A Vet "trying" to get a job.

I remember prior to coming off active duty, I started attending Military Job Fairs. All the same. 1/6 of the presenters weren't even offering jobs....but instead were pitches to get you to apply to schools or to buy something. Another 1/6 were commission only jobs in which you were expected to start from zero....in effect, working as a lead generator with a fancy name. Not a great option for someone 40+ with a family and expenses. Another set of companies also said that they were military friendly and then directed me to general websites along with everyone else....your chances getting employment that way are just as good as getting a job through Monster.com..this includes both public and private sector jobs. If, however, you wanted to be a sweeper at an amusement park such as Dollywood or an assistant leaf-blower....there's probably something for you. Out of all of this, you might get one interview, perhaps two. And then, you run a gambit of at least 2-3 interviews in which it becomes mostly personal. If they really wanted you...they'd let you know on the spot. But most of them would say that they'd get back to you by the end of the week...which in most cases meant that they wouldn't look you in the eye and give you an answer...but instead, expect to get a standard rejection via e-mail. I flew across the country for one such interview. In this case, when I got my "e-mail", two minutes later the same lady sent me another e-mail indicating that she "was out of the office". How cowardly. The person "interviewing" you knows nothing about you. Chances are your veteran's experience outclasses any of your civilian counterparts both in terms of scope and breadth as well as the ability to work under great stress for long periods of time away from home. But most employers don't really understand this nor do they try to understand this. Head hunters can get you interviews but then you're just like everyone else. Bottom line: It's very common and popular for all companies to say that they are Veteran friendly...to appear "patriotic" is good marketing. If you're naive...this gives you hope. But it's likewise the kiss of death not to have hope because then you've already lost. It's like the student who can't get into Harvard Law and so he or she applies to another school....a school without much of "a name"...only the school won't tell anyone that they plan in advance to fail half of the first year class.

I was once on leave from an African Deployment. I took my wife and daughter to the Jersey Shore...to Wildwoods to be specific. When me daughter and my wife were enjoying themselves in the water park (not my thing), I sat waiting next to an older gentleman. Of course, we started talking. He was a Vietnam Vet. I felt that somehow God had placed us both in the same place at the same time. I shared my above experiences with him. He looked me directly in the eye with the confidence of someone who had an absolute answer. He told me that if you're a Vet and applying for a job, if the interviewer is also a Vet...your chances are good...especially if he/she served in the same branch of service. However, if the interviewer is not a Vet, at some deeper subconscious level (which they are unaware of), they resent you because you did something they didn't do...you served. And it's worse if they know that you served in combat. I don't remember the gentleman's name...it was years ago, but when he said this, it was as if suddenly the blindfold was ripped from my eyes. It's true that the truth will set you free and I realized that I was like a blindfolded man trying to hit a pi?ata.

Beyond appearances, however, very little real effort is made by Business Americanus to really find the vet a real job...in spite of what they say. And the older he gets....the worse it gets. The good news, however, is that the more junior you are, the better your chances. Senior Enlisted are perhaps the most fortunate as they are seen as straddling the lines of leadership and practicality. There is a whole phyla, however, of jobs inhabited by prior military personnel...i.e. GS jobs or overseas contractors in support of military operations...if that's your thing. There are even such jobs that are well-paid "place holders"...usually given to prior 06s, where the individual's work performance is almost irrelevant...the main point being that the company simply wants to "fill a seat" in order to get the contract.