Anyone having a hard time applying for good jobs in transitioning period with a technical license and a bachelor in business degree?

2018-07-06T07:47:12-04:00

My degree is Business Administration with concentration in Marketing and a license with ARRT for Radiologic Technologist because I am a corpsman with NEC-8452. The job market is extremely saturated with X-ray tech. As for my degree, I can't find the right advertising firm to get into and I have tried USJOBS.gov but nothing really came up for it. Most of these firms I apply into is not really a true advertising firm, they hire people to go into Walmart or other retail stores to sell for client such as Xfinity, etc. The advertising firm has an SEO, Analyst for marketing research, and also a graphic team for creative media. On other note, I have been approached by several IT institutions on getting some HelpDesk licensure for IT related Helpdesk, not a gig that require a bachelor in computer science. Any advices would be appreciated.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2018 8:04 AM

2018-07-06T08:04:00-04:00

PO3-I'd like to say there's a "magic" answer, but the truth is that transitioning can be a challenge; particularly when it comes to finding the next career. I'm in Sales, so I cannot speak to the Medical field, but I have had some long term exposure to Marketing. In general, these jobs can be rewarding and profitable...However, it has been my experience that true marketing firms tend to be highly entrepreneurial in nature. Many of the successful marketing types I've worked with started out in more "mundane" corporate positions (like Sales...ha ha!), eventually taking the leap into forming their own businesses in order to get ahead. Others I've known in this field built relationships over time with leading firms, eventually landing the job. The bottom line is that networking is more powerful than anything else. Even our here, there are "wickets" people have to go through, and a sense of having to "earn your spurs"...so it may very well take a year or two of hocking cell phones before getting the job working on serious ad campaigns. You could always do worse than seeking a job in inside sales, moving up to outside sales, taking some respected courses (aka Sandler), then selling yourself and your talent to larger firms. The Medical route may ultimately prove to be more secure and more lucrative...though as I'm sure you already know, that's a competitive market as well. The biggest thing is to not let the process get you down...opportunity is out there, and sometimes, I think our greatest asset as veterans isn't so much what's in our records, as the many things we learned about endurance and excellence in obtaining them.

Best wishes and good luck!

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jul 6 at 2018 8:10 AM

2018-07-06T08:10:14-04:00

Are you wanting to work in the health industry? If so, you should look into the Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development. They're a professional organization focused on that niche, and they might have some resources (job bank, networking opportunities, etc.) that may be helpful.

http://www.shsmd.org/

SHSMD is the premier organization for those responsible for strategy development and implementation in health care organizations.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Jul 6 at 2018 8:39 AM

2018-07-06T08:39:06-04:00

I have had some success with an SFL-TAP rep, mostly for writing my resume to the job specifically. USAJOBs in particular needs this kind of a setup.

Talking to temp agencies to find other opportunities has also worked for me previously. They generally have contract to hire type positions which will hopefully give you more of a flow.

As for the Help Desk, that is what I do currently and is a great gateway into other IT technical jobs if that is the route you want to go.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Jul 6 at 2018 10:46 AM

2018-07-06T10:46:17-04:00

Well, the best advice I can give is to research the companies you apply to and tailor your resume to make it appealing. I don't know too much about marketing degrees or the troubles you will face with work.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Jul 6 at 2018 12:39 PM

2018-07-06T12:39:52-04:00

Most good jobs, whether transitioning or simply changing jobs or careers, are ones found through personal referrals.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Jul 6 at 2018 5:23 PM

2018-07-06T17:23:13-04:00

Transitioning is a delicate dance with a blind date. You sound like you're locked in on healthcare field but not willing to do anything to get your foot in the door unless it exactly matches your degree and license. Spend more time stressing your experiences as a corpsman and your achievements in that field while in the military. Do some informational interviews at local healthcare facilities to get a better feel for where your background fits. You may discover areas that you never considered and build some network contacts in the process.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2018 6:46 PM

2018-07-07T18:46:26-04:00

LCDR Gillespie nailed it in my opinion. I have a BS in Marketing which I earned before enlisting in the Coast Guard. I felt the same frustration after college that you’re feeling now. What they don’t tell you in business school is that you’ll probably have to start in another path such as sales or merchandising and then maneuver through the networks to get to the advertising track, if that’s what’s desired. I’ve found is that employers hire you for your experience not for your degrees. You may have more at the salary bargaining table with advanced degrees but without experience it makes it tough for employers to hire you for anything more than entry level positions. I recommend using your personal networks first. I separated roughly 6 months ago a moved back to my college town to reconnect. Each friend offered me a position almost immediately, despite some having not hear from me in more than 25 years. Healthcare and Financial institutions are hurting for people with degrees. Financial may require licenses depending on the position but most will assist you to obtain those when hired. Don’t forget that Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) are there to assist you. This is an advantage you’ll have over you non-veteran college classmates. Disabled American Veteran’s Organization (DAV), the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) are just some examples of where you can find VSOs. I wish you well in your endeavors…..Fair winds and following seas.

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Apr 21 at 2021 12:03 PM

2021-04-21T12:03:14-04:00

I can't answer regarding marketing, but if you are also looking into xray jobs, stand alone radiology services might be a place to look as well.