Kent Watson ⋅ Monticello, FL U.S. Army, Chief Warrant Officer ⋅ 34 years served

Good evening Chief Michael, Thank you so very much for your faithful and honorable service! U.S. Coast Guard does also translate to US Department of Homeland Security. Cyber Security is a wide lane, and your validation comes by way of your computer certifications, training, and how you make a difference to the metrics of the any organization. People understand prevention of computer intrusions, deter of computer hacks, saved corporate resources by implementing system security protocols. You are recent enough that you would only require a periodic reinvestigation for classified jobs if less than 5 years with last security clearance adjudication. Cleared jobs would be looking for someone like you. Social media and intense networking is how business is done these days. As a fellow retired Chief Warrant Officer you want to sell that you bring technical expertise in a designated career track, have fulfilled Leadership roles, and are proven middle management ready to take on new demanding challenges. Paid internships and network every opportunity that presents itself. Please keep the faith. When I thought that I was down and out then a ray of hope grabbed me and led me in the right direction. Always look forward and you will continue to move forward! Upwards and Onwards! Kent T. Watson, Chief Warrant Officer Four, US Army Retired, over 34 years

Ron Schofield ⋅ Chicago, IL WYCC-TV ⋅ 32 years experience

Michael:
You've already gotten a ton of great advice on this stream. I will only echo, make sure you get someone professional to look over your resume and LinkedIn profile. That's your first impression so it has to be the best it can be.

Many companies now have aggressive initiatives to hire veterans. If you can swing it, do an internship designed just for veterans. Most are paid positions. I'm in Chicago and Chase, Abbot Labs and others have this in place here. Google it for the areas you want to work. I know it doesn't feel like it, but it will happen when it's the right time and job for you. Don't get down on yourself.

Ron

FRANCIS TEPEDINO, ESQ. ⋅ San Diego, CA THE CONDOR GROUP ⋅ 30 years experience

Contact USAA in San Antonio, Texas. They go out of their way to hire Vets.

You have to "GO WHERE THE JOBS ARE". I moved back and forth across the country five times and up and down three times - always for a better job, etc.

Steve Alpert ⋅ New York, NY Selp employed ⋅ 45 years experience

Hi Mike,

I've been where you are a few times in my life...always comes down to the same thing and you've heard this many times before I am sure..."Follow your passion and the money will come." Seems like magic but it is not. you need to keep putting it out there, but maybe you need some new creative ways of doing that. Somehow you need to relax into this, forcing a solution never works. Find an outfit you want to become part of, go meet them in person, get an interview, somehow get yourself physically infant the people you want to work with. People want to hire people they know and like. A resume sending thing can get you work, but for a first timer, even if it is not entry level, go to the company, find a way to talk with someone face to face. Let them experience your passion and capabilities. Go get it. Good luck! Steve Alpert, NYC

Roddney Hackstall ⋅ Greensboro, NC Canopy Partners ⋅ 20 years experience

Hey Mike,

If you want I would be willing to take a look at your resume. Maybe there is something on it or not on it that could be raising red flags for Hiring Managers. LMK

Roddney

David Pierce ⋅ Pleasanton, CA Axiom Global Inc. ⋅ 20 years experience

Hi Michael, I admire your honesty and your guts. It’s not easy to share feelings like that with this large an audience.

I’d like to give you some advice that’s probably less substantive then some of the answers here, but in my experience potential important.

The thing on your LinkedIn profile that headhunters and recruiters will see first is the photo atop. Some studies show that it’s the thing that many LinkedIn users spend the most time looking at, as crazy as that sounds. The bottom line is the first impressions matter, and the photo on a profile has undue influence on the odds of getting a call or an email from a company looking for help. I think that’s one thing we need to focus on here. We want more companies reaching out to you with opportunities, as opposed to you sending more cover letters and resumes into the ether.

My advice to you is to change your photo to make it more approachable, a little friendlier, To zoom a little closer into your head and shoulders. It’s OK to smile a little, even in the cyber security industry, because people want to work with folks who are approachable. That may not be on anyone’s job description or criteria, but I can tell you based on 20 years of experience working with people in all sort of capacities that approachability and accessibility and the appearance of those things, even in senior and serious positions, matter a ton. They help get foots in the door.

In your specific case, some people viewing your LinkedIn profile will have a subconscious bias that your seniority and level of experience will make you uninterested In taking on junior positions or willing to take a laboring oar on novice stuff, and the photo might accidentally be fanning that flame.

There are all kinds of resources and blog posts about how to take a good LinkedIn photo, so don’t take my word for it. Check out those materials online and see what you think.

And good luck to you, Michael. I reached out because the person in that LinkedIn photo seems so different from the person who took the time to write the post. Let’s make the person and the picture match up, and something tells me you’re going to get a bunch more notes from recruiters...

dp

Mike Grayson ⋅ Mckinney, TX FTI ⋅ 45 years experience

Hi Michael,

My question is... Do you have the right skill set?

I developed some award winning (Networld Interop) cyber security software and have worked with the FBI and DoD on compromised systems, including a national hack attempt one week after 9/11. People were interested in my skills because I knew the protocols like TCP, UDP, SNMP, etc. and understood the stack from the router up to the app. This included programming in various languages like C, Javascript, HTML, JQuery, Python, Cobol (yes I'm an old guy), IBM HLLAPI and even Assembly Language.

So, what do I mean by right skill set? The right skill set is one that allows you to diagnose a problem down to the machine level. For example I worked with a company that had a mysterious MEMORY DUMP - resulting in the "blue screen of death" on a major server. So being able to read the dump file I was able to isolate the DLL (program) that caused the dump and determine if it was placed there by some hacker, etc. Being able to do what the run of the mill IT guy can't do is what brings value to the table.

It also helps to have stories about who you helped and what you discovered. I discovered a man-in-the-middle attack on a major bank where some Russians had tapped into the data lines of a branch office and were siphoning off the data and injecting their own data streams. That was a story many folks are interested in hearing and the more stories you can tell, the greater you establish your credibility in the profession.

If you don't have any stories and don't have a job, then volunteer for a non-profit and help them with their IT system. Most will jump at the chance to get some free help, especially if you help them protect their donor information. You'd be surprised at the doors that will open for you. Especially if they have a good Board of Directors who read the report that you are going to write and give to them.

I hope this helps a bit. You can check out my company website and contact me any time. https://ftiglobal.com/web. If you message me I'll also send you a free copy of my book. It's not about IT per say, but it is about systems - which are very important to security. https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Business-Playbook-Mike-Grayson-ebook/dp/B001DBOZW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524342125&sr=8-1&keywords=the+ultimate+business+playbook

George Wilhelmsen ⋅ Rochelle, IL Sargent & Lundy ⋅ 38 years experience

Michael,

It sounds like you are having a tough time. The mentoring opportunity will help, as will networking.

What kind of jobs are you searching for? I just suggested another cyber-professional consider a career in the nuclear power or power generation industry. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has a Cyber security rule, that will keep a requirement for cyber expertise in the fleet for many, many years. That, along with the evolving threat, make having cyber professionals on staff a requirement.

It's hard to diagnose what is going on without some facts. Let's start with this: Can you provide a list of companies that you have applied to in the last 2 months, by category? For example, rather than say HyVee for example, you would say "Grocery Store", or for a large company, what does it focus on (Financial Services, Power Production, Fuel). We might be able to discern more if you could provide that information on the focus of your interests, and in doing so, better make suggestions on where you might also look.

I'll add in that cyber certifications are almost prices of admission in many markets, so if you don't have them, start working towards them.

The market is challenging, but it isn't impossible. There has to be a mismatch between your skills and what the jobs require. If we can find that, we'll likely find what you need to change to get to where you want to go.

Best wishes,
George Wilhelmsen

Deb Yeagle ⋅ Tampa, FL Plan To Win, Inc. ⋅ 39 years experience

Michael-
Thanks for your service!
Hang in there, and keep your career dreams alive! The right opportunity is out there - waiting for you - it will come, in time, at the right time!

Meanwhile, a few questions/suggestions for you:
(1) Are you pursuing any certifications? Many jobs require them.

(2) Are you limiting yourself to private industry jobs or have you considered Government jobs? Check out the DoD Cyber Crime Center and check USAJobs to see if there are any openings. If so, then I can help you with your federal resume. You could possibly get DoD IA certifications as part of your training once hired.

https://www.cybersecurityintelligence.com/dod-cyber-crime-center-dc3-516.html

(3) Have you participated in any on-line challenges such as the one below sponsored by DC3? This could get you some visibility and also keep you engaged in your passion for digital forensics while awaiting that right job to come along.

https://www.challenge.gov/challenge/dc3-digital-forensics-challenge/

(4) Have you engaged with local Seattle based IT professional organizations such as AFCEA?

https://www.afcea.org/membership/chapters/chapterdb/sg_detail.jsp?subgroup_id=100000379

Or other local organizations?

http://www.iloveseattle.org/categories.asp?CATEGORYID=11

As someone else advised in a previous posting, networking is the key to landing a job!

Please send me your resume via private message and I can try to float it across my network in Tampa and DC.
And DON'T GIVE UP!
Thanks again!
Deb

Michael Murray ⋅ Saint Paul, MN U.S. Army Reserve, Captain ⋅ 11 years served

Do you have the basic IT certifications? Are you talking to consulting/contracting/staffing agencies in the area? Seattle is tech dense you need to take a contract doing anything that will put IT on your resume - probably a 6-12 month project management role. This may seem like a step backwards for you but as much lip service as the civilian world pays to vets there isn't a lot of actual support. I went through very similar frustrations and would be happy to go over talking points or strategies with you.

ACP AdvisorNet Staff ⋅ New York, NY ⋅ 10 years experience

Hi Michael,

I am very sorry to hear about your job search experience and can completely understand your frustrations.

Have you considered signing up for our official mentoring program? It is also completely free, like this site, and we would pair you with a Mentor in Corporate America who would help you reach your civilian career goals. Additionally, you would have an ACP Point of Contact who would be with you every step of the way, to make sure it was a successful experience. An ACP Mentor could be a great person to look over your resume, provide tips on how to best market yourself, conduct mock interviews with you, etc. - perhaps even connect you with someone in their HR department who could go over what hiring managers are looking for in a candidate. While it's not a job placement program, our transitioning service members have found a lot of success in obtaining great careers through their mentorships. As well, a Mentor can help you translate your extensive military experience to help you land a job that recognizes what other skills you bring to the table (besides your academic background within cybersecurity).

If you're interested in learning more, there's recently been an influx of participants posting about us on LinkedIn that we've been tagged in - I am sure if you reached out, they would be happy to talk about our experiences or I could link you up with one of my previous participants. Our application for service members on our main website also has more info on eligibility requirements and the structure of the program: https://www.acp-usa.org/mentoring-program/veteran-application

The other thing I wanted to mention, if you're not a part of it already, is the Veteran Mentoring Network on LinkedIn. People post on it seeking advice from the Community and typically receive great and thoughtful responses from others who've faced similar issues and come out the other side. You have to request the ability to enter, but it doesn't take too long: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4466143

I hope this is helpful and best of luck!

All the best,

Sarah
ACP AdvisorNet Staff

Megan Wollenberg ⋅ Honolulu, HI U.S. Army, Master Sergeant ⋅ 20 years served

Mike! How are things? Any positive updates? How has the past year been?

Michael Melanson ⋅ Port Orchard, WA U.S. Coast Guard, Chief Warrant Officer ⋅ 27 years served

Just an update. Been working a couple of days a week driving some folks for a senior care facility, making sure that they get to their doctor appointments, doing some maintenance jobs, etc. You'll never find a group of people more grateful for the little things you do for them!

Finished up Network + and now working on Security +. Headed to a big job fair tomorrow at the Mariner's Stadium. Always hopeful for the big break :)

Mike M.

Joshua Bastman ⋅ Huntsville, AL ⋅ 3 years experience

Delta airlines is huge for need of IT support, mostly scripting, but I'm sure cyber.

Military vet recruiter for Boeing is Franklin "Lynn" French. Email him. He's not superb compared to other veteran recruiters but he will give you advise if you ask him on what's wrong with your application process, and this was huge for me.

franklin.l.french@boeing.com

Bob Molluro ⋅ Wilmington, DE Benchmark Consulting Services ltd. ⋅ 30 years experience

Michael did you know that as veteran the company that employees you is entitled to a tax credit up to $9,600. Most employers don't this either. I can show you want to add to your resume that will point this out plus how the employer can take advantage of the credit. Just send me an email to ramco1@verizon.net if you want to learn how. Anyone else reading this feel free to contact me for some guidance.
Warmly,
Bob

Michael Melanson ⋅ Port Orchard, WA U.S. Coast Guard, Chief Warrant Officer ⋅ 27 years served

Thank you for the continued support and great advice. As no one person is an island, it's important to continually branch out to meet new people, gather ideas, and continue to push to meet goals.

I continue to utilize the resources found at O2O, ACP, HOH, and HHUSA and I embrace opportunities to network at job fairs and meet and greets. Sometimes just the process of conversation is encouraging.

All of these ideas and encouragements are good ones and I appreciate the time and effort it takes to leave a thoughtful and targetted reply. I will continue to leave updates and carefully review each person's input. Thank you so much.

Mike M.

Jerome Wong ⋅ Scarsdale, NY BNP Paribas ⋅ 16 years experience

Hi Mike,

Thank you for your service. I know some people in the sector that may be helpful, please message me and we can chat.

Rgds

Jerry

Bob Molluro ⋅ Wilmington, DE Benchmark Consulting Services ltd. ⋅ 30 years experience

MIke I just thought of something. Are you using a head hunter to find you the right job. Most good head hunters work on larger contracts for companies. The head hunter is required to find qualified clients. When they do, their client pays the fee. This is different from the other strategy where you find a head hunter, and pay them a fee if they find a job. I have used head hunters to find me jobs and felt that the ones I chose not only found me a good fit but the positions were just right. Since you are in the technology field and willing to relocate, this could be a viable solution for you. Sure beats going it alone.
Warmly,
Bob

Bob Molluro ⋅ Wilmington, DE Benchmark Consulting Services ltd. ⋅ 30 years experience

Michael whatever you do don't give up. First you must stop your internal dialogue. Remember we attract what we think. Start thinking , "God is sending the right position for me as I excel in everything I do. ". How does that compare with what you currently are thinking? Keep going to those networking meetings and speak to as many people as possible. Tell them what you are looking for and ask for help. If they can't help, can they think of anyone they could introduce you to who could? Last, most people don't know how to interview to get the position. I have trained over 12 people to become "killer interviewers" everyone got the job they were seeking. When you want some help on interviewing just let me know and we will schedule an hour to improve your techniques. Just remember this is not about how hard you can take a punch but about how many times you can get off the canvas until you are successful.
Warmly,
Bob

Elliot Young ⋅ Brooklyn, NY Uniworld International Associates Inc ⋅ 25 years experience

Michael thank you for your service. I would say alot of the same things I have heard. I will add one but let's go down a list.

1. Join at least 2 organizations that are elite in your field.
2. USAA is a great choice but also join veteran small business organizations. Seek Board of Advisory positions (non salary) it shows you give back.
3. USVVC the veterans chamber of commerce. Also seek advisory board seats there. That's where you network the hardest.
4. Code Languages: The best coders know at least 10. Please include Meteor. You must know enough to diagnose cyber breaches but also know some of the not often used but trending languages.
5. Stories is right you need case studies. Noticed how I changed the word stories to case studies. Profit is better than wages anyway. Getting to my point.
6. The best way to a job is creating it. Form a company. MelansonTech and the DBA should be The Melanson Group ( suggest something privately)

The best approach is from owner of a company. As you get clients create case studies. Potential clients are serenaded by these "stories".

7. Hackathons in the cyber sectar go to them and learn the latest tricks.
8. Cyber is wide like someone said. Look for areas or industries that are lucrative by are the road less travelled for entry. As you get better go after more saturated areas. Find a niche and own it.
9. Once you clearly define your niche clearly be able to explain what you do in 10 words or less. That's your core competency.
10. You (we) grew up in an analog world but the world speaks digital today. Use automated tools for marketing your company and go to customers direct. Use FB Ads to find them (YouTube " Fred Lam Facebook ads" videos the step by step video and 3x3 video) . Use Clickfunnels to keep them and remarket to them. Get Russel's 2 free books DotComSecrets and Expert Secrets and read them. That's like 15 bucks shipping total.
11. Social media. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Snapchat. Periscope. You must set all these up with one uncommon brand name for your company. Own it before someone else does. (Private message) When you go live have three mini tripods with three phones. One with service the others without but connected to WiFi. Center is Facebook live, left and right could be Snapchat and YouTube. Use hootsuite for pre programmed tweets. Spend 2hrs every two weeks pasting links into pre programmed tweets so you have automated tweets going out daily. Plan 2-3 tweets a day. (7am, 12pm, 6pm weekends 11am and 3pm). Use mashable for tech news for content links to post. CNN and fringe sites too.
12. Do a "modern resume". Google it and see what they look like. That's the only way to stand out. Also, do a "Business Resume" the same way.
13. Get a "modern business card" done as well. Put a QR code on it (the front) that sends you to a form screener for clients to fill out, possibly take a down payment, the answers are sent to you automatically via email payment to your bank account. ( Use SquareUp for payment and Jotform for form).
14. Register urls at Bluehost Free url with webhosting. The 5.95 on the monthly plan is the cheapest and you get multiple emails. Total should be $65yr paid annually.
15. Logo is the promise to deliver a quality product on time and on budget. Your military experience is a supreme allure everyone loves veterans. Have many in my family including my Dad. It needs to be hip, the look of today. (Private suggestion).
16. Someone else said it. Get a haircut, get a very white collar shirt, black suit, white square hanky you barely see left to right just above the pocket no tie and take a professional photo. Must be head to mid chest so they can see that handkerchief. Classic cyber pro look.
17. Use 2nd line app (Android) for a business number. (IOS) equivalent app.

Michael. You need what you need to do what you need to do. Period. If you are not spending most of your time and money to that end you can't compete in life and stand out. You know this because of how many times you have tried. Soldiers dont give up. You have to know what you need and use automated tools. They are the only cost and time effective tools that will get you the results you need. It's how everything is done today.

Do what you have to so you can do what you want to. If your not uncomfortable your not making progress. Tech changes every 18months. The entire world is changing simultaneously. Graphene, crypto, blockchain, IoT, RFID, nano products, etc. We are finally applying design and tech together to solve everyday equations. Do the same, design your position don't look for it create it.

I have explained in detail. Hope you follow through with it all. More branding details privately. You served us now I serve you.

::: Stands and salutes :::

Michael Melanson ⋅ Port Orchard, WA U.S. Coast Guard, Chief Warrant Officer ⋅ 27 years served

@Francis Yep, I have no problem with moving. Good call with USAA. They seem to be a very tech savy organization.

Louis Schwarz ⋅ Somerville, NJ AIG ⋅ 43 years experience

Hi Mike. You have experience that can be useful in the Marine insurance industry. Claims, agency or operations would be interested in your experience. Find Marine insurance companies or agencies and give them a try. Your Coast Guard experience should be very helpful.
There are also consulting forms that have Marine practice improvement departments, that specialize in improving Marine company operations to reduce, loss and liability.
Good luck and have fun.

Michael Melanson ⋅ Port Orchard, WA U.S. Coast Guard, Chief Warrant Officer ⋅ 27 years served

@DavdP
That made me chuckle a bit. I am incredibly self-conscious about having my photograph taken so it's difficult, but I have to agree with you because the previous picture does not match my personality in the slightest.

New picture posted!

Michael Melanson ⋅ Port Orchard, WA U.S. Coast Guard, Chief Warrant Officer ⋅ 27 years served

Good day George,

My jobs have mostly been in the Private Sector, though not exclusively. I may have missed one or two but it looks like this:

Health Care Provider - HR
Education Provider - Admissions operations and analysis
VA - HR Officer
Cybersecurity Consultant - Pen Testing Entry Level
Computer Retailer - Seasonal position
Cybersecurity Consultant - Security Operations Center Analyst
Building Materials Retailer - Seasonal Position
Cybersecurity Consultant - Security Operations Center Analyst
County - Administrative Clerk
Office Supply Retailer - Seasonal position
Online/Brick and Mortar specialty retailer - Fraud protection
Video game producer - HR Manager
Casino - Network admin
Cell phone provider - Sales
Military Base - Network Admin
Federal Agency - Incident Response entry level

Within these two months, there is part of the period where I said "uncle" on trying to obtain a cybersecurity position and fell back on my experiences as an HR professional. However, I didn't hear back from these jobs either and quite frankly, it's just not what I want to do.

I'm working on basic certifications right now beginning with Network+ to be followed by Security+. The fact that there is a mismatch is my foremost thought as well. Throwing out the retail jobs, it just seems that I should have garnered some interest.

Michael Melanson ⋅ Port Orchard, WA U.S. Coast Guard, Chief Warrant Officer ⋅ 27 years served

Thank you Sarah!

I applied for the mentor program and am excited about that opportunity. It seems like a good way to recharge my battery which is really what I desire at this time.

I'm a part of the mentoring network on LinkedIn. There's a ton of great information that gets put out on it. I really appreciate those that maintain and contribute to it.

Mike