I Know What I Don't Want to Do When I Get Out

Growing up in Texas, one got used to the heat, humidity and the bugs … lots of bugs. My worst summer job during high school, and I had many, was when I had the opportunity to work at a big lumber yard.

My job -- along with another young lad -- was to unload the train box cars of lumber that arrived weekly. All the unloading was done by hand. It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle, only in reverse. We would open the massive door of the car and inside was lumber stacked to the top, less the last three feet.

One would crawl into the top space and work on our knees handing out one board at a time. The other one would stand on the forks of the forklift and stack the boards as they were handed out. Once the “hole” was large enough for two, we both worked inside the car.

Inside the cars at midday was about 140 degrees. Most of the lumber was large planks rough sawn, which means there were plenty of splinters. It would take two days to unload one car. However, when the cedar shakes came, they were worse. Bundles of shakes also stacked to near the top. One bundle at a time was handed out.

Once inside the hot car, the sawdust was unreal and made you itch all over. Hard to breath, unbelievably hot outside in the sun (102 felt like 125) and the humidity would weaken even the strongest. Soaking with sweat, the bugs would land on you and you would suffer big time. The boss would check on us about four times a day and yell that we worked too slowly.

As soon as the last board or bundle was handed out, the switch engine would arrive to leave another full car and take the empty one away. After the first day, it was really hard to get up each day knowing what was waiting for you when you got to work. All for minimum wage of about $1.75 and hour. I learned early in life what I did not want to do for a living when I grew up!

(Submitted by Mr. Bob Edwards, Air Force)

Choosing Military- or Employer-Provided Insurance

I was in the Army for just over 21 years, stationed down in Biloxi, MS at Keesler AFB. I got my retirement orders in February of 2005, with a retirement date of Dec. 31 2005. With taking leave and PTDY, I was gone the end of September.

As soon as I got my orders, I started pushing hard on my job searches and sending out my resume. I am a Frequency Manager and that was what I was shooting for. I found there were no GS openings so I started hitting the defense contractors sites e.g. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, and so forth.

Boeing had a position and I applied for it. They called me to set up a phone interview in June and I found out I got hired. The first thing they asked was how soon could I start and I said the end of September. Then Hurricane Katrina hit and threw a few wrenches in my works but everything worked out.

I think the hardest part of transition was understanding the benefits that the companies offer. After 21 years of never having to worry about medical insurance, I was forced to make a choice between three different version of their plans. Yeah, we had the option of Tricare Prime, but honestly Boeing had a better plan. Then there are the investment/401K plans, the vacation and sickdays. I went from earning 2.5 days a month to earning 1.5-plus hours a week.

I would suggest that before you get out to bone up on civilian medical plans in general, learning about co-pays and what is and isn’t covered. One more thing. When it comes to salary, whoever mentions money first loses. Always make a counter to their offer. They will let you know if they can or can't. Do research as best you can about what the median pay for you skill will be in your new location. I went from living in Biloxi, MS to living in Seattle, WA -- a big change. Don’t just counter with a single amount, come back with a range. If you would settle for 66K, then counter with 65-67K. Give them an option to choose and don’t sell yourself short.

(Submitted by Brian Gilman)

The Only Thing Holding You Back is You

When I retired from the Air Force in January of 2001, I guess I was fairly well prepared, even though I had done a lot of the prep work kind of “last minute.”

I received my CCAF degree – an AAS in Electronic Systems, finally, in July of 2000. Better late than never. That was a lot easier for me than I thought it would have been. After preparing my resume with the help of the base career center, I was able to pursue my second career. With a lot of helpful advice from the base transition assistance program I was able to interview effectively, and had a job very soon. In fact, I was still on terminal leave for the first couple of months on the job.

If not for the CCAF degree, I wouldn’t have got that first job after retirement (technician for General Electric Lighting), because an associate degree was a job requirement. I guess more than anything though, getting the CCAF degree started me thinking how much time I let go by withou t pursuing my education further and I began to regret not taking more classes while still on active duty.

About a year and a half after retirement, my second chance for a college education came. I had applied to the V.A. for their Vocational Rehabilitation program right around the time I was in the process of retiring, and after several months, I found out that I was eligible for a 48-month full ride scholarship at a college of my choice. It didn’t take me long to decide to take them up on it. It was tough, but, after 4 1/2 years of going to school full time, I got my Electrical Engineering degree.

Now I’m enjoying a second career as an engineer at an electric utility – during my last semester, after a few months of interviewing at various companies, an opening came up with my first choice employer and I actually landed the job. Looking back, I wish I had taken more classes while I was on active duty and finished the CCAF many years earlier. Another thing I learned was that you can do anything you put your mind to. The only thing holding you back from achieving your dreams is your own fears and doubts, so think positively.

(Submitted by Mr. Brian Scheer)

Six Tips for a Succeeding in the Civilian World

I only did three years of active duty and five in the reserves, but I honestly have to say that it took me a good 10 years to adjust to civilian life.

Here is my advice:

1. Go to school and complete a program of some type even if it's not a bachelor's degree. Civilians value civilian accredited education and they do not care how you did at PLDC or BNCOC.

And while we're on the subject, no, I've never had a potential employer ask to see a copy of my DD214. Most of them have no idea that it exists and the one that I did show it to was befuddled by it.

2. Update your civilian wardrobe to match the styles of today and not of when you graduated high school.

3. If you find yourself missing the camaraderie of the military then join a VFW or American Legion Post. You will never find that in the workforce.

4. Personally, I found that working for larger organizations proved to be an easier transition because they do have some semblance of structure to them. So do most government agencies. There's something to be said for stability.

5. Consider a career in business to business sales. On the face of it, many people shy away from this because you are basing your income on what you produce. But the reality is in the civilian world, nothing happens until a sale is made. In addition to that, there are some very lucrative earnings to be made from sales.

Consider for a moment all of the different people that you've had to deal with over the years in your military career. Besides your work ethic, that is the one advantage that you are taking with you that most people are sorely lacking in the civilian workforce. You know how to relate to different people from all sorts of backgrounds and connect with them. People skills are invaluable.

6. Stay true to your core values that you hold dear and do not compromise them. So you find out after six months that the people you are working for are dirtbags? So what? Move on. Someone out there shares your values and will pay you handsomely for it.

I truly hope that you are able to take one or two ideas from this and apply them to your search for a new career. Good Luck to all of you. Thank you for your selfless service and Godspeed.

(Submitted by Mr. Michael Starnes )

Don't Throw Your College Money Away

Wow ... the transition. Let me tell you. It was twenty years ago. I thought my electronics training and night classes would be enough for success after a one hitch term in the late 80's.

Don't through your college money away. Yeah, I had a nice resume, some decent interviews, but it is pretty competitive out here. Don't get me wrong, most employers are pro-military hiring, but it took a BS in Chemistry to land a job. The promotions came through my military back-ground. Still to this day when I am sitting in the CEO's office, the talk is not about my college education, but about my military time some twenty years ago.

Take advantage of any military eligable money's for a post-military education. You won't regret it.

(Submitted by Jeff R.)

The Good and Bad About Transitioning

My experience might not be fully typical. I left the Air Force with advanced degrees in engineering and skills then in demand for the civilian job market. However, I applied principles that can help just about everyone.

I left the Air Force in 1987 as a LTC (COL-Select) with 21 years service -- at the time Chief of Integration for the B-52 Modernization Program. A recruiter contacted me on the recommendation of a colleague. I had been passed over by my first O-6 board, then selected by a special board after correction of a records error, a year later. It was nice to have options in making the decision. The needs of my family played a big part in my choice to decline promotion.

Among the steps I took to prepare for this move, was a 10-week course in "Strategies for Career Transition." It was the best $450 I ever spent. Though I disagreed with some of the attitudes communicated in the course, it helped me prepare for the new environment of civilian employment.

The course covered a lot of ground that all of us must address during transition: job research, resume writing, salary negotiation, interview techniques and role playing, among other topics. I also learned to dress and present myself for interviews. The workplace of today is less formal than 20 years ago. But, you still need to at least three suits and two sports coat/slacks outfits, at prices twice the levels you think are reasonable. First impressions matter. Don't run away from $500-plus per suit. It's an investment.

Likewise, plan to invest at least two full working weeks -- 100 hours -- writing and refining your resume. It may be the toughest writing you ever do. Things you were "responsible for" don't matter. Concrete outcomes expressed in numbers and active voice do. Twenty years must fit on two pages or less. The first paragraph must grab the reader by the throat and hang on -- or the whole thing may go into a circular file 10 seconds later.

You will refine and target your resume for each place it is sent. If you don't know enough about a company to tailor your paper, then you shouldn't be applying there. The best jobs are filled by networking, not ads or online. Most of us don't have much of a civilian network so we have to break in the hard way, by serious company research.

Another rule of job search is also correct: never send mail to "Director of Human Resources." Do your homework first and locate someone by name who can send your resume to HR with a note "bring this candidate in." Plan to spend a full day or more researching each company you want to interview. Would you leap off a chopper into a fire zone without a terrain map or a mission brief? It's possible to know the corporate terrain better than the people who interview you. Knowledge gives you an edge over the 200 others who want "your" job.

I found both bad news and good news during transition -- and others might find the same. The bad news is partly that sexism, ageism and an anti-military bias are still alive and kicking in the job market. Candidates over 45 are definitely at a disadvantage, perceived as both "too expensive" and "military strap hangers". Racism is more subtle in places where it occurs, but also much less prevalent than a generation ago.

This year we're also in a raging economic recession. It's a lousy and anxious time to look for a job. You'll have to work harder to find one. Prepare yourself for periodic emotional depression. Engage your family support net and tell them what you are going through. Get professional help if you need it.

The good news for military veterans is that we are better trained, often more highly qualified and have better attitudes toward work than a large fraction of those who have never served. We are trained to think, speak, and write with precision -- and to pac kage our work for the needs of decision makers whose time is in demand. Not many civilians can compete favorably with such a background, when it is communicated well. Likewise, we practice high standards of professionalism, ethical behavior and personal dedication to mission above personalities or empire building. If you take this attitude into your job research and interviews, than there is a job waiting for you. Possibly, it is one that you will create from scratch.

(Submitted by Dr. Richard Lawhern)

Finding Former Military in the Civilian Workforce

After my enlistment in the Army ended I was fortunate enough to actually have quite a few employers look at me for employment a few months before I got out. I actually took a mileage pass back home three weeks prior to ETS for an interview process with a large company. I ended up with what I would call now, my dream job. However, as with all good things in life, it came to an end when the company went through a series of bankruptcy filings. I left the whole career field I was trained for in the Army and took two other jobs in a completely different and unknown field.

About two years ago, I had applied with a company in the career field I was trained in and after about eight months, received a call for an interview. Fortunately, my soon-to-be new manager was retired from the Air Force and hired me on the spot, largely because of my military background. It was about a year later when I learned that my director of operations an d many more mid-level and upper lever managers/directors were all prior service.

Because of what the military teaches you, both in MOS and how to conduct yourself in any type of situation, I am now a manager myself of the entire Los Angeles market area for my company with a large department and several employees.

I owe everything in my life to my service in the Army and often use my experience to speak to young adults, with no direction in their lives, on how the military can help them achieve so much.

Yes, transitioning can be difficult, however, if you have a good plan in place and know what you are looking for, it can be much easier. I recommend not making an uneducated decision to just leave the military. Know what is out there in the world, and if what you want seems too far out of reach, take a harder look at other options the military can give. I was fortunate with my situation, but I have regretted leaving the Army since the day I officially signed out.

(Submitted by Dan Webb)

TAP: The Sooner the Better

I am currently in transition. I have been on terminal leave for nearly a month, and have been job hunting since January when I was on permissive TDY. Doing the job hunt thing on your own is very hard. The first step is to go through TAP. Do it as soon as you feel like getting out. The sooner the better, like a year before you take that final walk.

There is so much info there, you may want to take it twice. That alone won't help get that job, but it's a start. My best bet was linking up with headhunters like Bradley-Morris. They have taken out all of the guess work from resumes to corporate America fits. I have had numerous interviews through them and now I'm just trying to pick the job that I like most. It is giving me the chance to have a say-so in my future where doing it on my own would have left me begging for any job by now.

Background:
I am separating after 10 years as a Logistics Plans Officer, now Logistics Readiness Officer. I have been working the job boards since six months prior to separation [in oreder to] "practice" interviewing. This helped out a great deal, even though I was too early to accept a great job offer. I was never able to network. Get in with your career field annual conference and professional organizations now so that when the time comes, the good 'ol boy system will help you get a job. The headhunters become critical to job hunting success if the good ol' boy network fails you. They will polish your resume and introduce you to great fits for transitioning military. Another tip about headhunters: Lucas Group, Orion, and Bradley Morris are FREE! The company that hires you pays the fee. The member never does. if you hook up with a headhunter that wants you to pay a fee, walk away.

Some tips I have:

1. Network now!

2. Do TAP at least one year out from leaving.

3. Hook up with a headhunter. I wasn't pleased with Lucas Group or Orion. I liked Bradley Morris, but to each their own.

4. Post your resume on Monster.com or Military.com.

5. Search the job boards daily. The more you get your resume out there the faster some recruiter will see you and make contact.

6. Use your benefits! Burn up all of your Tuition Assistance and start into your VA benefits. That degree will matter when you cross over.

7. Don't use your base pay at separation as a gauge for how much you are worth on the outside. Junior officers are worth $60-80k starting out. If that disappoints you, you can easilly prove yourself within a couple of years and the money will flow much more generously. Remember, you need to break a few eggs to make that omlet.

Best of luck to all transitioning folks, and I'll see you in the real world!

(Submitte by John Cantera, Jr.)

Don't Forget to Get an Education

I was fortunate enough to have mentors and supervisors who encouraged me to take advantage of educational benefits while still on active duty. I also feel blessed beyond measure because I was able to retire from the Air Force as an E-8 after finishing my doctorate.

I encourage everyone at every level to get as much education as possible prior to leaving the military, whether you plan to stay for just a few years or for a career. With online options and the transportability of education so readily available, there really are very few places where you cannot be a student these days.

I know many career people feel it is too late to finish a degree. Never fear!! There are many certifications out there for senior NCOS and senior officers. Check out Society for Human Resource Management, the American Society of Training and Development, and Project Management Institute. Each of these organizations offer certifications based on experience, not degrees. There is some serious study time involved in achieving these certifications, but civilian employers welcome them as solid credentials. Also, those organizations have local chapters and conferences where networking opportunities abound.

(Submitted by Dr. Randy Plunkett)

What Recruiters Will and Will Not Tell You

After 20 years in the small community of the submarine service I have found it difficult to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life, or as we say when I grow up. I began my search about six months before I retired in December 2005. I would recommend that anyone do the same, because some of the positions that are available are not immediate hires and have a lengthy hiring process.

The longest for me was a position I had interviewed for with TVA. The process was about eight months long. I have also tried the recruiting firms Lucas Group, Orion International, Military Stars, New Careers, Recruit Military, Bradley Morris, and NexusRG. Out of this group the most helpful were Lucas, Orion, Military Stars and NexusRG. I had a bad experience with Bradley's recruiter. The recruiter tried to set me up with jobs in locations I had told him I did not want to live and when I turned those down he never called back.

All of these recruiters are paid by the companies to find you and bring you to the hiring table. None of their money comes out of your paycheck after you are hired and for some of them there is a 90 day warranty on you. If you do not stay the full 90 days the recruiter does not get paid. I throw that out there to dispell a lot of rumors I heard about recruiters when I retired. I have interviewed with probably 20 to 30 companies. Some interviews were in person and some over the phone. There are a lot of 12-hour shifts being worked out there and some with mandatory production days on Saturday.

Supervisors and managers generally are expected to work 60 hour weeks. Some even more. I turned down an offer for a supervisor position with Amazon because the day shift supervisor was putting in 80-hour weeks on salary and no overtime. I found out the hourly employees had better time off and actually made more money than the supervisor on salary. Do your home work. The flowery picture some recruiters pa int is not always the case. Google search the company and the industry. I was offered an excellent paying job with a steel company. I searched and found a letter written by the CEO to the U.S. government that basically said if things did not change he will have to close up business in the U.S and go overseas.

The recruiter did not mention that and when I told him, he was unaware. I fell into the job I am working now by networking with friends. I work for a government contractor 40 hours a week and make very good money. There is no upward mobility and no challenge for me so the job is difficult. It pays the bills. Like others I am a doer, a fixer and like being the guy that solves problems. That's how it was for me while I was active. If it was broke or if no one could figure it out, I was the guy that got the call. My job satisfaction comes from being the guy that is depended on to get the job done. I have not found that challenging job yet and so I keep searching. I wish you all goodluck in your hunt and hope your transition is as smooth as possible.

(Submitted by David Marks )