What was your first job when you separated from the military?

SSgt Michael Orcutt — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 22:55:04 -0400

What was your first job when you seperated from the military? If your still serving, what was your job before joining the military? How many people had trouble finding a job when they got out?

Response by SSgt Michael Orcutt made Apr 27 at 2015 10:57 PM

SSgt Michael Orcutt — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 22:57:28 -0400

I was pretty fortunate when I got out. I started college a week after I seperated and put in some hard time on a resume. Scoured USAjobs for about three months and landed a position with the Army Corps of Engineers as a Budget Analyst. I was fortunate that it was a 5/7/9/11 ladder as well. I try to tell my buddies wanting to get out that my experience post military isn't the norm, and some have found that out the hard way.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Apr 27 at 2015 11:31 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 23:31:06 -0400

I was pretty lucky in listening to my Mom to got into the Medical Corp. When I got out I was allowed (based on my Military service) to sit for the LVN exam. Which I passed. Meanwhile I was working as an Orderly in a hospital in my home town (and being generally 'dis'd by the Nurses Aids) and then ... Bing .. I was a Nurse and slid into a slot above them .. That was sweet!

Thank you US Army :)

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Apr 27 at 2015 11:49 PM

1LT William Clardy — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 23:49:25 -0400

My very first job after getting out (sort of) was as a pizza delivery driver for a then-brand-new Mr. Gotti's Pizza in Harrisonburg, VA.

Between my ROTC stipend and pizza delivery, I could afford to live pretty decently for a college student during my year at Jame Madison University.

After that, I went through an assortment of jobs: electrician's apprentice building SEGS2 outside of Daggett, janitor, construction worker, and mall/hotel security guard. My first post-school job was as a staff reporter on a trade publication for the swimming pool industry.

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Apr 28 at 2015 7:02 AM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 07:02:29 -0400

I retired in October of 2011, couldn't find anything in the Hampton Roads, VA area and ended up leaving my family in VA and taking a 4 month temp job at Joint Base Charleston, SC as a GS-5. Just as that 4 month job was ending I was fortunate enough to be picked up by the Department of the Navy as a GS-12. It sounds like a walk in the park, but it was challenging just trying to breathe through it and having faith that everything will work out.

Response by SSgt Michael Orcutt made Apr 28 at 2015 7:55 AM

SSgt Michael Orcutt — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 07:55:59 -0400

Having a plan is half the battle. Great job and great career choice!

Response by CPO Sam Gilliland made Apr 28 at 2015 8:24 AM

CPO Sam Gilliland — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:24:22 -0400

My first job was with Wounded Warrior Project as a Veterans Services Officer. They are truly one of the best organizations for vets out there. Only reason I left was they are not in the area I am moving too yet. I learned there that I as an individual can make the difference in someone's life. Keep doing that over and over...they play it forward...that is how we change things for the better!

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Apr 28 at 2015 9:39 AM

SSgt Dan Montague — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 09:39:58 -0400

I had a hard time finding a job after I retired. I had 120 days of terminal leave and spent all of it job hunting. I was a new single father with 2 teenagers after I separated. So I was on my own. I finally picked up a contractors job aboard 29 palms policing ranges for a year. After that I moved where I am today. I struggled once again trying to find a job. After 2 months of searching I landed a horrible job. Only took it because I needed a job. About a month into the job I was so sick of it I was ready to quit. Then a recruiter saw my Linkedin profile and contacted me. A few weeks later I was hired on with Papé. I have been there a year and love it.
Retiring after being in for so long was scary. Job hunting is a bitch!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 28 at 2015 12:22 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 12:22:09 -0400

I became a domestic god!

Response by LCpl Craig D. Pfautz made Apr 28 at 2015 2:51 PM

LCpl Craig D. Pfautz — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 14:51:21 -0400

LINEMAN,AMTRAK... 1993-2003

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 3:01 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 15:01:11 -0400

Before coming into the military I was a police officer for about five years.

Response by CPL Brendan Hayes made Apr 28 at 2015 3:11 PM

CPL Brendan Hayes — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 15:11:02 -0400

Overnight receiving clerk at a warehouse was my first job after active duty. I managed to find the work easy enough, but this was also 18 years ago. While in the National Guard, and college, I worked more than a few different jobs. Everything from assembly line work to waiting tables. It seems like the military service made things easier than they were before.

Response by SSgt Sharron Nolley made Apr 28 at 2015 4:22 PM

SSgt Sharron Nolley — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 16:22:06 -0400

SFPD . I had no problem getting jobs , keeping them was though , hated SFPD just fought one war didnt need another , plus cops were hated as much as Marine Nam Vets in that era .
IT WAS HARD WHEN SOME PUNK KID WOULD TAKE MY JOBS FOR LESS PAY SO I WOULD BE LET GO ..
I was 17 when I went in Marines so was in high school , no prev job.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Apr 28 at 2015 4:26 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 16:26:46 -0400

Made a smooth transition into working for a Government contractor. Hired to help write Information System requirements for a government system I worked with on active duty. Almost all of my coworkers were retired military.

I am occasionally asked why I didn't fly for the airlines. When I retired a First Officer with a major carrier was making about $35K/yr. The Government contractor offered me $55K. I had a family with financial obligations. Easy decision.

Last job before joining the Air Force was Assistant Manager at a restaurant. Worked about 35 hours per week and carried 15 credit hours my last semester. Starting pilot training with 10 to 12 hour days, 5 days a week, was a piece of cake.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Apr 28 at 2015 4:37 PM

MSgt James Mullis — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 16:37:38 -0400

Safety Manager for a Catholic Hospital, making twice what the AF was paying me plus a retirement check. Oh, and within 6 months I met my wife who was doing her Family Medicine Internship at the same hospital.

Response by PO1 Seth Crotser made Apr 28 at 2015 7:35 PM

PO1 Seth Crotser — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:35:16 -0400

I'm still active duty because getting out would be a huge mistake. My job prior to the Navy was at Jamba Juice.

Response by MSG Patrick Dickensheets Sr. made Apr 29 at 2015 8:50 AM

MSG Patrick Dickensheets Sr. — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 08:50:20 -0400

A garbage man. Better know today as a sanitation worker. Hard work but actually one of the best jobs I ever had. At that time not much is a future in it and was a small townwent back in the military.

Response by SGT James Murphy made Apr 29 at 2015 11:05 AM

SGT James Murphy — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 11:05:04 -0400

I am very proud of my first Job. I was installing Radar's and the Electrical Communication systems on the LCU's landing craft being built for use in the Nam. I worked at Marinette Marine here in Wisconsin and was fortunate enough to have received additional training by George Bendix Himself! Top That Radar Junkies!

Response by CPT Carl Kisely made Apr 30 at 2015 1:29 PM

CPT Carl Kisely — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 13:29:09 -0400

My first "job" out of the military was helping a friend with his HVAC business. But that wasn't intended to be a career. It took me quite a while to find a job. A lot of that was my unwillingness to relocate- I'm divorced and I want to stay within a radius of my kids so I can see them regularly. But I did regular trips to the various websites and kept sending in resumes until something bit. Now, I work in the insurance industry and I love my job! Best advice, your skills may not translate directly into the civilian world, so you may not get the job you think your qualified for. Just keep looking and throw a wide net. Your discipline and leadership will be useful somewhere.

Response by MAJ Michael Scharff made May 11 at 2015 7:15 AM

MAJ Michael Scharff — Mon, 11 May 2015 07:15:51 -0400

Technically my first job was a short term contracting job doing exactly what I did in the military... my first "real" job outside of the government was as an internal auditor at MCI in Atlanta.

Response by CA Delete D. made May 29 at 2019 10:56 AM

CA Delete D. — Wed, 29 May 2019 10:56:04 -0400

Prior to enlisting, went to college for few years and had different jobs: bartender, forklift driver, machine operator in a fabrication plant, waited tables, worked in a hotel, etc. Wasn't doing so hot in school; ultimately withdrew. After separating, I went back to bartending, but job was temporary. That fall I started school using post-9/11. Thankfully , graduated college this time round.