How to get hired for overseas job after I ETS in Jan 2012

How to get hired for overseas job after I ETS in Jan 2012

by SPC Casey, Geoffrey
(FOB Warhorse, Iraq)

Hi, I'm interested in obtaining a position overseas after I ETS from US Army on Jan 11, 2012. I am currently deployed to Iraq at FOB Warhorse.

I enlisted in the Army Jul of 2008 at age 41 and am a 13F, Fire Suppt Spc. I always wanted to serve and the economy made me ready to take this step.

I am in great physical shape and have a professional demeanor with great attitude. I'm a team player and do what it takes to complete the mission.

My pre-army experience includes mortgage lending, recruiting, staffing and collections.

I have a B.S. degree in Business Administration, finance/accounting concentration.

I'm trying to make my transition from Army to new overseas employment as seamless as possible. Are there many openings? How would I interview while still serving? When should I start the process of applying for these positions?

More about me: I'm married with no kids. My wife and I are used to being apart, especially if it is to invest in our future, so no issues with me traveling or being gone for long periods of time.

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How to get hired for overseas job after I ETS in Jan 2012

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Oct 28, 2010
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Overseas Jobs after ETS
by: Alan

Hi Geoffrey,

Since you are already in Iraq, you know the landscape, what to expect and the caliber of personnel deployed. You've already surpassed the biggest hurdles for someone interested in deploying to the Middle East as a contractor.

Since you have some time on your hands before ETS, now is a great time to begin your research and put your feelers out.

You're military and pre-military training and education makes you versatile so it looks like you have a lot of options for employment. I would suggest that you start scanning the job boards to get a feel for what's out there. For example, the 3 major contracting firms under the LOGCAP IV contract is Fluor,KBR and Dyncorp.

Go to their job search pages and take a look at the jobs posted and what see what interests you. Some would say that you're a little to far out to begin applying for jobs but I would suggest that you begin making contacts now. Sometimes it takes a good year before you're filtered through the system and receive a call for an interview. (Particularly for US Government jobs). Sometimes jobs advertised are put on hold and finally released for staffing months later. That's not to say that you couldn't find a job tomorrow if everything lines up but you have the time to prepare.

Their's really no telling what or how many jobs will be available during that time frame. This depends on world events and the economy. However, I would say that plenty of jobs will still be available particularly for those with a good skill set.

I would also take a look at the postings on this site for the respective countries. These postings are RSS feeds from Indeed.com and list positions from various companies. They are updated frequently so check back often.

Finally, as your ETS time gets closer, I would begin agressively pursung your job search. Apply to several positions and who knows, you may end up with more than one offer.

Alan

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How to get hired for overseas job after I ETS in Jan 2012

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How to get hired for overseas job after I ETS in Jan 2012

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