<p>I am an Active Duty (AD) servicemember thinking of transitioning to the Reserve/Guard side. I love the AD however, I feel there are things outside my current career field that I am eager to pursue--my reasoning for accomplishing a BS/IT (Business System Analysis). Unfortunately, my GPA has suffered as I transitioned from various locations and worked 15+ hrs daily on deployments (2.96). From the research that I have conducted thus far, I've noticed many companies prefer individuals that possess AT LEAST a 3.0, which I am short of. Having 10yrs of prior service as a leader and supervisor, in conjunction with two Associate Degrees and internships: will I be one of the few selected applicants due to this factor... Also, I feel that a certification within my study will further emphasize my motivation/eagerness to excel with my studies. Does anyone have any advice and/or suggestions?</p>
<p>Don’t sweat, Lila. You’re not the run-of-the-mill student. 9 time out of 10 work and hands on experience trump formal classroom education. Employers will see this reflected on your resume when they see AD for X years and especially your management titles involved (Tech/Networks Shop Supervisor/ NCOIC ((Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge)), or what have you). Most common sense people realize that AD miltary is a huge commitment in itself and most don’t work normal hours.</p>
<p>Of course if (when) you make it to the interview, this can also be emphasized in your answers to questions. Use your prior military supervisors as references (officers are great references) and you should have better shots, in my opinion, than the recent grad with one internship and a 3.7-3.8 GPA.</p>
<p>GPA is usually only reported for entry level positions right after college. After that, all that matters is the degree. With your situation, people will not treat you as a recent graduate.</p>
<p>Well, thats great news to hear!!!I felt so paranoid over this factor because this is a major career change as it is. GPA information was making me sick to my stomach, resulting in a fear that my only option may be to endure my current occupation ;-(((((( I really appreciate your feedback guys!</p>
<p>GPA info could be explained if you intend to apply for grad school but like CFB53B & turtlerock stated, experience especially for computer related professions counts more than formal education. Higher level certs + your experience will make you a great candidate!</p>
<p>You may want to apply for a federal job to keep your time in the military to apply towards your pension.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Awsome suggestion, QuietGuy. Lila, with 10 years of AD you’re 1/2 the way towards federal retirement eligibility (you don’t HAVE to retire, but you would be eligible if you wanted to. The longer you stay, of course the higher the pension. Don’t let those years go to waste!Part-time years even count as full-time years for retirement eligibility purposes, however your pension would be based on your last 3 years of income, so if you’re part-time for those last 3 years, then it would significantly decrease your pension amount.</p>
<p>Only sucky thing is that right now the Fed has a hiring freeze going on, so it may be extremely difficult to actually get a job. . . FOR NOW. Eventually spots will have to open up as more people retire. Just always BOLO.</p>
<p>After 4 years of AD, I went directly into Fed Service. With 6 years total now, I would have 10 as well by time I finish school (plan to be part-time while going to school - luckily management has already greenlighted this).</p>
<p>Oh I have already begun my usajobs resumes and have been applying to things nearby. I am from the Philadelphia area: not too far from a Naval Yard, which has many job postings available. I look forward to this transition though it is scary at times.</p>
<p>You stated that Federal job has a “hiring freeze” at this time? I’m curious to know why in the world would they continue to post Federal jobs, while haveing such a status. Seems odd to me but it is what it is. I will continue to submit because I would be extremely unhappy to procrastinate until my DOS (6-7mths away) then show initiative</p>
<p>I can’t comment specifically for the US government, but in general when there’s a hiring freeze you can still hire to backfill a position. So if someone quits or retires, you can hire a replacement, but you can’t hire someone to fill a newly created position.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That’s generally how it’s working, Lila. There can never be an all out stoppage of all gov’t hiring because somewhere there will be someone retiring in jobs that are considered essential for the gov’t to function.</p>
<p>Two points:
- The current freeze in general works in the fashion of attrition: hire 1 employee for every 3 that leave/retire. That’s why you can still see jobs opening up. Either those jobs were already secured by funds that were initiated before the freeze began (but are only now coming to the market - these things take time since a whole lot of administrative steps are involved) or they are filling the ONE space for the THREE that just left, or it’s a highly specialized position that must be filled and considered essential for the gov’t to function (high level managers and such).</p>
<ol>
<li>SOME departments are exempt from the freeze becuase they have ‘special’ bills passed thorugh gov’t to fund and/or staff them because of other social or economic issues going on. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a good example. These are NEW openings, but either considered essential to function or are protected by another appropriations within the gov’t.</li>
</ol>
<p>The freeze effects the types of jobs that I assumed you’d be eligible for (assuming you’re not eligible for high level management ((usually past GS-13 level)) or high level specialized work that usually requires either 15 years exp or high level educational reqs ((Masters AT LEAST)). Unfortunately, I would think you would fall inbetween those categories unless you did go to a protected dept. You do get 5 points preference points when you apply, though, so that’s good news. 10 if you’re 30% or > disabled.</p>
<p>There is no general federal hiring freeze right now. Some agencies may have chosen to freeze, but other agencies are still hiring.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I though that had already been mentioned?
</p>
<p>Uh, none of them CHOOSE to freeze hiring. They’re told by congress that their budgets have been decreased and that to avoid further cuts they must not hire to fill every spot that is vacant.</p>
<p>That’s currently on top of the PAY FREEZE as well. There’s still talks that will be extended past 2013 as well.</p>
<p>No, turtlerock, there is no general “1-for-3” hiring rule as you have stated. There was a PROPOSAL by some Republicans in Congress to institute such a rule, but it was not made law in the FY12 budget, thankfully. The Senate rejected that House proposal and Obama was against it as well. It would represent a huge cut in the federal workforce and be disastrous for effective government.</p>
<p>If Romney/Santorum wins in November, it’ll be an issue again because they’d probably sign such a rule into law.</p>