I need some career-related advice

[Dustin_m]

The main thing i need to find out is from the guys here that have experience hiring people. How much does a person's military background weigh in them getting a job. I am going to be in architecture, maybe engineering if i change majors. Will a discharge from the military keep me from getting a job somewhere? I'm not talking about a dishonorable, nothing really bad, but probably an other than honorable or administrative separation. I'm not really sure if this pops up in a background check or not, or if i even have to ever say what kind of discharge. I'm not planning anything in law enforcement or government.

The reason is, things aren't going to well for me in the marines. my right knee and hip have been hurt for a long time, and have gotten bad from training, even the little we have to do as reserves. it's to the point where i have a hard time running, and even biking hurts sometimes. about the only thing i can do that feels just fine is swim. The military refuses to do anything about it, and i don't have insurance. It's a bullshit situation because i've explained to them that i hurt myself in training, but they really don't give a shit because i am a reservist so they can pretty much get away without taking care of it.

At this point i am pretty much saying f them and not going in anymore. after 9 drills they will discharge my ass, so whatever. I'm over it. this was pretty much the last straw after figuring out how much of their shit is lies, and dealing with other b.s. stuff from them. The way i see it is, I am the only one who is going to have to live in my body, and they could give a shit less about me once i get done with my contract, so if i stay in and continue to be in pain, then i am just screwing myself over in the long run.

 

[posol]

to me, 0. we don't do background checks...

i really don't care where you've been or what school you went to.... i want to see what you've DONE. if you can't show me you've DONE anything, you're a waste of my time, really.

so, if you were a "pc field technician" who "fixed stuff in the field", it doesn't show me that you know anything at all.

 

[Dustin_m]

My worry is that if it comes up, it may reflect bad upon my character. To someone who doesn't understand the situation, it may look like i can't follow through with a commitment to something

 

[totalburnout]

My worry is that if it comes up, it may reflect bad upon my character. To someone who doesn't understand the situation, it may look like i can't follow through with a commitment to something

Well founded worry. Many will frown upon anything other than an honorable discharge.

If there's anyway that you can leave the Marines legitimately with an honorable discharge, then find that way.

Its very much something that is a resume building and would frowned the same as a previous job reference where you had a poor review from a supervisor.

 

[get_nick]

do some research. you can get honorably discharged by going through the right process. you need to talk to the personnel people and they should lead you in the right direction. if it was active duty, it would be a whole different story. and if you are wondering, i spent 4 years active duty air force and considered the reserves when i was done.

 

[phunky.buddha]

That's what the interview is for- explaining everything and showing why it doesn't matter that you were discharged without an "honorable" stamp. It all depends on how you present yourself, and how important you make your military career on your resume and in your interview.

 

[Dustin_m]

well i think that even if i listed it on a resume, nobody would go that deep into it. I've been in 3 years, and a lot of people don't really know how long reserve contracts are. so i could probably list it on a resume and no one would really ask about what kind of discharge.

 

[Dustin_m]

do some research. you can get honorably discharged by going through the right process. you need to talk to the personnel people and they should lead you in the right direction. if it was active duty, it would be a whole different story. and if you are wondering, i spent 4 years active duty air force and considered the reserves when i was done.

what kind of other options are you talking about? did you know anyone that went through it and got out early?

 

[get_nick]

what kind of other options are you talking about? did you know anyone that went through it and got out early?

i remember talking to a SMSGT. E-8 and worked in the reserves. He told me that you can get out if you need to. it isn't quite the commitment active duty is. i would just start making calls and don't take the chance of getting a dishonorable discharge. plus, if you go to the doctor, they should discharge you to. it wont be easy and will take work on your part. but don't be lazy. if you are lazy, it will hurt and take twice as long.

 

[Celerity]

Unfortunately, what we here say and the reality of the matter is different.

A reasonable person will find reason behind their methods. Unreasonable people look for unreasonable qualifications in hiring.

As you guessed it, assholes outnumber reasonable by a hefty margin.


A discharge WILL affect you forever. IF your hiring manager is ex-military, you won't get the job. If that's what's important to them, then you're hosed. If not, then not. Same goes if you're black or white.

Shit happens, people suck.