What are the challenges that you face when seeking career opportunities?

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 15:47:48 -0500

I am interested in learning what types of challenges you have faced when job hunting as well as when doing resumes or interviews. As one who has transitioned and has been through many job hunts, job fairs and interviews, I have learned much in my experience and am yet still learning. Upon your response, I hope to offer information and assistance that may be useful to you.

Response by SFC James Baber made Feb 10 at 2014 7:24 PM

SFC James Baber — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 19:24:11 -0500

I think the biggest challenge has been the false support given by most employers, while they profess to be veteran supporters and that they are military friendly, I think from experience and what friends and colleagues have told me that most are just saying it for the publicity of claiming it to appease the government push and reap the benefits from the government as well.

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Feb 10 at 2014 8:19 PM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 20:19:48 -0500

Ok I made it here, I didn't want to leave until I first get this done.

resume:

On my profile, I put what is in my resume verbatim.

Well almost all of it but not all.

The resume must talk about you.

If you notice, every thing is IT related only and nothing about when I drove limos, or worked as house keeping in the VA Hospital.

Once you have your resume, next step if to look for work in that field only and nothing else. Your resume must match when your looking for.

Next steps will involve looking for work in the world wide web.

interesting thing about the WWW, is that you will not get called every time you post your resume. So as an alternative finding people close by were you live helps by providing sources that may be more reliable.

You may find some temp agencies that offer you work that will allow you to grow your resume, but even in that or those jobs you will always find someone who knows someone that can allow you to grow or apply in.

Thing is when you have been called, make sure you have a phone that allows you to get calls, if you have someone taking messages for you for an interview make sure you let them know to take the number of that caller.

When you have set for you appointment for an interview, dress professional, be ready to fill out an application that could contain address, phone numbers and address of all your previous employers, be ready to answer questions about you.

Question: Tell me about your self?

Don't say: I enjoy riding in the park, I enjoy fishing nor any thing personal, this question only means to tell me about what have you done in the position your applying for.

When your interview is completed, the next thing you want to hear is when are you going to start.

If you don't hear that time and date, keep searching.

Don't wait for anyone to call you. if they say they will call you.

You are free to ask the employer questions like:

How many positions are open.

Why did the last person leave.

What is will you get paid.

But they are not allowed to ask you if your married or how many kids you have.

When you start working, work like a professional, every you do, do it like a professional.

...

Here I go again writing a book.

Some things I didn't mention here is when you get an email that your hired reply back with a thank you email.

Their is allot more to look for work, but above all, looking for work is a job as well.

This is not final because other vets or SM here will add to this as well, but my final words are. Any one can find a job, what your looking for is a career, what you want to do for the next 20 years or so. A job is easy to find anywhere but a career is what you are good at and what your qualifications based on (What you do best).

Finally when you work out your resume, always be ready to have your resume proof read.

Remember that when your resume is sent via the web, it may be screened for words that are associated with the position your apply for.

Someone applying for a job in the VA as housekeeping will not scan for A+ certified or break fix computer components. If I send my current resume to the VA Hospital for house keeping, I might get called, but the person doing the interview will thing twice about hiring me because to them I will not remain with them for long.

I hope you get what I mean by that.

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Feb 11 at 2014 7:30 PM

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 19:30:41 -0500

I believe from personal experience it is the culture and people that you come across. The military tends to attract a certain type of individual. You have to understand the civilian mentality when it comes to work, and sometimes the pressure isn't there as much since lives aren't at stake.

In the civilian sector it can be more cutthroat, the camaraderie isn't there like the military, and it is more flat in organization than the military.

It takes some people to get used to. There is no rank, which could be good or bad, and I have seen a different attitude towards things getting done. I do like the civilian sector quite a bit, since I am an entrepreneur, I have more flexibility in making things happen.

Response by CMSgt Charles Elliott made Feb 28 at 2014 8:43 AM

CMSgt Charles Elliott — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 08:43:56 -0500

My biggest challenge was the realization that my civilian workforce didn't respond as quickly to my directions as my troops did in the military. They got it done, but in "civilian" time. Plus being a Chief (E-9) and not having your word questioned by anyone in the military and everyone in civilian life was tough. However I am lucky that I have an open mind and worked through my issues and have been a success in the civilian world and my employees know that I have their back and will do anything for me.

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made May 17 at 2014 12:24 AM

SSgt Gregory Guina — Sat, 17 May 2014 00:24:12 -0400

Figuring out what I want to do when I grow up

Response by Sgt Arthur Went made May 17 at 2014 12:25 AM

Sgt Arthur Went — Sat, 17 May 2014 00:25:55 -0400

I had to remind myself when I was working at my first civilian job and I would hear subordinates talking back to their managers that this is not the Marine Corps any more.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 10:09 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 10:09:24 -0400

Transitioned out during one of the worst economic periods. Graduated college, but found that with the Iraq war being unpopular, I felt as if few employers were willing to give a fresh vet/grad a chance. My civilian occupation has nothing to do with my military experience. The key is to have a solid purpose (mine was to enter the field of Financial Planning & Analysis), and do whatever it takes to enter that field. Take civilian courses, write your resume to fit that purpose.

Response by SSgt John Oldham made May 17 at 2014 7:08 PM

SSgt John Oldham — Sat, 17 May 2014 19:08:49 -0400

I don't know if it was so much a challenge as a change in life style. Leaving military service I was offered a job as a emergency manager for a engineering company that had recently won a government contract at Ft. Sam Houston, TX. Having recently graduated with a degree in emergency management and having developed necessary skills to win the job, I turned it down. The company's contract was awarded temporarily for one year, and while this would have provided me with a great chance to gain needed experience, and provide my family with a healthy income, I turned it down out of fear and the potential loss of a job in a years time. Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone, opportunity often only comes around once and when its gone you will spend your life trying to regain it. So ask lots of questions, remain positive on your hunt, and network.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2014 1:03 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 May 2014 13:03:27 -0400

I think one of the biggest challenges for folks making the transition to the civilian workforce is finding a job that they like and fits within their skill set. Face it, there aren't too many civilian jobs out there for infantry, sniper, demolitions, etc; unless you go into NSA, CIA, FBI, or a private contractor security firm. I think your passion and professionalism will go a long way into finding that career niche. I would also recommend looking into those firms who have a dedication and emphasis in hiring veterans.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made May 27 at 2014 5:05 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Tue, 27 May 2014 17:05:32 -0400

Let's face it, being in the military for lots of years, a member becomes "Institutionalized ". I for one, am looking with some angst at having to pick daily "go to work clothing"...have not had to choose my own clothes now for 26 years. Another concern and difficulty I am having is that the last time I was looking for a job, I was a new grad and brand new nurse...now I am a nurse with a Master's degree and over 17 years nursing experience across a wide variety of areas.... will anyone hire me? My Master's degree may make me less desireable for bedside nursing, I would be some type of manager level, and I desire to be in Education. I am HOPING that I will be able to get the VA to pay for my degree to go into teaching Nursing at a university or college. All the uncertainty.... I can only hope that what others are saying is true in the Health Care industry!

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made May 27 at 2014 5:24 PM

GySgt Joe Strong — Tue, 27 May 2014 17:24:40 -0400

Fitting in.

Things they say they want i.e. Confidence, when exhibited by a former service person will often be translated as Arrogance.
Posturing, as we informally teach as a command function from the day you first see your Drill Instructor doing it is often seen as an aggressive posture and received poorly.
You need to make an immediate and concentrated effort to read your new surroundings and corporate culture and make a determined effort to fit into that new culture. You need to still portray all of your positive Leadership traits but you need to do so in a way that relates to your new audience. Even if you get hired on into a new managerial position, you cannot interact with Civilians like you did your Platoon, or Company.

Your library of Acronyms has to go(unless they are industry standard, non-military acronyms). Dates are MM/DD/YYYY, get used to it.

Translate your military skills and qualifications into Civilian, then ask a Veteran who's already transitioned to fix it for you, then do it again and ask a Civilian what they see there, then do it again.

Also that stuff they teach about Military uniforms and their equivalents in Formal Wear, Business Wear, Business Casual, and Work uniforms is absolutely correct. you need to wear the equivalent civilian dress that you would have worn a Uniform for for the equivalent occasion.