Retiring Military

chuckmac17

I will be retiring from the Navy next September, and will be looking for a job. I am currently working towards my MCSE, I have A+, NET+, and MCP, and should have it complete by the time I retire.

My issue is that, when I retire I will have 20 experience as an electronic technician, with about 3 years of that working as a computer repair specialist. What kind of job can I expect to get with an MCSE, but no network experience? My 5 year plan, is to be a jr level network engineer.

Any info would be greatly appreciated!!

antispam

I retired from the Air Force in 2000 with an MCSE with similar work experience landing a job working as IT contractor. I went on to pursue A+, Network+, Security+, updated MS certs, boo koo additional IT training. Twenty years in the military that's all we did...train, train, train. For the past nine years I managed unix and MS platforms, databases and landed a contract for a commercial client. The deal is if you can talk the talk and walk the walk and know someone on the inside (85% of jobs, the good ones, are through networking) you're in. I don't know where you are looking but my company is hiring. You can check them out at STGInc.com.

chuckmac17

I am retiring in Pensacola, FL
Yea that's what I'm hearing about "knowing someone on the inside"

Thanks for the feedback

tpatt100

Do you have an active clearance? If you do then you might be in a great position for government contracts.

Bokeh

Congrats on the retirement, good luck on the job hunt, and thanks for serving.

ex USAF (82-92)

networker050184

With 20 years experience I'd be looking for some kind of management position. I'm sure you don't really want to start out at the bottom again. I know I didn't when I got out of the military and I was only in for six years.

I have never had an issue landing a job after I got out. Every employer I have ever spoken with has been impressed with my military background and I think it has been the most important piece to getting my positions so far.

Good luck!

carboncopy

chuckmac17 wrote: »

I am retiring in Pensacola, FL
Yea that's what I'm hearing about "knowing someone on the inside"

Thanks for the feedback

I would start networking with the IT contractors on base.

Kasor

make sure you attend all the military post career job fair and those service that help military personnel before they retired.

You better off looking to work for contractor at DC/VA area or being federal employee.

chuckmac17

Thanks for the feedback...

No I don't want to start at the bottom. I started at the bottom 20 years ago!... Unfortunatly I am fairly new to the IT field and will probably have to start somewhere at the bottom, unless I want to continue with Electronics...

chuckmac17

...Oh yea... how do I find out what companies do contracting with the military? Is there a website?

tpatt100

chuckmac17 wrote: »

...Oh yea... how do I find out what companies do contracting with the military? Is there a website?

I just make sure I have an up to date resume on Dice and Monster and the recruiters call me. If your resume is "government sounding" and you use the proper acronyms they will find you.

Paul Boz

I don't have any advise, just wanted to say thank you for serving

wastedtime

You may want to look at ITT Systems Division - Engineered for Life.

chuckmac17

Thanks again for the info guys....

Another question.

Should I try and get my degree or continue taking the training courses to achieve my MCSE? Put it this way, if I have at least an associates degree, and MCSA would it be better, worse or the same if I had no degree and MCSE?

tpatt100

chuckmac17 wrote: »

Thanks again for the info guys....

Another question.

Should I try and get my degree or continue taking the training courses to achieve my MCSE? Put it this way, if I have at least an associates degree, and MCSA would it be better, worse or the same if I had no degree and MCSE?

Degrees take much longer than certs. I would "try" and do both. What I mean is get a cert or two while going to college but I have seen TONS of resumes with "attending such and such college" and when it comes time to call and verify their education we find out they had not been to college in over 5 years...

human151

in my experience Certs mean more than a degree in this industry....mostly

We have guys at my place of employment with a BS in CS and all three of them say that if they had to do it all over again they would just get the certs.

Ive been debating weather to finish my degree or just concentrate on getting some advanced level certs (CCNP, CCIE maybe). from the people ive spoken with, the consensus is that a a few high level certs will get you further in shorter time.

That said, a degree is also a valuable thing and there are some companies that will not even look at your resume with that degree.

If I were in your shoes I would just get some certs, with certs and your experience you should be able to get a federal job or work for a defense contractor.

btw, im prior navy too, just four years though.

Sanis4life

Military contracts are pushing bachlors. If you spin your resume right, you should be OK though. I know we hardly look at people without a degree. Thats mostly because they have to pass a technical application with the German government to work here. They are more worried about education, certs, and then exp.

megatran808

Thanks for serving.

I would say the certs will be the easiest and shortest time to get than the degree. The certs will give you the qualifications for the DOD contracting jobs. Plus with your Gov clearance and certs that would get you in the door quicker. If you get a postion with one of the big DOD contracting companies like Boeing, SAIC, Northrup...etc. I know those companies offer benefits of paying for school/degree while you work for them.

The degree is good in landing a upper management position. Sometimes those are the minimum requirements to even be able to apply.

As for certs DOD Contracting companies have to follow a guideline called 8570 that says (in general, but don't quote me on this) working on IT stuff you need a minimum of A+, NET+, or Sec+ to even be able to work on Gov networks or be in the IT field in the Gov.

Just speaking from personal experience.

Good Luck!

veritas_libertas

Paul Boz wrote: »

I don't have any advise, just wanted to say thank you for serving

Ditto to that!

BigTex71

Certs with military experience trumps a degree from what I have seen in this industry - but I am sure it all comes down to the employer and what is important to them. I would work towards the MCSE and then look into CCNA certification if you want to go the network route. But if you are happy with SysAdmin work, the three years of direct computer experience should get you a non-entry level position. Depending on the company and what exactly you did with your experience, you could land anywhere from Tier-2 HelpDesk to a Jr SysAdmin job.

tpatt100

BigTex71 wrote: »

Certs with military experience trumps a degree from what I have seen in this industry - but I am sure it all comes down to the employer and what is important to them. I would work towards the MCSE and then look into CCNA certification if you want to go the network route. But if you are happy with SysAdmin work, the three years of direct computer experience should get you a non-entry level position. Depending on the company and what exactly you did with your experience, you could land anywhere from Tier-2 HelpDesk to a Jr SysAdmin job.

All my work experience is Government contracting and the trend that is occurring now is Certs+Degree+Military. Most of the guys I know who work for the big government contracting companies are being giving huge hints to go back to college to get their bachelors since they can bill more.

On my last contract more than half of us had at least a Bachelors and a few of us went back to school to work on Masters, my entire section is former military.