In everyone’s military career there comes a time we ask ourselves how long… how much more… at what point do I finally call it a day and start a second career? So much is involved with this fundamental action and like taxes and death, the day is unavoidable. It will inevitably come. The question at hand for this discussion is what manner do you intend to confront the occurrence with? Will you plan ahead to
retire or undergo an Expiration of Terms of Service [ETS] within your career timeframe, or will timelines and scenarios dictated by your Branch of Service direct your departure? There are many angles, facets and points of relevancy pertinent to this important discussion but for today’s conversation we would like to keep it simple and guide our review within a few key groupings.
Retiring Military Service Members.
Those of you who fall into this category have served your country long and hard, frequently enduring 20-30 years of military service in any combination of active, reserve or National Guard status. Approaching an age group between 40 and 55, you are exiting the military and looking for work at a critical time in your earning potential status. Many of you will begin job searches with extensive leadership, multiple tours in combat and overseas assignments. A majority have SECRET or TOP SECRET clearances and specialized training recognized within corporate America as highly desired and sought after. But there are matters which soon emerge as you go beyond your minimum service requirements for retirement that warrant your serious consideration.
1. What is the tipping point, perhaps the culminating point in military lexicon, when staying in longer now comes at the expense of being more competitive for a follow on career?
2. When does the tradeoff between military pay with its extensive tax breaks fall below civil service pay and benefits?
3. Will you pass a point where your experience, education and military career becomes a liability vice an asset? How many good work years remaining will you have?
Military Service Members Considering or Undergoing ETS
Those of you falling into this category have served your country honorably, and after 4-10 years you are thinking if its time to take your benefits and experience and move back to the private sector. Perhaps multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan have worn you down and frayed the fabric of a once-strong marriage. Maybe its simply time that you have done your service and had planed anyway to get out.
You are in a position that likewise requires careful examination of your options.
1. Will you re-enlist to get a hefty tax break and cash bonus?
2. Will another school or assignment incur 2-3 more years of mandatory service pay back?
3. Is the severe recession still affecting the job market whereby getting out could imperil your financial status?
Federal Career Placement Services, LC has extensive experience working with clientele from both categories, and in fact, this forms the largest group of our satisfied customers. Fundamentally speaking and to be brief within the context of this discussion, why then should you engage FCPS? Please allow us to briefly explain.
Writing a Good Resume and KSAs. There are endless companies on the web and in business locally that can prepare your resume and write KSA responses. At FCPS we continue to expand and develop our expertise across the federal government without becoming a jack-of-all trades production house. Each Government Agency has vastly different hiring practices, applicant review processes and cultural preferences that make them virtually distinct from each other. One cannot say that preparing one resume and KSA will work for a dozen jobs at differing Agencies. FCPS leverages its years of experience within federal and defense intelligence to focus our efforts effectively and therefore maximize our customer’s potential for obtaining federal employment. We know of many human resource hiring practices, processes and procedures.
organization and also now looks across the multitude of federal offerings. We recommend career fields and positions that our clients would not otherwise be aware of to help them obtain federal employment. As stated elsewhere our targeted defense organization has numerous opportunities in a host of career fields that enable clients to compete effectively outside their habitual skill sets. Our full service, turn-key clients obtain maximum benefit and advantage as FCPS handles their career placement goals for a full 365 day period, submitting numerous application packages complete with interview preparation and salary negotiation support. The interview preparation sessions are of particular relevance and value to military members as they must learn the new culture of being a federal employee after years in uniform. All things aside about the differences between the military and civilian mindset, your ability to have a successful interview is foremost of importance in terms of making the right impression. Our career specialists will ensure you are absolutely certain of what to expect, how to consider responding and how you should present yourself at this defining moment.