Who has had success getting IT (Information Technology) jobs after having IT experience in the military?

2014-10-25T17:13:27-04:00

I was an IT in the Navy and separated honorably in 2012. I still had a security clearance, had a security plus cert along with a ton of project experiences from my time in. I understand that without a degree, higher tech jobs won't look your way. I was told by the state that because I separated as an E-4, I was ineligible for a professional level job. The closest thing I've had to a job being an IT was working as a Geek Squad agent at best buy.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 25 at 2014 10:46 PM

2014-10-25T22:46:09-04:00

Get a network, project manager or other technical certification followed with an IT degree chaser. The job market is tough out there and w/o a civilian certification/degree getting a job won't be easy. I've known some pretty smart E-4s so I'm not sure I buy the bit about being ineligible because of rank, probably a nicer way of saying you need the education. Does your military rating/job directly correlate to an IT specialty, If so look to that to get started. Best of luck and hang in there.

Response by Sgt Jesse Bergeron made Oct 26 at 2014 2:14 AM

2014-10-26T02:14:44-04:00

I would think that your best bet would be to look into small companies that are contracted by the DOD. Check out srtgrp.com, we are constantly looking for different positions and prefer military experience. also look into Verizon, they are pushing hard to recruit veterans.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2014 3:22 PM

2014-10-26T15:22:56-04:00

Without a degree some won't look your way. I'm a self taught IT geek and have worked my way up the ladder to a position with an S&P 500 company as a programmer. Believe it or not, experience will get you in the door, but you have to try. And my military background is Avionics.

Even if you take a lower tier position, it's easier to move to the next job while you are in the industry. If you don't have a Linked-In profile set up, do it and make sure you detail your experience and military education, the recruiters will come to you.

The people I know that interview college candidates are disgusted with the quality of kids coming from college who expect the top of the pay scale with no experience.

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Oct 27 at 2014 9:52 PM

2014-10-27T21:52:37-04:00

PO3 Darius Cassaway - I think it really depends on what market you are trying to gain employment. I know in the D.C. area you would get a job in IT, maybe not making $100k. Depending on what clearance you had when you separated would have a lot to do with the salary. If you had secret that doesn't mean a whole lot most people can attain a secret. If you had TS/SCI with a Full Scope Poly you would be golden and even without a bachelor's degree could get $100k in the D.C. area. I was an ET (1986-1990) and have never gone more than a month without having a job.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2014 12:03 AM

2014-10-29T00:03:51-04:00

In 2000, automation had not yet hit the Army National Guard in any big or meaningful way. I had always been good with computers but as kind of a super user. In 2001, I got an opportunity to interview for a deskside support position with Perot Systems in Texas.

I was not experienced. But I was a 25U, which back then meant radios, MSE, and wire. But I persuaded my interviewers that I could learn anything that they wanted me to learn, faster and better than anyone else could, and that I could troubleshoot--that i the end, troubleshooting a radio is not different than troubleshooting a laptop.

They bought it. I then spent the next six months drinking from a fire hose, converting laptops from Windows 95 to XP, and being convinced that my boss was going to walk through my door and say, "Don't know how you convinced us you could do this, but you're a fraud. Get out." That didn't happen.

I deployed in 2003 and as the one Jr NCO on a 6 man signal section (1 MAJ, 1 CW3, 1MSG, 1 SGT and 1 SPC), I was made the Brigade Systems Administrator--and I'd only just gotten really comfortable being a desktop guy. Now I had to run servers, Exchange, AV, 2 domains....and so all the switching, routing, and networking. More fire hose. And when I got home I told my boss that I could now do more, that I wanted more responsibility and more money. And I got it.

Learned Citrix on the job, too,

BTW, the major enabler in all of this was my younger brother, a 4 year Navy vet, who has been working at Perot for three years before me, helped me get that interview and was my first real teacher in all this. He has no degree (mine is in history) and took the job at Perot after working for 5 years as a tire salesman.

I will grant, though, that the bog boss back then was H. Ross Perot, and there was never a guy who put more stock by veterans and reservists and inculcated that into his managers as well.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2014 10:42 AM

2014-10-29T10:42:35-04:00

Have you considered MCSE private cloud certification? It should be easily obtainable for you with your background, and it is considered one of the highest paying IT certifications.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Oct 30 at 2014 2:33 PM

2014-10-30T14:33:38-04:00

I have done some private contract work off duty as a penetration tester as well as general IT support. That said, I have the certifications, degrees and IT awards to match the over decade experience.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2014 3:45 PM

2014-10-30T15:45:12-04:00

if someone is in the boston area, and looking for IT work, please contact me thru RP.. If you have the skills I can help..
SFC Yohn

Response by SGT Todd Swartzman made Jul 1 at 2017 11:06 AM

2017-07-01T11:06:14-04:00

I own an IT company (msp) and do most of the hiring. My advice to vets, being one myself, is that you need to present your qualifications and work history in a way comparable to how civilians do it. Too many times I get a resume from a vet and it doesn't tell me what the hell they actually did for the last 3,4, or 20 yrs. lay out your skills, in order of,increasing responsibility and technical achievement. Be honest about how much time your service translates to in real terms. Get help on your resume from an experienced recruiter or civilian tech. If you are in IT in the military, you probably rub shoulders with contractors - the good ones share knowledge and advice. Contractors and a IT wizard supply sgt. along with a great sigo who got me going down the IT road are why I'm where I'm at today. You have contacts, use them.