Job Hunting With Monster Dice
November 7, 2017 6:11 AM Subscribe
About to ETS out of the Army (Signal Officer with a armful of cyber/tech certifications) and it's about time to get on that job hunt. I'm looking for a network security or project manager position, but beyond my directly networked hook-ups, I'm coming up a bit empty looking for places to crawl for open job postings. Querying the MeFi Hive Mind for information on where/what to look for.
So, a bit more detail about myself - 1LT about to leave with two glowing reviews from my leadership and a current set of pretty basic tech certifications and one cool-guy cyber cert I picked up (SANS GCED). I'm looking to leverage my leadership and management experience into a project manager position in IT or security management. I have a decent resume ready, and am just looking for a place to start looking.
So, a bit more detail about myself - 1LT about to leave with two glowing reviews from my leadership and a current set of pretty basic tech certifications and one cool-guy cyber cert I picked up (SANS GCED). I'm looking to leverage my leadership and management experience into a project manager position in IT or security management. I have a decent resume ready, and am just looking for a place to start looking.
Response by poster: Trying to not work for the government.
posted by Punkey at 6:41 AM on November 7, 2017
posted by Punkey at 6:41 AM on November 7, 2017
I hear you about the government, but keep in mind that places like the Smithsonian (federal but not typical government) hire through usajobs, so it would not hurt to check the site periodically.
posted by gudrun at 6:48 AM on November 7, 2017
posted by gudrun at 6:48 AM on November 7, 2017
There are a crap ton of local resources in nearly every state that almost nobody uses because they're only told about it if they are collecting unemployment, yet many employers actually list positions on thanks to encouragement on the part of the people setting the UI rates. Search for "state unemployment job search" and you'll find the obscure place.
That said, that's not how you're going to find a job that will pay you what you're worth. On the gripping hand, that might be a good thing just for helping you adjust to corporate life, which is easily as frustrating as government work, just often in different ways. Long term, I think you'd do way better as a consultant.
posted by wierdo at 6:53 AM on November 7, 2017
That said, that's not how you're going to find a job that will pay you what you're worth. On the gripping hand, that might be a good thing just for helping you adjust to corporate life, which is easily as frustrating as government work, just often in different ways. Long term, I think you'd do way better as a consultant.
posted by wierdo at 6:53 AM on November 7, 2017
Specifying where you want to live would help. Banking is an industry that's very friendly to the ex-military, so I'd just start looking through job postings of the large regional banks near you.
If you want to look at security as a career, see if there's a local ISSA chapter and start networking with local hacker groups like DC[areacode] and the like. If you did well enough on your SANS certification to get invited to any of the private mailing lists, there's lots of jobs posted on them and you can put out feelers actively as well.
Are you on LinkedIn? Make sure your profile and resume there are up to date. Consider signing up for the free premium trial so you can get better metrics on who's looking at you and be able to reach out directly.
Trying to not work for the government.
Does that include contracting to it? If not, there's lots of positions in the DC area (and a few others) that would love to pick up someone with a signals background and an active security clearance.
posted by Candleman at 7:56 AM on November 7, 2017
If you want to look at security as a career, see if there's a local ISSA chapter and start networking with local hacker groups like DC[areacode] and the like. If you did well enough on your SANS certification to get invited to any of the private mailing lists, there's lots of jobs posted on them and you can put out feelers actively as well.
Are you on LinkedIn? Make sure your profile and resume there are up to date. Consider signing up for the free premium trial so you can get better metrics on who's looking at you and be able to reach out directly.
Trying to not work for the government.
Does that include contracting to it? If not, there's lots of positions in the DC area (and a few others) that would love to pick up someone with a signals background and an active security clearance.
posted by Candleman at 7:56 AM on November 7, 2017
Trying to not work for the government.
I totally get this, but check out state and local governments. They have their own issues, but they're different than the feds, and it's usually 8 to 5, good benefits, etc.
My wife was signal in the Army in pretty much the same boat as you, but she had trouble finding a telecom/tech job. She ended up bouncing through law enforcement for several years and now has a scientific staff job (she picked up a bio degree along the way) at the same university I teach at.
There are things that make her bugnuts (like all the things people with tenure get away with), but she's still marveling at things like paid holidays and going home at five.
State universities are usually pretty good gigs, and need project and security managers (sooooo many data security issues in education!) Memail me and I'd be happy to put y'all in touch, she's always happy to discuss transitions with people and all the things the Army transition folks don't tell you about.
posted by joycehealy at 8:17 AM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
I totally get this, but check out state and local governments. They have their own issues, but they're different than the feds, and it's usually 8 to 5, good benefits, etc.
My wife was signal in the Army in pretty much the same boat as you, but she had trouble finding a telecom/tech job. She ended up bouncing through law enforcement for several years and now has a scientific staff job (she picked up a bio degree along the way) at the same university I teach at.
There are things that make her bugnuts (like all the things people with tenure get away with), but she's still marveling at things like paid holidays and going home at five.
State universities are usually pretty good gigs, and need project and security managers (sooooo many data security issues in education!) Memail me and I'd be happy to put y'all in touch, she's always happy to discuss transitions with people and all the things the Army transition folks don't tell you about.
posted by joycehealy at 8:17 AM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you're okay with government contracting, then clearancejobs.com has a lot of stuff that I don't typically see on Monster.
posted by scarnato at 8:45 AM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by scarnato at 8:45 AM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
As you well know, thanks to Equifax, WannaCry, etc, network security is a very in-demand set of job skills.
You allude to these in your title, but Monster, Indeed, Dice, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, etc., even craigslist, are all great resources. One wrinkle I like to work is to locate jobs on those boards, but, if I can identify the company, apply directly to the company, so as not to get my name/resume into those recruiter-centric sites.
Also, look for meetups, trade shows, networking events (in the shake hands and exchange business card sense of the word). Listen to radio ads, tv ads - we hired a regional network security firm via a radio ad. Even just googling, then nosing around companies websites for their "careers" page, if they have one, can be informative. Is there a local college/univ. that offers degrees in related fields? If so, check their websites, or stop by in person and scan their bulletin boards, see who's interviewing and contact those companies directly. Go to local luncheons for city clubs, athletic booster/coach talks, chamber of commerce grand openings, etc. It'll be awkward, but put on your awkward slacks and be awkward for 45 minutes - make it your goal to get 1 business card at an event. Oh, billboards on the freeways, another place where the IT security firms advertise.
posted by at at 8:45 AM on November 7, 2017
You allude to these in your title, but Monster, Indeed, Dice, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, etc., even craigslist, are all great resources. One wrinkle I like to work is to locate jobs on those boards, but, if I can identify the company, apply directly to the company, so as not to get my name/resume into those recruiter-centric sites.
Also, look for meetups, trade shows, networking events (in the shake hands and exchange business card sense of the word). Listen to radio ads, tv ads - we hired a regional network security firm via a radio ad. Even just googling, then nosing around companies websites for their "careers" page, if they have one, can be informative. Is there a local college/univ. that offers degrees in related fields? If so, check their websites, or stop by in person and scan their bulletin boards, see who's interviewing and contact those companies directly. Go to local luncheons for city clubs, athletic booster/coach talks, chamber of commerce grand openings, etc. It'll be awkward, but put on your awkward slacks and be awkward for 45 minutes - make it your goal to get 1 business card at an event. Oh, billboards on the freeways, another place where the IT security firms advertise.
posted by at at 8:45 AM on November 7, 2017
My husband just got out this year as a 1LT (Air Defense Artillery) and went into the tech industry and is now working as a programmer doing database security work. He worked with recruiters (2-4) and had a job in less than a month so I'd really recommend going that route. If you would like more details shoot me a PM and I can connect you two.
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 12:20 PM on November 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 12:20 PM on November 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
I suggest smaller but well-funded counties or well-funded cities.
You will probably get a few extra interview points as a a veteran!
Many of my city colleagues have worked for a few years before moving on to bigger jobs in the private sector IT area.
posted by calgirl at 1:06 PM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
You will probably get a few extra interview points as a a veteran!
Many of my city colleagues have worked for a few years before moving on to bigger jobs in the private sector IT area.
posted by calgirl at 1:06 PM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Don’t forget to look at hospitals; they have big time IT security needs.
posted by SyraCarol at 6:13 PM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by SyraCarol at 6:13 PM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't have advice on where to look. But you should watch out for jargon. Most civilians have probably never heard of ETS. They can probably decipher 1LT but you shouldn't rely on them to figure it out.
posted by maurreen at 7:18 PM on November 7, 2017
posted by maurreen at 7:18 PM on November 7, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by exogenous at 6:31 AM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]