SSgt David C. Brooks, PMP 1272921 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>From as early as 2008 when the markets crashed, employment has been a painful topic of discussion for many Americans. This is exponentially more difficult for veterans, especially, though not singularly, those returning from service for any reason, with the additional struggle of being thrown into the workforce with everyone else.<br /><br />As an aerospace professional who has been laid off in three separate instances during the economic downturn, I have come to realize that the problem is not what has been done for the unemployed, but what has not been provided.<br /><br />The last layoff was the worst, when I lost a great contract job working for Space &amp; Missile Command at LA AFB, El Segundo, CA after three and a half years of what I consider satisfactory performance. The struggle to secure professional career-level employment from my layoff until now (for the past fifty two months) has been eye-opening and sobering. It has given this author a permanent empathy and compassion for the new class of semi-forgotten citizens – the unemployed.<br /><br />As a senior manager and engineer with over 20 years experience in the aerospace support field, and as student of graduate-level education in computer science and management information systems, I have always had the confidence that, if I were ever laid off, I would get right back up in the saddle because of my great education, experience, and laudable skill sets for business and technology.<br /><br />Imagine my surprise in getting exactly two interviews in three years of job hunting. This was all despite having been through the preferred candidate program at Jefferson County workforce center, and having attained the much-heralded Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from Project Management Institute.<br /><br />In desperation, I took a job at minimum wage for phone support. This amounted to an 84% pay cut from my previous position.<br /><br />Over time, the depression set in as my wife took a job in Aurora, a 50 minute commute one-way from our home in Conifer, CO. I was no longer the primary breadwinner, and my wife was burdened in her senior years with work in order to keep our home. We have taken on tenants to survive.<br /><br />I am in my second round of unemployment benefits and those benefits just ran out. We are facing bankruptcy and other debt management. I have been laid off from my minimum wage job, which couldn’t even sufficiently pay the bills anyway – it was just a temporary stop-gap.<br /><br />I work at a strong spiritual program and spend my time helping others. This helps me retain my sanity, which is very much at risk because of my situation, my limited options, the blow to my self-esteem, and everything else that I have detailed.<br /><br />I now belong to a great class of people with the following characteristics:<br />- Older, seniors of America<br />- Highly educated<br />- Highly experienced<br />- Highly skilled and capable of contributing hugely to the workforce and its products and services despite, and possibly because of, my age<br />- Unemployed or under-employed<br />- Depressed, afraid, angry, and at risk, even though we have exhausted all the avenues of support available to us<br /><br />The VA has not been helpful in providing me with opportunities for new careers or in gaining new interviews.<br /><br />I believe that there is one possible solution. <br /><br />It is difficult to say whether the resources available to all unemployed persons are sufficient to get them the opportunities they need. In my case, I believe I need an advocate or sponsor to assist me in contacting the hiring managers of these positions for which I am definitely qualified. At the interview stage, I will either survive or fall on my own merit.<br /><br />Many agencies at different levels in our country claim they are for veterans. If this is truly so, why have they not undertaken the initiative to help counsel advocate for our unemployed veterans?<br /><br />This would be the mark of true support.<br /><br />Furthermore, unemployed professionals need to bond together for common cause. I have yet to a find a group on LinkedIn or on Meet-up that truly reflects these dire needs in the community, though I&#39;ll keep looking.<br /><br />Either way, the struggle has made me stronger and still more resolute in my determination to achieve employment and to assist others in striving to achieve their goals in this area. 2016-02-01T11:59:34-05:00 SSgt David C. Brooks, PMP 1272921

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>From as early as 2008 when the markets crashed, employment has been a painful topic of discussion for many Americans. This is exponentially more difficult for veterans, especially, though not singularly, those returning from service for any reason, with the additional struggle of being thrown into the workforce with everyone else.<br /><br />As an aerospace professional who has been laid off in three separate instances during the economic downturn, I have come to realize that the problem is not what has been done for the unemployed, but what has not been provided.<br /><br />The last layoff was the worst, when I lost a great contract job working for Space &amp; Missile Command at LA AFB, El Segundo, CA after three and a half years of what I consider satisfactory performance. The struggle to secure professional career-level employment from my layoff until now (for the past fifty two months) has been eye-opening and sobering. It has given this author a permanent empathy and compassion for the new class of semi-forgotten citizens – the unemployed.<br /><br />As a senior manager and engineer with over 20 years experience in the aerospace support field, and as student of graduate-level education in computer science and management information systems, I have always had the confidence that, if I were ever laid off, I would get right back up in the saddle because of my great education, experience, and laudable skill sets for business and technology.<br /><br />Imagine my surprise in getting exactly two interviews in three years of job hunting. This was all despite having been through the preferred candidate program at Jefferson County workforce center, and having attained the much-heralded Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from Project Management Institute.<br /><br />In desperation, I took a job at minimum wage for phone support. This amounted to an 84% pay cut from my previous position.<br /><br />Over time, the depression set in as my wife took a job in Aurora, a 50 minute commute one-way from our home in Conifer, CO. I was no longer the primary breadwinner, and my wife was burdened in her senior years with work in order to keep our home. We have taken on tenants to survive.<br /><br />I am in my second round of unemployment benefits and those benefits just ran out. We are facing bankruptcy and other debt management. I have been laid off from my minimum wage job, which couldn’t even sufficiently pay the bills anyway – it was just a temporary stop-gap.<br /><br />I work at a strong spiritual program and spend my time helping others. This helps me retain my sanity, which is very much at risk because of my situation, my limited options, the blow to my self-esteem, and everything else that I have detailed.<br /><br />I now belong to a great class of people with the following characteristics:<br />- Older, seniors of America<br />- Highly educated<br />- Highly experienced<br />- Highly skilled and capable of contributing hugely to the workforce and its products and services despite, and possibly because of, my age<br />- Unemployed or under-employed<br />- Depressed, afraid, angry, and at risk, even though we have exhausted all the avenues of support available to us<br /><br />The VA has not been helpful in providing me with opportunities for new careers or in gaining new interviews.<br /><br />I believe that there is one possible solution. <br /><br />It is difficult to say whether the resources available to all unemployed persons are sufficient to get them the opportunities they need. In my case, I believe I need an advocate or sponsor to assist me in contacting the hiring managers of these positions for which I am definitely qualified. At the interview stage, I will either survive or fall on my own merit.<br /><br />Many agencies at different levels in our country claim they are for veterans. If this is truly so, why have they not undertaken the initiative to help counsel advocate for our unemployed veterans?<br /><br />This would be the mark of true support.<br /><br />Furthermore, unemployed professionals need to bond together for common cause. I have yet to a find a group on LinkedIn or on Meet-up that truly reflects these dire needs in the community, though I&#39;ll keep looking.<br /><br />Either way, the struggle has made me stronger and still more resolute in my determination to achieve employment and to assist others in striving to achieve their goals in this area.

2016-02-01T11:59:34-05:00 2016-02-01T11:59:34-05:00 MSgt Private RallyPoint Member 1272946

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would say unemployed people need real support not just veterans. We live in a socialist country that does not want to admit that we make it easier to be unemployed than to find work. Instead of workfare programs that would allow for the building of work experience and &quot;personal confidence and pride&quot; we just had money out to anyone who either can&#39;t find a job, can&#39;t find a job &quot;they want&quot;, or hell just don&#39;t want to work. There are jobs out there all the time it&#39;s just that folks (both civilian and veterans) for some reason think that they are always entitled to keep &quot;moving up&quot; in the employment world....this is not true....especially for veterans....i&#39;m seriously who in their right mind is going to pay a retired MSgt without a degree (and yes most of us don&#39;t have degrees) the $80K+ (full benefits BAH, BAS, etc) roughly they were making in the service just to manage a &quot;shop&quot; (garage, clinic, supply depot) we had to realize that as much as it hurts to admit as active duty we are far from underpaid (again total package) for our skill sets when compared to &quot;fully&quot; qualified civilian counter parts who have degrees for doing the same job we do with OJT and military training. .....anyway guess what i&#39;m getting at is if you want a job that paid you as well as you got in the service you better have a degree or have converted your job to GS before you got out.....realistically most us can expect to make between $30-45K a year starting off getting out.....after all for the vast majority of us we are just entry level employees.....our experience will get us in the door and promoted faster but it will not get us the same level job we had in service.

2016-02-01T12:11:26-05:00 2016-02-01T12:11:26-05:00 Capt Seid Waddell 1272962

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Managing expectations is also important. We should realize that industry can get by with less experienced younger people quite well, and the differential in experience does not usually justify the differential in pay that we have become accustomed to. <br /><br />This is not just a military-to-civilian transition issue; it also affects those of us that have been in industry long enough to make our salary progression price us out of the market.

2016-02-01T12:20:10-05:00 2016-02-01T12:20:10-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 1272970

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This totally speaks to me. <br /><br />Ssgt Brooks, I was in a similar situation like the one you describe... but for not as long. I would not have lasted as long as you have. I was confident that I would be easily employed again, and found myself lowering the bar for every rejection. It was just heart breaking... and then I did get a shot. It was a fluke, but it panned out. I hope everything works out for you.

2016-02-01T12:22:32-05:00 2016-02-01T12:22:32-05:00 SFC Adam Potter 1273013

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>David:<br />I shot you a connection request on LinkedIn, I do have a few contacts that support veterans in seeking employment. Are you open to relocation? I know Kansas has a number of industries that would support someone with your background (Lockheed, Cessna, and a few others.)<br />I would recommend looking at states with very low unemployment rates, as there is a high demand for labor. If you want to consider Iowa as an Option (about a 3.2% unemployment rate) I would recommend looking into Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rockwellcollins.com/">https://www.rockwellcollins.com/</a> <div class="pta-link-card answers-template-image type-default"> <div class="pta-link-card-picture"> <img src="https://d26horl2n8pviu.cloudfront.net/link_data_pictures/images/000/039/892/qrc/logo2012.ashx?1454348263"> </div> <div class="pta-link-card-content"> <p class="pta-link-card-title"> <a target="blank" href="https://www.rockwellcollins.com/"> Rockwell Collins - Home</a> </p> <p class="pta-link-card-description">At Rockwell Collins, we never forget that the world&#39;s leading aerospace and defense companies rely on us for smart communications and aviation electronics solutions. We put our technology and innovation to work to help you advance your goals. Working together, we strive to build trust. Every day.</p> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div>

2016-02-01T12:37:48-05:00 2016-02-01T12:37:48-05:00 SSG Audwin Scott 1273035

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This is very true! Need more employment that a vet can actual do and not these unrealistic positions.

2016-02-01T12:46:56-05:00 2016-02-01T12:46:56-05:00 PO2 Private RallyPoint Member 1273224

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>MAJ Yinon Weiss - do you have any contacts or suggestions that might help here?

2016-02-01T13:55:03-05:00 2016-02-01T13:55:03-05:00 SPC David S. 1273291

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Seems like your experience has painted you into the corner - While Aspen is a slice of heaven your professional career may demand relocation - As to your solution I think you are referring to head hunters or recruiters. For your case I would look into &#39;the ladders&#39; as they are focused on filling senior position. <br /><br />However a few things I have learned the hard way - <br /><br />At least once a year test the market for your skill set - you may be surprise to find your not in demand and may indeed need to reinvent yourself. Remember what makes you unique today makes you obsolete tomorrow. <br /><br />Develop your job/career network - get your feelers out there and continue to build you network - plus its fun and informative - going out to lunch or playing golf with people out side your industries is a great way to find out about other job opportunities - always keep your ear to the ground.<br /><br />Develop a career path - set goals and deadlines - more people spend more time planing their vacation to Disneyland than their own careers so create a plan, set goals and review - may even seek out a life coach that specializes in career development.<br /><br />The last is about complacency - We land that cushy six figure job and we let our guard down - then out of know where karma lands a solid left hook and where down for the count. Keep your skill set sharp and your expectations real and your guard up - remember that you are what you settle for in life. <br /><br />I don&#39;t always offer advice but when I do I drink Dos Equis -<br />stay thirsty my friends. <br /><br /><br /> - <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theladders.com/homepage-a">https://www.theladders.com/homepage-a</a> <div class="pta-link-card answers-template-image type-default"> <div class="pta-link-card-picture"> </div> <div class="pta-link-card-content"> <p class="pta-link-card-title"> <a target="blank" href="https://www.theladders.com/homepage-a">Find Jobs Fast. Improve Your Career. TheLadders.com.</a> </p> <p class="pta-link-card-description">Make your next career move with TheLadders. Find the recruiters, opportunities and insights that will speed your job search and improve your career.</p> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div>

2016-02-01T14:28:44-05:00 2016-02-01T14:28:44-05:00 PFC Chris Knoll 1273425

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Your observation that LinkedIn lacks a veteran employment support group is interesting. I think I might look into it and maybe start one.

2016-02-01T15:27:59-05:00 2016-02-01T15:27:59-05:00 Capt Tom Brown 1273482

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>A very sobering account to say the least and which asks a lot of good questions. There seem to be a lot of good &#39;resources&#39; here in Austin but not that many what I call &#39;normal/average-type&#39; jobs. Austin has one of the lowest unemployment rates around and a lot of problems with affordability for the average working stiff. Sounds like you have family support which is a grace in itself.

2016-02-01T16:12:50-05:00 2016-02-01T16:12:50-05:00 SPC Michael Ferguson 1274203

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>An need to be better informed of the outreach organizations that are looking for veterans

2016-02-01T21:45:56-05:00 2016-02-01T21:45:56-05:00 SSG Ricardo Marcial 1275579

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>David, <br /><br />After spending 3+ years unemployed, I feel your pain. I would suggest AAR.Corps for jobs, and I came across this yesterday if this would interest you. Please connect with me on LinkedIn. <br /><br />Priester Aviation is seeking qualified candidates for multiple open positions in our Chicago, IL (PWK) office. To apply, please visit: <a target="_blank" href="https://lnkd.in/eSc3_Vk">https://lnkd.in/eSc3_Vk</a> <div class="pta-link-card answers-template-image type-default"> <div class="pta-link-card-picture"> <img src="https://d26horl2n8pviu.cloudfront.net/link_data_pictures/images/000/040/099/qrc/priester_aviation.png?1454437892"> </div> <div class="pta-link-card-content"> <p class="pta-link-card-title"> <a target="blank" href="https://lnkd.in/eSc3_Vk">Careers | Priester Aviation</a> </p> <p class="pta-link-card-description">Learn more about the dynamic and exciting career opportunities at Priester Aviation. The sky is the limit - apply today!</p> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div>

2016-02-02T13:32:41-05:00 2016-02-02T13:32:41-05:00 GySgt Bryan A. McGown "Gunny" 1277078

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>SSgt David C. Brooks, <br /><br />Are you aware of my FREE, unlimited, and lifetime job search coaching services? Take a look at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gunnyret.com">http://www.gunnyret.com</a>. You can even use my online scheduling to create appointments without the hassles of phone and email tag. I look forward to helping all. I&#39;ve been retired since 2001, and have been in state and county government roles, worked for a VA Contractor, serve on a few veteran-specific non-profits, and was the local organizer for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce&#39;s Hiring Our Heroes program in Cleveland, Ohio for 4 years.<br /><br />A good transition should cost you time and effort on your part, but shouldn&#39;t cost you an arm and a leg out of your pocket. <div class="pta-link-card answers-template-image type-default"> <div class="pta-link-card-picture"> <img src="https://d26horl2n8pviu.cloudfront.net/link_data_pictures/images/000/040/227/qrc/circleonlytransparent700x728-150x150.png?1454502588"> </div> <div class="pta-link-card-content"> <p class="pta-link-card-title"> <a target="blank" href="http://www.gunnyret.com.">GunnyRet Consulting, LLC. – Serving the Global Employment Needs of Veterans and Employers</a> </p> <p class="pta-link-card-description">Job coaching services for Veterans and their spouses or (widows/widowers) are provided at NO COST! You’ve sacrificed enough in order to protect our Nation.</p> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div>

2016-02-03T07:29:49-05:00 2016-02-03T07:29:49-05:00 SrA Private RallyPoint Member 1277839

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I agree, here are some tips I have put together form my experiences working in the field and being unemployed after separating from the Air Force. Thanks SSGT Brooks for sharing your experience and great ideas.<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://transitioningveteran.com/wordpress/7-tips-to-avoid-unemployment-fatigue/">http://transitioningveteran.com/wordpress/7-tips-to-avoid-unemployment-fatigue/</a> <div class="pta-link-card answers-template-image type-default"> <div class="pta-link-card-picture"> <img src="https://d26horl2n8pviu.cloudfront.net/link_data_pictures/images/000/040/298/qrc/Untitled-1-300x214.jpg?1454524779"> </div> <div class="pta-link-card-content"> <p class="pta-link-card-title"> <a target="blank" href="http://transitioningveteran.com/wordpress/7-tips-to-avoid-unemployment-fatigue/">Unemployment Fatigue</a> </p> <p class="pta-link-card-description">How to avoid Unemployment Fatigue</p> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div>

2016-02-03T13:42:00-05:00 2016-02-03T13:42:00-05:00 TSgt James Carson 1404728

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Next war all elegable enlistees run to canada. You&#39;ll get a full pardon and a great civil service job as those during the Viet Nam war did.

2016-03-25T19:43:38-04:00 2016-03-25T19:43:38-04:00 CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR 1763447

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>David what kind of help are you looking for? If you were to say Dylan its great meeting you here is what I can use help in what would that be_________________________?

2016-07-30T17:26:05-04:00 2016-07-30T17:26:05-04:00 CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR 1763448

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>David what kind of help are you looking for? If you were to say Dylan its great meeting you here is what I can use help in what would that be_________________________?

2016-07-30T17:26:27-04:00 2016-07-30T17:26:27-04:00 Stephanie Jones 2461115

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Have you thought of going into FEMA or Homeland Security or contracting?

2017-03-31T01:50:05-04:00 2017-03-31T01:50:05-04:00 PO3 Anne Moyer 8548273

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I agree there should be more help for unemployed veterans regardless the level of their education or background. But just as or equally important is help with housing for those who are or are at risk of being homeless. I just add this because it happened to me twice and the VA or other veteran groups could not help because they just didn&#39;t have anything set up for female vets.

2023-11-10T20:37:41-05:00 2023-11-10T20:37:41-05:00 2016-02-01T11:59:34-05:00