Jodie Prieto-Rodriguez ⋅ Pittsburgh, PA Allegheny Health Network- Highmark Health ⋅ 21 years experience

Ma'am:

I was a medical officer recruiter and partnered with universities, medical systems, and local government to recruit for the Army. The applicants that I couldn't use, I shared with their HR leads (with their permission) to build my network and rapport. It is good to have a productive working relationship with a recruiting team,... but I would be wary using enlisted recruiting as it mostly focuses on high schools. Enlisted recruiters partner with blue collar business to occasionally on a program called (PAYS, Partnership for Americas Youth Success), but the effectiveness of those PAYS networks varies from state to state.

If you choose to partner with recruiters consider what career field, location, and type of work you are looking for.

Mario Rodriquez ⋅ Tampa, FL CareerSource Tampa Bay ⋅ 10 years experience

Amber, are you staying in Florida? I know you are trying to find your niche, sometimes you may need some assistance. You may want to check with your local CareerSource office (in Florida) to see if you are eligible for training grants. Without more details it would be difficult to provide further advice. My email is: rodriquezm@careersourcetampabay.com Thank you very much.

Andrew Woodland ⋅ Orlando, FL Ultra Electronics Sonar Systems ⋅ 16 years experience

Sent you a private message - good luck in your journey

Regards Andy Woodland

Alan Bernstein ⋅ Melbourne, FL HR Office Savers, Inc. ⋅ 22 years experience

Networking is your best bet. Join some groups on LinkedIn, find alumni or veterans in the new geography, and ask for their help. Also, I am a big fan of job search websites like Indeed and Monster for someone like yourself who is exploring job opportunities in other areas. These are good research tools. You can enter just about any job search criteria and location to get a feel for what is currently available. You can learn about companies that are hiring in the area, then target your network to help you get interviews and hopefully an offer. Good luck!

Doug Sutton ⋅ Orlando, FL Northrop Grumman Corp ⋅ 36 years experience

Amber, I feel like your best bet is Networking. Think outside the box, networks like family and friends usually come to mind. However, think of all your contacts (e.g. church, any organizations you belong to, friends of friends, etc.). It can be tough to break into civilian organizations without someone pulling from the inside.

Scott Vedder ⋅ Orlando, FL Signs of a Great Résumé: Veterans Edition ⋅ 21 years experience

Hi Amber,

I live in Orlando and I’m happy to answer a few questions. Private message me and let me know how I can help.

Jerry Welsh ⋅ Middleville, MI Master Military Transition Advisor/HPS GPO ⋅ 30 years experience

American Job Centers is a good resource-you can work with a local veteran representing you locally-they are supposedly connected nation wide. Keep in mind that LinkedIn is a very broad network, and 90% of recruiters use LI for applicants. If you wish request a connection with me on LinkedIn and I will review your profile at no cost.
ACP has great mentoring, especially in working across state lines. Keep in mind a physical physical address is not as important as your value-and a quick statement you are willing to move.

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

Hi Amber,

Thank you for your questions and for your 12 years of service!

ACP AdvisorNet is an excellent resource to assist in your job search.

First, I recommend using our community feature to begin networking in the area you are moving to. Virtual networking is a great way to get a sense of what the job environment is like in that area, meet new people, and learn about what companies are located there. In the community feature, you can look at advisors, veterans and companies, and filter by location.

Secondly, I recommend you check out our job board to see if there are any openings in the region you are moving to. You can also filter by location and industry.

I hope this helps.

Best,
Aly
ACP Staff