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Every SkillBridge opportunity is directly tied to a job opportunity. 

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø's SkillBridge Program is designed to enhance the skills, training, knowledge, and experience of transitioning Service Members, assisting them in their goals of securing employment post their military service. This 12-week Fellowship program will be led by industry experts teaching, coaching, and training participants in the practical application of skills learned during the program. Fellows will be exposed to employee training, intentional mentorship and networking opportunities, and career development as they work under close supervision of University staff. Service members will additionally benefit from Health and Wellness classes, guest speakers, and guided curriculum curated for transitioning Service Members.

Our SkillBridge program is 12 weeks, which aligns with ease of command team approvals and recent DoD policy changes. This increases the likelihood that a service member can actually participate. 

The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø SkillBridge program aligns with talent acquisition processes, ensuring that service members are directly embedded into the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø way. Service members aren't just a "SkillBridge fellow" or "intern"; they are future colleagues hired through a legitimate, respected process. This builds a foundation for a permanent and respected career. 

We are helping service members understand the "How", not just the "What". A major challenge for service members isn't a lack of skills or lack of work ethic; it's understanding how to navigate the civilian landscape. 

We are providing:

• How to read a job description and tailor a resume
• Real-world practice in guaranteed phone screens with the recruitment team
• True understanding of how you got the job, empowering you for the rest of your career
• Support from the Skillbridge team, with bona fide human resources and talent acquisition experience
• Mentorship and additional support from our Military & Veterans Employee Affinity Group, all of whom are professionals working across all the departments at Vanderbilt
• Free access to financial and mental health resources

The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø SkillBridge program is not an exploratory or cohort model. These are individual opportunities that are linked to real job placements. While it is not the primary goal of our program, if you would like to consider an exploratory SkillBridge program with Vanderbilt, please reach out to our SkillBridge email below to discuss. 

Note: ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø (VU) and ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Medical Center (VUMC) are two separate employers, and we handle our military transition programs individually. The VUMC SkillBridge program is completely different from VU. For VUMC SkillBridge opportunities, please visit: https://www.vumc.org/military-civilian-programs/other-military-civilian-programs

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø hires for many types of roles, and we boast a 90% placement guarantee for SkillBridge participants. Every SkillBridge fellowship is tied to a bona fide job opportunity. As long as a fit is determined, a SkillBridge fellow can expect a job offer upon completion of the program. Additionally, the service member will hold regular check-ins with the recruitment team and their hiring manager, ensuring expectations are aligned.

We have trades apprenticeships, landscapers, maintenance technicians, campus dining, to human resources, administrative, finance, IT and project management professionals. Rather than forcing SkillBridge candidates into predefined tracks (HR, IT, etc.), most roles are open to SkillBridge to allow service members to find the best fit for their unique skills and aspirations across a wide variety of roles. This respects the diverse experiences of service members and maximizes their chances of continuing to craft a fulfilling career.

Please fully review job descriptions to gauge whether a role is SkillBridge-eligible. We do not hire SkillBridge fellows into temporary roles. As long as a fit is deemed successful, few reasons exist to not hire a SkillBridge fellow after completion of their program.

Note: The majority of Vanderbilt roles are hybrid or in-person, based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Occasionally, we will have opportunities that are remote or located in other states as we expand our footprint.

To participate, Servicemembers must be within 180 days of separation and cannot participate while on transition leave. The recommended timeline to apply to roles and be selected into our SkillBridge program is approximately 180 days from separation, as this will allow us time to match the servicemember with a job opening. For general CSP and SkillBridge questions, please visit

Each fellowship lasts 12 weeks and operates on a Monday-Friday schedule unless otherwise specified. During these 12 weeks, servicemembers may be required to attend program workshops or attend other university events.

Again, most roles are hybrid or in-person. This allows you to more fully immerse into deeper cultural aspects of Vanderbilt, develop organic networking opportunities, have direct access to campus resources, and a stronger integration with your team. This high-touch, in-person experience can be far more effective for building a new professional network than a remote remote fellowship.

1. Submit your application for the desired role on our

   
   Note: You can reach out to the Skillbridge contact email below for resume reviews and skills translations before applying to roles. 
   
   

2. Contact the SkillBridge program manager via email (details provided below) to express interest.
   
   
   
3. Guaranteed Phone Screen: Once determined that you meet the minimum requirements for the role, you will be scheduled for a phone screen. The phone screen is your "foot in the door" opportunity to begin the conversation with the recruitment team, explain your skillset, and tell your story.
   

   Note: If you are not scheduled for a phone screen, another candidate was selected by the time you applied, or you did not meet minimum requirements.
   
   

   Our goal is to help service members who already possess transferrable skills to "upskill", bridge the cultural gap, and become competitive candidates for roles they already minimally qualify for. This allows us to maintain such a high placement rate and ensure hiring team satisfaction. 

4. Complete the full interview process. This may include a mix of virtual and/or in-person interviews.
   
   
5. If selected for the role, receive approval from your chain of command and local CSP office.
   

   
   Note: Tennessee National Guard members may coordinate this through the Fort Campbell CSP team. 
   
   

6. Begin the program on the agreed upon start date. Receive resources and support during the program. Conduct regular check-ins with the SkillBridge team. Complete the program.
   
   
   Note: Vanderbilt does not require use of GI Bill benefits to complete this program. Also, parking fees are waived for the duration of the program, and any work materials needed (laptop, tools, etc.) will be provided. 
   
   
7. Upon successful program completion and if there is a mutual fit, you are likely to receive an offer for permanent employment.
   
   
8. Work for Vanderbilt. Upon completion of SkillBridge and beginning work as a permanent member at Vanderbilt, you gain access to the plethora of Vanderbilt employee benefits, including but not limited to access to tuition and certification reimbursement, health and retirement benefits.
   
   

   
   
   Work at Vanderbilt
   
   

*If you have questions that circumvent traditional process, please reach out to the SkillBridge contact email to coordinate a call to discuss.