Some advice maybe?

[smokinghole]

I've been job hunting almost a year now. Applied to entry level and supervision positions. I have only gotten two interviews at this point. I feel like my background and military achievements are intimidating hiring managers. I am at a loss how to approach this. I want to present a strong resume, but I am concerned it may be too strong, if that's actually possible.

Here's an abbreviated breakdown of my background.

USAF EOD
Had top secret sci/dcid 6/4 clearance
Hazmat tech
Personnel reliability program operator ( nuke accident/incident world for me)
USSS support for president, VP, candidates, and the queen
Iraq tour
Info Security manager and personnel security clearance manager
Work section supervisor

Got out:
BS in biotechnology 3.84 gpa graduated after 6 semesters

Then life slowed down with me in the brewing industry. I have been held back from performing and achieving. I am trying to get out and I am having a hell if a time finding alternative choices.

Anyone have a background in HR or hiring practices have any advice? Am I just thinking I am better than other candidates when its really not the case? I feel I am translating my skills from the military to normal life effectively,
but maybe I am not.

I'm good under pressure. I am trustworthy, very honest, hardworking, driven, highly trainable, diverse background, mechanically talented as well as academically. I can work very independently with out supervision as well as a being a strong team member.

Anyone got some reality for me other than the job market is tough?

 

[cigarblunk]

Not sure if you are doing it but always include a cover letter with your resume. Especially if your using one of the job sites you need something that will help you stand out and taking the time to include a cover letter will help.

 

[mdwest]

do you want to work in EOD?

If so, I have some contacts at Ronco, Sterling, and a couple of other EOD focused companies that do support work for the Dept. of Defense, UN, NATO, etc..

Your security background.. have you been to a formal SSO training course within the last 5 years? and do you still maintain a clearance (active or inactive)? If so, do you have any interest in doing SSO type work on the civilian side? I know of 2 different companies that are always looking for SSO's.. a few positions in the US.. dozens of positions OCONUS..

To answer your question about too a resume that might be too strongly written... YES.. that is possible.. You need to draft a unique resume for every position you apply for... that is tailored exactly to the position description and experience requirements of the job you are wanting...

 

[smokinghole]

do you want to work in EOD?

If so, I have some contacts at Ronco, Sterling, and a couple of other EOD focused companies that do support work for the Dept. of Defense, UN, NATO, etc..

Your security background.. have you been to a formal SSO training course within the last 5 years? and do you still maintain a clearance (active or inactive)? If so, do you have any interest in doing SSO type work on the civilian side? I know of 2 different companies that are always looking for SSO's.. a few positions in the US.. dozens of positions OCONUS..

To answer your question about too a resume that might be too strongly written... YES.. that is possible.. You need to draft a unique resume for every position you apply for... that is tailored exactly to the position description and experience requirements of the job you are wanting...

Not opposed to EOD work. In fact I am leaning on my explosives background and EOD background more now trying to get in the USSS as physical security specialist. I am doing a few applications this week in the wmd/hazmat arena.

I had been trained in what was JPAS at the time if my memory is accurate. My clearance is expired but from what I'm told to be recleared they just have to investigate back to when it expired.

 

[mdwest]

PM sent

 

[Jmphotog]

Hey brother I had the same problem when I went from active duty to NG.. I went through a company called Orion international.. My boy did too and he's working for seiman's now and I got a final interview lined up with Google

With those quals I found whats best for us is federal jobs; they take our quals the best and supplement it for school qualifications.

If you want pm me and I'll give you my guys number maybe he can help you out?

 

[smokinghole]

Hey brother I had the same problem when I went from active duty to NG.. I went through a company called Orion international.. My boy did too and he's working for seiman's now and I got a final interview lined up with Google

With those quals I found whats best for us is federal jobs; they take our quals the best and supplement it for school qualifications.

If you want pm me and I'll give you my guys number maybe he can help you out?

Yeah I've come to find out that my background is best suited to usajobs.gov searches. Plus they have set pay scales and listed salaries where they don't say "this guy will want too much". Plus my addition to a federal workforce is not threatening to anyone else's positions. The only other luck I've had with the initial application process thus far had been FBI Special Agent, but I didn't pass their screening test. I believe my cowboy attitude from my life as EOD showed through on the personality sections too strongly. Then again i could have just bombed the logical reasoning section too, they don't tell so I don't know.

I had a small ray of sunlight this week. I applied to a position with the USAF down in my old stomping grounds of NWFL. The position is an Explosives Safety Specialist with AFSOC. I know pretty much what goes on there and all around the base at the Eglin ranges. It requires a SCI/Top Secret which I can easily be reinvestigated to have again. The job was only open to status candidates and VEOA eligibles. So I don't think I'm competing against much. I'd love to get the job. Cost of living is low there, the pay is awesome for this job, plus no mobility requirement.

 

[3/5King]

do you want to work in EOD?

If so, I have some contacts at Ronco, Sterling, and a couple of other EOD focused companies that do support work for the Dept. of Defense, UN, NATO, etc..

Your security background.. have you been to a formal SSO training course within the last 5 years? and do you still maintain a clearance (active or inactive)? If so, do you have any interest in doing SSO type work on the civilian side? I know of 2 different companies that are always looking for SSO's.. a few positions in the US.. dozens of positions OCONUS..

To answer your question about too a resume that might be too strongly written... YES.. that is possible.. You need to draft a unique resume for every position you apply for... that is tailored exactly to the position description and experience requirements of the job you are wanting...

I love this. Brothers always looking out for brothers. I'm not sure what kind of jobs you're applying for but to reiterate a little as to what mdwest stated. When you look at the qualifications and job descriptions, you need to take your background and give bullet points as to how your previous experience will benefit the duties they list or should I say how your experience aligns with what they are looking for. sometimes you have to get creative in taking something you have experience with and wording it to sound like it was doing what they are describing in their Lis of job duties and quals. A cover letter is a must and must be custom to each job you apply for as well. It is a huge task when applying for multiple fields and fields outside your experience, but it is essential. Also, after the interview, make sure to get the email of the person you had the meeting with and when you get home, write a short email thanking them for their time and all that brown nosing type stuff lol. It's all the little things that help. Also sometimes you have to dumb down your resume for a job that is beneath your qualifications.

 

[dontWIZonme]

My father-in-law works for ABM Industries out of Philadelphia and the last time I talked to him, he said they are always looking to hire prior service. Especially people with clearances because they have a contract with Lockheed-Martin. I'm not sure what ABM has to offer in Harrisburg, but it can't hurt to look.

 

[smokinghole]

Well brothers a little has happened since I first posted this thread.

I am no longer spending two hours a day in the car to get to/from work. I took another job with the brewery I used to work. I am also in talks with the BATFE. I have applied once but OPM cut me because of my degree. For some reason political science, sociology, criminal justice, and psychology are only accepted for "superior academic achievement". I got a 3.84 in biotechnology but that prevented me from testing in the eyes of OPM. The recruiter was disappointed and asked me to reapply this fall, so we will see. They are interested in me as a future special agent bomb technician. We shall see.

 

[mdwest]

You hard set on ATF?

DEA and FBI might like that degree a little better...

USMS isn't super picky about field of study either (and doesn't outright require a degree.. Although super hard to be competitive without prior law enforcement experience or a degree)....

If you're hard set on ATF for some reason.. Another thing to consider is most fed govt agencies will do inner service transfers among 1811's (federal investigators).. It's not uncommon for someone to initially get hired by the USPS as a postal inspector.. Or the EPA as an 1811.. Etc.. And then after 2 or 3 years move over to DEA, ATF, etc...

(Beats waiting 3 years for hiring freezes to lift with particular agencies.. Or having to wait to get selected.. Etc...)

Once you're "inside" it's a whole lot easier to move around than initially trying to get hired off the street... Less red tape.. Less stringent requirements.. Etc..

Lots of guys apply to multiple agencies.. Get hired anywhere they can.. Then transfer to their agency of choice later...

An option to consider...