I separated from the Navy back in 1996 and have held various civilian jobs in the industrial gas, power generation, and steel industries since. During my time in the Navy, I was stationed on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, sailing out of Alameda, CA, and served as a Nuclear Trained Machinist Mate Second Class, or E-5. When I separated, I had used three weeks of terminal leave and found my first civilian job within about two to three months.
I did utilize the Navy’s transition program to help me find that first job. Their assistance with writing my resume and posting the information online was valuable. I do wish I had been able to start the job search process six to twelve months before leaving the service as opposed to just a couple months before. Luckily, the economy in 1996 wasn’t too bad, though. If I were leaving today, however, I would definitely want to begin attending hiring conferences much earlier. Also, I would not have used terminal leave. My accrued leave probably would have been better used attending interviews.
After accepting my first civilian job in Operations, Maintenance, and Quality Assurance for a steel manufacturer, I moved to Kentucky. The move went well. I used a Nissan Sentra to pull a small U-Haul trailer across two mountain ranges and made it!
I knew that I needed to find a place to live and to be able to pay the initial bills, such as rental deposits and first and last month’s rent, and have money to get around on until my first paycheck arrived, nearly three to four weeks after being hired. I would strongly suggest that transitioning veterans put some money aside for these things. I happened to be starting my new job at the same time as a guy from the East Coast submarine fleet, so we shared an apartment the first year and saved a lot of money doing so.
I loved the change to civilian life. I always liked the work I performed in the Navy, but I didn’t like many of the military aspects such as the dress, requirements on my off time, and the control over where I could go. Being in the civilian world, those things are up to me. I also like the freedom I have in choosing where I want to live and the ability to have a dog; I couldn’t do that in the Navy.
My career since has been one in which I’ve always been an operator or maintenance technician. When my previous employer lost 90% in a Russian stock market decline, four out of their five North American operations went idle and the remaining operation laid off over 1,600 people, including me.
During the 18 months after I was laid off, I sent my resume to literally hundreds of potential employers. In addition to hundreds of employers, I also sent my information to about 20 or more recruiting firms. I did get three interviews over 18 months through three agencies aside from Orion, but got 12 different interviews at the four hiring conferences I attended with Orion.
I am now a Maintenance Operator at SSAB Steel in Montpelier, Iowa, after being placed by Orion at their September 2010 Hiring Conference. I might move up to supervision one day, but I really don’t need to. I can make a decent income as a technician and am happy with that position.
In the Navy, an E-5 in 1996 probably made about $25,000. In my first year at the steel mill, I made $52,000. Since then, I’ve made as much as $89,000 in a calendar year. The income makes things easier. I also like the 401(k) I have; this didn’t exist for me in the military. SSAB also has a full tuition reimbursement program; as long as you successfully pass the class, they will pay for it. One drawback to civilian work, though, is that job security doesn’t exist, and steel mills don’t have training programs. You have to train yourself or lose out on opportunities.
My military background has definitely helped me throughout my career. Because I went through the Navy nuclear program, I had extensive training in mechanical systems, physics, metallurgy, and math. Understanding the principles by which the systems operate and being accustomed to studying technical manuals is a skill many people in my position in this industry don’t have. The Navy also provided drive and discipline, along with technical training in mechanical concepts, which I’ve added to over the years. My attention to detail and the mental stamina learned in the military keep me going under adverse conditions.
Working in the power plant of an aircraft carrier in the Navy also allowed me to learn about pumps, valves, steam and water systems, turbines, and generators. The knowledge and skills I learned there were a perfect fit for working in commercial power generation, and the mechanical nature of the job prepared me for the steel industry, as well.
I did have to “unlearn” some things ingrained in me by the Navy in order to manage my expectations in my civilian career. One of those was my expectation for training. I have found that in the commercial world, training is not a priority. Like I mentioned above, I had to make sure I had all the necessary skills, as there was no training program available. I also had to “unlearn” a rigid adherence to procedures. In the commercial world, employers want flexibility, not adherence. Think outside of the box, and you will go far.
Also, don’t be afraid of the unknown. You weren’t scared to join the service; don’t be afraid to leave it. It’s just another adventure. You have self confidence, self discipline, a sense of pride in your work, and a willingness to take a lead role when needed. These are just a few of the many excellent reasons that make you a hot commodity in the civilian workplace. |
