Servicemembers, veterans, and military spouses have plenty of great career opportunities given the vast experience, high level of education, and unique knowledge and expertise offered by members of these communities. In commemoration of Presidents Day, here’s a breakdown of some of these exciting professions – career paths where presidents-to-be served before sitting in the Oval Office.  

[RELATED: Consider These 5 Cool Federal Jobs]

Academia. Plenty of presidents served on university boards or lectured at colleges after leaving office, but did you know several worked in the education sector before taking office? Like the sector itself, their experience varied wildly, from William Howard Taft serving as the first dean of the University of Cincinnati’s law department to James Garfield teaching penmanship at a small Vermont preparatory academy … where Chester Arthur once served as principal.

Considering your own career in academia? Be sure to check out MOAA’s archived webinar on getting started in higher education.  

Legal Profession. You probably aren’t surprised, but attorney/lawyer was the second-largest occupational specialty, covering more than half of all presidents. It’s second only to military service, but there’s plenty of overlap – Andrew Jackson gained acclaim as a young Tennessee lawyer before becoming an Army major general, for instance.

Some transitioning servicemembers may encounter challenges with finding their employment niche and advancing in an unfamiliar civilian legal system. Take a look at these five tips for attorneys leaving service or seeking career advancement:

[RELATED WEBINAR: Career Transition and Advancement for Attorneys]

Agriculture. Given the agrarian economy at the time of the Founding Fathers, numerous early presidents have agricultural experience. Peanut farmer Jimmy Carter and rancher Theodore Roosevelt are probably two of the most famous modern presidents from this occupation.

Just as academia is more than just teaching, the agriculture sector has a broader array of career opportunities than some might realize. MOAA Premium and Life members can view this MOAA webinar for more.  

Federal Sector. You may think pretty much all presidents had some federal experience. While that’s true on the political front (15 vice presidents, 17 senators, and 18 House members – 19 if you count John Quincy Adams, who served in the House after serving as president), it’s less common in other federal positions.

Eight presidents served in cabinet posts, for instance, and several others had foreign service experience – most recently George H.W. Bush, who served as ambassador to the United Nations and as chief of the liaison office in Beijing before a stint as CIA director.

Veterans (like Bush) make up about 31% of the federal workforce, according to the Office of Personnel Management. Thinking of joining their ranks? Here’s why a federal job could be a good fit for you, and don’t forget about MOAA.org/fedjobs – your one-stop source for federal employment resources, links, and more.  

[RELATED: More Transition and Career Resources From MOAA]

Local and State. Maybe the federal sector isn’t the right fit for you. Yet, like your military service, you are seeking a purpose and a calling greater than yourself. Throughout the public sector, particularly at the community level, you can play a vital role and make a real difference in people’s lives. 

Grover Cleveland served as the mayor of Buffalo, Harry Truman was a county commissioner in Jackson County, Mo., and Joe Biden served on the New Castle (Del.) County council.

Not interested in the campaign trail? Based on your experience, education, and unique skill sets, you are competitive across a wide spectrum of local employment such as city manager, engineer, first responder, and more.

Did you miss the MOAA webinar featuring the International City/County Management Association exploring local career opportunities?  Great news: For a limited time, everyone can access a FREE recording of this webinar to view at your convenience. MOAA Premium and Life Members can access all previous MOAA webinars through our Webinar Schedule and Archive page (MOAA.org login required).