Employment for "OVERQUALIFIED VETS"

PO1 Mark Filter Welcome to the civilian life. Since your going to take the CompTIA A+ certification course, one thing I do have to say is study and don't worry about a job during that time. That course is easy to grasp if your into computers, but the amount of information involved is extremely great. In that course you will not only know about computers but you will also know about the OS, not one but all to include servers and networking. Study and memorize as much as you can.
Hold off on the job search and worrying about work because you will not need that.
Why study? Because the only thing you will not know is what's on the actual exam.
No one will know, not even the school. Know the files in every OS (Tip).

When you pass, most likely you will go into a job placement, were you will have to gear your resume to reflect that. May be your experience in computers is zero but that ok, you will enter in Entry level if that's the case. Perhaps when you start to work you will be a contractor doing something in IT, such as Windows 7 Migrations. These people hire many new people because they have experts like me to teach them how to set up the bios in a computer or laptop for a build, How to provision Windows 7 for that PC and how to start the build. Then its deployment, talking to the users, getting them ready for a replacement backing up there computers files and restoring it in the new PC.

I have allot of years experience working IT I am an A+ Certified Tech and have been working in that field since I got my certification.
I was unemployed on May 1 2014, because the 5 year contract ended.
I had an interview Monday, 10/6/2014, for a position in doing Windows 7 Migration and since I had experience working in a bank here in NYC as IT, I already knew the job.
During the interview I was dressed with a blue pinstripe suite, blue collar shirt and tie with black shoes and socks. I looked like a Wall Street Attorney at law. But during the interview I was asked questions about my resume, but rather then just answering questions I turned it into a conversation, meaning I ask how do they provision there software, when I get answered, I would then tell them how we did it in the bank, we rolled into how we dealt with people, how the back up are done and I managed to teach them something new about deployments they never know.
I was recommended by a senior technician who works there, whom by the way also worked with me and I taught him how to do the job. So thing was that when I was asked "Do you have any more questions?", I said yes "When do I start?" lol
I came home and about 2 hours later I was offered the position and I accepted it. My start date is 10/20/14.

But when I actually start, there are allot of things I will need to know, that I haven't seen before of which I'm highly interested in, I told them what it was, but along with that I will treat each client with equal respect and equal service.
It is a temp position until I can find something permanent, but that will go into my resume.

PO1 Mark Filter Since you broached the topic of Federal Law Enforcement, shoot me a message and we can talk. Don't have all the answers, but have "been there, done that". Vets do get hired regularly. Here is the rub. We take 40,000+ applications for say 100 jobs-you have to be special, and right place-right time.

PO1 Mark Filter, My question to you is "What do you really want to do?"

In reviewing your comment, it seems that you do not have a specific goal in mind. If you are interested in LE or Executive Protection Services, then make that your goal. If you are interested in the Oil and Gas Industry, make that your goal. To be honest with you, I do not see how a computer certification can help with either one of these goals, especially law enforcement.

If your resume is as scattered as your statement here, that is part of the problem. Being "Jack of all trades, Master of none" as your statement implies, does not present a good and stable applicant to the hiring manager, etc..

PO1 Mark Filter, if you want into the security profession, join professional organizations, such as ASIS International. Since you have indicated you are willing to pay your way for education, take the Certified Protection Professional course and get certified. From there you can branch out into IT security, Personal Security, and Physical Security certifications.

In today's market, third party certifications carry significant weight in most industries.

Hello Mark,

I am Arthur Rin, recruiter for Military4Hire. Visit our website: military4hire.com see if any of the opportunities interest you, let me know what you think. I look forward in hearing from you soon.

Arthur Rin
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I'll never understand that. When I first got out I went to ALOT of interviews and every one seemed to tell me I was "overqualified" If we were over qualified we wouldn't be interviewing for the position. Just keep on trying someone will see the true worth and hire you. My first job I scored out of the service was at fast food and the only reason I got it was because the manager s dad was a Vietnam vet and he was "tired of seeing vets on the streets" All be it I was only there about 4 months before moving on he gave me the confidence I needed to keep going to interviews and bettering myself.

Have you tried "Head Hunters"? I got my current job from Orion International. The companies pay for the opportunity to talk to you and possibly hire you. All you have to do is show up in your Sunday's best!! Check them out, what do you have to lose?

Orion International, Bradly Morris, Absolutely American, Honor Bridge, Lucas Group just to name a few.

Although I hate to hear this, It's nice to know I'm not the only one. I graduated in 2009 with my Masters of Business Admin and had two other degrees before that. I spent four years active duty and then eight years in college just to be told I'm overqualified for everything. I have worked volunteer positions and minimum wage jobs just to help build an already overbuilt resume.

I can't buy an interview to begin with. When I do get an interview, or sometimes as many as six with the same company, I never seem to make the cut. I agree with Major Petrarca who said, "Personally I think 3/4 of the advertised jobs out there on the web sites and newspapers don't even exist." Sometimes there are as many as 120 people going for the same job, when the job does exist.

I think we have a really bad job market and many of the people who have been employed for decades have a horrible attitude toward those of us who have been struggling. Some people would rather toss around insults than say anything helpful. All I can say is keep pushing and keep active. That's what I'm doing. Switch up your tactics from time to time and your strategy too. Be willing to consider anything. Right now I'm stocking shelves at Food Lion, nights, and stay at home Dad, days, while I continue to look for a career. Thank goodness my wife landed a good job straight out of college or we'd be hurting.