I Was 100% on My Own

I transitioned from active duty to civilian life in 1997. I was about 24. I was a specialist and my MOS was 71L -- administrative assistant. I actually started the process late 1995,early 1996. I was from New York but wanted to move to the South but I was not sure where. I was stationed in Hawaii so visiting areas was not an option.

I researched best places to live, find a job, best industries to work in. There are plenty of magazine and websites that will give you comprehensive information on relocating. I narrowed my selection to about five areas and sent for Chamber of Commerce information for each city. It's amazing how much information you can get from the chamber of commerce. At the time I was interested in working in banking but wanted to live in an up and coming area. I choose Charlotte, NC because at that time it started appearing on "best place to live" lists and it had a wide variety of industries. For whatever reason I wanted to make sure that where I lived was not dependent on one industry.

I also was interested in working in banking. As I started to research I learned the best way to enter banking was through temp agencies so I signed up for about five and called the agencies to scheduled interviews from Hawaii for the week after my ETS date. I also started paying any credit card debt and started saving money about 18 months before I ETS because not only had I never been to Charlotte I did not know a soul there. I was 100 percent on my own. Additionally, I got a local map so I knew where all of the agencies were located and looked for extended stay hotels and apartments that included all utilies. I got all of this from the chamber of commerce.

I dropped out of college to join the Army and wanted to finish my B.A. After doing some reading on colleges I found several evening programs and got information on those programs. I ETS'd on July 27, moved to Charlotte Aug. 1 found a job at a major bank as an administrative assistant through a temp agency Aug.4, moved from a hotel to an apartment the following week. Because I worked in the bank I was able to find out about a job fair within the bank. Because I already worked at the bank I knew which jobs were available I went to the fair very prepared and was offered two permanent jobs as an administrative assistant September 1997. I also worked at the bank to learn the importance of home ownership and bought my first home in Charlotte Nov 1997. The next year 1998 I started college to work on my associates degree and in 1999 I found and accelerated bachelor's degree program and finished my BA by 2001. I always had a love of finance and wanted to be a financial planner and transitioned into that field shortly thereafter. I absolutely love what I do. My transition was extremely smooth but I did a lot of preparation in advance.

(Submitted by Tania Pellew)

Comments

[Lena]

Great post Tania, you should write a book on how to Transition the right way.

[Karen Berg]

Tania congratulations on everyone of your accomplishments! Wow very admirable. I have taken notes on the right way to make a civilian transition. Excellent writing skills by the way...you have definitely are my role model for transitioning back to civilian life and how to do it the right way! Thank you so much for sharing it has definitely ease some of my anxieties. God Bless!
Karen Berg