Does anyone have advice on trying to find work after Active Duty?

2023-01-14T21:32:57-05:00

At the end of June of 2022 I moved from Hawaii back to Southern California so I could get my Master of Divinity in Pastoral Care and Counseling at Biola. I am currently a Chaplain Candidate and Social Media Manager with 426th CA BN (A). I have tried Indeed and sending out every application I can. I’ve been to a few job interviews but was told their looking for someone with more experience even though they really liked me. I switch to 90% online so I can work full time and I even then I can’t get anything comittal.
It’s not like I’m looking for a quick job. Im trying to find something I can sink my teeth into and work at for at least 5 years while im going through my Masters Program. However, I just can’t seem to catch a break.

If anyone has any advice, recommendations, etc. I would be more than grateful.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jan 14 at 2023 9:35 PM

2023-01-14T21:35:39-05:00

What kind of work are you looking for?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2023 10:52 PM

2023-01-14T22:52:52-05:00

Have you used LinkedIn? As a vet you can get a free year of LinkedIn premium. One of the advantages here is you can sort people by almost everything and reach out to people with things in common with you to ask if they like working at their company ti start a conversation. Also you can sort by the job title "recruiter" and connect with them. It's a great tool.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2023 11:04 PM

2023-01-14T23:04:29-05:00

check out one of the prisons.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2023 12:44 AM

2023-01-15T00:44:44-05:00

Hey friend. I am also a Chaplain candidate, just ETS'd to head to grad school. I have 14 years in, this is actually my second ETS. Here is some advice that may be helpful to you at the moment.

Check out the USO pathfinder transition program. This can be a lunching point for you to build some more plans of attack in trying to get hired, and they will have access to a variety of resources and networks that can further guide and support your job search.

Get started on your LinkedIn profile. It may ake a while to get it they way you want it, if you want a quality profile like some of the best out there, and want civilian organizations to understand your worth. Build your connections for a while, then send a respectful message requesting endorsements or recommendations from all your connections. See if there is a LinkedIn workshop near you and take it. The way I was taught is that LinkedIn should be a power-boost to your resume. If you put that little custom LinkedIn link at the top of your resume, they should be able to head to your profile and get further information on everything in the resume and see a bit of personal flare, plus view your endorsements and recommendations from co-workers. Add me if you'd like and scroll through my connections to see some good examples of veteran profiles, in my opinion.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-caley

Look into federal work and see what's open at USAjobs.com. Find a local veteran resource that will help you build your federal resume or call military one source.

Also, don't forget to network. Some crazy percentage, like 75%, of all jobs are secured through networking, skipping the entire hiring process. Word of mouth is still everything in most jobs. Reach out via LinkedIn, friends, family, fellow soldiers, etc. Build yourself a respectful email template that you can push out to everyone to strike up a conversation about how your looking for work and would love to speak to such and such more if they have a few minutes or know of any opportunities.

Good luck my friend! Message me if I can be of help.

patrick-caley

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2023 1:36 AM

2023-01-15T01:36:37-05:00

1LT Private RallyPoint Member Before the interview, do your research so that you know the company and position that you are interviewing for. Practice the interview so that you are comfortable in handling any question that is thrown at you. Finding a job takes hard work and commitment. Good luck.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jan 15 at 2023 5:54 AM

2023-01-15T05:54:33-05:00

My first job interview after completing a mechanics course it was the same. After the boss came out with that line, I looked him right in the eye and replied with a command voice, "You are all the same, wanting someone with more experience. How is a guy like me suppose to get more experience if no one wants to give guys like me a chance?". I continued to look him direct in the eye with a stern look. Finally after a period of silence, he replied, "Well, seeing how you put it that way, I am going to give you a shot".
You want something, reach out and get it. I believe sometimes this is the common line to test people, to see if they really want the job or not.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jan 15 at 2023 7:08 AM

2023-01-15T07:08:18-05:00

I am not clear in all of your points, How are you getting out as a 2LT, and you are a chaplain candidate? What does cleared yourself to work 90% online? If your goal is to get a degree as a Pastor, why not simply do it through the military and recieve it all for free and be paid for a full time job at the same time. The military needs driven and caring people to become chaplains in order to provide comfort, solice, and care for the soul.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2023 8:13 AM

2023-01-15T08:13:42-05:00

Try Work For Warriors.
The office is in Sacramento, but they help a lot of servicemembers and veterans in So Cal.
https://workforwarriors.org/

Work For Warriors – (916) 854-4426

Response by SSG Bill McCoy made Jan 15 at 2023 11:49 AM

2023-01-15T11:49:07-05:00

Look for companies that have government contracts and even sub-contracts (over $10K). They have some obligation to hire & promote Veterans. Try not to stress your divinity qualifications if you see from a company's website that they have a DEI officer or program as they may not want what THEY see as a, "Holy Roller," in today's woke climate. If it comes up, push the counselling aspect of your education background. Put some emphasis on your leadership qualities.
Take heart ... in my day, Veterans (because of Vietnam) were overtly discriminated against, i.e., I was told in more than one inteview they didn't hire Vets because, "You guys who were in Nam and Germany, were known to use drugs." Today's climate for Veterans is much, MUCH better thankfully. Even the company I ultimately worked for would tell me, "You military people! You only see things in black and white; there's no gray areas with you!" LOL Still, as a gov't contractor, I had "some" measure of protection.
Another aspect of today's workforce is companies have gone to a 401K penson plan. My company pushed the idea that, "You can leave and take your pension with you!" The meaning of that was they only wanted most employees to stay somwhere <5 years and a max of 10. Try to talk to employees about that and whether or not the company looks for CAREER oriented people such as yourself.
Best of luck to you!

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Jan 15 at 2023 6:52 PM

2023-01-15T18:52:20-05:00

Take any job you can get and work from there. I took a job doing night deliveries. That allowed me to interview during the day. Within three months I had my dream job. Remember in the civilian community, you have no experience that can be confirmed; thus, you aren't going to get that $100,000 dollar job the job counselor said you would get. If it is a good company, take a lower paying job, prove yourself and the promotions and pay increases will come.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made Jan 16 at 2023 12:28 PM

2023-01-16T12:28:57-05:00

Are you Active Duty? Or are your Reserve or National Guard. This might make a difference. If you are Active Duty, then I would suggest that you stay in, complete your degree program, and continue to work with your unit's Chaplin's Office. You could be a Unit Chaplin.

If you are Guard or Reserve, then I would suggest keeping with that. Work with your unit Chaplin's Office. Honestly, working with the Chaplin's Office could give you the break, and very possibly the experience, you need.

Response by SGT Mark Tobert made Jan 23 at 2023 1:32 PM

2023-01-23T13:32:22-05:00

Have you considered working as a disaster reservist with FEMA? Great experience, pay and meeting people all across the nation.

Response by 1LT Brandon Brackett made Jan 28 at 2023 8:38 PM

2023-01-28T20:38:24-05:00

Learn to day trade

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2023 7:59 PM

2023-02-05T19:59:09-05:00

If interested in a move, move to Texas, transfer to the TXSG as a Chaplain in the Chaplain Corp and go SAD (State Active Duty) as a Chaplain.

Response by SGT Yvonne Winchester made Feb 28 at 2023 3:51 PM

2023-02-28T15:51:58-05:00

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/thurstonwa

Thurston County Employment Opportunities | Thurston County Human Resources

Response by LCpl Tommy Camden made Mar 2 at 2023 4:10 AM

2023-03-02T04:10:23-05:00

Usajobs is a great resource. You can also always drop a resume off with the manager of your local Social Security Office. They are always looking for people. Finally, good luck with everything. I wanted to go to Biola, but they did not offer the program I wanted online. That school has great professors that have done a lot for the gospel.

Response by PO1 Terry Scott made Mar 29 at 2023 9:55 PM

2023-03-29T21:55:51-04:00

You make your own breaks. Like the guy who said he intimidated his hiring manager. Navy corpsman Biomedical didn’t know shit about xray gave them a line of shit and with an AAS retired from a company that only hired BAs. End end up teaching a medical imaging discipline. You need to leverage what the military taught you. Get it done! You should jump in over your head and hopefully come up for air but not to yell help. You can do it unless you really can’t , your call.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 30 at 2023 8:01 AM

2023-03-30T08:01:42-04:00

I won’t do a deep dive as I am sure your chosen path em is one I am unfamiliar with save to say that I am confused why you would get out. I have had several acquaintances and friends over the years become military chaplains and the absolutely love the practice and serving their fellow service members. I still watch a few who share on FB and LinkedIn. A more diverse group whose needs are as broad can’t be found elsewhere. Serve those who serve with you.

Anyway, I know that the Chaplaincy played a big role in my life and that of my Soldiers.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 30 at 2023 12:54 PM

2023-03-30T12:54:30-04:00

Treat it like a mission. You need to do recon, establish a desired end state, set right and left limits, react to the enemy, etc.

Research the Company. Identify what their needs are and how you, specifically, meet those needs. Even if your ability isn't "paperable" (you don't have SPECIFIC work experience or education), if you can articulate soft skills or life experience that fills the need, you need to be ready to discuss in an interview.

The "no experience" is ALWAYS a hurdle. If you HAD the experience, you would be looking for the next step. Almost EVERYONE looking for a job is looking for something new. Either a different aspect, or the next rung up the latter, or something. So you need to be able to explain how you overcome that lack of experience....

"I do not have direct experience as a carpenter, but I spent three summers working for Habitat for Humanity where I learned the importance of following blueprints, how to properly shingle a roof, and how to use the majority of the tools of the trade. Additionally, I spent 20 years in the military where I learned the importance of hard work, of making sure my part of the larger whole is completed to standard - and fits the larger whole, and of coordinating with everyone on the team to make sure the bigger picture comes to fruition, which I am sure are will help carry me through the initial learning curve that all employees will face."

"I do not have direct experience in human resources, but I have spent 8 years running a Company Ordlerly Room, dealing with tracking and managing personnel, tracking and ensuring compliance with training requirements, and creating and maintaining various rosters of personnel needs, strengths, and skills. Additionally, I am a certified Resilience Trainer, have extensive training in Equal Opportunity, Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention, Legal Conpliance, and Ethics, all of which will provide me a necessary background to embark on this exciting path."

(Both of those are entirely true ways I could pitch myself for a position for which I have no actual experience).

Establish what your wants and needs in a job are (including don't wants and must nots) - and clearly separate the two. Don't pass on a job that meets all of your needs just because it is missing some (or all!) of your wants. Those wants may be negotiable at the interview. Or, if not then, maybe 1 or 2 years in, once you have established your value.

Know that no matter how much research you have done, no matter how many times you have rehearsed, chances are good, there will be at least one moment that will shut you down, if you let it. It may be an odd question, it may be a "we want experience," it may be an interview that gets re-scheduled 5 times, it may be something else entirely. You have been trained to adapt, improvise, and overcome - so DO IT.

Recon (research), left and right limits (wants and needs) mission statement / desired end state (go in with a specific job position, salary, etc.), react to the enemy (adapt, improvise, overcome). Good mission planning and professional execution leads to a high rate of mission success.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2023 1:14 AM

2023-06-08T01:14:46-04:00

No real advice. Best of luck. It's stressful and a real/brutal test. I had an accounting degree and a family history [mother's] in accounting. It worked out in the end with a CPA certificate, a Chinese wife in a Fukien Chinese speaking home, two daughters, a mother in law, and a Rolex dowry. In "theory" I can give the Rolex, the wife, and the kids back to the mother in law; but does anyone think i would be alive to enjoy live afterwards?

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Jun 21 at 2023 7:43 AM

2023-06-21T07:43:37-04:00

Has No Body Been Taught HOW To Write A Resume And WHAT To Say?
It's Great To Be 100% HONEST,, But It's Even BETTER To Get The Job!
No Time To Explain It HERE, But I'm An 8th GRADE DROP OUT.
Self Educated Through U.S.A.F.I. During My 4 Year USAF Enlistment.
And Our Education Was FREE.......I Spent 4 Years Studying, MAINLY, Business Management.
But On My Resume, I Was"A College Grad With A MASTERS In BUSINESS MANAGEMENT,
With ONLY A 3.4 GPA."....BUT I Was And AM, Still Damned Good In The Field.
F.M.C. Hired Me As An Industrial Purchasing Agent, In The Michigan Office...
Within A Short Period Of Time, I Was Promoted Directly To The Office Of
Purchasing Director In It's Indiana Plant........ Bypassing Assistant PA.
SO, If You KNOW You Can Do The Job, And Are Willing To Work & Learn As You Go,
What Do You Even NEED A Degree For?....
Just Learn To Write A Great Resume;... The Rest Is Bull Sh*t Anyway...
I'm SURE My Resumes Were BETTER Than Any Of Disney's Fiction Writer's Stories.
~~ Dress-Up Your Resume SO Well, It'll Get Invited Out To Dinner. ~~

Response by 1LT Brandon Brackett made Jul 15 at 2023 9:13 PM

2023-07-15T21:13:27-04:00

Learn to daytrade