Job Hunting & Frustration

2015-07-09T17:33:21-04:00

After completing over 20 years in the Army, I thought finding a civilian sector job would be a piece of cake. I had leadership and training experience and I could make difficult decisions in very stressful situations without batting an eye. I live by the values I learned in the military. What employer wouldn't want these traits in his/her company? They all say they want to hire Veterans because we bring these intangibles. I led and trained hundreds of troops, so how hard could job searching be? Tough…tougher than anything I had ever done.

The Army trains to prepare you for a myriad of situations you may find yourself in. But when you leave the military, you leave that support group that you had grown accustomed to. You are on your own and it's the most frightening feeling you can have.

I was getting really anxious after 4 months of searching! So much so that when I finally got a job offer as a satellite TV installer, I jumped right on it! I didn't care that I was over 40 with a bad back, arthritic knees (the military is tough on a person), and I'd be installing satellite dishes in the middle of North Dakota winters. I just wanted a job and a chance to prove myself. I would have worked through the pain and been the most dedicated satellite installer in the company! I took some painkillers and pushed myself through the physical and occupational test. I steeled myself for the upcoming training and winter! Luckily for me, I found another job and was hired before I had to sacrifice my body to these installations.

I felt your frustrations. In some ways, I still feel it. More of my life was spent in the military than being a civilian. There are days when I wish I would've pulled my retirement packet and lingered in the Army until mandatory retirement. I still struggle with assimilating but it gets better every day.

If you are still searching and considering relocating, North Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate and the fastest growing economy in the nation. There are always 25,000 jobs to be filled, and they are not all oil or energy related. Fargo has a very robust and diverse economy.

If you have time, you can visit: http://www.experience.nd.gov/live/ to learn more or give me a shout. Best of luck!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 5:38 PM

2015-07-09T17:38:00-04:00

Don't give up!!! If you want to talk about job hunting and frustration, I was on three federal registers in the 1970s and 1980s...Numero Uno. And I was not hired because of Affirmative Action. It has been a source of some satisfaction that out of the fifty-three minorities that were hired with scores thirty points below mine, fifty-two were fired with the first year for, what the Chicago SAIC said to me, was the inability of those hired to drive around the block without getting lost.

Hiring veterans is on a role now, much more so than during those years when I was job hunting. Don't give up!!!

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Jul 9 at 2015 5:39 PM

2015-07-09T17:39:41-04:00

While I am not personally interested in North Dakota, it is great to hear that you are starting to succeed after a brief period of slow panic! Job markets for military, while there, are sometimes hard to break into. The military trains us in a very specific way. It is not always easy to convey your abilities to a civilian hiring authority in a way that they know what they are getting! Congrats on breaking into the civilian markets! Hopefully, I can do the same coming up soon!

Response by Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA made Jul 9 at 2015 5:44 PM

2015-07-09T17:44:00-04:00

It seems the purpose of the military and the business world conflict in some ways. Many businesses (generally big business) are motivated by making profit - which they should do, but go about it by not caring so much about the people. You would expect they would want real leadership, but they really don't. I overheard one a VP ask an employee to take on a task - the employee said "I'll give it my best - the VP said "I care about your best I just want it done". So goes the mentality of some in the corporate world. There are those who treat employees well, you just have to take your time to find them. Also keep in mind, you have accomplished more than most of those who will employ you - so your talents will be an unknown to them. I wish you the best with your job search. Linkedin is a great way to search if you have not tried it (I suspect you have though). Just my humble opinion.

Response by MAJ John Pastella made Jul 9 at 2015 6:53 PM

2015-07-09T18:53:10-04:00

If found that two things are crucial, the first is getting away from military bases where you can hire guys at 40k a year. Second is networking with a fellow retiree in the civilian community. Preferably a person that can help you translate your skills into civilian speak and bureaucracy.

I was hired by a top level high school (Magnet & International Baccalaureate) after interviewing with a fellow retiree.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 9:22 PM

2015-07-09T21:22:57-04:00

I had to dumb down my resume and remove all references to military before I even got call backs....no one wants to hire a retiree......they wan the young veterans.

In the civilian world retiree are a threat for many reasons the least of which is the leadership abilities that top-three have in all services....no one wants to hire someone who can replace them. Also they are afraid that since you have a retirement check you will leave at the first sign of problems.

Response by LCpl Steven Humphrey made Jul 9 at 2015 9:52 PM

2015-07-09T21:52:33-04:00

try ziprecruiter.com

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 11:47 PM

2015-07-09T23:47:07-04:00

I am on my last 3 years in the Army and finishing up my degree. I am anxious to move on to civilian life to spend more time with my family. I have tasted civilian life but realized that it wasn't for me, the reasoning behind re-entering active duty after being out 4 years. I just got promoted to SFC and will do my mandatory 3 year obligation. After that, I am planning on retirement. I know I will have to get another job, and I expect that, but at least I will be with my family. For me, that is the most important thing.

Response by Sgt Ken Prescott made Jul 10 at 2015 12:00 AM

2015-07-10T00:00:00-04:00

Well, the economy is in the tank. If you want to get an idea of what the jobs numbers really mean, understand that U.S. workforce participation hasn't been this low in THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS. To get an idea of the net job creation out there, subtract 250,000 from the jobs creation number that gets released each month. You will usually have a negative number. 250,000 people enter the work age cohort every month, and there aren't enough jobs for them. Meanwhile, other people are trying very hard to hang onto their jobs, so things are tight.

Response by Sgt Matt Koeneman made Jul 10 at 2015 12:06 AM

2015-07-10T00:06:43-04:00

Just some info for you. Amazon hires a lot of veterans. On just my shift in maintenance there are 4/9 vets. Our department head is a vet, and my direct supervisor is a veteran.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2015 5:45 AM

2015-07-10T05:45:51-04:00

That whole zeal to hire veterans vanishes pretty quick when you walk in with a cane in my experience. Even for desk jobs.

Response by SPC Kevin Pora made Mar 5 at 2018 11:07 PM

2018-03-05T23:07:20-05:00

Cyber Fraud While Job Searching:

Beware of job offers that seem too good to be true. Here's why:

Not long ago, I received an email from a legitimate Pharmaceutical Company stating interest in my Resume which I posted on PA's State Job Gateway Website.

I researched the Company thoroughly finding they were highly reputable and well established. I replied that I would like to move forward with the interview process. From there, I was instructed to set up a chat room account via Google Hangouts.

*Note - I see no need using confidentiality regarding names, emails, etc as they are all fabricated and illegitimate.

The contact was from Martha Price ( [login to see] ). I spent 2 hours with "Mrs. Price" discussing the position (Online Data/Administrative Specialist), my qualifications, education, military background and other typical interview inquires.

At 8 am the next day, I received a formal job offer via email. It payed $30.75/HR full time. Wow! I was elated as I have been diligently searching for employment for the past several months.

I received the professionally written job offer including a Non Disclosure Agreement in a .pdf format. I executed/signed the documents and returned them to the sender, "Ms. Allina Maffei ( [login to see] ) who claimed to be my online supervisor.

We then discussed the position in further detail to include training and company software/hardware that I would be provided with. I was told that a meeting would be arranged with their agents and they would meet me in my area to have me fill out W2, payroll forms and tax documentation.

Mrs. Maffei stated that without filling these documents, I would not be enlisted for payroll and this was mandatory.

I became highly suspicions at this point and contacted the company's HR Dept. They stated that they never heard of Mrs. Price, Mrs. Maffei or Me!

I asked Mrs. Maffei if she would provide me with her phone # so I could ask her some detailed questions. She immediately disabled the communication link and I have not heard from her since.

These folks were highly sophisticated in tactic, but their intent was simple. "Get this guy's interest, mail him a fraudulent check to buy computer HW/SW and have him mail us a personal check with the remainder.

These are clearly fraudulent offers. All you can do is report it to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). You probably won't hear back from them unless bank fraud was officially committed and you lost significant funds. They simply can't keep up with all the Internet based fraud complaints they receive.

I hope this helps someone out there. NEVER give your bank account information to anyone whom you are interviewing with. The only time an employer would need you bank account would be for direct deposit payroll. At this point, they are no longer an interviewer, they are your true employer.

If there is any question as to the legitimacy of the company/offer, etc, simply call the Company's HR Dept. They will give you an immediate answer and it has become common practice.

*Disclaimer - This is my personally created post and all information included within is known from my personal experience. It is fact. Advice given, is educated suggestion only.

Response by SGT Paul Russo made Aug 1 at 2023 10:05 AM

2023-08-01T10:05:39-04:00

Man yes it's a difficult thing indeed , when I ETS'd back in 81 we moved to a entirely different state originally we were from Florida an Wife's Family moved to California. She followed me 3/4 of the way across the globe , an when She said She wanted to be near her family what could I say . I tried looking for jobs in that area but when your in Germany an can only offer a "suggested date" that you would be Stateside turned most Employers off , where as If we had returned to Florida it would have been easier as I had many many contacts there . An of course there was no transition program/ process offered, of course the re-up papers were waved at you one last time an then you where basically shown the door adios . I ETS'd towards the end of Oct an most employers held off till after the first of the year to hire to boot . So January came an went the funds we're getting low at this point so I sucked it up an went down to apply for unemployment benefits , Something that for me personally was very discouraging thinking I couldn't provide for my family . Well it would be a lil cash coming in till I got hired , so I prepared myself best I could an gathering up my paperwork an job resume in hand , I got there a 1/2 hr prior to unemployment office opening an there was already at least 40 ppl ahead of me . I finally get called in after waiting several hours so I had a lot of time to reevaluate my situation. It took less than 2 minutes to find out that our President had passed a bill effective Jan 1st of that year if you were eligible to re-up an chosen not to you in effect had turned down a job offer an could not draw unemployment benefits. Man that was a kick in the teeth, so with my head down an tail between my Leggs that was a Long Car Ride Home where Wifey & kiddo's are waiting for the Good News F ME . It took another 3 Weeks to find stable employment. An then you learn that The Military has been so indoctrinate into you , there was No SOP everything was just kinda winged you were told this is how things are supposed to be done But No One does that . You had no one watching your 6 you were in a every man for themselves an no one had issues stabbing you in the back if it scored points for them, an it was a game to set you up for failure. I did a good bit of job hopping the first few years, once I learned the in & outs it became easier to deal with the civilian marketplace . From that point my career grew my co-workers were shocked that if you actually did your job upper management with notice, which allowed you to move up an of course receive better pay for your efforts. Due to my work ethics an leadership abilities I learned in The Military benefited me well within a year or 2 at most I always ended up in a supervisor / manager position. Many times streamlining operations that benefited not only the employee, but the employer as well. Several times doing a annual review it would be commented I have never seen anyone protect/ look after their ppl the way you do . Which to me was the greatest compliment any employer could give . It was always difficult for me to fire an employee as no matter how bad of a screwup they were I knew there was a Wife an possibly children that were counting on that person to provide a home ,pay the bills , put food on the table. One place I worked had gone into receivership to the Bonding Company, we all knew the axe was coming down just not when. So along comes Christmas one year I had a Christmas Party for my department an of course extended an offer to the owner to join us. He came in passed out meager little bonus checks, sat at the table an broke bread with them an then comes over to me I'm manning the BBQ Grill an says we to talk in your office, yeah sure boss he then tells me to release everyone after the party is over this was like 1pm. And I told him that was exactly what I had planned that we were shutting down as tomm was Christmas Eve . He goes no your not following me , YOU need to terminate everyone . It was a interesting operation as yes He was the Owner , But I reported directly to The Bonding Company . An that his personal assistant would be dropping off the packets with in the hour .
However I need your Services for at least another 3 months . I told him not only that Wouldn't do that I couldn't do that . Most of these ppl I had worked with for well over 6 yrs . He stormed off in a huff , I called Personal Assistant & Line Foreman in an broken the news to them . It took me roughly a month to get everyone a job lined up if they wanted it , as I had a large network developed at that time . Oh an I consumed copious amounts of alcohol thru all that .

Response by SGT Paul Russo made Aug 1 at 2023 10:12 AM

2023-08-01T10:12:20-04:00

Alright I can't seem to go back an edit my comment,
I would suggest joining a Veterans Organization, VFW , AmVets etc an Networking with them first an foremost.