Do Not Give Up

I served 11 years in the U.S. Air Force and got out nearly 20 years ago. While I was in, I went to school at night and earned an AA degree, an AAS from the Community College of the Air Force and a BA through St. Leo College (now University). I am currently an attorney in Miami.

I think the most difficult part of transitioning is putting military experience into civilian terms. Civilians don't understand what a NCOIC is or how important it is to manage a squadron munitions account. Moreover, transitioning to the civilian work force oftentimes requires making a profit. We all know that military units don't have to do that, they simply have to stay within their budgets.

Having earned my BA, I thought it would be easy to get a job upon separation. I was very wrong about that. I had to take a job as a sandblasting apprentice, which was horrible. I worked retail for a while in order to have a check come in while I tried to decide on long-term goals.

I tried to stick to basic, conservative interviewing suits. Navy or gray with white shirts and usually a bold red tie. I decided to get my hair cut shorter and take off my mustache. Clean cut hair cuts and no facial hair helped my interviewing. I then began highlighting my experience with preparing budgets, managing people and supplies. These are the same skills used in civilian jobs. I was doing well in retail, but was not happy doing it. So, I applied to law school, took out student loans and have been practicing in Miami since graduation.

The best advice I can give is to not give up. Clean cut works best. If you can network with friends to get an interview or introduction, that goes a long way. Every single job I have had since getting out has been as a result of a personal contact.

(Submitted by Mr. Franklin Cosmen, Jr.)

Comments

[Harold E Hamberger]

I agree 100% Mr. Cosmen. I retired in 1983 after 24 plus years of service, I was a senior (top 3) NCO, and a 9 skill level at my job which was an Aircraft Maintenance Superintendent. I had an AS degree from the Community College of the USAF also. Just before retiring I wrote a Job Resume using the samples provided by CBPO's Separation Center Personnel. I quickly found out that the Civilian work-a-day world could care less about my Mgmt & Supervisory experience, in fact they weren't interested in me, I was told that more than once during job interviews. I ended up driving an Armored Truck for a year! Since then I have worked Insurance Sales, I've been a Property Manager, Commercial Sales for a Goodyear tire dealership, did several years in the Contract Security Industry, and now I'm disabled and unable to work

[frank gonzalez]

when I retired in 1975, I found out that when you went for a job, you scared the hell out of the supervisor interviewing you (you may be better than he), so I played down most of my assests and got a job to start the day after my retirement date. Once I start the Job, I kind of let out my supervisory experience and was promoted to a supervisors position six months later and to dept manager, six months after and in a hard market. I retired in England.

[FJ]

Yes, by all means, don't give up!

Keep in mind when you are applying for jobs that you are already receiving a pension, so if your salary demands are too high, you may be making more than your boss! (And that won't make them happy)

On the other hand, you don't have to be covered medically by your workplace and that theoretically could save your employer $$.