Starting from the Bottom
Alex Horti - MBA, HRM, CRS
Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Terrestris, LLC an SBA Certified 8(a) and SDVOSB
So you’re getting out of the military. Let’s just say that most likely you did 4 years or 20 years. Your rank is either Corporal or Sgt Maj. 1st Lieutenant or Lt Colonel. The military is all you knew. Whether it is the Army, Air force or Marine Corps. For the last 4-to 20 years you were part of a big organization and fraternity and were in numerous leadership positions.
Well today is the day you are on terminal leave and started to apply to corporate positions. Transitions assistance was ok but you did not learn much as when I was going through. Let’s face it, it takes experience to really know what you are getting into and how to properly search for jobs.
I will share a personal experience example that I went through. When I got out of the Marine Corps in July 2012, my goal was to finish my bachelor’s degree. I only had 2 years left for it. I was also applying to mid-level Human resources positions because that was a close as possible that I could relate my experience from the military and especially the infantry being a 0311.
I’m not going to lie I had a few interviews and not a good resume. My resume was a standard generic military resume. Not knowing any better in what I need to have on it. I had interviews for Aflac and other various life insurance companies that wanted me to pay money so I could work for them. It was a pyramid scheme. This is how they get the clueless veterans to work for them. I had other sale job interviews as well. After a month I stopped answering my phone. I figured something is wrong? Why won’t I get real job interviews? So I started to research various job markets and other veterans who were on LinkedIn. I saw a big trend in the resumes and positions. I changed my resume to more technical terms after doing lots of research online. I started to apply at staffing companies that had more opportunities available in real corporate environment.
The first real interview I went for was for a Human Resources manager. I remember this position required a PHR, Bachelor’s degree in Human resources or business administration and 5-10 years of experience. Well in my mind I was almost done with my bachelors, I had no idea what a PHR was so I just left that be and I thought they could waive the PHR and bachelors due to my experience, I had 5-10 years in the Marine Corps so I counted that towards the experience. Ehhh Wrong.
Once I got there the interviewer was asking me very detailed questions that only Human resources professionals would know. She stated that she was a Army veteran as well and only called me because I was fresh out and didn’t know any better. She stated that for me to get into the HR field I would have to apply to only entry level positions. Why entry level you say? Well it is because I had no real experience.
So now were getting somewhere. I had an idea of what I needed to do.
Fast forward to today. I see a big trend here about folks that are barely qualified for anything applying to various senior management positions. I tell everyone MAKE sure you are only applying to something that you meet the basic qualifications for. A Supply and logistics guy is not going to be hired at a $90k a year logistics manager position with a huge government contactor. That is just not going to happen EVER! There lucky if they will get a job for 45-50K. Why do you ask? Well it all boils down to experience? A Captain in the infantry with a Finance degree is not going to get hired as a senior budget analyst for a huge government contractor for 85k. Why do you ask well he has no finance experience? A 14 year Staff Sergeant in the combat engineer MOS is not going to be hired as a senior project manager for a large construction firm. Why because he has no experience on that level, he might get a mid-entry level position managing a team or laborers. I hope you guys see where I am going at.
I tell folks time and time again when you get out apply to entry level positions. Get two-three years of experience and move up from there. Keep working on your degree or next degree utilizing your post 911 GI bill and your career will keep growing.
Need proof of that? Just look at my profile. Semper FI!
Federal Security Officer at U.S. Army
8 年Jerry, I hear what you are saying. However, at the end of the day, money is money. I recently retired as well, with experience in various fields,but I knew I wasn't going to get a specific level I was looking at without (civilian), real-world experience. What I did was look at big companies trying to cater/fill veteran quotas (WalMart, Target, etc) and go for them. I took an entry level postion at WalMart just to get my foot in the door, all the while working on my resume and interview skills, until I got hired where I wanted to be. I tell all vets to consider those kinds of initial jobs. They can gain real-world experience, move up in that company if they want, and still pay thier bills...a job is better than no job at the end of the day.
Sr. Director, Distribution and Logistics
8 年Dennis, Looking at your page, you should not apply for an entry level warehousing job. While Alex has many strong points in what he is saying, your current position offers a great deal of experience in Warehousing and Distribution. The key for you getting out is to write your resume to relate your experience to the job you are applying. I would target supervisor positions to gain the experience. You will move up quickly. (Amazon, Target, WalMart etc).... Good Luck
Physical Security | Cybersecurity | Emergency Management
8 年Great write up! I was also infantry in the Marine Corps and know how though the civilian side can be when transition back to the civilian sector. As you stated, having an education and finishing a degree is a MUST!