Jeffrey Duck ⋅ Deltona , FL Deploy Tech Services ⋅ 30 years experience

Hi Eric,

There's three things that strike me in your post:

1) No matter who you speak with or where you write something, say as much as is appropriate about your skills and at least mention in some way that you're looking for a job. Consider changing what you put here and include your resume so people know how you're presenting yourself and can give you feedback. No doubt you can find information about networking. It used to scare the crap out of me to go in a room full of people that I didn't know or know anything about and introduce myself to them. (I'll tie this all together below.)

2) Google "mirroring during interview" - no quotes - then read away. The longer you've been in the Navy, the more different you'll look, and you want to look like everyone else only better.

3) Look for quality over quantity but 5 interviews is a drop-in-the-bucket. The challenges that veterans usually face isn't that they aren't good enough for the job, it's that the interviewer doesn't realize how good you are Real honestly, they're the ones who don't know how to identify YOUR skills so they're the ones making mistakes. The problem is that it's up to you to correct the situation.

Each time you do an interview, watch the interviewer and learn. If you have free time, get an interview somewhere. Get one for a job you like if you can, but if you have free time, just get an interview. This is the #1 place where the person across the table has an incredible advantage over you in every way. The more interviews you've done, the better you will do. An interview is like having sex. You want to do it every time you have a free minute but don't go blabbing about it. The more special you make the other person feel, the more satisfied you'll be afterwards.

A couple of stories... I nearly dropped out of high school, went in the Marine Corps as a truck mechanic then when I got out I was looking for a job as a "Manager" because I wanted to work in an office. I thought "Manager" was a job position - Not my smartest move. I wasn't comfortable networking. I didn't understand people and I'd sweat from anxiety in a room where people in suits walked up to me and talked. Eventually I learned to do my best to sound professional but tell people that I just got out of the military and was trying to get more comfortable. I was amazed at how people reacted. it seemed like everyone wanted to mentor me and it seemed like everyone remembered me. It was pure luck on my part but that was a big help.

About 20 years ago, I wanted to move from California to Florida. I lost my company in Calif and was just about broke. I wanted to start up a small computer training company but had to decide where I wanted to live and had to learn if people in the area seemed to be moving toward computers. I drove around Florida spending a night every 50 miles or so and would find some networking event to go to and speak with people. Since the networking was only at night, I also get newspapers and looked for job openings for any jobs related to computers. If I found something I would call and tell the person that I was only in town for a day and I'd appreciate it if I could meet with them the next day (I always called where I would be the following day). Some days I got no interviews and some days I got 3 or 4 but overall, I was getting a good idea of where I wanted to live and how well I would do starting up my training business.

All the time I was in Florida and all over the state I would see an ad for a shipboard systems officer for Royal Caribbean. I never bothered calling them because it was for a shipboard job, I wasn't really looking for a job and I figured I wouldn't learn anything I wanted to know by talking with them so why bother. One day I couldn't find anything to do and decided I'd call on the Royal Caribbean job even though I was 4 hours away. I got straight through to the HR person and to my surprise, he agreed to see me the next day. I thought it was strange that I was probably jumping ahead of about 1000 people and he hadn't even seen my resume but, oh well.

So the next day I drove down there and talked with him. Within 4 hours I had 3 interviews and they talked me into taking a job on a ship starting the next week. They flew me home, paid me while I packed up my house and got it on the market, flew me back to Miami and had me on a ship training the next week. 10 years after that, every computer and server onboard Royal Caribbean ships went through me and I had the fastest growing company in South Florida.

All that because I spent my spare time talking with people.

Job hunting is like a sport. If you're not playing, practice. Learn to love it. Talk to everyone about it. Tell them why you're team (you in this case) is better.

Above all, don't forget that the typical person across the desk will never have a clue what it's like to be you. Have some pity because that person has probably been sitting at that same desk for the last 20 years while you've been...

Kelly Williams ⋅ Newark , DE Stars to Stripes Military Transition Assistance ⋅ 10 years experience

Good afternoon,

I am President of Expert Resume Solutions and Stars to Stripes Military Transition Assistance. Expert Resume Solutions provides a wide array of Career Services, specializing in Corporate and Federal Resume Development. We are a leading online provider of Government, Defense Contractor, Military Transition, and Private Industry Resumes.

We are the exclusive resume writing service provider for TechExpoUSA and Transition Careers. Both companies sponsor hiring events around the country with a focus on the Defense and Intelligence job market. Most TechExpo events require an active security clearance.

www.TransitionCareers.com

www.TechExpoUSA.com

I suggest visiting the above websites to obtain additional information on upcoming events. You can also register and submit your resume online.

Additionally, we provide free resume critiques to all military service members. You can submit your resume to us via email or by using our secure online submission form:

Email: Info@ExpertResumeSolutions.com

Form: http://www.tinyurl.com/ERS-Critique

Feel free to also connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kellywilliamsmaresca/

Thank you for your service. We are here to help!

Warmest Regards,

Kelly Williams

Resume Strategist & President

Expert Resume Solutions / Stars to Stripes Military Transition Assistance

Business: (732) 686-6455
Email: Info@ExpertResumeSolutions.com

www.ExpertResumeSolutions.com

Jay Pathak ⋅ North Arlington , NJ IBM ⋅ 11 years experience

First of all allow me to Thank you for your service.

Paul, Angela and Sarah have already covered many aspects. Adding further to it - a good option for you could be to enter into IT Management field by taking role of "Project Manager".

You will find more opportunities for Project Manager as compared to IT/Department Manager.

Companies are more open to bring Project Managers on contract basis from outside for six months to 18 months (generally it depends upon project tenure) and hire them based on their performance/need once project is over.

Give some thought over it and I'd be happy to answer your question. Good Luck.

Paul Trejo ⋅ Austin , TX University of Texas at Austin ⋅ 40 years experience

Eric,

Many thanks for your service. As for an ITS position today, much depends on the technology. For example, if you worked only with Oracle SQL, but your prospective employer uses only Microsoft SQL, there will be a technology mismatch.

Another thing about civilian industry management -- it is not granted by promotion, as many expect. Instead, it is by invitation only. It is like a closed club of trusted friends and family. One finds more nepotism in civilian management than one ever expected.

This is not to discourage you, but to orient you. As for mature workers, only current managers can be hired as managers as a general rule.

Also -- in any civilian company, their operations tend to be very local -- unlike the US Military. A local CEO makes all the rules, and he or she is surrounded by friends and family who protect his or her time. Think of the implications.

The new, incoming manager must show clear signs that he or she will NOT try to impose rules and guidelines from the US Military into their LOCAL operation. The incoming manager must show signs of tremendous flexibility, willingness to learn new management styles, adapt to the CEO's personality, and be a consummate TEAM PLAYER.

Another aspect, however minor -- contrary to the US Military, civilian managers no longer wish to be addressed as "sir" or "ma'am" (except, perhaps in the Deep South). This informality is deceptive, however -- it is not an invitation to be familiar or informal.

In other words, it is a 'formal informality' that modern managers prefer to be called by their first names -- even though one obeys them as one would any senior officer, and never questions their authority except strictly within local, established channels.

In summary, the way to get into a management position in a civilian workplace today is to be willing to be molded -- start out as a NOBODY in terms of authority, and then ask your immediate superiors for a Project, and then attack that Project like there's no tomorrow.

Once you show what you can do with your first Project -- ACCORDING TO THEIR RULES -- then you'll be accepted as SOMEBODY in the organization.

In short, don't expect to be SOMEBODY in the eyes of this civilian company during the interview. Offer to make them rich and famous, as their obedient servant. That, Eric, is the first step to success in the civilian workplace, IMHO.

Best regards,
--Paul Trejo, MA

Sarah Young ⋅ Springfield , VA Evolve Tele-Services, Inc ⋅ 15 years experience

When you say "civilian skills" what do you mean? A manager is a manager. Do you mean on the technical front? IE: They want someone who can tell some young kid how to swap out a hard drive and keep a server maintained vs I dunno...swap out a warhead on a bomb?

I'm kidding. Sort of. Thank you for your service. That should've been my first sentence. But with that said, are you tailoring and considering your experience in ways that it correlates to the civ jobs you're applying for?

Have you tailored your resume such that it shows your skills appropriately for these positions?

Can you describe what happens in your interviews?

I'd be happy to look at your resume and even phone interview you for practice if that might be of help.

Best wishes.