Career change

Good luck Hawk I wish you the best

hawk, it will all work out in the end-- it always does! i think i may be dropping back a little this year in the draws for the " just in case" economy. i will still do my preference points. and who knows might still throw out the hail mary tags :))
but hay i wish you the best also and with your smarts you will have no trouble finding a good job, your problem will be finding a good enough job for you! keep us posted :thumb

You're bummin me out Hawk - I'm almost through my first year and already looking forward to the 20 year mark, haha. Good luck though, hopefully you get at least a little hunting in this year.

Hawk, You have payed your dues more than most and a person with your integrity and background will be repaid with many opportunity's. Again let me tell you thanks for your service!

Good luck and god bless.

for a list of refferences, tell the emplyer to start a thread here on muley madness---- and be ready to read a TON of great replys!!

Hawk, what are your "skills"?

I hear of job opening now and then and I like to know what I can about people who are looking for jobs so that I can play match-maker. I have helped several people in the past from other message boards.

Maybe post up your resume on here and we'll see what happens.

GPWDeer

Hawk, If you're willing to load up your saddle for Colorado, e-mail me your resume and I'll keep my eyes and ears open for you.

i know how you feel.i just started my 24th year on my job and its been nothing but good to myself and my family.thing is,the student loans are starting to come due and I'll need another income to pay them off[in my lifetime anyway #-o ].
i already have a good line on a job that i stumbled across deer hunting this year[huh Scott],but its 8 hours away,....or,i think about going home to Dixie and living on the beach and sell bait for the rest of my life.this looking at retirements too much like work :))

Thanks all for the words of encouragement. I think it is always scary to move toward the "unknown"...and with all the variables out there both with the job market and my family it makes it a little less appealing.

GPW, Hiker...thanks guys! If you are serious, I will fire you both off my resume(s). I guess it wouldn't hurt either way. I am HOPING that I can stay in here in SE WA/N ID but I guess when it comes right down to it I'll have to do what's best for the family.

Killer...LOL. I would love to be able to do that. Just list the site as my one and only reference. I guess if my propective employer was a hunter that might work...LOL

Hawk, as you know, I retired this past August. The "job" that I had in the bag before I ever went to Iraq fell though, soooooo... But I was so busy with family matters from June to the present (death in the family that I'm still helping to sort things out) that I still have yet to do any serious job hunting. Good thing my retirement pay does pay the bills, though. I do have some resumes out there but I'm being a bit picky as I can afford to be.

Use all the resources available to you. Go to TAP class at a minimum of one more time, if you have not already been there. Lots of good info and even a few leads. With your background, maybe you should start auditioning to be the local weatherman on the news? lol

Seriously, there are quite a few companies that love to hire military. Check out a magazine called "GI Jobs", lots of companies in there, though not sure on staying in the area you want. Check out what the local VA can do to help you find a job. Lots of folks out there working to help vets get a job.

Once you get a job, if it is not your dream job, don't stop looking. Most vets go through a few jobs before settling into that second career.

I'll let you know how my second career is going once I start it. Believe me, my wife is MORE than ready for me to get out of the house!

ABert, I actually hadn't realized that you had "called it a career" already. CONGRATS my friend and I hope everything works out for ya.

I actually just attended TAP last week. I wish I could have gotten in there sooner but the trip to Iraq kinda threw a wrench into my plans. It was a GREAT class though and I am REALLY glad I attended it. I'll HOPEFULLY get my various resumes done this week and will start submitting them to various companies. The Forest Service is an extremely "vet-friendly" organization, give hiring preference to retired veterans, disabled vets, and vets with campaign experience and they will get variations of all my resumes. I worked for them for a short time before I joined the Navy too so hopefully that will help out a bit.

Basically, I told my wife that I will be submitting JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE. Just like your last statement, if the job I eventually get is not what I am lookin' for I will still take it...and continue to hunt for better jobs until I get where I want to be.

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I'm sure it will work out eventually...It's just a bit daunting with all the X-factors thrown in...not to mention the simple fact that I have not had to actually look for a job since I was 16 years old!

I'll continue to keep everyone posted on the results. Heck, I could end up in Utah or Colorado for all I know.

Heck, I could end up in Utah or Colorado for all I know.[/quote]

Speaking as someone from Utah we would love to have you. There are too many of the wrong type of people starting to move here. Especially up here on the east side of Salt Lake City where I work. From what I've read of your posts I can tell that you are an upstanding person. Add to that your love of hunting and I say I hope your best job offer is in the state of Utah. And by the way we do have a few animals to hunt here. Good luck.

If you haven't already, get your physical and retirement paperwork going now. They both tend to take longer than they should. Once your physical is done, set up your VA physical.

And whatever you do, make sure to take a couple of eight weeks off before starting a new job! You did bank up plenty of days, right? If you have any questions on any of the process feel free to give me a holler.

Hawk, when you get time, send me over your resume'.