My enlistment is up next fall and I plan on starting terminal leave next summer. When should I start looking for a job, scheduling and going on interviews? Any help or stories about how you did it is greatly appreciated.
My EAOS ended on a Friday and I was working for a new employer on Monday. I started looking for a job about 4 months prior to my end date.
Use all your resources and call in any favors owed to make new contacts. Attend the transistion program well in advance of getting out and hire a professional to build a good resume with a cover letter & refferences. Good luck, if you have any specific questions just ask...
Did you have any leave saved up? When did you go to job interviews and did you relocate? Thank you for answering. Sorry I have a lot of questions. I like to plan things out ahead of time.
I did have some leave saved, maybe 12-15 days. I took early liberty or just asked to leave as needed, I tried to schedule interviews in the later part of the afternoon. I was lucky to have a good supervisor who understood and was willing to help and it didn't hurt that he to was retiring an needed the same extended priveleges as I. No, I did not have to relocate for the first job out of the Nav.
Keep the questions coming and I will do my best to help! Can Do!
The best answer to your question is: last year! Have you taken advantage of the educational benefits? That is a way to prepare for the outside world. Learning about what jobs you are interested in should begin at least a year before you get out. Networking, making friends and acquaintances in the companies you are interested in helps a lot too.
In the end, I did NONE of those things, got out with zero prospects, preparation or plans. Just got out and went home to San Diego. I became a pizza delivery driver, a construction helper, a licensed stock broker, and a car wash salesman before I finally found a new career as a Customs Inspector on the border.
So the real best answer is now, and that answer will be the same every day until you finally get out, and so on and so on...
