These startups are hiring thousands of military veterans — as long as they have a car

There are plenty of companies willing to hire veterans, and for those wanting to break into the startup world, it could be as easy as having your own car.

Veterans and service members have a new opportunity to earn money with a flexible, autonomous schedule. DoorDash, a fast-growing tech startup out of Silicon Valley, is looking for new people — called Dashers — to join its ranks. The company also isn't alone: Veterans around the country can find on-demand job opportunities at other companies such as Uber and Lyft. Uber, for example, is looking for 5,000 drivers in Houston alone.

"As a former Force Recon Marine and veteran of the Iraq war, I understand the difficulty of transitioning out of the military," said Chris Clark, DoorDash's Operations Manager in Orange County. "It can be a challenge both financially and psychologically. That's why I am fighting as hard as I can to get vets positions in our Dasher fleet."

Todd Bowers, who runs Uber's military outreach program, described driving for the company in a recent interview as "a unique opportunity for military families who really appreciate flexibility, mobility, and safety."

DoorDash, Uber, and Lyft offer the kind of flexible work that defines the modern, on-demand economy. There is no resume required, or interview process to prep for prior to making money. All you need to do is be licensed to drive a car and — for DoorDash — be able to carry some food from Point A to Point B. It's a pretty good gig for someone looking to make cash on the side, or even full-time.

"Former military members make the best Dashers - they are reliable, disciplined, timely and professional. I would love to fill my entire fleet with veteran Dashers. They know the meaning of hard work, don't complain, and get the mission done," Clark said.

Active duty, reserve, and veterans can all apply for this opportunity, which pays up to $25 per hour. If you're interested in applying, fill out this Dasher application, which takes roughly two minutes. To help fast-track people applying with military experience, put Veteran in the "Referred By" field.

For vets who are interested in going all the way and relocating to Silicon Valley, check out a recent recap of tech companies who are hiring and read through a great explanation of the hiring process at most tech companies.

William Treseder served in the Marines between 2001 and 2011. He now writes regularly on military topics, and has been featured in TIME, Foreign Policy, and Boston Review. You can follow him on Twitter @williamtreseder.

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