[fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none” last=”no” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all”][fusion_text]Could IT skills be any more relevant in today’s world? An emphasis on cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, more everyday items becoming connected to the internet and the continued demand for mobile computing all translate to great career opportunities for transitioning service members with IT skills. Even those who don’t have a military IT background can use their GI Bill to get into this thriving career field.
Employment in computer and IT occupations is projected to grow 12 percent through 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, adding about 488,500 new jobs.
The pay isn’t too shabby, either. The median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $81,430 in May 2015, according to the BLS.
Don’t just take the government’s word for it.
Ken Huxley, a retired Air Force colonel who’s now director of talent acquisition for Strategic Staffing Solutions, says veterans are ideal for IT careers. “Veterans adapt quickly to fluid environments, have a tremendous work ethic, are adept at leading teams and working individually,” he says. “They are goal-oriented, loyal and altruistic.”
Susan Graye, talent acquisition manager for veteran and diversity programs at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, says they, too, seek veterans for IT roles. “They possess the key competencies we look for including teamwork, leadership and goal orientation. Many have expertise areas of growth including cybersecurity, networking and analytics.”
In fact, the technology giant recruits veterans for lots of roles besides IT, Graye says. “HPE hires veterans for a myriad of roles in a variety of different disciplines including consulting, finance, human resources, leadership, learning and development, program/project management, sales, supply chain, and strategy.”
Just about every employer, large or small, in every industry needs IT professionals. That includes Safelite, an automotive glass and claims management company based in Columbus, Ohio, that seeks veterans for IT jobs.
“Each of these roles looks for honest, hard-working people who lack ego but are drenched in integrity,” explains Elizabeth Howard, recruiting manager for Safelite. “People who consistently drive for extraordinary results, individuals who like to learn, seek challenges and go out of their way to help others be successful.”
IT is a career path built to last.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=”” min_height=””][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”double solid” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Petty officer 3rd class David Sinclair[/fusion_title][fusion_text]
Technical Support Engineer, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
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What do you do? I am responsible for licensing for security software. We use these licenses to perform data security tests against a client’s databases to ensure their information and sensitive data are secure using manual code inspection, configuration review and automatic static analysis tools.
Why did you pick this job? I always wanted to be in the tech industry. Technology is forever growing and it feels good to be a part of something that is ever-evolving.
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What surprised you about the civilian workforce? I am used to wearing uniforms even with other jobs outside of the military. It is awesome to see people coming to work at the Fortune 500 companies in shorts and sneakers. From the bottom to the top everyone just dresses comfortably.
What’s the coolest thing about your job? You can literally keep on training and learning your entire career. There is always a new certification popping up that you can apply for or challenge yourself to obtain. They also give a lot of time off for you to go and volunteer.
Best piece of advice for transitioning service members? Never give up! We are all brothers and sisters in arms and our network reaches around the world! You are never alone, and there is always someone gladly willing to help!
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Age: 33
Military Service:
Petty Officer 3rd Class, Navy (2001-2005)
Rating: Cryptological Technician
Education:
Bachelor’s degree, computer science,
Georgia Institute of Technology
College of Engineering, 2013
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=”” min_height=””][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”double solid” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Williams[/fusion_title][fusion_text]
Salesforce Administrator, Safelite AutoGlass
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Age: 30
Military Service: Petty Officer 2nd Class (E-5),
Navy (2004-2010)
Rating: Aviation Electronics Technician
Education: Bachelor’s degree, computer information systems, IT, Ohio Dominican University, 2013
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What do you do? My job is to administer and maintain our Salesforce CRM platform. I work with our internal groups to develop process improvements for users already on the platform and advise on other ways we can adapt Salesforce to our growing business.
Biggest transition headache? Trying to decide which way I should go: straight into the workforce or college. For me, the idea of a degree and the prospect of greater earnings down the road were enough for me to decide on the educational route first.
What military skills do you apply to your civilian job? Communication, troubleshooting and teamwork. There are so many facets to the civilian corporate structure that tie into the foundations learned from military duty, but the ability to communicate effectively and the skills I learned troubleshooting in such a high-stress environment have helped me tremendously.
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What’s the coolest thing about your job? The ever-evolving platform technology. Salesforce is constantly updating and re-configuring their product based on customer needs and it is my responsibility to stay current and provide these updates to our company.
Best piece of advice for transitioning service members? Learn to adjust to an environment that is less strict, ordered and predetermined. Refrain from using military jargon once you separate and become acclimated to the private sector and corporate management organization.
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=”” min_height=””][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”double solid” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Petty Officer 2nd Class Kimberly Pendergast[/fusion_title][fusion_text]
Technical Recruiter, Strategic Staffing Solutions (S3)
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What do you do? I try to find the best talent to fill job openings for S3’s clients. This includes sourcing, screening and presenting qualified candidates to the client.
What worked best in your job search? I had my résumé already prepared before I transitioned out, with the help of the career development center on my base. I made a habit of looking at job postings every night and tailored my résumé to the jobs I was applying to. I also attended career fairs at the university I was attending, which helped expand my network and led to a couple of interviews.
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What didn’t work? Being pessimistic or upset about rejection letters or not getting calls back on applications. I had not been selected after a couple of interviews for jobs I felt I was qualified for, and in my opinion went well. I decided to look at those interviews as opportunities to practice and improve on my interviewing skills, which made a rejection letter/call not feel like the end of the world.
What military skills do you apply to your civilian job? In the military there was a saying that you should always strive to be the rank you are up for next; of course, once you have mastered the rank you already were. That mentality motivated me as a sourcer to start learning the job of a recruiter.
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ layout=”1_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=”” min_height=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] 
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Age: 33
Military Service:
Petty Officer 2nd Class (E-5), Navy (2008-2013)
Rating: Fire Controlman
Education: Master of Human Resources from University of Richmond,
December 2015
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” hover_type=”none” link=”” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding=”” dimension_margin=”undefined” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_text]READ NEXT: SEPARATING FROM THE MILITARY MINDSET
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