I've been in the Corps for a good 6 years, but now I'm currently facing medical separation. I intend to stay in the DC metro area, but the task of job hunting seems daunting. Especially providing I don't have a college degree. Other Mos's seems to have job skills that are more easily transferable to the real world, while it appears that grunts are limited to police / security work.

I know that’s not entirely true, there are quite a few skills learned being an infantry Marine that employers are seeking. You can relate proficiency, leadership, etc skills into a resume w/o all of the military jargon.

I've done endless web searching and even considered paying a professional resume builder. I just don’t have 250 to blow on a functional resume, and another 250 to throw at a federal resume.

Does anyone have any advice based off personal experience on the transition from 03 to civilian workforce? I'd like to stay in the DC metro area, and I'm targeting something in HR / Administration lower management. I'm good with most microsoft based software thats commonly used in the workplace. I spent a year in my former unit as the company custodian. Since coming to CBIRF I've gotten some certifications in CBRNE management, and these past 2 years I've been undergoing surgeory I've been the company office NCO.

Go to school, get an internship. Best way to get your foot in the door, since you are getting med sep'd i'm guessing you can't be recalled so you can get settled in. I don't know DC for shiet but obviously there should be a lot of Government jobs that drool over infantry Marines. I landed an excellent job doing computer support even though I never had any formal training (all self taught) besides going to school for a degree in computer science. Your time skating as a company office nerd and what not can be described as on the job training or real world experience. I don't know how it is where you are at but at KBay they had a pretty good TAPS or TAMPS can't remember the name, that taught us how to build a legit resume. I wouldn't pay some random civilian to do it. Trust me, you will wow them at in interview if you are squared away. 95% of the people they normally see are bags.

Go to the va and see if you can get your med problems a disability rating, if get 30%+ you'll qualify for voc-rehab. They'll pay all expenses for school and pay a living allowance. Then they help finding a job if you need it. Its an excellent program if you qualify.

Before you get med sep, I believe that you will go through TAPS Course before they sign off your papers. In TAPS they give you advice about your benefits, potential employers etc.

Believe me there are certain companies who love to hire veterans since we have more maturity than the average joe straight out of high school or college. There was a FedEx rep that came in to explain job opportunities in their company (Good thing about it is that they have branches all over the place) I gave my name and resume to the lady and a few weeks after I got out I received 2 calls to come to an interview, the only problem was that I got accepted to an upstate college a bit distant from the site.

The starting salary is pretty good though I have to admit they offered some good benefits to boot. Also they have job fairs for veterans or people who are about to get out. I suggest you go to those, the companies there are so nice and would hire you.

Also it doesn't really matter what job you had in the military most of the time companies nowadays prefer that you have certain qualities such as flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to work with different kinds of people of course being in the Marines we have experienced those. Hope this helps!!! Good Luck man!!!

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Its an excellent program if you qualify.

Got me a sweet gov job...I start in Aug.

Life doesn't begin or end with AD and it only gets sweeter once you hit the bricks a free man. As far as finding gainful employment, no sweat Devil. Heres the deal:

Check in with your County Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to see what position vacancy announcements (PVA) are listed at different specific locations. Then send in your resumes tailored specifically for each jobg by making variations on your basic one. During the oral stress your abilities to improvise, adapt and overcome and you're a shoe in based on who you are and where you've been.

Interviewing gets better each time so just consider it a learning process and in no time at all you'll be getting offers. Hold out until you get the job/salary you want otherwise you're settling which is a losing proposition because once you're in the door you have to come up thru the ranks just like AD. Ask questions to be sure you understand and negotiate for what you want. Remember, with as much time as you're going to be spending at work you want to get the best deal up front and to be happy with what you do.

If you want to go to school, get a federal job as they'll be the most understanding and encourage you in your educational quest. You'll even find additional benefits as a federal employee as well. Once you graduate you quit and go private sector where your salary doubles and you're off to the races.

Remember, interviewing is a process and you're the one in control as long as you stay professional because accepting or rejecting the job is ultimately your decision. I went from 0311 to federal government to private sector like millions of others vets so the process works as long as you work the process.

Send JD Irwin an email as he works in the DC Area and maybe he can help or steer you to folks who can.

Best of luck and WELCOME HOME BROTHER!

thanks for all the responses I appreciate the feedback!

This is probably the hardest thing for the military -- transitioning to civilian job. Don't limit yourself to being a cop or security. The only reason why I took the security work was because I wanted to go to school. Go to monster.com and contact the companies directly and send them your resume. Make sure you have a nice cover letter to explain your past experience and what you want to do and what you can offer. Or you can go to buy you a sunday newspaper and check the job classified add. Good luck.

Do not pay 250 for a resume. It's not worth it.

If you want good quality help with the resume, look at the military headhunter companies. They do a great job at the resume prep and interview prep. If you need help contacting them send me an email from my profile and I can hook you up with some of my contacts in that industry.

Myself and SCMerl, are government in the District area. I also have contacts in the Blt area.

I did not do well from the 03 to civilian life. That's why I did 21 years.

Semper Fi

John

Well I am biased on this issue but I'm going to go out on a rant here. With the new GI Bill going into effect very soon, you should seriously consider doing college. Yes it is by no means necessary to succeed in life or get a good civilian job, but these days it is a huge help. A bachelor's degree is becoming the new high school diploma in today's job market, it is just expected. Not to mention that if you do choose the more "traditional" 03-to-civilian jobs of law enforcement, govt, security, etc, a 4 year degree will greatly help your earning power right off the bat.

A lot of times people transitioning off AD have misconceptions about whether they can handle college, whether financially, academically, or socially. Financially the new GIB when it goes into effect August of next year, WILL have you covered. They did not **** around with this one. I have a thread in the Barracks detailing everything you rate with it. Academically, believe me...the average Marine with four years of active duty under his belt is a lot smarter than the average 18 year old college kid straight out of high school. Socially, I guarantee on my eternal soul that you will see more ****tang in ten minutes on any college campus than you will/did in four years around Marines. If Apollo comes around this thread I'm sure he can testify on that far more eloquently than I.

Its not for everyone and you should not by any means feel obligated to do it, but financially at least the new GIB has made college very viable for anyone coming off AD. It's there if you want it, and it can only help you.

Irwin I was just down Quantico for training....heading back that way in a month, give me a yell at animalmother291@gmail.com......and my two cents on the issue is if you have the GI Bill use it, well worth the time investment in the grand scheme of things....

i can help you pm me if you want I have a great resource I am also going thru what you are and have secured a great federal job

I would check in with the va and their voc rehab plan. The job market is tough. I myself am a Desert Storm Marine from 1991. I have a BS and graduate hours and it is a challenge. It probably will help to go after a degree. I know that returning vets are having a tough time getting jobs.

+1 on the college degree. Plenty of people have made great careers in the past without having a degree, but those jobs are getting harder and harder to come by. When I came off AD in 1990, you were screwed without a degree. And nowadays, even a career field that used to be a quasi "fallback" gig for grunts - law enforcement - will look harder at you if you have a degree. Not only that, but if you ever plan to move up in your department or plan to go Fed, a degree may even be required. It keeps your options open.

And having been an 0311, I though college was a breeze, plus it gave me more time to narrow down what i wanted to do and explore different options. It'll also be easier for you to go now than later, when you might have a family, etc. The GI bill is a benefit that you definitely rate, so I'd use it.

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Also it doesn't really matter what job you had in the military most of the time companies nowadays prefer that you have certain qualities such as flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to work with different kinds of people of course being in the Marines we have experienced those.

This is very true. In my experience, civiliam employers are going to be looking for the same things from most service members: responsibility, people skills, self-discipline, motivation, and the ability to accept a challenge and meet it. The Marine Corps. has already prepared you well, so that's what you need to accentuate on your resume.

Also, make sure that if you apply for gov't jobs, use that veteran's preference. And if you end up as a 30%-disabled vet, I believe it's 10 points instead of the usual 5.

I am in the same boat as you except for the med sep. I just got out june 28th and its been the most difficult time I have ever had. I have been tempted several times to reup. the TAPS classes dont help worth a **** if you have an 03 MOS because realisticly that really pretty much the only thing we can do is Police/Security. Lucky for me though I want to be a PO. Starting the academy in september. Good luck being out. I would stay in if I were you if at all possiable.

CPL. Harrison