texas Engineered Photo voltaic: You’ll be able to name (210) 516-1604 or go to the corporate’s web site.
Cervus Photo voltaic and Development
About Cervus Photo voltaic and Development: With over 10 years of expertise, Cervus is a veteran-owned photo voltaic firm working in Southern California. Additionally it is a certified SunPower installer.
Contact Cervus Photo voltaic and Development: You’ll be able to name (661) 494-6600 or go to the corporate’s web site.
CAM Photo voltaic
About CAM Photo voltaic: Serving Colorado and Texas since 2009, CAM Photo voltaic is a veteran-owned firm that gives photo voltaic panels, batteries and electrical automobile (EV) chargers.
Contact CAM Photo voltaic: You’ll be able to name (210) 227-3456 or go to the corporate’s web site.
AC/DC Photo voltaic Options
About AC/DC Photo voltaic Options: Texas-based AC/DC Photo voltaic is an area firm that gives photo voltaic and electrical companies to 4 cities within the Lone Star State.
Contact AC/DC Photo voltaic Options: You’ll be able to name (713) 906-2653 or go to the corporate’s web site.
Academy Vitality Group
About Academy Vitality Group (AEG): A service-disabled veteran-owned photo voltaic and electrical firm serving in Chicago, Indiana, Colorado and New York.
Contact Academy Vitality Group: You’ll be able to go to the corporate’s web site.
Johnson Photo voltaic
About Johnson Photo voltaic: One other Californian photo voltaic firm run by a veteran, Johnson Photo voltaic gives photo voltaic panels, batteries, electrical panel upgrades and EV chargers.
Contact Johnson Photo voltaic: You’ll be able to name (619) 784-8401 or go to the corporate’s web site.
Accel Federal Vitality Companies
About Accel Federal Vitality Companies: Based mostly in Washington, D.C., Accel Federal Vitality Companies is a service-disabled, veteran-owned photo voltaic vitality firm
Contact Accel Federal Vitality Companies: You’ll be able to name (202) 999-9435 or go to the corporate’s web site.
Alpha Photo voltaic Group
About Alpha Photo voltaic Group: Alpha Photo voltaic is a lady and veteran-owned photo voltaic PV installer within the higher New York Metropolis space. It makes a speciality of residence photo voltaic panel set up.
Contact Alpha Photo voltaic Group: You’ll be able to name (202) 999-9435 or go to the corporate’s web site.
Different Employment Help for Veterans
Except for the packages talked about above, a number of different photo voltaic packages are in place to assist U.S. veterans transition easily into civilian jobs. Beneath are some examples:
- CareerOneStop Veteran and Army Transition Middle: Helps veterans with abilities assessments, job looking out and discovering authorities advantages resembling unemployment. Go to the CareerOneStop web site to be taught extra.
- The U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs (VA): Veterans can use the VA’s web site to search out profession help and job alternatives by counseling, small enterprise assist, and so on.
- Feds Rent Vets: Gives data on the federal hiring course of and hyperlinks to job boards with veteran employment alternatives. Go to this system web site to be taught extra.
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