Posted on Oct 20, 2016
SPC Temp Worker
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I am looking into a career with defense companies. However I am kinda new and kinda young. No deployments or any combat experience. Does anyone know about any companies that would hire someone like me doesn't have to be anything big and flashy or anything that involves fighting just something to help me get my foot into the door.
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MAJ Project Manager
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Edited 8 y ago
Well, This will depend on your particular interest and skill sets. There are many Defense Contractors that provide a multitude of services to the DoD. a few that comes to mind are Brown & Root (Halibertan), General Dynamics, Lockheed Martian, ManTech, CACI, Sikorsky Aircraft, Colt Firearms....they hire in a multitude of service areas...Mechnics, Info Tech, Security, Ship Building...Brown and Root hires in just about every field of endeavor....Cooks, Carpenters, Mechanics, electricians, plumbers...So its really based on what skills you have to offer the company....if you are single...and like the idea of providing services to DoD personnel overseas, often times these contractors pay quite well for a 6 month - 1 year tour. I have barely touched the surface here...there are plenty of opportunities out there...
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
8 y
You pretty well covered everything I was going to say, so won't be redundant. The only thing I would add is to be a top performer in whatever your military specialty may be. Defense contractors only need a small percentage of any particular specialty, so they have the luxury of being able to pick only top performers. Also, if this is truly where you want to go, work on networking and establishing contacts with contractors at your location. Many contractors rely on recommendations from within the company.
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SPC Temp Worker
SPC (Join to see)
8 y
Well I would love to do overseas work but I have a medical condition that limits my choices.
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MAJ Project Manager
MAJ (Join to see)
8 y
SPC (Join to see) - Remember that there is also Fed, State and Local Government jobs as well...What do you have skills in? and what is your preference of where to live?...Some MOS's are easy to find jobs in others are not...for example a 25B (Info Tech with a certification in Sec+) can get a job almost immediately since there is a high demand for it...same could be said for a 68A? Biomedical Tech, Radiology Tech etc...others like Infantry are a little more difficult but employers that favor leadership skills and management skills love strong leaders...even though they may not have a specific technical skill set...Education is important too depending on what you are looking to achieve...some employers value experience over education and certification over education depending on what field it is....for young people that are eager to get into the job market...I would recommend getting a certification first, then work on education...all it takes is an employer thats willing to give young people a chance...they are out there..I was one of them...it all depends on the state of the company...if they are in good shape or a significantly large company that is willing to take a risk...you will get hired...
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SPC Temp Worker
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8 y
My only skills are in food service, stocking,and security.
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Cpl Justin Goolsby
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Well I don't know anyone hiring, but the best way to get your foot in the door is to know someone personally. I got my job as a contractor because one of the SSgts put in a good word for me. I probably wouldn't have even heard about the job if he didn't tell me they were hiring. Best thing to do is branch out and make connections. Not just in your immediate work environment but in other shops too. I made myself a known name in 9 different squadrons before I got out and built myself a reputation where people wanted my experience. So when it came time to me looking for a job, I had senior enlisted and officers throwing jobs in my direction.

You might be new blood and young, but that doesn't mean you can't learn. Improve in everything. Get as many certifications or qualifications that you can. Make yourself well rounded while also being a subject matter expert. And definitely make those connections so people will be thinking of you when a job opens up.
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MSgt Michael Smith
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It is all about tailoring your resume and finding the right job that matches your skill set. Use Keywords, recruiters love to use online job boards to seek candidates. Also, be willing to relocate. One of the first questions I was asked when I spoke with a recruiter was, "Where do you live and how long is your commute to DC?"
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SPC Temp Worker
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8 y
I would love to relocate that would make me love the job more.
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SSG Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst
SSG (Join to see)
8 y
I spoke with a director for a defense contracting agency a couple nights ago. He said that out of the hundreds of résumés he's read through, only a handful were written for the job. So, definitely follow MSgt Micheal Smith's advice to tailor your résumé to the job you are applying for. SFL-TAP offers résumé writing classes, and you can attend them as often as you need to.
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