Why is it so hard to find Civilian jobs that your MOS is comparable to?

2015-06-02T10:36:52-04:00

I did the Job of a Contracting NCO (51C) about the time the MOS was being given to the Army. After doing this job during a deployment I was ready to come home and take that job on full time on the Civilian side, but I don't meet the requirements that everyone is looking for (Accounting Degree / 10 years experience). I have a degree and experience from a deployment working with Civilians, Army, Air Force and Navy, but not 10 years of it....does the fast pace and stress of a deployment experience mean anything?? Just because I don't have an accounting degree does that mean that I can't do the job?? I was given high praise for the work I did being thrown into the job overseas, so does my experience from then carry no merit now in the Civilian job market?

Now I have another MOS (29E Electronic Warfare NCO) that I am trying to get into on the Civilian side and I am once again faced with similar road blocks..."Not enough experience", "Not the right background"...my question is then, how do you gain the experience employers are looking for without getting a chance to do the job? How do I get someone to look past the requirements that cause these jobs to sit open and unfilled so that employers can see the drive that I have to learn and succeed? Are there any surefire tips for me to make this happen?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 10:38 AM

2015-06-02T10:38:19-04:00

Keep searching brother! There are matches out there. Please let me know how I can help!

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 2 at 2015 10:45 AM

2015-06-02T10:45:51-04:00

Some thoughts:
Look for vet friendly companies because they will better understand your background
Adjust your target. Look for entry level jobs with lower education and experience requirements. Then work your way up.
Consider civil service jobs. You get vet preference allowing you to be hired over better qualified non-vets. Also education and experience can be used to offset each other for some positions.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jun 2 at 2015 10:47 AM

2015-06-02T10:47:06-04:00

Hang in there brother!
A whole lot of what you see in the ads are just raising the bar to keep the number of applicants down and have little to do with the actual job requirements. So don't feel too bad.

Networking is what is going to get you a job. It ain't so much what you know and who you know. Find out where the people that do the work you want to do hang out and go there. LinkedIn might help.

Good luck!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 2 at 2015 10:54 AM

2015-06-02T10:54:39-04:00

Great Query. My Ancient Black Arts really don't equate well with anything. Smoke and Mirrors based on WWII concepts just tweaked for the Modern World. Cyber Security is pretty much what I did but my skills are very dated and I would need a whole lot of new schooling to be up to date. When I did it the Crypto and Computer were separate units now they are intertwined. I am relegated to being the Historian for the next gen Cyber Security folks.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 2 at 2015 11:21 AM

2015-06-02T11:21:59-04:00

Also try http://www.showyourstripes.org/

It uses Monster to pull veteran friendly jobs. I have used it myself with some success.

You seem to already be on the bigger sites, Linkedin, clearancejobs, and usajobs, but I also recommend doing a Google search for veteran friendly job search. I just did one and got quite a few hits.

Show Your Stripes

Join the iHeartRadio movement to support hiring veterans! iHeartRadio's Show Your Stripes helps America's returning veterans connect to real job opportunities, and encourages businesses across the country to hire skilled vets.

Response by SGT James Elphick made Jun 2 at 2015 11:22 AM

2015-06-02T11:22:06-04:00

I had similar issues after getting my degree that I would find jobs that I felt I was qualified for but didn't have the experience, then continually wondered how to get the experience. My advice is go for P/T and entry-level positions to start, you don't even have to stay that long, but once you have a job it is easier to find another, better job. Also, just because you don't meet the qualifications doesn't mean you shouldn't apply. Computers will likely filter the original application but HR will look at it from there for interviews. To beat the computer take the job quals and copy and paste them into the end of your resume, make them 1 pt. font and make the color white (the computer will pick it up but no one else will). Finally, don't rely on military-friendly job boards, companies aren't posting there for the most part. My choice is indeed.com. Also, if you do find a job on a job board make sure to go to the company's website and apply, don't use the job board application.

I know it's tough but if you stick with it and work from the bottom up you can make it pretty far pretty fast. Also, if possible keep advancing your education, a Masters is the new Bachelors.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 2 at 2015 11:36 AM

2015-06-02T11:36:55-04:00

Also try looking directly at some of the larger defense contractor's job boards. I've found that often they have jobs listed there you won't find on Monster, Indeed, and the other job sites.

Just for example, http://jobs.raytheon.com/

Raytheon Jobs & Careers

Raytheon offers a broad range of career paths and opportunities. Explore jobs for transitioning military, experienced professionals, recent graduates, and production maintenance.

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Jun 2 at 2015 11:48 AM

2015-06-02T11:48:26-04:00

The "not enough experience" thing is a crutch. Impress upon whoever you are trying to get employment with, the level of responsibilty you had, the millions of dollars in equipment you managed and the ability to work under incredibly austere and stressful condition. Beats any experience measured in x amount of time.

Response by SPC Joshua H. made Jun 2 at 2015 12:07 PM

2015-06-02T12:07:12-04:00

Driving around a 70ton M1A1H is frowned upon in the civilian world...it makes me sad :( So now I do HVAC work.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 12:32 PM

2015-06-02T12:32:44-04:00

https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/tgps/ it's an website where you can pull your VMET and it's an military transcript that is translate into cilivan job terms maybe this can you help adjust your currently resume in the future or other soldiers having these issues and concern.. CAC is required .

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 2 at 2015 12:35 PM

2015-06-02T12:35:24-04:00

Check out start-ups and smaller companies where ability and versatility ranks above paper requirements.

The jobs tend to be less secure, require many more hours, but the experience in several skill areas simultaneously will improve your resume.

Worked for me when I got out 43 years ago when jobs were tight like they are today.

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Jun 3 at 2015 12:35 PM

2015-06-03T12:35:41-04:00

It is sad to say, but, military training doesn't mean squat today in the civilian world. I was a heavy equipment operator in the SeaBees and couldn't get a construction job and the county road commission told me I was over qualified. So now I work maintenance at an apartment complex with HVAC certifications.
Actually went to school for an associates degree in HVAC.

Response by CPT Bruce Rodgers made Jun 3 at 2015 12:39 PM

2015-06-03T12:39:03-04:00

So true, I just can't find a company that will let me develop a psyops operation to run on civilians, buo I'm always hopeful

Response by SFC Aaron Dudney made Jun 3 at 2015 1:48 PM

2015-06-03T13:48:05-04:00

Consider looking at companies that have been awarded the Freedom Award. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_of_Defense_Employer_Support_Freedom_Award
Most if not all, are very Veteran Friendly Organizations. Also look at Utilities; they too are usually very supportive in the Veteran space and they have more experience (Nuclear) and appreciative of what Veterans can offer. This is something that I have learned over time, I was fortunate and was hired directly out of the Military (lucky). Regardless of experience I was willing to start from the ground up and did so. This has served me well.

Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. To be eligible for the award, an employer must be nominated by one of its Guard or Reserve employees, or a family member of that employee.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Jun 3 at 2015 2:36 PM

2015-06-03T14:36:28-04:00

Unless you're in law enforcement or are a firefighter, there isn't much call in the civilian world for one to use their Combat MOS. Some of the other ones, like cook/chef, Data Manager, plumber, carpenter - yah, I can see where those swing back and forth between civilian and military worlds. Speaking personally, I deliberately chose an MOS that was so different than what I did in the civilian world - just to keep in my interest in both. After nearly 20 good years, I can honestly say it worked.

Response by MSG David Chappell made Jun 3 at 2015 2:56 PM

2015-06-03T14:56:56-04:00

I don't understand this I left the army as an infantry soldier and had no issue finding the like type job!! (Sarcasm)

Response by SFC Larry Rosenthal made Jun 3 at 2015 3:40 PM

2015-06-03T15:40:48-04:00

My suggestion (and I have done it), apply anyway. Try to find out who the head of the department is. Most personnel people might nix it, but the person you will see things differently.
I am retired now, but send the resume out if 25% of the job description is there.
We military people can do almost anything,

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 3:46 PM

2015-06-03T15:46:21-04:00

There are a multitude of reasons why your MOS will not get you a job in the civilian market. Dependent on your MOS, most employers can not relate to the Military MOS structure. Does your MOS training compare to civilian training structure? In most cases no. On the technical side in my field the Army will call you a mechanic in just four months. In the civilian world most technical schools are two years with a high emphases on electronics. I have seen people come off regular Army boasting and thinking they are qualified and last one week before they are fired.

Do you hold any civilian certifications? I know you can get degrees but do you know many of the online courses and degrees aren't even recognized by the civilian world. Do your homework and ensure that you get into a legit school system.

Attitude, Don't think that just because you went to Iraq or Afghanistan, it qualifies you or puts you ahead of the civilian workforce. In reality Veterans preference doesn't amount to much other than maybe a interview unless your planning on government employment.

Reality is, the civilian workforce is changing and advancing so much faster than the Army. The longer you have served the harder it will be in most cases to find a job in the civilian market.

Response by SSG Ralph Innes made Jun 3 at 2015 4:07 PM

2015-06-03T16:07:29-04:00

In my experience, lanyard pullers that fire cannons after a football team scores a touchdown don't open very often!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 4:43 PM

2015-06-03T16:43:06-04:00

When I was on Active Duty I knew when I wanted to get out so I started looking on job boards almost two years out for what civilian companies were looking for. I found things like six sigma and software skills to be in high demand so I switched degrees and got my six sigma certifications paid for by the military. When I did get out I had a degree and certifications. Then I formatted my resume in civilian lingo. I was in Aerospace Physiology in the Air Force which unless I worked at NASA wouldn't apply so I chose the other skills like management (I was an NCO at the time). Excel, Powerpoint, word, etc. was all on my resume. I didn't land my ideal job but I was patient and kept acquiring more education and certification based on research and I finally made myself a very solid candidate for any job in my field. Oh and don't underestimate your security clearance if you have one.

2LT Hollis, Army National Guard

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 4:46 PM

2015-06-03T16:46:04-04:00

Start with the understanding that NCO duties and responsibilities still closely mirror that of NCOs during WWII, when few had even a high school education. We are the equivalent of the blue collar workforce on the assembly lines of GM or Ford.

A degree says one thing that few people (other than employers) think of. No matter how useless it was, it still demonstrates that you had the ability to stick with a 4-year program to the end. That's also something employers are more interested in than what you actually know.

I cannot tell you the number of times I've had junior NCOs tell me they wanted to cash in on their skills in the civilian market, and I have never has ANY come back to tell me it was a good idea. I'm not denigrating your experience or your service, but civilian employers don't evaluate the same way you or I would.

In my opinion, the only way you are going to get a white collar job is with a degree. Sorry, but that's just the way the market is, especially with the current unemployment rate. Unless you are in computer security with a significant track record, you just about have to have a degree. (There is another exception, and that's high security clearance, but the jobs available without a degree are generally overseas.)

And that brings me to another point, whether it applies to you or not. While on active duty, it is fairly easy to earn college credits, if not an entire degree, and generally with low cost. Anyone on active duty who isn't taking advantage of this opportunity is shooting their career in the foot.

It would really be nice if civilians valued military experience the way we do. Not gonna happen, for the most part.

Best of luck to you!

Response by LtCol Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 4:47 PM

2015-06-03T16:47:30-04:00

If you're a Marine 0311 you can get a job with the Mafia.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 5:23 PM

2015-06-03T17:23:34-04:00

You need to make friends in the contracting world, ie: DLA, BAS, Northgroup Grumann, these are the companies that will higher ex military but you have to know people there

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 7:55 PM

2015-06-03T19:55:28-04:00

Govt jobs hired me without the degree. I have 13+ years of experience in budget and accounting and that means didley squat in the civilian sector. They can care less if I ran a budget office and was in charge of multiple programs to balance. If I didn't have a BA, my resume was tossed.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 10:57 PM

2015-06-03T22:57:35-04:00

Best answer I have been able to come up with is this, and it's the same reason that very people make it from the production line to the corner office. There was a shift, years ago in the way companies do business. Once the big corporations started taking over they put bean counters in the top spots...which gor everyone who worls for that corporation is a horrible decision...for the corporation it is great though...the corporation doesn't care about the employees, they don't care about the quality of the product. They care, solely, about the bottom line, how much can they put in the pockets of investors and in thebpockets of the chiefs by way of bonuses. Beyond that...there is still an answer, a fairly simple one that I am very much opposed to. People without experience in a field (and people who got hired as and have always been managent do not have experience in that field...they have experience managing that field) do not have a an ounce of understanding of how to judge/evaluate/equate that experience in any way to levy it against the needs of the business. They cannot understand that years of service to organization is more valuable to that and other organozations than the willingness to throw vast ammoumts of money at a liberal arts degree thateans nothing to no one (except to me that you exhibited poor decision making in picling your field and wasted that money on a degree that allows you to do nothing) other than the fact that you can "stick with it" for a while. When we as a society shifted to valuing education over experience we kicked our collective selves right square in the junk. If you look at the 50's the owner of a company only made around 20% more than a topped out employee, because most of those were what we would call small businesses today and those men had experience...not education and they knew the value of it and how tonjidge it and how valuable their people were to their own livelihood. I know this is a a very long answer, but the question is deserving of it. We f'd ourselves over in a horrible way as a society. Just get used to it boys.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 9:55 AM

2015-06-04T09:55:03-04:00

IMHO I think a simple approach will change your efforts, network and network early, effective, and as much as reasonably possible. It's your connections that can and most likely get the wheels rolling. The great divide seems like a miscommunication gap between the military and civilians. Consider this, less than half a percent of 1% of residents in the US have ever served. It's understandable why they have a harder time relating. As military personnel we even have a distinct vernacular and culture, even amongst the branches. People want to bring in people similar to themselves. Consider the cadence, style, and approach you have when communicating. Its paramount that we adapt to the club we want to join, not vice versa.

I read CPT Jared's post, it resonated, although hard hitting, while I agree with a lot of what he says...I believe there's more to consider. While ROIs and attitudes of responsibility are important, in reality there isn't a huge distinction between civilians and military (each have their own share of honest and dishonest people). I try to follow the mantra of LIKE, KNOW, TRUST when communicating. It's like our crawl, walk, run philosophy in the military, i.e., once they get to like you, they get to know you, and when they know you, they will trust you.

While your degrees are significant accomplishments, consider this, a lot of people have them. They don't necessary translate into automatic points, but like in the military, they help you stand out.

Good luck,

Harold

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 10:12 AM

2015-06-04T10:12:05-04:00

Geoff,

If contracting is still a field of interest, consider check out contracting command again. I know at Ft. Detrick, there was a great demand. They hired at around GS7, but the growth opportunities were great.

Response by LTC Bob Gotsch made Jun 4 at 2015 10:24 AM

2015-06-04T10:24:17-04:00

SGT: Your goal in the job market is to match your experience to a job listing, not match a job you a job your would like that an employer views your military experience as unrelated.

Suggest you apply to Project Management job opportunities with your local telecom company, electric or gas company provider, or a construction contractor.

Your military background as a contracting NCO and experience with electronic warfare equipment and how it is applied to a gaming situation provide you with the oversight to think "regionally" athe civilian level of BN and BDE and beyond what is happening in the workplace around you. Interfacing with team members of different expertise and time zones is your workplace qualifications to sell. Being an accountant can provide you with the expertise of knowing how to identify income and expense, direct costs, indirect expenses, and be able to sort these transactions into AP, AR, or GL. This knowledge will enable you to think as a Project Manager with a comptroller's knowledge of expense items and cash flow.

Good luck with tis assignment.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 5:06 PM

2015-06-04T17:06:51-04:00

My recommendation is to focus on how you are communicating your experience. A lot of Soldiers like to use fancy military terms and acronyms to describe their experience, and in an interview a civilian's eyes will just glaze over. You need to focus on using more common civilian terms.
For example, in my last deployment I was the Joint Reception, Staging, Onward movement and Intergration (JRSOI) NCO for RC-South Afghanistan. In my civilian resume, however, I put:
"Regional Training Manager for all US Forces in southern Afghanistan." I used numbers like "scheduled and reported more than 20,000 people; transported more than 60,000 people; oversaw daily activities of 10 personnel to ensure contractual obligations were met; produced daily and weekly staff reports of operations."

Any opportunity to show you managed money or people is great. The next focus point is your interview skills. Good head-hunters will get you the interview (plenty of them on LinkedIn), but it's up to you to be able to market yourself in a way that shows management that even without a degree you are still a solid candidate who can learn quickly and perform under stress.

Last, but not least, use your military experience as a supplement to your skills, not as the definition. Military experience, especially in a deployment, is a great starting point for gaining quality soft skills employers are looking for. Never stop improving, and don't let others feed you excuses why you're not landing good opportunities. Your military experience is good but it doesn't solve a company's problems. However, you may be able to convince them that a degree won't either and that your unique vantage point of experience can offer some fresh insight to their operation.

Good luck and all the best!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 6:57 PM

2015-06-04T18:57:44-04:00

In my experience the problem continues to be a translation one between commercial and military. While the commercial sector continues to say it wants your leadership experience, its point of reference is civilian employees. Most often than not it takes a civilian about 10 years to gain the level of leadership and management experience we gain 3-5 years. This is why I recommend resumes should be results oriented with specifics metrics of what you accomplished. Its no different than what an NCOER or an OER should be. I agree with the Captain that it is about the bottom line and in most cases it will always be ( but not always, there are many B-corps out there that are emphasizing social responsibility and the "third bottom line" ). Therefore your experience does matter to the commercial sector as long you can prove that you will positively impact the bottom line which ever that maybe.

So how do you make the translation that "you are the man to take them to the next level?" Here lies the military to commercial translation problem. This is where you are at a disadvantage as a transitioning service member because most likely you are competing with others who are experienced in the specific industry you are applying into. They know how to articulate their experience in a specific and measurable way that resonates with the "hiring manager" (by the way, while company recruiters are becoming more versed in translating military skills, the hiring managers are still not). When we are transitioning out we are left to ourselves to research the industry and the company we are looking to enter. When I interview folks I want to know they have researched my company and the industry, that they know it very well based on publicly available information. The same goes for the industry writ large. If you spend time researching the industry and the careers you are looking for then you will become more informed on how to word your resume towards that industry. You need to know what matters in that industry, what are the market trends impacting the industry, and how they will affect the position you are seeking. When I interviewed candidates that asked me questions about the company or the industry that could be easily obtained publicly available, or if i asked them questions and they didn't know the answer but the the information could be found on our website and other public sources, I questioned their commitment to give me more than the minimum ( I am not saying this is your case, but it happened often and not just with military folks). You should know the major players in the industry, who are the company competitors and customers. Your military experience can be a differentiator if you are able to talk to it based on how it will positively impact the company in the specific industry. This takes work and research and based on that research translating our resumes / cover letters to resonate with the company and the industry. We can't expect "hiring managers" to immediately think that military experience is sufficient, remember less than 1% of the population has served in the military. The computers have much less ability to translate per one of the previous postings.

To your specific case I would say that given contracting experience and EW skills you should be able to leverage that for procurement positions in the telecom / tech sectors. Procurement managers are always in demand to ensure that companies can have good and cost effective relationships with suppliers. By good relationship I mean ensuring that they obtain the quality materials or services at the most favorable cost. Unlike the government though cost is important, but not always the lowest bidder, as the hiring company wants its suppliers to be equally mindful of quality of the end customer. A quick search on GI jobs for "contracting" yields 23,000 openings globally ( how many are applicable i do not know) Checkit out:

http://careers.gijobs.com/jobs/?moc=contracting#1

If you take a look at many of these openings contracting translates to "procurement" "strategic sourcing" or "buyers". The openings are across different industries with different needs. I am a supply chain professional so I really do not understand the 10 years of accounting experience for a a job that is related to contracting in the commercial sector. However, there are skills that you might not have that employers are looking for in procurement specialists such as Advanced Excel, understanding financial statements, and understanding SAP or Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning systems. To be competitive in with these jobs I would recommend that you take advantage of free MIT courses through EDx or Coursera in supply chain, advanced excel, and data and analytics (certificates for a given course cost about 100.00) . Also consider becoming a Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) through APICS the association of operations managers. The CSCP costs about 3500 to include material, 5 day course and testing ( GI Bill pays for testing, but not for training and materials). This certification which is one of the most valuable (supply chain managers avg 100k and are in high demand) across industries is not even mentioned or facilitated by the military unless you are a logistician/supply/ contracting specialists working for one of the Materiel Commands. If you look at the "Apple care posting" in the job search above you will see that Apple is also looking for a dynamic team leader. Your leadership experience, coupled with the skill sets I mentioned above can be a significant differentiator if you build the right skill sets on top of your existing military experience. Like several have mentioned, this takes work and effort. We must sell ourselves and do our due diligence to understand what the customer (employer) wants.

One last word on masters degree - Do your due diligence! The marketplace is changing fast and often many masters degrees are too costly, with little practical relevant skills, and much invested time. Certifications can be sufficient provided they are in high demand fields such as Supply Chain, Data Science, Data Bases, Cyber Security or Forensics. Also take a look at new educational alternatives like http://www.joinkoru.com or the General Assembly. I hope this was informative.

Top Jobs for Veterans, Veteran Careers, G.I. Jobs - Jobs

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2015 10:57 AM

2015-06-05T10:57:17-04:00

My best advice would be to start networking (apologies if this has already been covered in some of the other responses - I didn't read each one). Job boards, hiring fairs, and on-line applications will just put you into the same pool as everyone else. If you find a company you want to work for, look hard to find someone who knows someone who knows someone else who might work for that company (Linked In helps). Then, reach out and ask to meet (informally, over coffee, etc.) to start learning about the company and jobs available.

Many times, employers use generic templates for job postings and descriptions. In my company, education and experience are flexible - just because the posting says 10 years required, doesn't mean that the employer will hold firm to that. This is where the networking comes in - the person you've made contact with can not only get your resume in front of the hiring manager, but can also help you understand how flexible the requirements are.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 2:48 PM

2015-06-08T14:48:56-04:00

Key is to understand what opportunities you desire to pursue. Next is where those exist in the civilian marketplace. Finally, how can you get hired into those organizations in almost any capacity! Excel in your initial role! Why? A competent, hard charging KATN individual gets noticed and gets opportunities quickly, especially in rapidly growing organizations. Most positions are sourced informally, then memorialized in a formal process. In other words - how do you stand out among the 500 other applications/ resumes for the job you are seeking!

Response by SrA Julie A made Jun 11 at 2015 1:22 PM

2015-06-11T13:22:12-04:00

Try using o*net. This website converts your MOS into language civilians understand

Response by SFC Aaron Dudney made Jun 11 at 2015 5:14 PM

2015-06-11T17:14:03-04:00

As a 20 year Vet and Hiring Manager for a Fortune 500 company I have been on both sides of the fence. Most SM and Veterans suffer from the same mistakes, and I am included in that group, perhaps with better guidance I would have gotten employment sooner.
Here are some lessons learned.

Mistake 1: Lack of research on the company and position you are applying for. With the internet available there is not much you cannot find in this space. This is absolutely critical to shape your resume and prepare you for an interview. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Mistake 2: Build your resume to match the position you are applying for. Military translation programs are available, make use of them.

Mistake 3: Misspelling or poorly written resumes, this is a killer! I highly recommend you hire a resume writer, not someone from the Military transition office. You need someone who is far from the Military; they will be quick to point out things they do not understand and help you translate. There usually is a cost for this service but in the end it will pay dividends.

Mistake 4: One size does not fit all. Create several resumes, leadership, technical, or whatever aligns with the job you are applying for. Be ready to adjust them for specificity.

Mistake 5: If possible, use an address in the area you are applying for (a friend or family member). If you are not yet released from the Military, not all civilians understand that the military will relocate you. Make it known that Relocation is not an issue.

Mistake 6: Be prepared and willing to start at a lower position than you fill you are qualified for. As a product of the Military you will climb the ladder quick.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2015 1:57 PM

2015-06-28T13:57:03-04:00

As a hospital corpsman I found that applying to private practices increased my chances of getting hired since the doctors had the final say. As apposed to big hospitals which required me to show licenses and certifications to the HR department. Hope that helps.

Response by LTC A Carlton made Jul 7 at 2015 12:30 PM

2015-07-07T12:30:35-04:00

You might have to, at some point, reinvent yourself. Either back taking a lesser position to acquire the experience or look to start your own business. You face what many have faced in similar positions and that is corporate America not being able to see your experience and the asset you could be to their company.

Business Consultant

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 28 at 2015 1:44 PM

2015-09-28T13:44:30-04:00

SSG, I'd still apply and adjust the resume accordingly. I got a job that requires a heavy IT cert that I don't have, and all my coworkers are technically more qualified and meet the standard, but they looked at the overall picture (yes I understand there might be some differences between contracting and IT). I would have thought contracting would have a direct work translation (and also available positions, probably on the same installation you were at) on the GS/contractor side??

Response by SrA David Steyer made Dec 6 at 2015 2:51 PM

2015-12-06T14:51:43-05:00

I think a lot of it is different experiences and/or lack of experiences. Not to mention the military doesn't require certifications or a degree to do some jobs, while outside the gate the same job requires a degree or certifications up the wazoo. So if you really want to do it in the civilian realm you'll have to do more work. I say more work because you'll need to get certified to do something you already know or are already doing.

I heard a story of a USAF Firefighter who was getting out after 12 years and was applying with a county fire department and when the Fire Chief asked how many fires he put out in 12 years, the Firefighter said he put out less than ten over 12 years and the Fire Chief laughed and said he has had rookies put out more in their first week.

When I was in the USAF I was Public Health, and the duties are much of what the health department off base does. Best way of explaining it.

And I can tell you it is very hard to translate this job. You can translate it but you may need a masters to get an entry level job. If you have a bachelors, you'll need a lot of certifications to help back it up too and/or go to a lot of bases. When I was stationed in DC it was a huge deal if we had three cases of chlamydia in a month. You go outside the gates, the DC health department is dealing with a hell of a lot worse stuff on a daily basis such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B on a regular basis and I am sure they have more than three cases of those problems in a month, maybe a day or a week! So we don't always get a lot of experience, plus your average military population for the most part is healthier than your off base population.

I have no desire to do this job anymore and it's for the best - it doesn't suit or fit my personality and I can tell you I have gotten very little experience in this field due to the lack of "fires" so to speak.

I know a few people who have gotten jobs with the health department or CDC though, but it seems the majority do something else when they get out, go to school, or try and move to the tech school to get a job at the school house and/or get one of the few rare GS or contractor positions. I have been told the health department where I am at fires and hires on a daily basis.

Response by GySgt Moses Lozano made Dec 9 at 2015 7:58 AM

2015-12-09T07:58:29-05:00

SSgt, after being out for over a year now there is one hard truth you have to face. The civilian world does not care about the skills military veterans bring because to them these skills are alien to them. Picture a civilian trying to walk into any military unit claiming to have all these qualifications to supervise and lead troops but has never been in the military! That is the way most civilians look upon military veterans. Of course they say they appreciate all we did or do but the reality is that nobody cares as far as job hunting goes.

That is not to say that there are not a lot of companies who want veterans there are. My point is that civilians give more credit for civilian related qualifications first before military qualifications. Keep your head up and keep applying.

Response by SPC Dustin Driver made Oct 9 at 2016 10:05 AM

2016-10-09T10:05:09-04:00

Go 12N there are plenty of civilan jobs out there in that field. Since i have gotten out I have operated front loaders cranes several pieces of construction equipment in the civilian world.