| So you are thinking about joining the military and | | | | it out. |
| want to make good choices regarding your career | | | | Once you have picked your top few job choices and |
| from the start. Whether you decide to have a long | | | | have taken the practice tests for the ASVAB its |
| successful career and retire or you want to be a | | | | time to see if you qualify for those positions. Visit |
| short timer and get out after your first contract you | | | | your local recruiters and see what each branch has to |
| can have a very successful career post military as a | | | | offer. Start with the Air Force then go to the Navy, |
| contractor or in the civilian sector. How fast you | | | | Army and then the Marines. The only reason I say do |
| become successful depends how you spend your | | | | it in that order is because the Air Force and Navy are |
| time while you are in the military but we will talk | | | | not near as pushy as the Army and the Marines. If |
| about that in another article. Will you have a job in | | | | you go to the Marines first every time they see you |
| the military that is marketable in the contracting | | | | going to another branch to talk to them they are |
| world or the civilian sector? Most people who have | | | | going to talk trash to you and get pushier each time. |
| been in the military have a marketable skill they can | | | | It is almost like they are bullying you to join there |
| carry over to the contracting world or the civilian | | | | branch. I know this because I joined the Marines and |
| sector once they get out. I would like to say all of | | | | every time the recruiters from the Marines or the |
| those who get out have the experience needed to | | | | Army saw me going to other branches it was like a |
| become successful even though I hear some former | | | | freaking heckling session. I chose the Marines |
| military personnel say that is not the case and they | | | | because they were the only ones that had a slot |
| learned nothing of value in the military. As hard as | | | | open for my first choice. My personality is one that |
| that is for me to believe I will give them the benefit | | | | does not get rattled and I was not going to be |
| of the doubt and say there may be a small | | | | swayed from doing my homework and finding the |
| percentage of people getting out of the military that | | | | best fit for me. I do however see how some people |
| have no skills to use in the contracting world or | | | | could get very put off by this or let it effect there |
| civilian job market. If that is the case they probably | | | | decision making. It is best to save the pushier |
| did not take the time to pick a good career path in | | | | recruiters till last. |
| the military and did not take any classes while they | | | | Once you find a branch that has the slot you want |
| were in. I will discuss ways you can avoid getting | | | | and the best package all around it is time to take the |
| yourself in this situation. At the very least make sure | | | | ASVAB test. Do not sign anything until you pass your |
| you get the GI bill when you enlist this way you have | | | | test with the score you need to get the job you |
| money for school you can use once you get out of | | | | want. If they say you have to sign before they give |
| the military. If you want there are ways to use your | | | | you the test it is a lie so either go to another branch |
| GI bill while you are still in the military so that is one | | | | to take the test or go to another town and try the |
| option you have to increase your marketability | | | | recruiters there. If you do not get the score you |
| before you get out. | | | | need do not take a lesser job just go back to |
| When you finally make your decision to join and take | | | | studying for the test again until you think you are |
| that trip to the recruiter you should do a few things | | | | ready and try it all over again. If you get the same |
| before you go there. Remember this is a big decision | | | | score the second time it may be time to see if you |
| and the choices you make now will affect your | | | | qualify for one of your other top choices. But if you |
| career path for the next three or more years | | | | improved your test score by a significant amount |
| depending on the length of your enlistment. This is | | | | you might want to think about studying a little more |
| not going to be something you can quit if you don't | | | | and taking the test a third time. Either way you will |
| like it or change jobs into another field after a year. | | | | probably score high enough to get placed in one of |
| You are picking the career you are going to be in for | | | | your top choices if not you will have to do your |
| at least three to four years. The military uses a test | | | | research again and pick from the jobs you do qualify |
| called the ASVAB test that they give you so they | | | | for. Remember though when you first start out |
| know what jobs you qualify for. If you pick a field | | | | shoot for the moon and do not sell your self short. A |
| you want to work in you must have a high enough | | | | low test score only shows you what areas you need |
| ASVAB score before they let you enlist in the job | | | | to work on so do not get discouraged and continue |
| field. Go to the ASVAB page on to take the tests | | | | to work on improving yourself. Take the test as |
| and see how you do. You can also see the minimum | | | | many times as you need to so you can get a job |
| ASVAB scores needed for each job and see if you | | | | that you believe will help you out in the future. Not |
| will be able to qualify. Go to the ASVAB test tips | | | | everyone is going to qualify for every job the first |
| page to see how you can prepare for the test to | | | | time it takes hard work and lots of study time if |
| get the best possible score you can. While you are | | | | need be. I talked about picking the branch that has |
| doing this take the time to explore the different jobs | | | | the best package earlier. By this I mean if more then |
| the military branches have and find the ones you | | | | one branch has a slot for your choice of jobs pick |
| think best suit you. You will want to look at jobs that | | | | the one that has a better bonus program or gives |
| will carry over into a successful career once you get | | | | you more money for college. Ask about training |
| out of the military as much as jobs that you believe | | | | requirements for promotion in that field. That is the |
| are the right fit for you. | | | | one area where I made a mistake. My chosen field |
| One thing you should know about joining a specific | | | | was a very good one for opportunities post military |
| branch is that the whole trash talking recruiters do | | | | but while I was in the military my specific job area |
| about other branches is just to get you to join their | | | | was closed for promotion for about three years. |
| branch. Do not pay any attention to it and pick the | | | | Once you find the best package and the job you |
| branch that can give you what you want. Go to the | | | | want it is time to finally decide if this is what you |
| Air Force, Army, Marines, and Navy websites and see | | | | want to do. When you sign on that dotted line you |
| what career fields they have. There are some good | | | | are committing to about four years of your life to |
| placement tests on these sites (Army Placement | | | | active service and the following four years to inactive |
| Test and Navy Placement Test) that have you pick | | | | service where they can call you back if they want to. |
| your level of interest in different categories and then | | | | With stop loss in effect you could end up being in |
| it compiles your answers to give you a list of jobs | | | | uniform longer than you thought. It is a big decision |
| that you showed interest in. From there you should | | | | that is not for everybody and the possibility of you |
| research the job market for each job and see what | | | | seeing combat is very real. Take the time to think |
| the job growth projections are in the civilian sector in | | | | about it and if you decide this is the career path you |
| that industry for the next five to ten years. A great | | | | want to take realize the person you are now will |
| place to start your research on an industries future | | | | dramatically change. You will learn to be discipline and |
| outlook is the Bureau of Labor website. They have | | | | that there is no such thing as "I can't do this" or "it |
| very good information on their statistics page and | | | | can't be done". Most people who join the military |
| there top 30 fastest-growing occupations from 2006 | | | | become much more confident in themselves and |
| - 2016. Remember you only get out what you put | | | | there abilities. They will teach you how to succeed |
| into something and the military is no different. The | | | | and with the experience and knowledge you gain |
| military can open many doors for you and can teach | | | | form your chosen profession you will be able to carry |
| you very marketable skills you can use when you are | | | | your experience with you when you join the civilian |
| finished with your military career no mater if it is for | | | | or contracting workforce once you retire or choose |
| four years or twenty years. Like all careers though | | | | to get out at the end of your contract. |
| the best way to have a successful one is by planning | | | | |