Veterans Find New Career Path in Tech at Oracle

Oracle values the unique toolset veterans bring to our diverse workforce.  To support our community, we have dedicated programs for a range of veteran experiences. From workplace transitions to career path development, we are focused on unlocking endless possibilities for our veteran talent.

Oracle Veteran Internship Program (OVIP)

The Oracle Veteran Internship Program (OVIP) is a quarter-long paid internship that provides hands-on training for careers in technology, data, logistics, HR and sales. Launched in 2018, the program aims to prepare veterans for roles at Oracle and encourage them to apply for open positions.  OVIP was expanded this year illustrating the programs’ value and need, particularly given roughly 200,000 veterans leave active military duty each year.

OVIP is made up of veterans from across the armed forces, including the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, and National Guard, as well as military spouses. Interns have the opportunity to work in a range of organizations to get a broad view into how different parts of the company operate.

May Ann Coleman, who served in the US Air Force for 20 years and is now an OVIP intern with the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) team, explained that “OVIP has provided an excellent opportunity to advance my career in the corporate world. We are assigned mentors who understand our challenges and help us navigate them while the curriculum and subject matter experts set us up for success. Most importantly, I’ve learned how an effective onboarding program can support veterans in our transition into the civilian sector.” May is not alone in finding the program useful, to date, more than 60% of participants have taken full time jobs at Oracle.

In addition to OVIP, Oracle offers transition programs for veterans that include:

• Department of Defense SkillBridge teaches veterans about corporate life with an introduction to fields including engineering, consultancy, and leadership.
• SuiteVets helps the military community find their feet in the corporate world and launch successful technology careers as part of NetSuite.
• Oracle Veteran Academy is a 12-week program, placing participants in the heart of our cutting-edge OCI team in a full-time position.
• Sales for Veterans jumpstarts sales careers by teaching strategy fundamentals and skillsets.

These programs are making a positive impact and are supported by another key ingredient for success, a strong culture of belonging rooted in our people, their experiences and a common goal to give back through Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).

The Military Affiliated Veteran Employee Network (MAVEN)

Established in 2015, Oracle’s Military Affiliated Veteran Employee Network (MAVEN) employee resource group has chapters across the US with more than 1,200 members. The ERG connects communities, provides onboarding resources, and acts a tool for networking and engagement as can be seen from their informative and popular podcast. MAVEN also empowers its members with their shared mission to advance veteran careers and support military spouses in meaningful ways across Oracle.

Here’s what MAVEN’s members have to say about the ERG’s work throughout the year:

Susan Christ, Diversity & Inclusion Veterans Program Consultant, Oracle (US Air Force)

MAVEN is a vital and essential resource for our veteran and military affiliated community. Being a part of it gives our members a sense of belonging that is very difficult to find in the workplace. As part of my work with the ERG, I’ve been able to collaborate with organizations like the Travis Manion Foundation, Wreaths Across America and FourBlock. Partnering has also been instrumental in Oracle being named as a 5-Star Employer by the VETS Indexes in 2023. I’ve also participated in volunteer opportunities that have enhanced my own sense of belonging at Oracle and had a positive impact on diversity, inclusion and belonging at the company.

May Ann Coleman, OVIP Intern (US Air Force)

For me, being part of MAVEN is like being back at the base. I love the camaraderie, and interacting with other veterans, military spouses, and allies is comforting. Everyone I have spoken to at MAVEN has been supportive and understanding of our challenges when transitioning. It is inspiring to hear my colleagues’ stories about how they have successfully transitioned to different careers and how our military experience can be applied at Oracle.

Bryan Guckian, Associate Consultant, Oracle (US Navy)

As the lead of the Nashville chapter of MAVEN, I’ve seen firsthand how our ERG plays an important role supporting military veterans, spouses and allies. We take great pride in knowing and seeing the impact of our efforts on fellow veterans, both within and outside of Oracle. MAVEN has also helped me advance my career, introduced me to excellent local organizations helping veterans in the community and opened a world within Oracle of people with similar experiences I can lean on and collaborate with.

Gary Duff, Global Customer Support Security Risk and Compliance Lead, Oracle (US Army)

The MAVEN community at Oracle creates excellent opportunities to connect with other veterans who share similar experiences, which serves as a reminder of what it meant, and still means, to “serve.” The friendship, sharing, and volunteering for initiatives that help others are particularly satisfying and truly make an impactful statement.

Forbes America’s Best Employers for Veterans 2023

This month, Oracle was included in Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Veterans 2023, which recognizes the top companies for veteran career development, recruitment, and leadership opportunities.

Oracle’s selection for this important recognition reinforces the company’s commitment to veterans, and to creating an environment where their unique experience, talent and skills are valued. Transitioning to civilian life is a challenge few can understand, but with a supportive, diverse and inclusive workplace that honors service, veterans can find new career paths and communities in tech.