What job opportunities are out there for retired E8's and E9's?

I have a retired Master Chief Hospital Corpsman friend who went on to become a senior medical intelligence analyst at the Armed Forces medical Intelligence Center after retiring from the Navy. He was a very sharp individual when he worked for me at Pearl Harbor in the early 80's.

Pretty general question here. I'm a retired Gunny (E-7) pursuing a successful civilian career in executive level leadership . . . . . in Information Technology.
It really depends on what field that Staff NCO has chosen and how well they prepare for and pursue opportunities.

I agree with other postings regarding education and networking. But the real key is picking a career field you have an interest in. Focus and preparation are what makes the difference. "I just want a job" doesn't cut it. There are millions of civilians who feel the same way, but have a head start over retiring or separating military members.

Do not expect much. No one on the outside really cares much about what rank you retired at but they WILL focus on your age, experiences, certifications, etc.

No more than a retired E7, E6 and so forth. It all rests on what you have done with the outside opportunities like tuition assistance and GI bill. Education is the Key. I am a retired E-7 who has a Bachelors degree and an MBA. I found out that I was accepted into an entirely different level of employment than I ever thought possible. Being an E8 or E9 will get you to a certain level and if you happen to live near some of the major bases that handle engineering commands you may be able to get a job through who you know not what you know. Nepotism is alive and well within the Civil Service system and in some cases Contractors. Your military experience will definitely help you but meeting the job requirements will always win out.

Great question unfortunately too general, the question can be easier answered if we know what skill level and interest the person has. Once we know that we can give more specific advice. In the meant time here is a general caution for those who leave the military.You have to come to terms that the civilian world is more competitive and there are fewer opportunities and less camaraderie in most fields.

The technology field is wide-open, but you need to focus on the right skill. Database admin, server admin, etc. I retired after 20-years into a entry-level DBA job. Grew from there into IT Operations. If you're not a geek, focus on Project Management (Agile, especially). Get certified and you'll be fine.

Honestly it depends on your interests and background. In the high tech field, we have a number of senior NCO's who are tech savvy, and can fit into Systems Engineering and Product Management roles. I have seen a number work in HR, or senior management roles in a number of companies. My advice is talk about skills in leadership and mentoring. When we are interviewing, I am always interested in how would a prospective team member feel about being mentored, and mentoring others both peers and subordinates. Don't be afraid to talk about your service, we need more people to talk about what they have experienced in a positive light. The more we can help employers to understand the value of hiring vet's not just as a government or feel good initiative, the more we can help our brothers and sisters as they return.