Why the Landscape Industry is One of the Best Careers for Veterans

Whether you’re about to embark on your post-military career, or are a veteran looking to switch jobs, chances are you’ve read a number of articles that list the best industries to consider. While many offer sound advice, we’re here to offer another suggestion: check out the landscape industry.

Here at BrightView, we’re incredibly proud to employ many veterans across the country. Seeing their success, we can’t help but think the landscape industry is one of the best kept secrets for a post-military career. Here’s why it should be on your radar.

The Landscape Industry Offers a Wide Range of Opportunities

One of the aspects of the landscape industry veterans appreciate the most is that you don’t have to worry about being stuck behind a desk. No matter your role in the company, nature is inherently intertwined. For many people, crew positions or specialized fields like arboriculture and agronomy are what come to mind first when they think of landscape industry careers. However, these only scratches the surface. The industry is made up of a multitude of professionals—from business developers to branch management, human resources and more. So even if you don’t have any interest in getting your hands dirty, you can still enjoy a career that keeps you close to nature.

Your Strengths Will Translate Well

In the military, you’re trained to adapt to changing situations and think on your feet. Much is the same in the landscape industry. Mother Nature can be unpredictable, making your problem-solving skills valuable. Whether coordinating resources and logistics for an emergency storm response, troubleshooting a plant disease, or finding ways to get a large project completed on-time despite rain delays, your attention to detail and ability to make quick assessments makes all the difference.

Another similarity between the landscape industry and the military is the importance of teamwork. Our teams excel when they’re operating as one, which is what makes your leadership experience so important. The ability to motivate and build teams is crucial, not only for efficiency, but also for safety. Fostering trust and cohesion amongst team members ensures everyone looks out for each other.

The Potential for Advancement is Endless

Landscape is a field that continues to grow, as more people understand the importance of outdoor environments for property value, pedestrian traffic and health, especially in light of the coronavirus pandemic. That translates to endless opportunities to build a rewarding and enduring career.

Here at BrightView, we offer opportunities on a national scale, but also the support and kinship of a unit through our local branches and regional teams. In addition to our mentoring and training programs, we support the success of our veterans through BRAVO, BrightView Recognizing and Acknowledging Veteran Opportunities, an employee-led advocacy program designed to foster the growth of our veterans and their families. 

From E-1 to 0-10 and beyond, the landscape industry has a career for everyone. Visit our military hiring page to see positions that map well with your experience, or check out our current openings to explore all the possibilities!