I have found that my National Guard active membership is a deficit on my resume. I was even told by a Gov't sponsored Resume Consultant to take my National Guard experience OFF my resume! According to a 2012 article, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ted-daywalt/65-percent-of-companies-w_b_1418721.html , >65% of corporations stated that they will NOT hire active National Guard and Reserve members, despite this being illegal! So how is a National Guard or Reserve member to find that company among the <35% willing to look at us?
Answers
Unfortunately the US Gov't doesn't give any financial incentives to companies that hire National Guard or Reservists. They are not given an tax benefits/relief for supporting or back filling the deployed employees.
When I was a member of the National Guard I and the people I worked with had the most success with medium to large businesses. The AT&Ts and Chevrons of the world. Small businesses have problems making up for a missing person. I knew one man that owned a mechanic shop say "If I can do without you for a few weeks I can do without you the rest of the time also". I had a conversation with a man that did the hiring for a company that made glass. He said he would not know how to accommodate for missing people for weeks at a time.
Robert,
Thank you for serving the greatest Nation on Earth. Much appreciated.
First of all, the consultant who requested you to remove your service from the resume is an "idiot".
What are your available hours to work and what are you finding as available time constraints?
I have a friend in the reserves, but am not experienced enough to be aware of how your weeks plays out.
Please share.
Thank you,
Lowell
email: info@LowellSandoval.com
You need to look and/or focus your search on business's with ESGR posted. (ESGR, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) ESGR can be accessed through www.esgr.com That should help you with being able to target your employment search efforts.
I agree with you! It truly is a matter of finding those companies who value and appreciate our National Guard/Reserve Military experience. When the post-deployment consultant suggested we take our National Guard experience off our resumes, there was a huge verbal revolt and backlash made to the consultant! I am looking to relocate back to East Tennessee (Knoxville/Chattanooga Area), so if you have any recruiting contacts please let me know at BobWagner92@gmail.com
Colonel,
This is my opinion and not necessarily the views of other companies or of this website.
Personally I think it's a shame if and when companies act in such a manner. But that article was written in 2012 and I'll bet viewpoints have changed especially since the war(s) are finally winding down.
I would never NOT list my service, to me its a badge of honor. My service has been on my resume from the time I left the service to this very day. I think you put a positive spin on it and tell any perspective employer how the military make you a better candidate over any non-vets. How your experience and proven track record of advancement through the ranks proves you're a much better fit. And, do they really think you'll get deployed again, the odds are very very slim.
Again, I think whomever told you to remove any experience off a resume is a big BIG mistake.
Experience is leverage!
I hope this is helpful,
MjM
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