Every year, thousands of veterans take off their service uniforms and put on suits and ties. Transferring from a military to a civilian career is easy for some yet difficult for others -- and getting a job in civil service can be even more daunting.
When I retired in 2011, my dream job was to become a Department of the Army civilian and continue to serve the organization I had grown to love.
It wasn't to be -- at least, not right away. Hard economic times had forced the military into sequestration, leading to a hiring freeze. That, coupled with downsizing, made the pool of potential applicants even larger. Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation estimates that nationally, 200,000 veterans transfer from the military services each year.
Another potential barrier to employment is the number of jobs available in certain markets.
That's what hurt my job search. I love South Carolina. It's my adoptive home state, and I have friends and soon-to-be relatives living here. I didn't want to leave it, but the number of jobs in my field are lower here than in other parts of the country.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics for the U.S. Department of Labor tracks the outlook for just about any job imaginable. Its website, www.bls.org, shows that South Carolina has one of the lowest number of job openings and the lowest median pay for communications professionals of any state. Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are cities with the most jobs and highest pay.
For some transferring from the military to "Fort Living Room," moving out of state is not an option.
Those looking for jobs with the federal government must navigate the maze of online applications.
Applicants for federal civil service positions file through USAJOBS.gov, where they write in-depth resumes and search for listings from virtually every federal department. Such a search can be a lengthy, frustrating and confusing process.
Fortunately, the Army and Fort Jackson help those transitioning.
Fort Jackson offers lots of opportunities for soon-to-be civilians to learn of and prepare for a new career phase, including the Army Career and Alumni Program. And, Army Community Service on Fort Jackson recently offered a seminar to help separated Service members prepare for the Hiring Our Heroes career fair on June 16. Seventy to 90 employers are expected to attend the fair, looking for prospective employees.
Barbara Martin, employment readiness program manager with ACS, says that going to a career fair helps job seekers "get more bang for their buck" and a leg up on those "who are behind their computer sending out resumes, hoping to hit the jackpot."
"Most job seekers spend 24/7 on their computer looking for online job postings," she said. "The Internet should not be the only means of searching for jobs.
"I suggest that if you want to have a successful job search, use multiple job search methods," such as networking.
You can network by attending professional association meetings and registering with employment agencies, Martin said. These helped applicants "learn about positions that will never be announced publicly."
Nancy Collamer, a Forbes Magazine contributor, writes in "6 ways to crack the 'hidden job' market" that it can be a cruel joke that some positions are filled before they are even announced.
Some estimates show that nearly 80 percent of applicants are hired through the hidden job market, she writes.
"Using social media, such as LinkedIn, is another way to network with employers," Martin said.
"Employers use this platform to search out potential employees."
The online site helps professionals network with those in their career fields, and with companies they might wish to work for. A friend hired to a top corporate position by the Discovery Network landed the job solely through contacts made on the social networking site.
After doing my research and networking, I happened to be in the right place at the right time when my position in Public Affairs opened, and I landed the job.
Looking for a job can be a daunting task, but finding a dream job is possible. It just takes a lot of effort, perseverance and luck.
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