I'm in the Army National Guard, recently back from Iraq. I've been searching for a job for a couple months since I've been home; my question is: Why is it so hard to find a job? Do employers look at military service, or my obligation to the National Guard as a negative thing? I've sent in excess of 150 resumes, and have only heard back from a handful, of which I still haven't been offered a job. It's not as though I'm applying for jobs I'm not qualified for. I can't even get to the interview process. If someone can shed some light on this situation, I'd appreciate it.
123456
I am currently in the middle of hiring 5 new employees and I also live in an area with 3 bases so I can relate to your question. I think your military back ground is a plus and a minus for you. First and foremost military personal tend to have a higher sense of loyalty to their jobs and better discipline. I also find integrity of military to be a lot higher so I love having them as employees. On the down side I am concerned with call ups and deployments. There is an extreme shortage of manpower here in my area and I must have people that will be there.They can not be easily replaced. I need to be my employees #1 priority, behind family of course.
447096
Whatever your recruiter promised, make sure it's in your contract. Some of them will say anything to get you signed up.  I'm not in the National Guard but my husband is.  He got his bonus and the medical coverage.  Tricare is great as long as you're on active duty when you use it.  Also, dont be fooled by the name "National Guard".  As my husband says now, they are technically the "International Guard".  He served fifteen months in Iraq.  Hopefully you wont have to.
155947
"It is only the employers duty to ask for a social security number.They are prohibited from doing any verification"\n\nthats complete and utter bull...\n\nso why do i always have to sign some crap about mandatory background or credit checks and verifiable references when applying for a job?\n\nnext time ill just let them know that some dude on yahoo answers said that they were prohibited from  "verifying" me when i apply for employment...
316548
welcome to my world... I have been to 5 interviews in the past 2 months and they all asked me to fill in an employee form and they promised that they will call or email to let me know even if i am not accepted...they didnt call...i called one of them and it turned out that they chose someone else, i asked them why they didnt call and they said "no time to waste" ... God some people are just a pain... Good luck sweetie...
389917
You've got to be kidding.  However, given the difficulty they're having getting people to enlist, they might work with you on it.  I would suggest you contact a recruiter rather than asking here on Yahoo Answers.
103300
To be honest with you I think its extremely hard to find a job and even harder to find one that is liked and that pays well!! I have been in this situation for almost two years now either i can find a job but the company will either close down, I have had my pay checks bounce from a company, and the only jobs that i have found that are left are jobs that I have settled for the pay is not great and the job it self is no interest that I have, but take it because I need the money. I'm not the only one either i know of people that have been with companies for 10 plus years and they are cheated with money or the company just closes, so your not alone and sorry that i couldn't point you in any direction, but GOOD LUCK to you!!!
43737
I'd like to help but, i have no information and what kind of career choice your thinking of.More information please.I mean what's your calling? Have you ever thought about being a missonnary in a different country ?Salavation army or a shelter maybe, like part time?I've been thinking on your question and this one is really tough.To actually still make a well enough wage to feed your family and to want to try enough to actually find how you can help others.I think your a good person that i love to have as a next door neighbor.I think on your problem is over my head.I'm sorry and i wish you and your family all the best life can give.
299853
This is one source of this story http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news/1146882329307730.xml&coll=\n\nThe army only investigated after this story was in the newspaper. The parents contacted the recruiter and were told, " He is a man, he doesn't need his mommy making his decisions." They offered to bring his medical and school records as proof of disability and were blown off. The newspaper article was their only recourse to keep their disabled son safe. Shame on the this recruiter! I hope he is dicharged and severely reprimanded.\n\n\n\n**** As for holding jobs YES an adult with autism IF CAPABLE should hold a job to have some sense of accomplishment, to have something they can be proud of. The military is NOT the place for adults with autism. There are laws that prevent the disabled from being harassed by recruiters for a reason. There is a BIG difference between Xbox games showing military ops and the real deal. Severe anxiety, sensory issues, communication delay's and social delay's are just a few symptoms of autism and make it impossible for an adult with autism to serve in the military.
209873
I am currently a military spouse and if I could do it all over again I would have told my husband to just get a job in his major and not the Army.  The Army takes care of us, they have some great benefits probably the best in the world.  But none of that is worth risking your life for.  I'm not anti-Army, I'm just living the life supporting my husband.  We have a 3 year old, and he just came back from a deployment in Dec and possibly will be leaving again within a month.  Imagine a 3-year old asking for his daddy everyday while he is fighting in a senseless "war".  If you can't, it's pure hell.  I don't recommend military life to anyone unless you are single and times are REALLY hard for you financially.  There are alot of sacrifices you have to make in a military environment.  I have some research for you, go and find out the divorce rate for military servicemen, its beyond the means of high.  I think I just told you the reason why!!
205479
I had the same issues for the past 6 years...fortunately I dont have to work but the job market is not very good right now...I would try rewriting my resume and use connections to help with the search.  I dont think its you I think its the market...If those things work then great and if not no worries keep looking...trust me the job market ispoor right now.
668830
Well a few things can happen. Alot of it actually depends on the military unit they went AWOL from. First off, as soon as we change thier duty status to AWOL, we hold all pay and allowances... we inventory all property they leave behind within 24 hours. The Army has a group of military police called "AWOL Apprehension" that are informed and a notice goes thru NCIC to all law enforcement agency's. After 10 days we send thier parents a letter explaining that they are AWOL and explaining duty and honor. At the 31 day mark, we begin processing the paperwork to drop them from the military rolls and seperate them from the Army for desertion. They are given a seperation code on thier official records and DD214 that codes them as a dessertor.  With that code, it is difficult for them to apply to any college, they will be turned down for all state and federal jobs and they cannot recieve alot of different loans... to include alot of consumer loans.  Life at that point kinda sucks for them... and usually so does thier pay.  McDonalds and Burger King have even started denying them employment. If you can't get a job at Burger King... well that rests on it's own merits....lol.
586181
What is the Army Reserves units in your area?  That's something that most people forget to think about.  When you sign up for the Reserves/Guard, you will be assigned to the closest unit with your MOS requirement.  That means that you may be driving clear across the state to do your weekend drills.  I don't say this to discourage you, just that you keep this in mind.\n\nYour first step is to talk to the recruiter and take the ASVAB.  We always told people to NOT lock down on a particular job, because you still have to qualify for it, and an opening has to be there.  Have several different MOSs in mind that sound interesting.  \n\nPlease don't get discouraged no matter what the results are.  Good luck, and congratulations on your decision.
549762
of course you should expect them to honor their promises just like they expect you to honor yours. i've heard lots of stories just like yours and am not surprised at all. i also have several friends in the military two in the army and one is a recruiter and he says the same thing. i sent your posts to him and he laughed and said he wasn't surprised either...at a $1,000 a pop for each person the recruiter enlists and finishing ait it can be pretty lucrative which makes the chances of getting a lying recruiter pretty good. its a shame that your lack of knowledge and the fact you're young was used to intimidate you but try not to dwell on that, the whole world seems to be into it. i know a lot of recruiters are like this because even the army put a stop to recruiting and 're-evaluated' its recruiting tactics as a result of so many complaints. don't let these jerks who call you names and accuse you of being a coward get to you either, they either aren't real soldiers or just trying to raze you. either way screw 'em as they say they are not worth your time and you're right to expect to be treated right and not lied to especially by those who are your superiors. hang in there and remember there are a-holes like the recruiters who lied to you everywhere and in the civilian world too...just take a look at some of the responses to your question for proof. i'm proud of you, you're not only a soldier but one who has morals...hooah, baby...hooah !
278391
I am a proud American and would love to join the militraty and be able to fight for my country. The reason I haven't is:\n\n\n1. I have 2 small children and no one to take care of them if I went into the service because my husband works, my parents live too far away from us plus my mom is very sick, and my husbands mom is also very sick. \n\n2. I live in a different country.\n\n3. My husband is militraty for his country and because of confidentiality rules, it excludes me from being able to join. FYI, we got married when I was still a teenager.\n\nI have other reasons, but they are a little bit private to be mentioning in a public forum. I gave you 3 valid reasons why I haven't joined the military. What are your reasons for not joining when you had the chance? Don't judge others on something that you haven't even done yourself.
295723
Where are they going to find the National Guardsmen to do this?  Most Guardsmen are at the maximum time they can be involuntarily called to active duty.\n\nAnother thing to remember is that we are soldiers - not border patrol.
90291
When not getting an interview is a blessing is when you really didn't want the job and really didn't want to sit through an interview!  I really don't have any horror/relief stories cause I usualy go for jobs that don't require "interviews".  I'm a country girl that doesn't work "in the system".
542205
I will give you an eyewitness statement. First, I'm not from Texas (I'm a Tar Heel!!! - GO NC!!), second I'm not in the National Guard, I'm active duty. Now the account, I served with an active duty battalion that was assigned 2 National Guard companies - one was from Kansas and one was from Texas. They were truck companies, and both saw heavy action. On a side note, I found both units to be extremely professional in their duties. Neither shirked from any mission assigned to them and had an amazing "Can Do" attitude. If I had any negative comments about the Guard units I have served with - they are minor. I found they had a bit of a height/weight and PT shortcoming, but they more than made up for that with their Mission First attitude. My BC had a board in his office/tent with a collection of all the Guard patches of units we had run into over there. I don't recall a single state missing from his board - we even had a couple territory patches (Guam and PR). So whoever posted that on a Yahoo Board is simply giving into conspiracy BS and once again, as they almost always seem to be - are yapping away and have NEVER spent a day. Isn't it curious how the folks who seem to to come up with this crap have a mysterious lack of service to go along with their tripe?