Posted on Jan 14, 2023
1LT Chaplain Candidate
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At the end of June of 2022 I moved from Hawaii back to Southern California so I could get my Master of Divinity in Pastoral Care and Counseling at Biola. I am currently a Chaplain Candidate and Social Media Manager with 426th CA BN (A). I have tried Indeed and sending out every application I can. I’ve been to a few job interviews but was told their looking for someone with more experience even though they really liked me. I switch to 90% online so I can work full time and I even then I can’t get anything comittal.
It’s not like I’m looking for a quick job. Im trying to find something I can sink my teeth into and work at for at least 5 years while im going through my Masters Program. However, I just can’t seem to catch a break.

If anyone has any advice, recommendations, etc. I would be more than grateful.
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No real advice. Best of luck. It's stressful and a real/brutal test. I had an accounting degree and a family history [mother's] in accounting. It worked out in the end with a CPA certificate, a Chinese wife in a Fukien Chinese speaking home, two daughters, a mother in law, and a Rolex dowry. In "theory" I can give the Rolex, the wife, and the kids back to the mother in law; but does anyone think i would be alive to enjoy live afterwards?
SFC Casey O'Mally
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Treat it like a mission. You need to do recon, establish a desired end state, set right and left limits, react to the enemy, etc.

Research the Company. Identify what their needs are and how you, specifically, meet those needs. Even if your ability isn't "paperable" (you don't have SPECIFIC work experience or education), if you can articulate soft skills or life experience that fills the need, you need to be ready to discuss in an interview.

The "no experience" is ALWAYS a hurdle. If you HAD the experience, you would be looking for the next step. Almost EVERYONE looking for a job is looking for something new. Either a different aspect, or the next rung up the latter, or something. So you need to be able to explain how you overcome that lack of experience....

"I do not have direct experience as a carpenter, but I spent three summers working for Habitat for Humanity where I learned the importance of following blueprints, how to properly shingle a roof, and how to use the majority of the tools of the trade. Additionally, I spent 20 years in the military where I learned the importance of hard work, of making sure my part of the larger whole is completed to standard - and fits the larger whole, and of coordinating with everyone on the team to make sure the bigger picture comes to fruition, which I am sure are will help carry me through the initial learning curve that all employees will face."

"I do not have direct experience in human resources, but I have spent 8 years running a Company Ordlerly Room, dealing with tracking and managing personnel, tracking and ensuring compliance with training requirements, and creating and maintaining various rosters of personnel needs, strengths, and skills. Additionally, I am a certified Resilience Trainer, have extensive training in Equal Opportunity, Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention, Legal Conpliance, and Ethics, all of which will provide me a necessary background to embark on this exciting path."

(Both of those are entirely true ways I could pitch myself for a position for which I have no actual experience).

Establish what your wants and needs in a job are (including don't wants and must nots) - and clearly separate the two. Don't pass on a job that meets all of your needs just because it is missing some (or all!) of your wants. Those wants may be negotiable at the interview. Or, if not then, maybe 1 or 2 years in, once you have established your value.

Know that no matter how much research you have done, no matter how many times you have rehearsed, chances are good, there will be at least one moment that will shut you down, if you let it. It may be an odd question, it may be a "we want experience," it may be an interview that gets re-scheduled 5 times, it may be something else entirely. You have been trained to adapt, improvise, and overcome - so DO IT.

Recon (research), left and right limits (wants and needs) mission statement / desired end state (go in with a specific job position, salary, etc.), react to the enemy (adapt, improvise, overcome). Good mission planning and professional execution leads to a high rate of mission success.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
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I won’t do a deep dive as I am sure your chosen path em is one I am unfamiliar with save to say that I am confused why you would get out. I have had several acquaintances and friends over the years become military chaplains and the absolutely love the practice and serving their fellow service members. I still watch a few who share on FB and LinkedIn. A more diverse group whose needs are as broad can’t be found elsewhere. Serve those who serve with you.

Anyway, I know that the Chaplaincy played a big role in my life and that of my Soldiers.
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PO1 Terry Scott
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You make your own breaks. Like the guy who said he intimidated his hiring manager. Navy corpsman Biomedical didn’t know shit about xray gave them a line of shit and with an AAS retired from a company that only hired BAs. End end up teaching a medical imaging discipline. You need to leverage what the military taught you. Get it done! You should jump in over your head and hopefully come up for air but not to yell help. You can do it unless you really can’t , your call.
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LCpl Tommy Camden
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Usajobs is a great resource. You can also always drop a resume off with the manager of your local Social Security Office. They are always looking for people. Finally, good luck with everything. I wanted to go to Biola, but they did not offer the program I wanted online. That school has great professors that have done a lot for the gospel.
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CPT Christopher Beck
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If interested in a move, move to Texas, transfer to the TXSG as a Chaplain in the Chaplain Corp and go SAD (State Active Duty) as a Chaplain.
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1LT Brandon Brackett
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Learn to day trade
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SGT Mark Tobert
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Have you considered working as a disaster reservist with FEMA? Great experience, pay and meeting people all across the nation.
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Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis
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Are you Active Duty? Or are your Reserve or National Guard. This might make a difference. If you are Active Duty, then I would suggest that you stay in, complete your degree program, and continue to work with your unit's Chaplin's Office. You could be a Unit Chaplin.

If you are Guard or Reserve, then I would suggest keeping with that. Work with your unit Chaplin's Office. Honestly, working with the Chaplin's Office could give you the break, and very possibly the experience, you need.
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