The civilian world sucks and I hate it.

I have applied at probaby 30 places to work in Florida where I was living after I got out of the Military and then I decided I was running out of money and there was no options down there. So I bit the bullet and moved back home to Northern Michigan with my parents. I have applied all over around here anywhere from Lowes to Pepsi bottling co. to a few reasturants even! I applied at a circut control company today that makes the robots that are in car assembly plants and things like that. I dont think im qualified for it but it was worth a shot to try to get it.

Im running out of options. Seems that being prior service is only hurting my job opportunities. Like they think we're all gonna go PTSD on their butts or something. Im starting to think to not put it on my application to see if it has anything to do with it but then I would have to explain a huge gap in employment history lol.

Im thinking of re enlisting in the Army because I have no other options.

/rant

 

Have you contacted a headhunter? There are countless headhunters out there that specialize in placing prior service members in positions around the country. Most search nationwide for you, some will narrow to certain locations. I used one that had a "30/30 guarantee" he'd place you in a job (not sales based) within 30 miles of your desired location within 30 days. Unfortunately I got out 4 years ago and got rid of contact info on the few reputable ones some friends and I used. Look around for some, ask your buddies, etc.

 

First.....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
Second if you being a vet is detrimental on an application then you probably don't want to work there any way.
Third what was your M.O.S.? Is there any place you can use that experience?
Fourth things are really ugly every where right now so hang in there.
Fifth....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE !!!!!

 

Why do they tend to keep you away from sales positions besides the obvious of sales not being where I would like to work lol.
But thats actually very great information! Thanks alot im googling right now to see if there is any I can call tomorrow. Altho I think I remember something about that from TAPS class and got a packet with some of that info.
thanks Jgger I was in the Navy as a Hospital corpsman.

I was going to use my GI bill to go back to school and continue my medical knowledge. But im not exactly a model student that can excel in college (altho I will eventually go back im not going to let the bill go to waste)

 

I can't imagine that prior service would hurt your chances of being hired. Job market is just really crap right now, and everyone is wanting to hire someone very experienced in the field that will work for next to nothing.

 

Yea and thats what im thinking. I personally think that they are thinking im over qualified for most positions possibly.

So hopefully the Circut control company will work out

 

Yea don't let it go to waste! You just might find that you are a better student than you think.
My daughter is going to school to do sonograms and imaging-she wasn't a very good student in high school. A baby (6 yrs now) and a divorce changed her out look alot--she is in the top of the class!
There should be a bunch od stuff you can do using your background with out being a flat out doctor.
Might check into Fire dept/Paramedic-if you still want to stay close to your training. Just give it your best and don't sell yourself short!
Keep us posted on the job hunt.

Good Luck.
Jim

 

Thanks for your service man! I tried to get out about 2 years ago, applied for literally 45+ jobs and only got 1 phone call for an interview, so I had to re-enlist. My job is USAF Security Forces.

As far as college, it doesn't really matter if you excel, if you get your degree with a 2.5 GPA or a 4.0 GPA, its still the same degree. Turn a negative economy into a positive by using that awesome GI Bill and hopefully by the time you graduate the job market will be better. Good luck!

 

Go to your local county unemployment office, the place where folks go to file for unemlpoyment bennies A lot of companies use them exclusively.

Got any construction skills? An industrial construction company is always looking for semi-skilled folks, might even start as a laborer (~$14/hour) & work your way up.

 

I agree. And you will have a much better chance at finding something once you have a degree. Michigan in general sucks for jobs, and I would imagine Northern Michigan is going to be much worse than Southern Michigan. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you luck and hope it works out for you. Sales jobs are usually always plentiful, even in Michigan.

 

Good to hear you went to taps, its the best course the military has to offer. A few headhunters came to our taps class and passed out cards, so look through your stuff you might have some already. And if they are being invited to come they must be at least halfway decent.

I was told to stay away from those recruiters that give you a sales job. The way they work is they help you find a job and negotiate salary for you. They take a lump sum payment from the company for filling their position, usually based on what your salary is so the more you make the more they make. Many times they don't make anything unless you stay with that company for at least a year. Once you have the full job offer its yours to take or turn down. Since sales jobs are generally comission based, and there is a high turnover rate it makes it difficult for them to negotiate a fair deal for both you and them. Secondly, because of the high turnover rates in the sales field, getting started in that field shouldn't require the use of a headhunter (what my headhunter told me anyway).

Good luck with your search. If you are open to moving anywhere, and aren't afraid of some work. Look into going to Western North Dakota. Oil is booming there, even fast food restraunts are hiring at 12-15 bucks an hour. Unemployment is super low there, you could have a job before noon on your first day looking out there, as long as you can pass a drug test anyway.

 

Check with the Post Office and with any of the military contractors. The GCs are screaming for people like you and will train ex military folks like you. Your being in the military is a plus, not a minus in yer job search. You just need to know where to look.

 

As others said, thank you for your service!

In addition to what everyone else has suggested, be sure you're approaching an potential jobs in an appropriate way, dress, attitude, etc. Do you have a resume you could post here so we could give you some feedback?

I used to live in Detroit and have family that still does, that part of the country isn't the best place to look for work. Especially if you're underskilled or undereducated. There are so many people looking for work, it's easy to be overshadowed by people with better qualifications.

If you can't find work why not go to school now. Putting it off will only make it more difficult to actually achieve. You'll always find reasons not to go back to school.

- NCSU

 

That sounds bad.

My Dad passed last year, and I was left with a house, some bills, etc. At least I've got a full time job that pays decent, and I've got a nice house and such.

I'm two years out of college and I landed a great job in the education sector working as a Network Coordinator and I can't complain except that for what I do, should be yielding me over $100k.

 

Thanks guys.

I got a call today for an interview tomorrow at the circut control company that I stated in my original post. Hopefully it goes well I will be sure to let you all know how it turns out