Anna Jacobs ⋅ Cupertino, CA Waddell & Reed ⋅ 17 years experience

Hello Mr Hendricks

I highly recommend getting in on the ground floor of an organization and growing your skill set organically. While education is a highly valued commodity, it is not always translated successfully into a career. Almost never straight out of the gate. What I mean is that even with a formal education, employers will be looking for experience. I suggest that you plan your search around where you see yourself long term but that you focus on immediate tasks at hand and take an entry-level position. It can be a humbling experience working below your potential. At least it was for me. I started as a file clerk and 17 years later am a trusted and fully licensed advisor. And I am still actively continuing my education. The positions, in the link you provided, will require or a degree. Look lower on the totem pole. Remember, what you need is a start somewhere. There is almost always internal mentoring and educational support programs at corporations and businesses alike.

Good luck.

Susana Moraga ⋅ Hayward, CA California State University East Bay ⋅ 20 years experience

J,
The fact that you have taught yourself programs reflects your initiative which is good.
I agree with Sarah, working with a recruiter could be helpful Just keep in mind they will only place you in jobs you can do, not that you would necessarily be trained for.
Consider volunteering, be selective so that you are using the skills you want to use in the workforce. Experience is experience and you need to start developing an experience base.
Definitely looking at the Linkedin Student jobs you would find more entry level positions.
Good luck,

Sarah Bass Blanco ⋅ Annapolis, MD boodleAI ⋅ 7 years experience

Hi J Hendricks,

Thank you for your service and using ACP Advisor Net! Have you spoken yet with a recruiting agency regarding finding entry level positions that match the skills you currently possess? I know you mentioned it could be like opening a can of worms, but oftentimes, they will work with you (especially if they are focused on veteran/service member employment) to tailor your resume for the position. They also conduct pre-screening calls with you to go over the assignment and what their clients are looking for.

These might not yield the most interesting positions, but they could provide full time, stable employment while also getting your foot in the door of a company. This would allow you to gain concrete real world experience to put on your resume as well. If you are interested in furthering your qualifications, a site like edX.org could be a great way to get additional skills or certifications and you could work through them on your off hours.

These sites might provide helpful suggestions to how to create a clean and professional resume when you do not have extensive work history. They also have great buzz words in them that you can highlight in a resume, especially regarding your military experience:
http://www.businessinsider.com/resume-for-job-seeker-with-no-experience-2014-7
https://www.livecareer.com/career-tips/resumes/no-experience-resume
https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/present-your-military-skills
http://www.gijobs.com/how-to-use-your-military-experience-to-get-a-job/

One other suggestion I might make is going through your work history and contacting a few former colleagues or managers and creating a relationship with them again. That way, when they do ask for references, you will have a few at hand to provide them. It's great that you're looking to start entering professional networks too! LinkedIn has many groups out there and once you join, you could search for people with either jobs you want or who are in your local area to connect with and discuss your resume.

Thank you again for using ACP AdvisorNet and I hope this is helpful!

All the best,

Sarah Bass
ACP AdvisorNet Staff

John Green ⋅ Cary, NC Information Technology ⋅ 40 years experience

Addressing an immediate need in your current state as you have described it means Walmart, Burger King, or Long John Silvers.

I'm not sure how I can be more clear for your understanding. Are you wanting to be a software developer ? If so, you are going to need more than just self-study.

You asked, "One corporation can have multiple database vendors, and the technologies that I mentioned initially can bridge the data between those different dbs to make the data available for analysis. Am I right in thinking this?" -- The answer is no.

Modern day companies have solved these problems many decades ago. Its coined in the term "Big Data".

If you are serious about software development, then become serious about pursuit of your formal training or education. Many community colleges offer basic courses that are more reasonably priced.

It seems your current state of affairs leads me to believe you have not been successful getting interviews. In my opinion, this is because you do not have the skills the market demands. There are ways for you to acquire these skills.

J Hendricks ⋅ Columbus, OH U.S. Navy, Seaman ⋅ 3 years served

I am trying to address an immediate need at the moment that won't require more formal education. However, security is a possibility. I've seen that the Department of Homeland Security offers free online training on ethical hacking, network training, and so forth.

I'd like to concentrate more on financial reporting, statistical analysis and the like long term. Working with claims data in a healthcare organization might be a way for me to get my foot in the door.

You're right that SQL, Access, and Excel are not cutting edge, but they can be used in conjunction with the multiple technology stacks that result from the merging of large corporations. One corporation can have multiple database vendors, and the technologies that I mentioned initially can bridge the data between those different dbs to make the data available for analysis. Am I right in thinking this?

http://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Jobs/find-jobs.aspx?keyword=13-1111&ajax=0&location=md&source=DEA
Many of the above listings require--in addition to its own technologies--SQL, Access, and Excel

John Green ⋅ Cary, NC Information Technology ⋅ 40 years experience

Go back to school : http://www.umuc.edu/academic-programs/cyber-security/index.cfm

You currently do not possess the skills that are demanded by the market. If this were the 1980s, SQL, Access, and Excel would be in-demand. But this is the 21st Century, not 1988. Solve your unemployment problem by acquiring the skills the market demands today.