Chiefs Employment Networking & Lessons Learned Pages

Theme: Navigating the Path to Full Employment--Without a Bowditch.

General

The Chiefs Employment Networking & lessons Learned capability will be focused primarily on those chiefs making the transition from active duty to retirement and secondarily those moving between jobs after retirement. There is a lot of experience within the Goat Locker in this area. Some of the chiefs are full time employment specialists with various state/fed agencies; some have their own business or are in profit/loss (P/L) positions in private industry or govt. Most have traveled the path to full employment and have learned through experience at the deck plate level were the catch 22's, dead ends etc.. are.

Insights and Transistion Advice

Lessons Learned, Job Tips The Good, Bad & Ugly

Master Chief Curt Haggard's Outstanding advice

The Network;The Volunteers

Goat Locker Chiefs who are "Full Time" employment specialists, their e-mail address, their state & their area of expertise.

NCCM(AW/SW) Mark Price USN Retired. I would like to volunteer to assist any of the member or spouse seeking a job or that needs help with their resume and with their job search. I am currently the Transition Assistance Program Manager at NS Mayport and written several articles, I have been published on the Stay Navy website under Enlisted Transition. I am current on all aspects of job search, Federal Employment, and today's Navy.NCCM(AW/SW) Mark Price's Email

Force Master Chief Terry Hammond, TAP Facilitator at Travis AFB Ca, Master Chief Hammond Email

CTR1 Darren Kaihlanen, Disability Coordinator Specialist, well versed in the laws pertaining to the employment of disabled persons and more specifically, disabled veterans in Montana. Specializes in employment (ADA Title I) issues in addition to public accommodations (ADA Title II). CTR1 Darren Kaihlanen Email

Northrop Grumman Careers.

NCC Freddy Paquian, is a retired chief who currently is a recruiter for a company called NAES NAES. NAES manages privately owned power plants throughout the nation. .NCC Freddy Paquian's Email

YNC(AW)Michael J. Anderson, offers to assist those shipmates who may need assistants in gaining outside employment. He recently completed a BS in Human Resource Management and is currently employed as a Regional Recruiter for an Engineering and Energy consulting business in Pittsburgh, PA. He has been recruiting for about 2 years now and can offer some assistance or answer questions that individuals may have.YNC(AW)Anderson's Email

Goat Locker Chiefs (by Rate) who are willing to help, by industry, position, e-mail address, industry & Navy Rate/Rank."

RMCM(SS) Jim Wright, Industry: Dept. of Defense(DoD), Position: Small Business Owner, Engineering Services & Strategic DoD Business Planning,RMCM(SS) Wright Email

ENCM(SW) Alan D. Tounsand,Industry: Honeywell Power Generation Systems, Position: Field Engineer; ENCM(SW) Tounsand Email

HMCS(FMF/SS) Dave Barnet has a Consulting and Coaching Company. He will provide free coaching and consulting for Active Duty and Spouses that are transiting or looking to start a small business. HMCS(FMF/SS) Dave Barnet Email

FCC(SW) Rohn Pehrson, Industry: Hospitality, Position: Director of Engineering (Facilities Maintenance), Marriott International ( Currently at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel) FCC(SW) Pehrson Email

EMC William C. Hart, Industry: Electrical Contracting (Commercial, Industrial), Position: Project Manager, Owner-Manager. ,EMC Hart Email

STGC(LCDR) Paul Cain, Industry: Engineering Services, Position: Project Manager FlightSaftey International,STGC(LCDR) Cain Email

OSCS(SW) Scott Doherty, Industry: Electronics Manerfacering, Position: Raytheon Systems Company, Naval & Maritime Integrated Systems, Senior Technical Support Engineer, ,OSCS(SW) Doherty Email

ETC Brad Bradfield, Industry: Cellular Tele-Phone, Position: Motorola, Telecommunications, Senior Test Engineer,ETC Bradford Email

ENC Craig M. Benner, Industry: Lunt Manufacturing Co., Position: Human Resource Manager, SPH, Currently serving as Command Chief of ACU-1 Det 1813, Great Lakes USNR-R ENC Benner Email

RMCM(SW) Craig T. Stephens President/CEO Alamo City Engineering Services Inc A Veteran Owned Small Business. RMCM(SW) Stephens, having gotten tired of life in a large civilian corporation (Defense Contractor), has decided to create his own company. If you are interested in the civilian IT corporate sector, or in starting your own corporation, send him an email at: RMCM(SW) Craig T. Stephens Email

MNCM John E. Babcock. I was a recruiter for Orion International Consulting. This company only recruits former military members for placement in the civilian workforce. While I no longer work there, I did learn a great deal about how to conduct interviews. Here is a PowerPoint presentation on interviewing that I have used to teach a local business school's students.

Lessons Learned, Job Tips The Good, Bad & Ugly

Tip # 1 Overall

1 - Network, Network, Network

2. Resume - write your own, never pay for it! - employers want you're work not someone else's. Always target your resume to the company you are applying to. Meaning your objective should say I want to work for you because I qualify and want to work for your company. Your qualifications should match the employers requirements. (again read the TAP book and many other resources available online).

3. Interviews - Remember that the employer doesn't know you and how hard you worked to become a chief, it's up to you to convey to him/her that you are the best choice for an opportunity. Concentrate on your qualifications for his job.
Think of it this way - What do you have to do in order to make yourself stand out as the best candidate.
Remember this: 5% of people find jobs thru the newspaper, 10% thru agencies and 85% thru people they know by networking.

4. Seek out the advice of the Veterans representatives at the state job service. Sometimes they are a wealth of info and many of the teach TAP as I do.

5. Another wake up call is the difference in pay expectations and reality.

Tip # 2

The job seeker has to get that resume into the hands of the decision maker who can hire, in many cases the HR person hasn't a clue as to what the job is really about, I see it everyday! Although not always true, the HR types are looking for key words that match the job description. And, as a result, good people are eliminated because their resume didn't stand up to the company's job description. That's why you're better off trying to deal with the decision maker who knows what you do and will understand your resume. Reaching that decision maker is often just a phone call or two away. ....Have a great Navy day!!! ...Rex

Tip # 3

First and foremost, be prepared for the biggest shock of your life when you become a retiree because you WILL be treated as a second or third class citizen when it comes to active duty folks. This is not the case with all active duty personnel or offices, but for the most part, this will be the case. Some bases may be better than others but all the same be ready to be treated totally different than when you were in the military (regardless of what rank you retired at). Why can't we be like the Marine Corps, i.e. "Once a Marine, always a Marine". I know, stop whining.

GO TO TAP!!!! Even if you have a job lined up, go to TAP. Lot's of useful information that will help you. Statistically retired military will go through at least 3 jobs in a 10 year timeframe so knowing how to interview, write resumes, benchmark, items you will learn in TAP will be useful.

Make sure you file for VA disability regardless of whether you feel you have any disabilities to claim or not. You will at least get a veterans preference status and possibly surprised at what level. A veterans preference status can be the difference in obtaining certain State and Govt. jobs (don't burn any bridges). You may also get a check from VA for the amount of disability they award you. This will be deducted from your retirement check but the VA portion is non-taxable (for example, say your retirement is $1000 per month and VA has authorized a check to you for $300 per month. Therefore, you will receive 2 different checks. One for $300 and the other for $700. The only check that will be taxed is the $700 check). NOTE: There is a bill (HR 303) currently in the house that if approved will allow you to keep both retirement and disability. Not sure if either or both will be taxed.

Make sure you obtain a copy of your medical and dental records. DoD policy recently changed in that you cannot make your own copy. The medical/dental staff are supposed to do this for you.

Do not turn in your ID card until the last day you are on active duty.

If you're deciding where to live, you may want to look at the states that cater to military (Texas, Florida, Michigan, etc since they don't tax your retirement pay and offer many benefits to military that other states do not).

I discovered (on my own since finance didn't tell me) that some states do not automatically deduct state taxes from your retirement pay. And then whammo, you get a bill for a one lump sum payment at the end of the year when you file for income taxes. Finance should have a form you fill out that will automatically deduct an amount that you specify from your retirement (you decide what that amount will be) each month. So when you do file, you may either break even, owe a little or get a refund (depending on what you have taken out).

If you even think you're getting out, get your medical/dental needs taken care of.

Finish up college!!!!! You would be surprised how far a 2 or 4 year degree goes in getting hired and in your pay differential. You must have retainability for Tuition Assistance so make sure you don't stretch it to the very end.

Get your A&P certificate and any other license that will help you. Or for that matter, whatever career field your in, get whatever licenses/ratings are available (and use TA to pay for them).

BENCHMARK, BENCHMARK, BENCHMARK!!!!! Let everyone know you're retiring/exiting the military just in case they know or hear of jobs. Recommend sending resumes out to them. You will be surprised how many companies will get your resume and call you for an interview. Would recommend going to several interviews, even if your not interested in working for that particular company. Will give you a feel for what to expect and build your confidence for the one interview you really want to do well at.

Join a VFW or other retired organization. They will keep you in touch with current retired happenings (VFW has an excellent monthly magazine), have some great parties (beer is cheap and stories are great at the lodges) and help lobby for retired benefits.

Have resumes ready to go. Family Support Center (TAP) can help with resumes, as can other means For example, there's a CD-ROM you can purchase titled: "Resumaker". Cost about $35 and is well worth it. Would not recommend placing your resume on the Monster web site or others unless you don't mind getting about 200 hits (gets real confusing tracking who called you, interviews, etc). There's also a book titled; "Knock Em Dead" that I would recommend you purchase or borrow to help you in preparing for an interview, writing resume, etc. One of the better books on the market. I found it at Barnes and Noble for $20.

Log onto Nationjob and on the left side under "Job Seekers" click on "Search jobs & sign up P.J. Scout". Individuals can sign up for an email service where PJ Scout will send an email with jobs listed in the category and state the individual specified. They usually send a weekly email (sometimes daily, if something pops up).

A recruiting service aviationrecruiting.net that offers job opportunities totally free to the military member. They have taken care of quite a few ex-military and are very reputable.