Hi everyone, I am new here and wanted to see if there is anyone who can relate to my situation or can lend any advice.
I am a combat veteran of the Iraq war. I spent 13 years in the Army where I was in direct command of 80 soldiers and responsible for the inventory of over 5 million dollars worth of gear and equipment. On the civilian side, I was a successful small business owner for 7 years. I sold my business and went to work for someone. The situation I am in is I am currently enrolled in school for Criminal Justice, I have a high GPA and am on the deans list. For some reason, I can not secure any kind of meaningful job that puts me in some sort of leadership position. Out of all my accomplishments, none of it amounts to anything in the end because no matter my experience or knowledge, I can not get any company to give me a chance at anything more than just a "bottom of the barrel" position. It is affecting my motivation, it is destroying my self esteem, and is starting to become depressing. Any suggestions?
Abayneh
14
03/10/24 at 7:13PM UTC
Good point.
Paulla FetzekTeacher, Lighting Expert, & Office Professional
2.9k
10/31/23 at 6:31PM UTC
Hello!
Thank you for your service.
As others have noted, what position you'll have in a company will depend upon what experience you've had.
In no way do I mean to diminish your soldier leadership skills. Leading a command of 80 soldiers is a fantastic accomplishment. However, it's not the same as leading a Customer Service Call Center or a Corporate Sales Team. Each role has its own set of requirements and expect experience.
As others have noted, graduate program or not, you'll likely have to start in a lower position and then move your way up.
I'm 1/2 a year away from completing my Masters in Adult Education. I have over 10 years tutoring experience, and when I have my Masters, I hope to teach at the collegiate level. However, I'll likely have to start at a junior college - or take a position of Adjunct Professor until I have actual in class experience. It's the nature of the education field.
This isn't to say someone isn't out there would would take you in a leadership role based on your experience thus far. Truly good leadership cannot be taught. It's learned and earned - as you've done. The basic concepts of a job (product, processes, etc) - those can be taught. This is where your current leadership skills may work for you right away.
All the best!
Anonymous
10/31/23 at 6:08PM UTC (Edited)
If this is an undergraduate instead of graduate degree, you are most likely going to have to take a lower-level position in your new field to get a foot in the door.
While experience will count in practice, the education factor is critical to most civilian management and leadership roles. Where the experience comes in is what happens after you're in the job.
I didn't complete my undergrad until I was older and had to accept some positions that would have been more appropriate for a young person with little experience. But I quickly moved up multiple times and was at a leadership level in just a few years - in comparison to the trajectory of an actual young person with only the education and a few years of experience who would just be reaching their first promotion in that time frame in my field. Still had to start at ground level. This is pretty normal when moving to a new field.
Anonymous
10/31/23 at 2:43PM UTC
What is your plan with the Criminal Justice degree? If you are looking to stay in corporate maybe focus on companies that have great reputations for hiring veterans. Google search should bring up a good list of companies to review.
Alexis GladstoneHelping You Excel as a Leader
2.61k
10/31/23 at 12:32PM UTC
There is a lot of great advice already given. If you haven't already done so, I'd find organizations that specifically work with helping veterans find jobs. They tend to be connected with companies who value military experience for what it brings into the private sector.
User deleted comment on 10/30/23 at 8:45PM UTC
E C
823
10/30/23 at 6:29PM UTC
Thank you for your service. I would encourage you to think of an entry level role as another form of training. Managers who come in from outside an organization with no internal knowledge or experience sometimes succeed. In my experience, they more often are perceived by their teams as lacking knowledge and insight. In my organization (state government), military experience would help you get hired and promoted, but it wouldn't let you skip levels. You have to build hands on experience. Wishing you all the best.
Anonymous
10/30/23 at 6:27PM UTC
I’m curious to what your resume looks like and the types of roles you’re applying for. If you managed people and logistics for 13yr and owned a business for 7years… you have a WEALTH of knowledge and skills.
Because you’re entering the civilian workforce, you more than anyone has to tailor your resume AND cover letter specific to the role you’re applying for..
Lastly, bottom of the barrel is wild. We ALL have to start somewhere and our frontline or entry level workers are usually the people that have the best work ethic and help companies/orgs run well.. that bottom of the barrel work/pay is often what leads us to greater as well.
Maybe a mid-level/Senior management role is better to help adapt to the current workforce working for someone else instead of jumping directly into leadership. I’m rooting for you, hoping you find something that works for you soon!
Anonymous
10/30/23 at 4:14PM UTC
Military experience does not always translate well into the civilian world. The dynamics are just too far apart. Just because you had direct command does not mean you will be a good manager. I would work with a recruiter of a head hunter that helps bridge the gap of military versus civilian life. You may find that you could be a supply chain manager somewhere or work in logistics. Not everyone starts out as a manager, start lower learn the company and work your way up.
Anonymous
10/30/23 at 1:01PM UTC (Edited)
Most of us have racked up impressive accomplishments and accolades.
There just aren't that many impressive positions available right now. Employers have their pick of perfect candidates so your job is to craft a resume and cover that paints that perfect picture that fits each position with obvious ease. Since your experience is not a traditional path, I would suggest using ChatGpt or similar A.I. to help you. It's free, easy and quite creative when used with the right queries.
