'Businesses Admire Honorably Discharged Veterans'

I have been out for some time, I seperated 1994 from the USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3), which is now a man- made reef. I was very unsure of what I wanted to do for a career but realized very quickly that businesses admire honorably discharged veterans!

I utilized my family to network and to get my first position as an administrative assistant for a life insurance / investments company.

For my very first interview I dressed in the nicest clothes I had, which consisted of a pair of slacks, dress shirt, dress shoes, tie and sport coat (I got the job). The tie and sport coat were borrowed from a friend.

My point is that I didn't spend much to look professional. After all, we all had to pass inspection on a regular basis, so we know how to be squared away!

I stayed in the financial services industry and now have more than 13 years experience and a wealth of knowledge. The most important thing for me was making sure I made the most of my military experience and ensuring that potential employers knew how my past military experience would help their company.

Work ethic, discipline and commitment are three of the most sought after characteristics employers look for, and those are core values in any branch of the military. I'm now a first vice president of business development for a nationally recognized investment firm and I truely believe I owe it all to my Naval experience.

Fair winds and following seas!

(Submitted by Steve Prew)

Comments

[clown]

Funny. I am honorably discharged, and every company I've been to could care less. Eight years later, and I still can't get my foot in any door.

[Tim Short]

I've been discharged for two years and can't even get my foot in the door as an admin assistant. I retired at the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
What do I need to do.

Tim

[Han, SSG, USA, Ret.]

I retired honorably in June 1998, since then have worked the midnight shift at the local gas station, learned how to drive a simi-truck and school bus. All just to keep food on the table after the retirement pays for the rent and some utilities. I could not even get an entry level receptionast position. My jobs like my work ethic but do not want me to use my administrative skill, I guess they are threatoned that I might make their position obsolate, or cause them to do some work. The respect of Vet's of the years past is long gone. It's not as bad as just after Vietnam but close.

[Jim]

Han: You probably can't get an entry-level receptionist job because of your skills. Have you tried running a spell-check? I counted at least 4 mistakes. And in none of these comments does anyone mention going back to school. You have to stay sharp to cut through the competition. You are better than you think. Get smart, get ahead.

[Mike Smith]

I am not for sure who is writing these articles. But I did 24 years in the Navy and retired as an E-8, and I am currently on my 5th job. I worked for the VA for 2 years, and yeah they wanted me as long as I kept my mouth shut, did not make waves, and not make anyone else look bad. It has been my experience that more than anything that we are considered to be a threat. At present I am working with a temporary service for whatever comes available to keep food on the table. Honestly I have found that we only have each other out here.

[Damien]

I am a retired vet with over 30 percent disability. I also have a BS in Business Management but still I am unemployed. I've been online searching and countless job fairs. What do I need to do?

[Lisa]

Served for over 3 yrs. in the USAF where I started my Masters Degree-Business (Honorable Discharge). Finished it after I got out. Relocated frequently with another USAF veteran whom I married.Personally I don't feel that my military svc. has helped me get jobs...with non-veteran hiring managers.However, I believe it has helped (at least) get my foot in the door for interviews with hiring managers who are veterans.Currently unemployed and looking for work.Tough market out there for everybody I guess. Haven't tried (yet) networking online with "military.com" in an attempt to find other veterans at companies I'm applying to. Has anyone had any luck with that? Thanks!

[Mike]

So that you do not think that it is all doom and gloom out there, I have had my challenges, but a big part of it is attitude. I found a program called Creating Futures, and since I was an honorably dischared veteran they are will to pay for my IT certifications. I have pasted the e-mail.
Mike,

Thank you for filling out the online application on the Creating Futures website. I’m happy to inform you that you are eligible to receive free training and certification through the Creating Futures program.

The Creating Futures program currently offers the following online courses to Creating Futures candidates:

CompTIA A+ ®
CompTIA Network+®
CompTIA Server+ ™
CompTIA Security+™
Training is at no cost to qualified applicants who have been selected to participate in the online training program.

Please see the attached release form for more information.

Amy Alexander, Program Manager

CompTIA

1815 S. Meyers Road, Suite 300

Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

Direct: (630) 678-8411

Fax: (630) 627-2414

[David]

I was honorably discharged in 1993 from the USMC. Worked a little in odd jobs and construction for sometime. Got tired of that and went back to school to get BA, MA, and currently working on PhD. Have worked in private and local government in my field which is health services. Most of the administrative jobs I interview for still question if I know what leadership is (which is ironic to a combat veteran E-4). When I answer with such things as integrity and sound decision making abilities as cornerstones to ideal candidates, I do feel that the employers are threatened and usually and unfortunately have been getting passed up by those with "more experience", even though I have about 10 years in my field. I don't have any answers to getting a job, but my experience has been challenging and a great life learning journey. I would recommend getting back into school (for experience, academic, and financial reasons) if you can and just know that no matter what you are interviewing for, no one can take away the fact that you were honorably discharged and one of our nations most prized treasures due to your selfless agreement to serve when your country has called. If you do not succeed with the first interview try again or another until you get the position that you rightfully deserve. Semper Fi!

[Honorably Discharged in 1994]

I would guess the civilian employers do feel threatened by our experience. Even though we just want a job that pays a decent salary/wage. In my experience the civilian world demands and expects dishonesty. Just make the sale! Lie to the customer if needed. I've had left two jobs for that reason. I guess BlackJack dealer is next on my journey!!! Little did I know that the saying -- "Good enough for government work!" -- was a high benchmark!!!!

[neil]

I retired honrably in 2006, with 24yrs under my belt from the good olde USAF. I was able to get a job with SEARS Automotive Dept. as a mechanic or technician as they call it these days. The next month I was hired on by L-3 Vertex Aerospace as an aircraft servicer. That was a swell job. Well, the T-6 aircraft moved on to another base. So we all were laid-off. I left SEARS, after working there for a year, to work at TIMCO. That was a GREAT paying job! They lost the Delta contract and I and alot of others were laid-off. That's left one job and laid-off twice, all in one year. I say thank goodness for retirement, VA beni's, and unemployment beni's. The retirement and VA pays all my bills. I also have the three years of G.I. bill to use to return to school. Anyway, I am tired of working for or under and with silly, stupid, ignorant, dumb, prejudice and racist people. So, I decided to start my Own Business with the skills, education, and experience I obtained while in the Air Force. Now, I am dangerous!(Smile) And I only have to deal with my customers. Right? (I found out that's not true). There's a recession or even a depression out there fellas. I'm going to depend on myself. How about you?

[steven]

I think that the reason some of you may be expirencing finding a decent job is you may be looking in the wrong profession. Aircraft jobs will only get you laid off, IT jobs are a flooded market, and MBA's are a dime a dozen. I am a prior service veteran and have a nice career as a technician at honda. I am also working on my degree in English and Literature to eventually go into teaching. Auto techs, teachers, truck drivers, plumbers,nurses and police and fire fighters are all needed professions. That is where all the jobs are. I hate it when I see my brothers and sisters of the armed forces struggle. We all at one time stood up for what we believed in. I hope that my advice helps to a more rewarding path.

[kenB]

If you're disabled and you say so your chances of getting a job are slim. I have Tinnitus a hearing disability. As such loud and high pitched sounds drive me up the wall. I live in a Jewish run Chabad here in Houston run by a Rabbi. It is nonprofit which means Americans help pay for it. He knows about my hearing disability but has done his best to make my life miserable here. He has even put in abrasive tile floors in apartments below and next to me with heavy wooden legged chairs. The high pitched screech they give out is like 10,000 fingernails on chalk boards. I was off the coast of Libya in the 80's on the flight deck of the USS Coral Sea. As you know Libya hated the Jews. You'd think a Jew would be the first to step up. Wake up from fantasy land. No one cares about the military except on Veterans Day.

[Paul]

I have been out for nearly a year after serving 24 yrs with no success for any type of employment. I even put in for a job with walmart with no success. I know I must be way over qualified. We hear it time after time all these crap companies who say they are military friendly employers. I don't think there are any. If we aint illegal aliens, we ain't gonna find a job no time soon and you can quote me on that.

[Nick]

Wow, it's nice to know that I'm not alone with my employment struggles. It's a reality that employers today, and for the last ten years since my honorable separation from the Marines, do not care about the sacrifice we all made for our country. Be it for personal, legal, educational, or patriotic needs and beliefs, we all gave up something to provide security and support to this nation's armed forces.

While completing my degree in Business Administration, I have worked in at least 10 to twelve jobs since my discharge in just about every industry. However, the satisfaction and pride felt when suited in my camouflage utilities and freshly polished boots still alludes me...what was missing most was the camaraderie (am I right?).

Facing the facts, I believe it would have been most wise to just get a job straight out of high school, gone to college, and got a job! I digress....

My personal determination to succeed keeps me in the game...never give up...I refuse to be treated like a second rate citizen...if you don't like a work situation, then move...find something you want to do...the memories of the Marines keep me going...Good luck to all of us!

Semper Fidelis

[TJ]

Hey. I'm pretty happy here knowing that I'm not alone. I was honorably discharged from the USN as an E-4 (AO), to be honest, I knew I wouldn't find a job with the rating I was in with (as my friend told me, it's not like sun country is going to be loading their birds up anytime soon...) So I began working as a night cashier at a grocery chain... it wasn't what I had in mind beinga vet, I believed I had "earned" so much more, so I relocated with the money I saved up, and now I'm semi-successful as a federal worker. It barely pays the bills, but it's a job. I'm also returning to school in the spring; going for either nursing or just to get back into school for the GIbill. **it will almost double my income** Keep your heads up though, even though there isn't really a WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITY as we were told in the separation phase, there is something out there for everyone...