When Do Veterans Get a Hook Up?

Where's the system that monitors if you have military or military spouse affiliation?

I have been retired since 2005. I have had the hardest time finding employment. While on active duty we were limited to going to class -- even online classes. So a lot of us don't have degrees like the Air Force who makes it mandatory.

We defend the country and when we get back into the civilian world we are looked at like we know it all. That veteran preference thing only works if you know someone. I have seen people in these government jobs that say they knew someone who hooked them up. When do veterans get a hook up? There should be some type of system that monitors if you have military or military spouse affiliation before they can be hired into government positions, especially when it deals with DOD positions.

(Submitted by Mrs. Marilyn Allen)

Comments

[Sharon Unknown]

Just be proactive. Military always wants to help military get ahead of a civilian. Do not be afraid to ask for what you want. I got my job by asking for a job that wasn't open. When it became open 2 years later I was firts on the Supervisors mind thats how I got my job as a DOD Civilian.

[JD]

I just got a job with the goverment using USA JOBS web site. The one thing that will help you find a good job with any goverment organisation is a well written resume and to have your military experence written to college experence. You can get this information by going to ARMY/ACE REGISTRY TRANSCRIPT SYSTEM. Give this information to your search engine (Google) and will come on the web site. You probable have a lot of experence that will be accounted as college credits. This in ture will give you more possibilities filling the requiraments for education. Also explain your qualifications in detail and you awards and certificates. This will help you to find the job that you are looking for.

[Richard Miranda]

Mrs. Allen,

I couldn't agree with you more. I've never as much received a call back for the government jobs I've applied for. The best thing I seem to find with the government is working as a contractor, and a lot of the government employees I come in contact with have no military background, not even as much as being related to a veteran.
On other note I've read resumes from people that received government jobs and they were littered with grammatical errors and misspelled words. Though I'm not the best speller I do at least hit F7 for spell check on anything I submit. Well good luck!!!

[Greg]

See information on the Veterans' Employment Opportunities Act of 1998, as amended at USA Jobs. The link is:
http://www.usajobs.gov/EI52.asp

[Lourdes]

It definantly is difficult to get a job after the military. It took me 10 months to finally get a call. I've been there 1 year and 8 months. I REALLY REALLY want a job..(I applied for already) on the Air Force base here. I've applied to several jobs on USAJOBS...and never get a call. The position I want now is actually exactly what I did when I was on active duty in the Army. Well good luck to you all. Keep pressing on!

[James Boese]

I have been retired from the Navy since 1999 and trust me it is difficult for a Veteran or Spouse of a Veteran to get into a Govt. Job. The last Govt. Job I worked in at Camp Lejeune, NC was totally controlled by Civilians with absolutely NO affiliation to the military. The few military Vets that worked there were in lower grade positions i.e. GS4 and GS5. The higher ranks GS9 and up were in the BUDDY SYSTEM. So the DOD needs to get off their Carcuses and start showing some action and fix the system, words are cheap.

[a w]

To get a govt job, you will need to monitor the websites that list them. When you find an announcement that you think you qualify for, review it thouroughly. Make sure that in your resume, you hit the key words of the job duties in the announcement if you have that experience. If you do not have the experience, unless it is an entry position, you are not going to qualify for the job, unless you can substitute education for experience. When you review the announcement, make sure you follow all of the directions and submit all paperwork that is required. If you are using vet status, you have to have a copy of member 4 of your DD214. You may and probably do have at least a 5 point preference if you have done 20 years in the military. Read the Vet Guide on OPM.gov. However, if you are a spouse of a former military person, you are viewed as any other person from the public is. No special standing. Did you attend your TAP program when you were transitioning out? If not, this is a lifetime benefit of a retiree. The Army refers to it as ACAP. The programs are usually very good and the personnel are usually quite good at helping you write a resume geared for gov't work. I would suggest that you do a resume in Word and cut and paste in the different gov't websites that you are applying through. Also another suggestion would be to have more than one version of your resume so that you can slant it towards the position for which applying. Sometimes you have to settle for a position, (maybe not what you really want to do or makes less than what you want)after you have been hired and have established a good reputation, it is usually a little easier to move around. It also broadens your chances for a position if you do not limit yourself to one geograhic position i.e. Fort Sill, Oklahoma or Altus Air Force Base. These areas are small and have numerous people competeing for a very limited number of positions. So even if the positions are being filled by veterans, if you have 10 vets competeing for the same job it is going to limit your chances substantially. Also if you filed a disability claim, follow up on it. If you received at least a 10% rating, you qualify for 10 point preference but make sure you provide proper paperwork.
From a former military spouse.

[Tuck Tucker]

Another point to ponder....the longer that you've been out, the less likely you are of being hired; degree or not and regardless of your experience. I'm not convinced that age discrimination is not widely practiced but prooving it is difficult if not next to impossible.

[Tuck Tucker]

I really do know how to spell. Normally I use spellchecker or just proofread before submitting. However, I failed this time in missing my incorrect spelling of 'proving' in my previous post.

[Howard Culver]

A veteran finding a job is total uphill with an anchor tied to the waist. (At least this is if you're an older veteran -58yo). Even if all the veteran's credentials and history are good to excellent, and many positions are trainable in conjunction with their experience, they are not hired. The government wants 99% of the round pegs in the round holes and they still hire bufoon slackers instead of dedicated personalities. I'm sure there's a greater percentage of nepotism/friend/who you know/keep it in the neighborhood hiring.
There is no data crosslink matching system linking unemployed veterans to their area jobs with an open option that they may be trainable using past skills. The government will initiate hundreds of student/intern promotion programs (actually seeking in schools-computer links) and I'm sure other crosslink seek programs, but no direct available/capable veteran seek-match-train initiatives. Sure, they'll prance the big USAJOBS, etc websites and all those miraculous government veteran benefit sites in front of the public, but it's nothing but tax payer pacification. Besides, those that propose and administer these sites have JOB SECURITY. I think that's the purpose, "I got mine government club". Keep up a good pacifier and the majority feels stroked; veterans float. It’s the job of the government employee to sell a "hope at the rainbow" pitch, but their working at keep'n their job and perks. The only time a direct and purposeful end result program will be put in motion is if an idle politician who wants to have an accomplishment tagged to his "in office" record kicks it in the ass. Otherwise, its business as usual, and a veteran without knowing someone or random lucky, will stay "park benched".
Age is a factor in government decisions even if the veteran has a clean bill of health, mentally and physically.
I'd like to be positive, but its gone on too long.

[Howard Culver]

I'm not sure why I'm wasteing time writing on this because the people that can make change don't read this.
I forgot to comment on the 10 point preference for disabled vets. The 10 points may apply to government considerations but most likely is a retraction in civilian appointments. Even government evaluations will figure the disability extent must be critiqued or a reason to pass to the next candidate. So, it is a double bladed sword. We never know if we'll get the dull edge, sharp edge, point or that the sword will be drawn at all(10 points can be a deterent to hire rather than positive).

[Shakephear]

Amazingly, I heard the same tesimony amongst seven years ago. However I retired from the military to demonstrate the miliary honor code. For instance, I went from GS9 to GS12 in one year. Actually, I applied the basic skill of the education system. I learn to read the job announcement in addition to learn the secret to the resume writing. I meditated on my dreams and faith to achieve my crurent situation. I fought thourhg the muddy waters and the distrustful mannerism in order to provide employment assistance. With sincerity, I listen to the stories of the same veterans who were successful in the military every day. I hope that they forge the waters to follow the professional recommendation of the Transition and Career Counselors. Meanwhile I know different then and now that every veteran is a military or civilian - success story.

[GM]

I agree with trying to get a government job - and it's not only at the Fed. level. The state governments are "riddled" with good ole boy, buddy system, and nepetism. My girlfreind was able to get the job with the state that she applied for - But not thru the application process - she was turned down. Her sister is higher up in the system and sat her resume&state app. in front of the department manager - BOOM - she was hired. I gave up 5 years ago - there's no ryme or reason for the way they hire. :o)

[kevin humrighouse]

why dont you just stay in the military and work???

[marty torres]

I'm a veteran who has applied and applied for positions that I match to a "t" on some of these so called "Veteran Jobsites" and have yet to even be considered. This has been going on for years...so no that is no such thing as help or perference for men and women who have served their country.

[Chris B.]

There is definately a double standard. Just after returning from 1 year in Iraq I applied for a job at the Defense Finance Center in Indianapolis, IN. I made sure to include every keyword to match the requirements. I called the listed office and left messages atleast once a week. I was qualified for a GS-5 position at the minimum. I never heard back from them. I did however find out a family friend did indeed get this same job... Myself being an educated well versed Veteran, and she just graduated HighSchool....

[Chris B.]

In Response to: kevin humrighouse

Some of us don't "just stay in the military and work" because it doesn't pay very well, and many of us have families, have either retired or served our time at WAR and have had enough.
Also think of it like this, Contractors who empty trash cans in Iraq make $80k a year, the person who supervises them makes $180k a year. An E-4 (worker) makes $40k with all the war zone bonuses, BAH, BAQ, and seperation pay. An E-5 (supervisor) makes $50k with the same bonuses.

[sv]

Mrs Allen, welcome to the reality check that all military people are facing when either doing their hitch and getting out or retiring. And I am not speaking for the Officer Corps out there because they really do take care of their own, I have seen that one in action, we the enlisted do not and we should all try really hard to try and change that. If you do not know someone who knows someone then yes you are screwed no if and’s or butts about it. So you might as well look else where like I had to for about 5 years when I retired in 2001. Didn’t get into civil service until 2006. I have no degree because I didn't have time to get one because the corps always came first. What I tell my young marine's now don't you dare get out without at least an AA/BA if at all possible. Don’t you dare! It is the good old boy network out here just like when you were in it will not change out here just like it will not change in the military. The only advise I can give that worked for me was “never ever let them see you quit”. Then once you are in “help out the next one”. That is the only way to make it our good Ole boy network and to take it back from the ones that don’t appreciate what a civil service employee is suppose to be there for “to support and defend” just like we did when we were active duty.

[Peter]

I agree with many of the repsonses. The best advise is to have a plan before you get out. The best thing to do is go to school to retrieve that paper.Because frankly, thats all it is...paper. With many of the hire Vet programs established currently, you will also have preference with VRA, VEOA, Disability, etc...Look toward the VA, DOD, any Federal position. Sometimes it takes an individual to accept a lower paying position to get their "foot in the door." I started as a GS-4 within one year I was a GS-9, and God willing I will continue up the ladder. I've seen alot of officers with Masters degrees and plenty of experience, start with a 30,000 year position. So this taking care of each other is BS. Because the bottomline is in the civilian world, it's about the paycheck, not the guy next to your right and left. Keep that in mind when job searching; never take anything for granted.

[Juan Rivera]

That is right. It took me 7 years to land a gov. job. I retired in Aug 2000, and I didn’t have a gov. job until Oct 2007. It took me several years of searching the usjobs and cpol web sites and hundred of resumes, but only few follow up calls. One thing you need to do is follow up with you resume. Call back and ask what is the status of you application. What other information is need. Follow up is the key.

[Wayne]

Perfect advice and good infos on where, how and etc. The thing I didn't see was "statues". Many companies turn me down because of my statues. Med. Discharged w/ 0% rating from the army. I ask for retention request and was denied, priority 3 from Va. If anybody has any suggestion, help, or tip, please let me know. (Military.com,-weires and muneni70@hotmail.com).God bless you all.

[Robert Rathbun]

I retired from the Army after twenty years of service and I now work for Northrop Grumman supporting the Federal Government.

One of the best things military can do is aid each other. I was enlisted and I must concur that we "ENLISTED/FORMER ENLISTED" often fail to help each other as well as the officer corps. Part of that failure is the lowering of education requirements in the military, but I alone cannot change that.

For now, if another soldier needs help finding a job in the IT field and they have the qualifications I will do what I can to pay it forward!

robert.rathbun@us.army.mil

p.s. No promises, but I will do what I can

[Jalica Miller]

So true! To grow with time and find at an age where we no longer are seen...Tells the truth of the inevitable lies that brought us to this...Nothing is greater seen than to feel the same that one has suffered...Who are we now...Depleated by political systems of lesser by the heiarchy of those who are empowered to deprive us of being fruitful and affordable as Congress watches itself but forgets the promises to give us what we hoped for...Solidarity is being stretched fromn the masses of support and comraderie...Who is //////////////////CONGRESS!

[JD]

I do wonder though on how applicants look for a job. Yes, in the civilian world, most of us would have to find a connection to help us "get through the door". This also to any veteran that wants a job in the cilivilian world. However, another technique that proved to be very effective is following up with the resume. Let's say for example that you narrowed down the companies that you want to work for. I call up the company until I figure out when I will get that interview. The method serves as an approach to HR recruiters that you are very motivated to get the job no matter what. If you ever get turned down, I would suggest calling in and asking why you weren't considered. If they said it's because you need a connection, ask how you can have a connection. Magic word: Be PROACTIVE. Hope this helps. That goes without saying that it's just part of life.