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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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 .

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

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.

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