Josh Pavlik ⋅ Fort Worth, TX U.S. Army National Guard, Staff Sergeant ⋅ 10 years served

Thank you all very much for taking the time to share your knowledge and wisdom of the business world with me.

As an update to you all I am still uncertain of where my future is in the business world but I am not waisting time. I am currently overseas with the military and use what free time I have to work on my civilian resume, seek out potential job opportunities, researching different job fields, and looking at different MBA programs.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts.

Alejandra Barquero ⋅ Houston, TX Hewlett Packard ⋅ 4 years experience

Josh I would like to share with you my experience that was actually the other way around, I have a career in Biomedical engineering and in my country we did not have a lot of opportunities to develop in that area before so I decided to study the most popular career to get a job here that was business administration.
I think business administration is very important even in life, and it is great to hear that you continue ahead with your studies, I am sure your background will help you in the future as well... All the best...and for me it sounds also that you could be a great project manager... working with teams, communications, resolving issues... you can check more information on that and you can contact me as well, i will be glad to help you there. Good luck!!!

James Yaple ⋅ Austin, TX Department of Veterans Affairs ⋅ 25 years experience

Josh, I suggest you create a linkedin profile. It's a great way to get noticed. I did a search and could not find you. When you do, send me an email and we can connect. You never know where it will lead.

Gary Terrell ⋅ Albany, OR Hewlett Packard ⋅ 25 years experience

Project Management! This is a great field that crosses over many different businesses. I have found that most former military people have managed many projects they just don't know they were managing project. Check out PMI.org and get involved with the Project Management community, there is almost certainly a chapter in your area. It is a great place to network and in my local chapter we are always trying to match people up wtih open jobs. Good Luck!

John Kenison ⋅ Antelope, CA Hewlett Packard ⋅ 20 years experience

I am in a company where the majority of people have engineering degrees, and I am in a technical problem resolution team which requires very in depth knowledge on networking protocols and the architecture of network switching devices. I am often asked what degree I have and I have a BSEE or "double E". I was blown away when the lead architect on the team who is tech lead for about 25 hard core engineers was asked that same question and he answered that he had a "single E". His degree was in Economics!

He obviously had an interest and applied himself to learn the technology and the products, but he would not have been hired without a degree. The degree, any degree, is in great part an indication that you have what it takes to get through a long and difficult, bureaucracy heavy activity like the degree program. Every employer needs to know any new hires are capable of this.

Mary H. ⋅ Waltham, MA Hewlett Packard Enterprise ⋅ 20 years experience

Josh, any update? I am finding this post now, but you wrote it 10 months ago. If you still have doubts about degree choice, I went through that. My degree didn't get me the job that led to my career, but it helped me get a promotion later because it added depth to my background. After graduation, I searched through job postings to see what was needed (which wasn't my skillset), researched what I didn't understand, and got some training in the skills I realized I was missing. Business Management is very adaptable.

Theresa Maglitto ⋅ Cypress, TX Hewlett Packard ⋅ 25 years experience

Hi Josh. Thank you for your service in our military. It looks like you've got some great answers and advice. I would be happy to give back in any way I can so that is why I'm a volunteer here. You will see from my profile that I have over 20yrs experience in exactly what you are interested in, and think you chose a great career path for your degree. I'm right here in Houston, Texas, and I purposely chose veterans to help from local areas in the event they wish to speak in person.

Brian Berenbach ⋅ Edison, NJ Georgia Institute of Technology ⋅ 45 years experience

Hi Josh,

I think you already have some good answers above. But remember that an entry level college degree is just a first step, you have to decide what YOU want, be it in science, engineering, sales, marketing, government (fbi, secret service, cia) and then, like a ball in a pin-ball machine, select opportunities and work your way from there.

Lots of companies like mine hire veterans, but the first question they will ask is "what do you want to do?", not "what is your degree" and the second question is "can you do this", and your answer is YES unless you don't want to be there.

Hope that helps,

Brian Berenbach
Vietnam Veteran

Senior Engineer
Siemens Corporation

Jane Stabile ⋅ Boston, MA IMP Partners LLC dba IMP Consulting ⋅ 25 years experience

Hi Josh,

Thanks for your service. I run a consulting firm out of Boston, Mass. It sounds like consulting might appeal to you. There is a role called a Business Analyst. In our industry, a BA should have technical and industry knowledge and use the combination of those skills to effectively problem solve on client projects. BA's typically report to Project Managers. If you would like to know more, please drop me a note at jmstabile@impconsults.com.

Regards,

Jane

Laurie Kirk ⋅ Tampa, FL Bristol-Myers Squibb ⋅ 30 years experience

Hi Josh - I agree with Accursio in his assessment that your background could lead to Project Manager/Systems Liaison/Process Improvement or Re-Engineering Sig Sigma careers. If you feel a lack of confidence in your chosen degree, you can add to it with appropriate certifications such as PMI - here is one contact that has previously reached out to me, don't know how good they are but it's an example: Eva James [eva.james@pmtrainingacademy.com]. Or you could join a Quality organization such as American Society for Quality (ASQ) and sign up for Six Sigma/Lean Six Sigma courses. I have worked with retired Veteran's during my career in the Pharmaceutical Industry, and admire the organizational and logic skills that they bring to the table, not to mention fantastic collaboration & team player skills!! So view the degree for what it is - a stepping stone to further education/opportunities. We wish you the very best of luck!

Accursio Marciante ⋅ Union, NJ Standard Chartered Bank ⋅ 11 years experience

Hello Josh from the Lonestar State,

Congrats on your degree and thanks for your service. First off you have to ask yourself what industry would you like to work in? You are in Texas and I would do some research and see which industries are well represented in your area. Financial Services wise I know Fidelity Investments has Operations in the West Lake area. Your background and drive points to Project Manager/Systems Liaison/Process Improvement or Re-Engineering Sig Sigma careers. There are some personality evaluation aptitude tests like the old Strong Campbell personality test where your job interests are matched up to your personality. Your university/career center should be familiar with this and offer help on it. I have an associates in accounting and bachelor's in business management and in financial services and doing similar work.

Good luck.

Ben C ⋅ New York, NY Hedge Fund ⋅ 2 years experience

Josh,

Sounds like you would be a great consultant. PM if you're interested in a finance services consulting firm with a veterans program.

Sherry Finkel Murphy, MS, RICP ⋅ Saratoga Springs, NY Northwestern Mutual ⋅ 25 years experience

Hi Josh. I agree with Ed and Ron--there's nothing wrong at all with your degree. Problem solving and people = sales or account and relationship management in almost every organization. An excellent salesperson is paid a salary and a commission to understand the customer's needs and visualize the solution in a way that meets or exceeds that need. The ability to remove barriers to getting the customer what he/she wants (like her next promotion by being a corporate hero) is not a skill everyone has. What's more, business savvy is essential for speaking a language the customer will respect.

I recommend you wander around the jobs on Linked In and study the types of account management and sales positions that have keywords meaningful to you; rework your resume for them and apply. What's more, organizations that sell to the Federal government are always in need of business-minded account managers who have instant credibility built by having served in the Armed forces.

Even if sales or account management is not of interest to you...wander the jobs posted on LinkedIn and see what patterns emerge from those that appeal to you.

Much success!

Ron Rutherford ⋅ Hanover, MA TAOnline.com ⋅ 20 years experience

Hello Josh, I agree with Edward - you career choice is fine. Was it the actual jobs, the locations, or the titles of the extended opportunities that didn't appeal to you? Did you pursue them for the experience or disregard right away? 'Work with People' makes many recruiters cringe because most jobs do just that (unless you're working in a zoo). It is the how that matters. Solving problems; okay, what kind? Math problems? Marketing problems? Cash Flow Problems? Since I don't know what you were presented with at the outset, it is hard to give a direction recommendation. Think about where your passions, interests, and skills intersect. That sweet spot is the area you should be focusing on. Good Luck

Edward Camarota ⋅ Chadds Ford, PA ⋅ 31 years experience

Josh, first of all, don't think that you made a poor degree choice. Biz Mgt is a great foundation for so many career paths in business. One industry that you may want to take a look at is insurance. Not so much selling life, home or auto insurance, but rather mid market commercial insurance. This is a very dynamic and changing industry and always looking for new entrants. Take a look at the Insurance Journal's top 100 agency list and then look at Assurex Global - the largest group of quality independent agencies in the world, and good luck!!