Years of education and military service have come to mean absolutely nothing when it comes to looking for meaningful employment. Got an offer to work construction in the field but it's kind of underwhelming considering I worked my ass off for years, have an MBA and masters in HR to show for it. 13 years of military service and currently an O4 in the reserves.

Yet I can't even get an interview in a professional level job.

So I guess I'll just toil my sorry ass away in the field doing something someone with a high school education does. Not the way I thought my life would turn out.

Instead, there are snakes who I went to school with making nearly 6 figures with less experience and education than me.

I'm about a month away from selling my car and 2 months away from being homeless.

It's all lies:

-go to college, you need a degree to get ahead
-join the military, employers value your leadership experience
-get a graduate degree, it'll distinguish yourself from others
-work hard and you will be rewarded

$50k in undergraduate education and about $200k in graduate education, all paid for by the taxpayer, for nothing.

Sometimes I wonder what it would've been like to have born privileged.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Edmond,

That has to be indescribably frustrating and discouraging. If I were you, I'd be pissed off beyond any ability to adequately express it.

Do you recall what I told you about this before? Does it make any sense to you now? Admittedly, I know nothing about the specifics of your life, so, it may not be possible, but have you ever considered chunking all that pressure and becoming truly free? If you're going to be earning the same as someone with a high school education, you're going to end up hating your job and becoming very bitter.

This is not advice I normally give to people, but I've read your comments about this on several occassions, and I am making a sincere suggestion to you

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
That has to be indescribably frustrating and discouraging. If I were you, I'd be pissed off beyond any ability to adequately express it.

Do you recall what I told you about this before? Does it make any sense to you now? Admittedly, I know nothing about the specifics of your life, so, it may not be possible, but have you ever considered chunking all that pressure and becoming truly free?

Pissed doesn't even describe it.

Yes, I remember what you told me and it has stuck in my head. V-Tail and I are working on terms but as of now it's not enough to support a family. I have ideas but no money.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
Sometimes I wonder what it would've been like to have born privileged.

In a way, you are privileged; you are clearly whip-smart. You tried doing things the conventional way and you say it has been for naught.

Well, who says you have to be like most people? Do you say that?

The only way to be truly free is to work for yourself.

I just sent you an email with my phone number. I tried to respond here but lack the ability to put my words into a post.

Call me any time at all. I understand.

I dont know where you live but sometimes a change of location is best. There are towns, cities and states which are more productive. Places where your education and mil background are valued. If you live in some small sleepy community where you have no chance to suceed, it might be good to pull up stakes and move on. Seriously. Something to consider.

If you have some spare time this week, shoot me an email with your offline comms.

I know people who would kill without hesitation to have what you have.

I understand your frustration, but I truly believe it's only a matter of time. If you get everything you ever wanted and don't have to suffer for it, it doesn't mean shit. That is to say I do wish the best for you, so keep hanging in there. Giving up is for pussies, not Edmond.

E-mail sent

quote:

It's all lies:

-go to college, you need a degree to get ahead
-join the military, employers value your leadership experience
-get a graduate degree, it'll distinguish yourself from others
-work hard and you will be rewarded

$50k in undergraduate education and about $200k in graduate education, all paid for by the taxpayer, for nothing.

I felt entitled like you did when I graduated from college too.
I expected to automatically get a great job, etc.
Reality sets in and you realize you are in the real world and you have to fend for yourself to get ahead.
No doubt some of those are lies but after you get over that look at it as an opportunity to show yourself what you are made out of.
You accomplished a great education and served our country as well.
Don't look at it as a calling card but take what you learned and apply it as the best you can.
You should be proud of what you have already done and it will only be a matter of time before others do IF you maintain a good attitude.
Even if now seems at a low point.
Good luck.

Good advice in here. There is opportunity out there. Sometimes it is sheer determination, sometimes it's being in the right place at the right time. I'm a vet who got laid off at 58. I managed to land on my feet. Success is 98% determination and 100% hard work.

I hope you have success in your search. You have what it takes.

Are you getting feedback on why you're not getting hired for higher level jobs? Can you? Maybe you're missing something.

Another tactic would be to do a startup and just build your own business (and, yes, I'm making this sound much more simple than it really is.)

Finally, can your work your military connections / experience? Look at defense contractors who might value service/experience. Do you have any connections that can get you in at one of these companies?

As I'm sure many of us don't know....

What is your undergrad degree?

What is your MBA, is it specialized at all?

I was in your exact boat ten years ago. SSDD. 8 years active duty, combat aviator, leadership experience, blah blah blah.

Got out to start a family. The MSM narrative was that our vets are deranged and damaged goods. Again, SSDD. I was unemployed for six months. I ended up looking for trucking jobs that might require a security clearance. By chance, ended up digging up a defense contractor position. Took a chance, applied, got it, and worked that for seven years. Have been a GS for three now.

I can empathize how much or sucks right now, and the disillusionment is totally demoralizing. I get it. I would encourage you to look for defense contracting opportunities, and also peruse usajobs.gov. Additionally, try and maximize extended Reserve tour orders in the mean time. Let me know if you want to chat offline. What kept me going was focusing on family, getting into the Bible, affirming my experience and talents, and always holding onto hope. You’ve got this.

I got a raw deal in the form of Affirmative Action. I was not allowed the same opportunities as others based purely on my ethnicity. I had to make a life another way. I did and found success. I am not what I dreamed for myself as a young man, but I found my way through tenacity and delayed gratification. In this life weak things become strong by pressing against resistance. You'll find success because that's who you are. Find the open doors.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:


It's all lies:

-go to college, you need a degree to get ahead
-join the military, employers value your leadership experience
-get a graduate degree, it'll distinguish yourself from others
-work hard and you will be rewarded

$50k in undergraduate education and about $200k in graduate education, all paid for by the taxpayer, for nothing.

Sometimes I wonder what it would've been like to have born privileged.

Born privileged? As in the tax payer...the one who can't afford the 50k in undergraduate education and 200k in graduate education, gave you everything you have...and you're the under-privileged one?

Entitled is what your post sounds like. Do you think having a masters degree entitles you to something, like you've pushed a button and should get a reward? You seem to be having a hard time functioning outside a military environment with a real distain for those who weren't in that environment. You seem to have come from a world where everything was given you, and now you feel like you should have something given you again.

In the civil world, you make your own way.

There are many fields in which a degree is helpful. There are many who do not have a degree who manage to get along just fine. The value of a degree has diminished somewhat, in a number of fields, but one must still be capable. Careers are earned and built, not given. Your climb to O4 in the reserves does not mean you get anything in the civil sector.

Hiring is at a frenzy across the board. If someone isn't getting hired in this environment, they're either not hirable, not trying hard enough, or haven't made enough applications.

Your distain for others who are doing well is evident; you seem to feel that you are somehow the better man for the education that was given to you. You may not see this attitude, but it drips off the screen, makes you toxic. Prospective employers will perceive this, too. How you come across is up to you.

I'm sorry to hear of your financial state presently, but frankly, I'm also nauseated at the entitlement that jumps out of your post. Tone it down, focus, and rinse and repeat until you are employed. If you're holding out for the job you think you should have, maybe you should take what you can get and go from there. It's always easiest to get a job when you have a job. Over the years I've met a number of professionals who went hungry during furloughs, layoffs, downturns, etc, because they weren't willing to take certain work that they felt was beneath them. If you are a highly educated, qualified HR specialist, don't overlook jobs in other fields, manual labor jobs, even low paying jobs; you can't eat education, or a commission. I've spent much of my life working two jobs, sometimes 3. One does what one must. Work is out there: don't limit your field.

you said "...Yet I can't even get an interview in a professional level job."

Have you decided what that "professional level job." looks like? Is it HR? You have a degree in it, but is that it? You have an MBA but might .gov work suit you more? I'm not suggesting either one but if you know what you are looking for the people you will be talking to will recognize it. If you don't know they will recognize that too. That's not because they are particularly smart, it just isn't that hard.

If you haven't decided, I'd suggest you do. If you don't have even a fuzzy idea of what that golden ring is, ask your friends and maybe a former prof. If you pick the acquaintance right and you ask, 'What would you see me doing as a silly civilian? Sales? Mop and bucket?', you just might get some insight that you aren't working with yet. Let people that know you, help you out. You're doing that here to some extent; try it face to face.

For what it's worth, I worked in the most arcane area of banking and finance imaginable-the Trust and Estate Division of a big bank. the word was that it was an old boys club and you had to know somebody, but after a friend introduced me to the idea and said 'go' I found somebody through friends that knew somebody... and retired from the field (4th bank, they kept failing, but same field) 31 years later.

A major hurdle to get in? Viet Nam vet. I don't think that, I know that for a swear-in-court certainty. Monied people might be uncomfortable with my background, I was told, right out loud.

Look. I know our stories are different and I'm not lecturing, or at least not much. I'm encouraging you to get your shit in one sock and get back in the fight; just be sure it's the fight you want to be in.
I'm on your side brother. Good luck.

There are several companies that specialize in hiring vets, have you tried reaching out to them? A recruiter from https://salutemissioncritical.com/careers/ just reached out to me yesterday for a job. This company serves companies all over the globe and says that previous experience not needed on its website. Can't say anything good or bad about them, they were just in recent memory since they called yesterday.

If you're military experience happens to be on a Navy Nuke, you're pretty much guaranteed a entry level job in my field which pays better than many professional jobs.

Here is another similar company that has reached out to me in the past.

https://www.oriontalent.com/jo...h/military-veterans/

I don’t know your particulars about age, past experiences & interested fields. There are the usual contributors besides education & even raw intelligence that factor in heavily.

I have a close relative with a masters degree, about 60, never really had a great job. She talks about that once in a while, though she did make some unhelpful decisions earlier in life.

There are opportunities out there, may need a wider net. Beyond the ‘starter jobs’ better options with training seem to be available for those willing. If needed a slight career change may be in order.

Not rooting my horn to much, grew up with 4 siblings & a single Mom. Hard to find a ‘silver spoon’ the the house.

All the best with the search. I don’t like to just say ‘luck’, can’t be counting on just that.