In your opinion, who has a better chance of landing a better job after transitioning from the Military, Officers, Warrant Officers or NCO’s?

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 20:41:01 -0400

Does it matter what your rank was when you retired or transitioned from the Military? Does being a senior Officer carry more weight over a senior Warrant Officer or senior NCO? What are businesses looking for, do they care what your rank was when you retired or transitioned from the Military?

Response by MSgt Jim Wolverton made Aug 12 at 2015 9:10 PM

MSgt Jim Wolverton — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 21:10:23 -0400

I'd say officers, primarily because of the leadership that they had/may have had.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 12 at 2015 9:30 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 21:30:58 -0400

Experience outweighs rank in my mind.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 10:10 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 22:10:36 -0400

It depends on the person. We have some highly skilled and educated folks in all ranks out there! It also depends on experience they have and what job the person is looking for. Businesses are looking for intelligent, motivated team players/leaders. Almost EVERYONE who has served has had at least a touch of these, which is why veterans are highly sought after.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 10:12 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 22:12:02 -0400

I would say a MAJ General would be a shoe in for a CEO position, just due to the simple fact of the role. I.E. lead an entire division or military installation. I mean if you went to apply to a CEO or 100k/yr mangerial position for even a large store. I would say you have what 1500 employees? I think I could handle that my last line of work I was in charge of 15,000 in combat!

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 12 at 2015 11:37 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 23:37:40 -0400

I've seen a number of Flag officers slide right into senior corporate positions as the company wants "a name" on the executive suite. Some went overseas to avoid scrutiny on behaviors during their tenure. Hackworth was going to bring one down over a series of articles but met an untimely death. As it turns out, the O-5/6 range doesn't work out well if they're tossed into the business development (marketing) side. They're restricted on "selling" to former DoD organizations and if they don't bring cash in within 18 months, they're gone. O-4s with project management experience seem to fare better. On the enlisted side, our Seabees with technical skills tend to slip into construction trades. Chiefs and above frequently serve as site supervisors of construction crews. Highly technical on specialized systems tend to find work for Boeing, Raytheon, etc. that make those systems. An a number go WG/GS and back working for the same military they left. If you do your TSP right, maybe buy federal retirement credit if not already retired, and finish off the Mil retirement in Reserves, that's an option too. BTW, that's what I did.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 1:04 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 01:04:47 -0400

Depends on what experience and education you bring/have regardless of rank!!

Response by SFC Nikhil Kumra made Aug 13 at 2015 6:33 AM

SFC Nikhil Kumra — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 06:33:43 -0400

I would have to say depending on what I define as "better", I would say commissioned officer. You just have a lot more higher level experience to talk about during an interview, which tends to get you those higher level roles getting out. I see it all the time - as an E7, my military experience in some cases was just supervisory for the most part. Sure, some planning and decision making, but obviously enlisted roles are different...

Response by MSgt Brian Welch made Aug 13 at 2015 6:46 AM

MSgt Brian Welch — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 06:46:48 -0400

For the most part I don't think they care. But there are specific jobs that favor the strengths of one over the other. Realistically, me and the general aren't competing for the same job in the civilian world. In my opinion, direct supervision jobs with a more hands on requirement and strong technical background favors an enlisted member as that is our background. I position requiring "big picture" skills suits that retired staff officer.
After I retired I got hired by an engineering firm. My former Chief of Engineering (a LtCol equivalent) hired me. I was his superintendent while in the military. In the new position I was lead inspector for an airfield construction project and he was the resident engineer; it mirrored our experience in the USAF.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 13 at 2015 7:54 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 07:54:35 -0400

I have personally noticed that Flag rank officers tend to step into very high paying consultant type roles or CEO positions.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 13 at 2015 8:32 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 08:32:45 -0400

Rank doesn't play that much of a role when it comes to civilian employment. For more employers, they have no idea what a Chief Warrant Officer is or what a Command Sergeant Major is. They know that they are high level ranks but there is no crystal clear line between military rank and civilian employer. The employer cares about the results!

I often tell transitioning service members that employers don't care WHAT you got, they care about HOW you got it. We can list the entire alphabet of awards, our rank and name of deployments but if we can't produce at the employer's level of expectation none of that matters. I think one thing service members can do to hurt their potential employment is to think that their military skills alone will carry their resume forward. Yes, it has weight and needs to be included. It's a force multiplier but to rely on it alone is not good enough. Instead of listing why you got the BSM, look at the 638 and pull the bullets out and figure out how to work them into your resume. That will carry more weight into the interview.

Response by Sgt Dave Knight made Aug 13 at 2015 8:40 AM

Sgt Dave Knight — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 08:40:25 -0400

It all depends on time after service. An enlisted service member can become more successful over time than a flag officer after retirement. However, immediately after transition flag officers are gaining employment with international consulting firms, becoming senior executives at big-name government contractors in the defense and aerospace fields, and reaching some of the top cabinet positions. A junior enlisted guy can become just as successful, but it takes a LOT more time. It is relative. The flag-o's paid their dues and the junior-e has to do the same.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 8:49 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 08:49:36 -0400

We've all seen flag officers slide into high profile, high paying jobs in either the private or public sectors. I would say that they definitely have an edge due to their time and experience at the upper echelons of the government. Warrants definitely have an edge in many fields. Technical fields will likely get well paying jobs at GD, Harris, Raytheon, Mandiant, etc. Enlisted are generally workers and supervisors (notice I said generally) and will likely fall into a similar work role when they get out which leaves at the lower end of the pay scale. Obviously job experience, education, and many other factors come into play.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Aug 13 at 2015 10:04 AM

Maj Chris Nelson — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 10:04:51 -0400

My personal opinion is that it is less about rank (except for the military member, who places all faith on what they think the rank "deserves").... it is more about what job you are trying to be hired for and how well you are able to articulate your skills and experience from military life into terms and concepts that the average civilian with no military experience can understand easily. Also important is what job you are going for.... Doctor or Nurse will have different experience then say Infantry, Artillery, Military Police, or Logistics.....

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 11:51 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:51:45 -0400

I think we all have the same job. Rank just puts you over someone or a group. At the end of the day we all work for a living. Nco or senior commanders. We all someone under us and above us. Rank won't mean anything outside of the military for a job. However your work ethic will

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Aug 14 at 2015 12:56 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 12:56:54 -0400

I am a Specialist Four, US Army (Retired). I found a job fairly quickly- after I left the Army. My father had advised me to try to get work, at a Savings and Loan Co; as it was easy to get hired by one of the them. I fairly quickly found a Savings and Loan Co. job; after being discharged from the Army.
However, I was very sick- both emotionally and mentally....so I got fired from that job. Maybe all of the alcohol that I was consuming at night, was also a factor in getting me fired.

Response by SSG Red Hoffman made Aug 14 at 2015 1:14 PM

SSG Red Hoffman — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 13:14:24 -0400

Can't answer this by rank....it will depend on experience, MOS, and personality/attitude. I have seen some pretty interesting retired SSGs and I have also seen some pretty inept O-6s. The interview will determine if people are suited for the job for which they applied....not the rank they held in service.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2015 1:19 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 13:19:01 -0400

I feel that it varies. Officers have a degree already, so that will put them ahead assuming the SNCO failed to get one while they were in. However, if that SNCO did get one, or even went to a higher level degree than the officer did, then they could easily get the better job. Most companies do not care as much about the experience, and even fewer care about the rank you served at. That degree is all that matters.

Response by SSG Red Hoffman made Aug 14 at 2015 1:24 PM

SSG Red Hoffman — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 13:24:25 -0400

OK, I have read a lot of responses to this question and I tell you I could come up with a list of ten candidates based on the responses I have read....not based on rank/branch at all. Sure it would depend on the job description and interview as well, but you can tell a lot about a person with just the way they respond to one question.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 14 at 2015 1:30 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 13:30:49 -0400

From what I've seen, it comes down to your MOS, degree, and certifications. In IT, I've even found that age can be a factor. As far as rank, I would guess it depends. Are you trying to be technical or management? I've met CSM's selling cars after they retired, seen officers working at levels below what they were while active, and junior enlisted making well over $100k after ETS'ing after their first enlistment.

Response by SSG Ray Strenkowski made Aug 14 at 2015 1:52 PM

SSG Ray Strenkowski — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 13:52:44 -0400

All good answers - but the best guarantee of a job after transition is probably a high level security clearance. If you have that, many of the other things are secondary.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2015 2:33 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 14:33:07 -0400

Obviously a Major General or the MCPON has made connections over a lengthy career that grant added advantages over say the average Major or Petty Officer. I will say that having been in the private sector for a few years now, there are some specific skill sets that are more marketable than others. "For profit" enterprises (i.e. companies not merely churning policy or feeding off federal/state governments) really can't make investments without high return of investment. Military ranks have ZERO translation into corporate structures...but I suspect an E-8 with an MBA would stand head and shoulders over an O-5 with a BS. "Management" isn't a "hard" skill set...and actually can work against you if the hiring entity feels they're bringing someone one board who has their "own ideas" concerning very expensive and litigious policy modules. I would say that any company grade officer with a technical degree should look for employment in equipment purchasing or sales. NCOs with specific industry translatable certifications may be able to 'fast track' into very high paying facilities management owing to their expertise, but again...the civilian side has it's "hoops" one has to jump through just like the military. Here's an example: My first job after leaving service as an officer was as a lineman at a small airport for about $9/hour...guess who scrubbed the john as well. My "big chance" with the company I worked for now involved fetching a lot of beers for account sales managers at trade shows and setting up booths, toting displays before I finally got to meet one-on-one with a customer three years later. By comparison, one of my petty officers went to work for the government as an area supervisor for the EPA.

Response by SGT James Elliott made Aug 14 at 2015 7:13 PM

SGT James Elliott — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 19:13:58 -0400

officers

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Apr 1 at 2016 3:37 PM

SSG Ed Mikus — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 15:37:32 -0400

depends on what they want to do and how a "better" job is defined. But with no other information i would vote for the O-6

Response by SFC Familia Gonzalez made Apr 1 at 2016 4:06 PM

SFC Familia Gonzalez — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 16:06:53 -0400

Flag Officers have the Professional gravitas over everyone else and typically land well compensated jobs before they even take off the uniform...

Response by SGT Tim Pugel made Jun 7 at 2016 2:21 PM

SGT Tim Pugel — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 14:21:40 -0400

Veterans are not as highly sought out after as the job world claims they are. There are many factors to consider. Im a retired E5 and I have been struggling to make ends meet. I think rank does matter, however with the higher your rank is, keep in mind you will be facing a lot more of the "You are overqualified" type of thinking. If you are fortunate to become a Senior officer, stay in, get your retirement, and ignore the civilian job force altogether. The civilian job market is especially cruel towards military veterans, no matter what anyone says. Take it from someone who has and is there.

Response by CPO Bill Penrod made Aug 11 at 2018 8:37 AM

CPO Bill Penrod — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 08:37:28 -0400

I seen many both officers and senior enlisted punching their retirement card at the expense of their troops.

Response by Maj John Bell made Aug 11 at 2018 3:24 PM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 15:24:32 -0400

_1st Flag Officers
_2nd NCO's and Warrant Officers that have MOS knowledge/certification that translates DIRECTLY to the civilian job desired.
_3rd Enlisted members that have MOS knowledge/certification that translates DIRECTLY to the civilian job desired.
_4th Company and Field Grade Officers Enlisted members that have MOS knowledge/certification that translates DIRECTLY to the civilian job desired.
_5th Company and Field Grade officers from non-combat MOS's
_6th Junior enlisted members from combat arms MOS's
_7th Field Grade Officers from Combat Arms MOS's
_8th Company Grade Officers from Combat Arms MOS's