I Wish Employers Had Standards Like the Military

To each and all of you that have served in the military, I personally thank you for your comments. 

I also have and still have problems with the standards of these cilivians and how they operate on their jobs. Some call us " A threat to the workforce." 

These types of people like to play mind games and undermine your personal working standards by trying to suck up to the company. 

My working standards reflect me and me only, since there's no working standards within the company peers. I  served in the Army from 1981 to 1991 after the Desert Storm Conflict. I tried to return back in but Bush Sr. was cutting down all of our military forces at that time, so I went to the National Guards for another 11 years to retire from there as a E-6.

Even the guard treated me as a "know it all" because I had the updated on the rules and regulations. They used me for everything and I out-shined everyone, but didn't receive anything but more responsibilities.

It's true that the majority just don't care. It's about a paycheck, fame, being someone special to the boss, etc. Instead of working together in unity they would rather you do it for them while they collect and do barely nothing. 

No matter where I go and work it's the same. But, I have to keep busy doing something to improve or help those in need.

I wish I knew of employment that has standards and a sense of purpose like the military. I just have standards, which have always worked for me.

(Submitted by P. Thompson)

Hiring Preference Didn't Work for Me

Prior to being retired as a result of service-connected disability TDRL in 1987, I must have submitted 60 resumes to various federal employers and agencies. Although significantly qualified, I was not selected, believed to be because I was a disabled veteran. 

I have proof of the timeline of the announcements, closing dates and certification lists that I followed when applying for various positions in federal service. 

If I did get on top of a list, the agency always cancelled or closed the announcement before selection. Apparently, they had someone within they wanted to place. 

Afterward, I changed my strategy and stopped using my 10-point preference eligibility, just applied as an outsider. I found better success and actually was selected for a police officer position. 

I lost faith in the supposed OPM hiring system after my bad experience and moved on without preference hiring and became more successful in my transition. These hiring authorities may be better controlled by law now in 2009 as I understand it.

(Submitted by Ken Hudgens)

Job Leads from a Vietnam Vet

Transition to the private sector can be daunting, but with the new Health Information Technology (HIT) being pushed by the White House, there are tremendous opportunities for those who have interest in health care and IT. 

The American Society of Health Informatics Managers (www.ASHIM.ORG) has a great website that can provide information for those interested. The most important aspect of HIT in the private sector is that you have experienced Electronic Health Records (HER) while in the military. According to experts the major obstacle to completing HIT nationwide is the lack of capable professionals to implement the system. 

Check it out!

(Submitted by Tom Criser, Vietnam, C Troop 1/9 Cav)

Get As Much Education As You Can on Uncle Sam's Dime

Let me put your mind at ease just for a moment. For what it is worth, we all go through the same concerns that you all have — whether to stay or get out of the military service.

My advice to you is to get as much education as you can using Uncle Sam's money. Education costs are very high now and anything you can do to offset them is a blessing. 

Secondly, if you’re not happy in your career field, then by all means find something that will make you happy. 

If becoming an officer requires you to get into a field that you know will make you miserable, then disregard that option. Remember that you only have four to six years initial military commitment, but when you choose a career, it generally will be for a very long time, and you don’t want to hate going to work simply because you need the money. 

As you get older, you start to appreciate what we mean by “enjoying your job.” Be prepared if you decide to leave the service, and yes, it’s very difficult to get a good job now due to the economic situation, but even the best educated struggle, so be prepared to meet a major challenge looking for work.

If you get out and have to settle for something less than what you want, so be it, you’ll need to find yourself in the civilian world again and understand that the military takes care of you in everyway. But once you’re out, then you face a whole new business mentality. 

Lastly, if you want to maintain military ties, consider the reserve or guard units, explore the educational benefits you can get through them, and continue to get your education. 

I had to return to school after I retired at the age of 40 so that I could be marketable. Educational degrees are good to have, whether you get them at age 24 or age 40. That is now required criteria that you need to have before most companies will consider you for employment. 

Transitioning even in the best of time s is always difficult due to the unknown factors you will face, but at this point in time, it’s a bigger challenge. Be prepared mentally to deal with whatever comes your way. Don’t be discouraged by what you read and hear, you’re an individual and it falls on you to either succeed or fail based on your efforts.

When I left the military there was not a transition program available and I had to learn it all the hard way — the school of hard knocks. Good luck and I hope that this information helps.

(Submitted by Louis Alanis)

My Advice to You Is...

I served six years in the Air Force as a 3C0 and separated as an E5 in 2006. The Air Force was downsizing and my career field was over manned. I have not yet had the chance to re-enlist so that opportunity was closed before I got there. 

I was fortunate to land a job before separating and used terminal leave to transition immediately into a contractor job working on a military base. I held that job for a year before leaving for a civilian job with no affiliations with the military. 

I wanted to separate myself from anything military and see what it was really like. I've held that position now for 21 months and counting. 

However, I find myself in an interesting position. My Top Secret clearance went into inactive status after I left my last position. Now, I want to get back into military/government work in IT but the security clearance is my Achilles heel now. 

Every job I look at requires an active clearance. So I've been spinning my wheels for eight months now, trying to find a solution, Then I started thinking that I miss the military way of life. In my experience-- not that its that of a bad one -- the civilian sector is not better than the military. There is no uniformity. 

The rules are simply a fail safe in case somebody asks or gets out of hand. Promotion potential is never a guarantee and neither is increase in pay.

What's more, if the company you work for is publicly traded in the stock market then you'll see the direct effect first hand. Projects: gone. Pay Raise: don't think so. Training: on your own. 

I'm 11 classes away from getting my bachelor's and my goal after that is OTS. Though the pay is good for me, it's just not the same. You still wear a uniform: slacks and button up shirts. There are ranks: CEO, COO, CIO, CFO, VP, director. Everybody will experience something different and looks for something different as well. 

My biggest advice that I can give is to get your degree before you get out. Complete your associateand bachelor's. Get some certifications. Network with the people you meet. You'll just be thrown out into the resume pool of nobodys if you don't have somebody to point yours out. 

I never faced combat but I sure as hell wouldn't go without proper training and equipment. I hope this helps at least one person. If anybody has questions just ask. 

 (Submitted by Christian Ocasio Gonzalez)

Help Employers Learn That You Have Depth and Knowledge

The first time I transitioned was after eight years of active duty. I was 20 years old when I entered service, and already had a background in electronics. However, I didn't take an electronics MOS, I went to the 82nd for four years and then re-enlisted for computer repair. I was very good at it. I had 96 percent on my SQT (showing my age here), several awards, and great NCOERs. I thought getting a civilian job when I ETS'd in 1986 would be a piece of cake.

It wasn't a piece of cake. It wasn't even a stale cookie. I left service and applied for field service jobs all over the country. After three months I finally got an interview in a nearby city (Huntsville, Ala.). I was hired, but my salary was not what I envisioned.

Here is what I have learned since, and I hope this helps:

Most civilian employers don't know much about the military unless the person doing the interview/hiring process served. Many times they assume everyone is an infantryman. Even if they do understand, don't expect to get full credit for your military experience. The job I was hired for was an entry-level position. All of my background only qualified me to start, and this was a contractor position at a government lab. It didn't help that I was entering the workforce "cold," that is, I didn't know anyone in town and they didn't know me.

This job was for a major defense contractor, and I got the job by interviewing well. I beat out another ex-servicemember who was actually more qualified. I was told that he made the mistake of telling them how he was going to improve their operations, and he came off a bit cocky. 

On the other hand, I was confident and honest. They asked if I thought I could run certain items of test equipment. I told them that while I had no experience with the specific items they mentioned, I had to learn to use many different types of specialized equipment while in the service. I helped them understand that I had the depth of knowledge and experience to learn quickly and correctly how to operate unfamiliar equipment.

I thought employers would key on my experience as a computer repairer as they read my resume. I was told at the interview that they also noted my experience at inventory control for my repair parts. I had almost left that off of my resume. I thought it wasn't important to the type of job I was seeking. It turns out there were looking for an electronic tech who could also help the customer with inventory control.

I've had a long rewarding career in Huntsville since then. This story is from a long time ago, but the same principles apply.

1) Networking is very important. Don't just send resumes out. Try to get to know some people who work in the industry. Those large job ads in the paper are there for legal reasons, most of the time they already know who they are going to hire for the position. Network, network, network.

2) Prepare yourself for the interview process. Find out how people who work for your target company dress. Practice answering questions about your resume. Practice interviewing just like you would practice if you were going before a promotion board. Look good, be relaxed and quietly confident. As that famous Chinese guy said, "Know yourself, know the enemy and in a thousand battles you will be victorious."

3) Do not assume that employers will key only on the major parts of your resume. Tailor you resume for specific jobs, highlighting areas that are especially pertinent. Government jobs and some civilian employers look for key words. If these keys are not found in your resume, then it will not be considered even if you're the best qualified. They simply will never see it.

4) Don't lower your expectations, temper them. Study to find out what you can expect in your job field. 

5) Did I mention networking?

Good luck!

P.S. -- The National Guard is a great place to network -- just saying.

(Submitted by H.H., U.S. Army)

Lower Expectations the Answer?

I retired as an Air Force cook 10 years ago. I attended two TAP sessions and quite frankly neither one met my needs to join the "real world." 

I swore I would be happy just digging ditches and painting lines on the road. My wish came true. 

For the last 10 years I have been working at my city's water plant. The pay, then and the pay now, isn't so great but I made a lot of friends. I have four children and we are happy with the simple life. Sounds crazy but lowering your expectations and not letting money drive you is the way to go.

(Submitted by Rich J)

It's Tough Out Here, Be Prepared

I had as great a career while serving in the Air Force for six years.

Awards, BTZ, making E-5 my first time and a distinguished graduate of my tech school. I feel I am what any employer in my field is looking for in the civilian world. In fact, I had up to a year left in my enlistment when I started submitting resumes to test the waters. I wanted to get a feel of what the job searching process would be like should I decide to transition back to civilian life.

I got four responses in two months after submitting a few resumes offering me more than I expected and they all told me my resume and phone interview made me stand out from the rest. Unfortunately, those positions were required to fill ASAP so I would have to apply for early separation which was something I was not willing to do. I wanted to fulfill my entire enlistment.

With that in mind though, it seemed like transitioning out would be fairly easy and I should land a position quickly. Well that was not the case as I transitioned in the worst time right at the start of this recession. I have been unemployed for seven months and have not heard from one employer in five months. It's really tough out here so if you are contemplating separation be prepared for the same. The great thing is the GI Bill so if you plan on separating to go to school full time that would be the way to go. Good luck to all.

(Submitted by Mr. TJ)

Advice Needed: Re-enlist or Get Out?

I haven't transitioned yet but I have one year and six months left before my major decision of re-enlisting or using my GI Bill and going to school.

I'm on my first tour. I've been in since February 2006. I'm a corpsman stationed in CP at the moment. The only thing I can really think of is getting out, going to school full-time and just being out of the military already.

I'm a little bit apprehensive at the moment. I don't hate the Navy, it just gets tiring sometime -- as does everything else, I'm sure. Overall I like it. I never experienced civilian life in a mature state or college because I came in straight from high school.

I would just like some advice from those that have been through or are going through the same decisions. Maybe there are others in my shoes as well that may benefit from any of your advice.

Here's the stuff I think about that I need some advice on:

I often think of getting out using the GI Bill and going to school full time. Possibly re entering as an officer. I was motivated to be accepted to the enlisted to officer programs like STA-21 but for that I have to stay within my enlisted field and I have no desire to become a medical officer.

I've only been in three and a half years. I feel it's too early to shoot for the 20-year mark.

If I stay in it will take very long to reach a bachelor's or master's degree in anything, compared to going to school full time.

As of late I've been hearing plenty of stories of people who have degrees not being able to find jobs due to our economy.

So, I'm a little lost.

Get out, go to school, get my degree and hopefully our economy is better enough to get a job a few years down the road or go to OCS.

Stay in, continue being okay and comfortable with my current life situation and security that being in the military gives.

Thank you for any of the help, good luck to everyone.

(Submitted by Danny Rodriiguez)

11 Things I figured Out About the Civilian Workforce

It took eight years, but now I'm happier than a hog in a mud hole. I found a position as a contractor for the Army. To tell the truth, only another Vet (my former NCOIC) helped me get the position. The young captain that reviewed my resume stated, "He's way too over qualified for this position." They initially hired a young person with no clue about military life or operations. Never made it to work on time, forged time cards, etc. A month later, my former NCOIC dropped a line for me and now the command says they're happy as hell I'm there.

Things I finally figured out:
1. Understand where you "fit in." Don't try to fit in where you definitely won't. It'll make you a miserable vet!! (If a Ranger tried to be a "ballet dancer," I don't think the pink tutu would work.)

2. As stated many times before, get your education. BNCOC -- isn't "education" by civilian standards.

3. Research the civilian world. You wouldn't plan a patrol through Baghdad without intel.

4. Maintain contact with those who you've worked with. You'll definitely need references or an ear to vent into.

5. In the same thought as above, some of those references have knowledge of openings and hiring practices.

6. Understand that you may be looked upon as an alien. Folks don't have a clue about military service - and don't want to, for the most part.

7. Get dressed like you want the position. You may work in a "casual dress" environment - don't dress like it for the interview.

8. Ditch the cadence calling in the hallways -- it annoys "normal" people. :)

9. Learn to pick your battles. In Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Somalia, or wherever, we didn't always have that luxury.

10. Don't lose your personality, just maintain a level exposure. Uncle Sam didn't take it away, why let another employer do it?

11. Last, but not least -- do something you enjoy. Enjoy your work and your off time. You didn't stay in the military because you hated it. Why stay with a civilian employer that you absolutely hate?

(Submitted by Mr. Ray Inabnitt)