BINARYBB.info - John Galbraith

In my recent hunt for a new position attempting to move up in the ladder a little, I have come across some interesting excuses for not being hired. Goals are definitely a road block. HUH? Yes, I said it. Let me explain.

Interview question: “What are your civilian goals in the next 5 years?”

I answered that I intend to finish my Masters degree by then.

OOPS! That was the first mistake. The reason I was not selected for the position was because “John, once you have your masters degree you are likely going to leave this company and move on to something better. I have to look into the best interest of the company and select the other candidate because she will be a smarter choice in the long run.” Of course she has NO education at all.

I am in a unique position. Rather than graduating high school and going straight to college, I went in the Army instead and started school after the Army. I didn’t have daddy to pay for my school so I worked my fingers to the bone for 10 years to get college funded later on. Now that I am at the point where I am in school, I found that the higher paying jobs are unattainable because I don’t have enough experience in the field. The entry level jobs are unattainable because I have more education, age, and goals then the kids I would be working with making me a risk to leave. Good old catch 22. Do I give up though? No way. These IT managers will know me by first name from the amount of applications and resumes of mine that will go through their hands. One good one has to bite. Don’t get me wrong, I have gotten offers but for temp positions and unstable stuff that if I weren’t a little older, married, have 3 kids I would take. I need stability though.

Also, being the the national guard is held against you with one question. “Do you think you could be deployed overseas in the future?” It should be illegal for employers to ask that. They know it is for a years time and employers know that we have to have a job to come back to after the deployment. So, if you answer honestly and say yes, it is a disqualifying answer because there is a chance that they would have to bring in a temp for a year while you are gone.

So, correct answers? For the guard “My unit is currently non deployable.” That may not be true.. but that is a status that is easily changed after you get the job. As for the education goals or “civilian goals”, I plan on taking whatever classes I need to better myself in this position. If I happed to complete my next degree doing it great, if not, I will be all the better doing this job. How’s that for an answer?