Work For Warriors
Work For Warriors is a California Military Department-sponsored, free statewide career-assistance program that connects veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard, Reservists, military spouses, and dependents with California employers through resume support, interview prep, training partnerships and direct referrals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSacramento, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Work For Warriors does
Work For Warriors is a free career-assistance program for California's military community — active duty, National Guard, Reserves, veterans of all eras, military spouses and dependents, and Youth Academy graduates — operated under the sponsorship of the California Military Department. Founded in February 2012 in collaboration with then-Speaker of the Assembly John A. Pérez to reduce unemployment among California service members, the program exceeded its initial 25% reduction goal in its first year and has since placed 25,658 candidates through 2,711 active employer partners across California. Headquartered at 10601 Bear Hollow Drive, Rancho Cordova, with 51–100 staff, the program operates as a regional non-profit service rather than a commercial enterprise.
The service is delivered primarily through a team of 16 Veteran Staffing Consultants — themselves veterans and military spouses — who provide one-on-one resume building (including federal-resume and USAJOBS support), interview preparation, mock interviews and direct candidate referrals to vetted employer partners. The candidate-facing technology surface is the SmartJobBoard at wfw.mysmartjobboard.com, a conventional real-time job-posting portal that employer partners populate daily and that supports tailored job alerts. Beyond direct placement, WFW integrates a layer of training and education partnerships — NPower tech certifications (IT Support, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, App Development), BAC Local 3 masonry apprenticeship, Home Builder Institute construction training, GAF Roofing Academy, DroneAviate, Veterans Upward Bound, and the SBA Boots to Business entrepreneurship pathway — as well as entrepreneurship support via VBOC, SCORE, Vet Fran and Warrior Rising.
The program is funded entirely by state and federal appropriations through the California Military Department; all candidate and employer services are 100% free, with no placement fees, contract obligations or paid tiers. WFW markets itself through Instagram, LinkedIn, X, a monthly email newsletter, its website and in-person job fairs, and depends heavily on referral pipelines from Family Programs, Transition Assistance Advisors, Chaplain services and other California Military Department support channels. The model's success has driven replication: 14 other states have launched sister Work For Warriors programs, creating a 19-state national network that supports multi-state placement for relocating veterans.
Work For Warriors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Work For Warriors
- Legal name
- Work For Warriors
- Website
- https://workforwarriors.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Work For Warriors is a California Military Department-sponsored, free statewide career-assistance program that connects veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard, Reservists, military spouses, and dependents with California employers through resume support, interview prep, training partnerships and direct referrals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Work For Warriors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Veteran Employment Services
- NAICS
- Employment Services (5613)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Help Supply Services (7363)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Veterans & Military-to-Civilian Transition Programs (EDAAAOAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)
Keywords
Where Work For Warriors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sacramento
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Work For Warriors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Program is funded by state and federal funding through the California Military Department. All services are provided free of charge to eligible candidates and employers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free services for military community members |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Work For Warriors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Work For Warriors provides free, personalized career assistance to California veterans, active duty service members, National Guard, Reservists, military spouses, and dependents. Core services include one-on-one resume building, mock interview preparation, and a Direct Referral Program that sends pre-screened candidate resumes straight to hiring managers at 2,711 vetted employer partners. Supplemental offerings include federal resume/USAJOBS support, statewide career fairs, and access to tuition-free training and certification programs in tech, construction, and entrepreneurship.
Product overview
Work For Warriors is a free, statewide career-assistance program — not a commercial software product — sponsored by the California Military Department. It does not offer a platform-plus-modules software architecture; instead, it delivers an integrated suite of human-led employment services centered on its SmartJobBoard candidate portal. The core portfolio combines resume building, interview preparation, and a Direct Referral Program (which sends pre-screened candidates straight to hiring managers), all accessible through the SmartJobBoard. Layered on top are supplemental offerings including federal resume/USAJOBS support, career events and job fairs, and training partnerships (NPower tech training, Boots to Business entrepreneurship, Veterans Upward Bound, apprenticeships, and certifications) that extend the service from job placement into career development and education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Direct Referral Program Service that sends vetted candidate resumes directly to hiring managers at trusted business partners, bypassing online job-board queues and giving candidates a competitive edge with top California employers. Available free to all eligible California military community members and to employer partners.
- Resume Building Service One-on-one expert guidance for California veterans and military community members to enhance an existing resume or build a professional or federal resume that showcases skills, strengths, and military experience. Delivered free by Veteran Staffing Consultants.
- Interview Preparation Service Mock interviews, question drills, and confidence coaching delivered by Veteran Staffing Consultants to prepare California veterans and military community members for civilian and federal interviews, with support continuing through offer.
- SmartJobBoard Candidate Portal Online job board portal where California military community candidates can search and apply for job openings submitted daily by employer partners, with tailored job alerts.
- Career Events and Job Fairs Statewide in-person and virtual career fairs, employer briefings, and hiring events (including with LADWP/VALOR) tailored to the California military community across multiple regions including Fresno, Sacramento, Los Alamitos, and Okinawa.
- Federal Resume and USAJOBS Support Specialized consultations covering federal resume formatting, USAJOBS profile optimization, and mock structured interviews to help California veterans pursue federal government careers.
- Boots to Business Entrepreneurship Program Entrepreneurship education and training program offered via the U.S. Small Business Administration, providing an introduction to business ownership fundamentals for active-duty members, veterans, and military spouses, accessed through Work For Warriors referrals.
- NPower Tech Training Pathways Suite of tuition-free tech training tracks (IT Support, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, App Development, Networking) delivered in partnership with NPower for service members, veterans, Guard/Reserve, and military spouses, with certifications and career-readiness mentoring.
Quantifiable outcome
- 25,658 candidates hired since program inception
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Work For Warriors
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Work For Warriors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Work For Warriors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- California Military DepartmentcorePrimary sponsor of Work For Warriors program. Established program in February 2012 in collaboration with Speaker of the Assembly John A. Pérez to address high unemployment among California service members.
- DroneAviateminorTraining partner providing drone aviation certification and career pathway programs for veterans. Referenced in veteran success stories.
- NPowercoreNational nonprofit tech-training partner offering tuition-free programs (IT Support, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, App Development) for service members, veterans, and military spouses. WFW provides direct referrals to graduates and promotes programs to candidates.
- Veterans Upward Bound (VUB)coreFederal TRIO program offering free college-prep support to veterans including academic refresher courses, test preparation, college guidance, and financial aid coaching. Funded by U.S. Department of Education.
- BAC Local 3 ApprenticeshipminorBricklayers & Allied Craftworkers apprenticeship program providing tuition-free masonry and craftwork training with earn-while-you-learn model. Located in Tracy, California.
- United RentalsminorEquipment rental company offering SkillBridge program and career opportunities for transitioning service members and veterans.
- Home Builder InstituteminorTraining partner providing construction and building industry career preparation for veterans.
- Parker UniversityminorEducational partner offering veteran discounts and career pathways in healthcare and wellness fields.
- Impacting Communities Through Data (ICTD)minorSix-week virtual data analysis program for veterans funded by National Science Foundation, in partnership with San Diego State University. Provides stipends and career pathway support.
- Work For Warriors Sister State ProgramscoreNetwork of 15+ Work For Warriors programs in other states (19 total state programs including California). Provides referral pathways for veterans relocating outside California.
- Gainwell TechnologiesminorHealthcare technology partner posting job opportunities through WFW, including Data Entry Clerk positions in Roseville, CA.
- Global Medical Response (GMR)minorEmergency medical services partner with 1,000+ open positions across Northern California, including paramedics, EMTs, pilots, and dispatch roles.
- Honey HomesminorHome maintenance services company partnering to hire handymen at $40/hr plus $2,000 sign-on bonus, targeting WFW candidates.
- Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP)minorPublic utility hosting 2-day Civil and Electrical Engineer hiring event in partnership with VALOR, offering 5-point veteran preference.
- Employer Partners (2,711)coreNetwork of 2,711 California employers actively recruiting veteran talent through the WFW Direct Referral Program, including government agencies, defense contractors, and private sector companies.
- Boots to Business (SBA)coreU.S. Small Business Administration entrepreneurship education program offered as part of DoD Transition Assistance Program. WFW provides access and referral to Boots to Business courses for veterans.
- Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) - Northern CaliforniacoreSBA resource partner providing veteran entrepreneurs with counseling, training, and business development support in Northern California.
- Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) - SoCalcoreSBA resource partner serving Southern California with entrepreneurship training and mentorship for veteran business owners.
- SCOREminorFree business mentoring service connecting veteran entrepreneurs with experienced business mentors for one-on-one guidance.
- Vet FranminorVeteran franchise initiative with 500+ companies offering discounts to veteran franchisees. Veterans account for 14% of franchisees nationwide.
- Warrior RisingminorVeteran entrepreneur organization providing sustainable business creation support and veteran hiring opportunities.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Work For Warriors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hire Heroes USA: Hire Heroes USA is a national nonprofit that provides free job placement and career coaching to transitioning military members, veterans, and military spouses. It is the most directly comparable peer to Work For Warriors in terms of mission, target population, and free-services model, though it operates nationally rather than being California-concentrated.
- RecruitMilitary: RecruitMilitary produces large-scale veteran-focused job fairs and operates an online job board serving veterans and military spouses. It is a direct peer because it shares WFW's target candidates and employer-recruiting model, but operates at greater national scale and as a private, revenue-generating business.
- Orion Talent: Orion Talent (formerly Orion ICS) is a talent-acquisition firm specializing in military veteran recruitment, with both candidate placement services and employer recruiting solutions. It is a direct peer to WFW's recruiting function but operates commercially with employer-paid fees.
- VetJobs: VetJobs is a veteran-focused job board and career services platform that connects veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses with employers. It is a direct peer to WFW's SmartJobBoard function, focused exclusively on military-community job matching.
- American Corporate Partners (ACP): ACP is a nonprofit that provides free career mentoring and networking to post-9/11 veterans and active duty spouses, pairing them with corporate mentors. It overlaps with WFW's career-prep and networking services for the same target population, though the delivery model is mentorship rather than direct placement.
- Disabled American Veterans (DAV): DAV is a major veterans service organization that provides free job-readiness training, career fairs, and job placement assistance to disabled and other veterans. It overlaps with WFW's mission and target candidates, particularly on transition support and federal employment navigation.
- DoD SkillBridge: DoD SkillBridge is a U.S. Department of Defense program offering transitioning service members civilian work experience through industry training partnerships in the final 180 days of service. It is directly comparable because several of WFW's employer partners (United Rentals, LADWP/VALOR) participate in SkillBridge, making it a complementary rather than competing program.
Broad incumbents
- Military.com: Military.com is a large veteran-focused media and resource platform with a substantial job board serving active duty, veterans, and military families. It competes with WFW for veteran candidate attention and employer job postings but operates as a broad commercial media property rather than a focused placement program.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation - Hiring Our Heroes: Hiring Our Heroes is a U.S. Chamber Foundation initiative that runs veteran-focused career fairs, fellowships, and corporate hiring programs nationwide. It is a broad incumbent in the same veteran-employment space as WFW, with significantly larger national scale and corporate funding.
Regional players
- California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet): CalVet is the California state agency that provides benefits, employment assistance, and resource navigation to California veterans. It is a regional public-sector peer that shares WFW's California-only service territory and veteran employment focus but operates as a state benefits agency rather than a recruiting program.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Work For Warriors social profiles
Digital presenceWork For Warriors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Work For Warriors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Work For Warriors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Work For Warriors M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Work For Warriors
What does Work For Warriors do?
Work For Warriors provides free, personalized career assistance to California veterans, active duty service members, National Guard, Reservists, military spouses, and dependents. Core services include one-on-one resume building, mock interview preparation, and a Direct Referral Program that sends pre-screened candidate resumes straight to hiring managers at 2,711 vetted employer partners. Supplemental offerings include federal resume/USAJOBS support, statewide career fairs, and access to tuition-free training and certification programs in tech, construction, and entrepreneurship.
Is Work For Warriors a public or private company?
Work For Warriors is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Work For Warriors founded?
Work For Warriors was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Work For Warriors based?
Work For Warriors is headquartered in Sacramento, United States, in the North America region.
How does Work For Warriors make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Funding.
Who are Work For Warriors's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hire Heroes USA, RecruitMilitary, Orion Talent, VetJobs, American Corporate Partners (ACP), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and DoD SkillBridge. Broad incumbents are Military.com and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation - Hiring Our Heroes. California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) is listed as a regional player.
Does Work For Warriors have an API?
No public API is recorded for Work For Warriors.
What industry is Work For Warriors in?
Work For Warriors's product category is Veteran Employment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAOAH, Veterans & Military-to-Civilian Transition Programs, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAJ, Employment & Job Readiness Support Services. Its NAICS code is 5613 and its SIC code is 7361.