Tips for veterans: How to use key Google tools

Whether you're deployed on active duty, transitioning military personnel, a veteran or a current member of the U.S. military, there are a number of Google products to address your needs. In addition, the Grow with Google program offers a set of digital tools designed specifically for veterans transitioning from service into civilian life.

We know; we're Veterans who are Google employees, and members of the Google Veterans Network, a Google employee volunteer community that strives to make Google a great place to work for those who have served in the U.S. Military, along with their families and their friends.

Over the years, we wanted to give back to the community and support other veterans and their families. Below, we share links to key Google tools we've found helpful to record military stories, explore life after service, and connect with other veterans and family members.

Record your military story

1. Write your story and keep your documents safe. With a Google Account, you can use free services such as Google Docs to write your story; you can also upload other documents to Google Drive to store them. Google Drive is like a secure, virtual file cabinet you can access from any computer, anywhere in the world. And when you upload files to Google Drive, they will be private, unless you choose to share them with someone else.

2. Organize and share your service photos. Google Photos allows you to upload photographs and videos to share your military memories with friends and family, from anywhere. Or ask your loved ones to upload memories that were created while you were away.

3. Make a map of where you have served. Maps are visual tools that help you tell a story. Google My Maps lets you create and share personalized, annotated maps of your world. Show your family where you served during your career.

Explore life after service

1. Build your resume. Use Google Drive to build a professional-looking resume that summarizes your experience, education and skills. Google Docs offers free templates that let you create a professional-looking resume in a flash. Fill in the template with your professional information.

2. Support a nonprofit for veterans. Help your favorite veterans' nonprofit build a stronger online presence. A few products and services from Google for Nonprofits can help them maximize impact and awareness.

3. Track your investments. If you've invested in stocks or mutual funds, Google Finance can give you up-to-the-minute info on everything in your portfolio for free. It's also a great tool for researching longer-term market trends.

4. Follow current events. Keep up with the latest developments around the world and in the places you served, with Google News and Google Alerts.

Connect with other veterans and family members

1. Get in touch via video. Use Google Hangouts Meet to live videochat and get in touch with other vets and family and friends–up to 25 simultaneously. Never miss the emotion or expression on a face, even when you're deployed or traveling far from home.

2. Use YouTube to share and find videos. YouTube offers not only a platform for watching videos, but also a platform to share your own video greetings to family and friends.

3. Start a blog. Google Blogger is a platform for writing and publishing your military story and keep your audience updated with new posts.

4. Draw with your kids. Even when you're far away from home, try Google Drawings to doodle with your children, or send each other drawings and notes.

Inspired to work at Google? Apply for a job at Google to create, code, design and build for everyone.