$100K+ Jobs

[Stitch]

$100k is good money and within reach. It might be a stretch based on your experience and the market you are going to live in. I am currently hiring seven people into $100k/yr jobs I know any USAF officer could handle just fine...

...I am happy to assist anyone who wants a resume review or advice on the jump to the dark side.

OK... what about a already retired SNCO 4 weeks out from finishing up a Masters Degree? (And no, not on-line either)

[pitts2112]

OK... what about a already retired SNCO 4 weeks out from finishing up a Masters Degree? (And no, not on-line either)

Again, another question with no context or info to allow anyone to help you out.

Generally speaking, without turning this into a class war, I'd say all of the above apply to you (pro as well as con) and that you should be looking for jobs commensurate with your previous responsibilities in the USAF. As a senior guy with 20+ years in, I'd have thought $150K ought to be well within your reach, depending on your area of expertise and geography, and jobs in the senior manager/VP range ought to be your goal. But that's without knowing you or anything about your background.

[B52gator]

This is a good thread with some excellent advice from the old-timers. I got out after my "7 year hitch" and while there were many opportunities (I got out mid-2008 when things were still fairly decent) for $100k plus jobs, I went in the opposite direction as far as salary goes...I am currently making about half of what I made in the AF. The military headhunter groups had some good jobs lined up for me, I was able to find a few on my own as well, but I took personal satisfaction over salary. Fortunately, the wife more than makes up for it. But I consider the job I have now to be the best damn job in the world (behind B-52 Radar Nav of course!). My point is do what you want to do or would like to do. Pay is nice, but why be in a job that you hate...or you can do what I did and marry a GS-13! You have to do a lot of research and you have to sell yourself. Take advantage of the programs that the AF has available for those folks who are getting out. My first job interview ever was after I got out of the Air Force...and I wasn't prepared. As I gained experience I found that selling yourself in an interview is like embellishing an OPR. Make the simple and trivial stuff seem earth shattering. The civilian world is cut-throat and with very few exceptions, there isn't much team-oriented mission accomplishment. There are many people who will gladly take a shit on their own mothers to move up. Good luck!

[Bergman]

$100k is good money and within reach. It might be a stretch based on your experience and the market you are going to live in. I am currently hiring seven people into $100k/yr jobs I know any USAF officer could handle just fine. The problem is, I know that but most people out here do not. You have to sell yourself.

Anything $200k or more is real work. Ol Patch is absolutely correct. I would add a couple points about "big money" jobs.

1. Network.

The most valuable thing you can do. Nothing comes close.

2. You will probably have to travel. A lot.

In the past five weeks I have been to Houston, Singapore, Chicago and am currently waiting to board a flt to Geneva. I have worked my way back into my pre-retirement ops tempo and I didn't even see it coming.

3. Be careful what you wish for.

The hidden benefit to your current pay are the tax break that have been previuosly mentioned. I never cared about money in the USAF but now I have elevated my standard of living a bit and it would not be easy to go backward. You will no longer qualify for tax breaks (Turbo Tax sad face on nearly every deduction opportunity) , Roth IRA or financial aid for your kids tuition (I have #3 starting in the fall). Once you enter the land of the AMT you are screwed in many ways. It was better when I made less.

4. Learn to save aggressively.

If you already save, save double or more. I suggest you save at least 20% of your new income. Do it.

5. Start your own business.

No one gets rich working for the man in the $100-300k range. Too many benefits to name if you own your own business. Lots of hard work and long hours but everything you do is for your own company, not someone elses.

6. Stay optimistic and persistent.

Network like a madman, don't talk about how much you want to make, talk about how excited you are to be entering the economy you served to defend, show everyone your resume`(s) (you should have more than one), listen carefully and take feedback (civilians care about different things and you need to align without compromising if you want a job), try to schedule as many informational interviews as possible with people as senior as possible (the best way to network is to get a handoff from someone you did an informational interview with), talk to folks senior to you who have country club memberships about the fact that you are looking for work. Most importantly, stay positive. People love self-starters who are eager and have a positive attitude. People will help you if they like you.

7. Get comfortable with numbers if you aren't already.

Business is just one big math problem.

8. Education is nice but not the most important factor

I interview potential candidates at the top 15 business schools on a regular basis as part of my current job. Knowing how to do discounted cash flows is nice but it is just math. Knowing how to get things done and understanding what it takes to make something run end to end AND be able to do some math is much more valuable. The students with a military background outshine the other kids by several orders of magnitude. It is not because the veterans are smarter. It is because they understand process, accept accountability for their actions without needing to be told and know how to lead and get things done.

I am happy to assist anyone who wants a resume review or advice on the jump to the dark side.

Shack!

On a side note, I had the opportunity to haul some bubbas from your former unit to an exercise last week. They said you, "made three people cry during the first week at his civilian job. Two of them were dudes". You brute!

Hilarious.

Edited April 20, 2011 by Bergman

[B-O-double-Z]

I haven't posted here for a long time but saw this topic and wanted to weigh in on it.

Rainman...sounds like you are doing well in your second career. Congrats! Hope all is well with you and yours. Tell our mutual friends I said hello.

The company I work for is currently hiring pilots. It's a great company (privately owned) with twenty-plus years experience delivering on military and OGA contracts on multiple continents. We have very solid management and culture and enjoy a great reputation with our customers.

--$100K plus/year

--Work half the time...six weeks on and six weeks off.

--Fly commercially first class to work. Keep the miles. Lots of them...

--Real world mission

--Secret clearance required with ablility to aquire TS prior to start

--Civilian Commercial/Instrument/Multi-engine required

Most of our pilots are recent ex-military. Big boy job. Lots of the cool stuff of flying for the military...without most of the BS. I am still able to fly part-time for the AF Reserves while doing this job. Very military friendly culture. Great job for somebody transitioning out of the military. Some guys work here for many years...some for a short time and move on to other civilian careers.

PM me if interested.

Bozz

[Guest]

Tell our mutual friends I said hello.

Wilco. You do the same, including your customer group.

On a side note, I had the opportunity to haul some bubbas from your former unit to an exercise last week. They said you, "made three people cry during the first week at his civilian job. Two of them were dudes". You brute!

Hilarious.

Well, there may be a bit of hyperbole in their statements. It wasn't in the first week.

[AOF_ATC]

ATC is always an option. I have about 3 years left here and then I'm going to try and make the transition to the FAA. Depending on where you work salaries range anywhere from 60K-180K. It might be difficult without any prior experience. I already have my military ratings so I can apply with a veteran ATC preferance but I know they hire off the streets. Good way to stay in aviation, reliable government job that pays really good.

...just don't fall asleep.

Edited May 5, 2011 by AOF_ATC

[PapaJu]

ATC is always an option. I have about 3 years left here and then I'm going to try and make the transition to the FAA. Depending on where you work salaries range anywhere from 60K-180K. It might be difficult without any prior experience. I already have my military ratings so I can apply with a veteran ATC preferance but I know they hire off the streets. Good way to stay in aviation, reliable government job that pays really good.

...just don't fall asleep.

Thought you have to be under 30-31 to get into the FAA.

[Guest fly747]

FYI, FAA ATC is going to be very hard to get into the next few years. The Off the street hiring is pretty much done now. There are 5,000 applicants in the pool for about 1,000 jobs a year and the pool will get even larger with 36 CTI schools now that provide more than enough on top of the military controllers. Everybody saw what a good deal it is to be an FAA controller, now it's not worth the pursuit. If only I would have done it a few years ago.

[AOF_ATC]

Thought you have to be under 30-31 to get into the FAA.

Good point, I forget if the original poster had mentioned being beyond that age, but if so, you can still apply for a DOD position, pay not as good, but still pretty high.

FYI, FAA ATC is going to be very hard to get into the next few years. The Off the street hiring is pretty much done now. There are 5,000 applicants in the pool for about 1,000 jobs a year and the pool will get even larger with 36 CTI schools now that provide more than enough on top of the military controllers. Everybody saw what a good deal it is to be an FAA controller, now it's not worth the pursuit. If only I would have done it a few years ago.

True it is getting more difficult as more people apply. Off the street guys really don't have a chance, although I know they are hiring some so it may be worth a chance just to put in an app, non currently open however. Hiring process is slow for those qualified but if you can hold out, it is still worth it in my opinion.

[SurelySerious]

ATC is always an option.

Apparently Spanish ATC is the way to go:

Sky Wars: Europe Battles to Erase Borders in Air

When air travel plunged following the global recession in 2008, Spanish air-traffic controllers suffered little impact: They were earning, on average, a half a million dollars apiece. Last year, as the Spanish government tried cutting those payouts to below $300,000—still 10 times Spain's average salary—controllers protested by staging wildcat strikes during December holidays.

Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero, normally a friend of organized labor, called in the army to force controllers back to work before Christmas.

Spain's fight with its air traffic controllers is just one of many hurdles Europe faces in removing national boundaries in its skies. On the ground, the European Union erased most borders to movement of people and goods more than a decade ago. In the air, 50 years of rhetoric and 10 years of planning have yielded little progress.

[Guest]

Apparently Spanish ATC is the way to go:

I was going to mention this. I got delayed coming home for a day because of this strike. ATC making $500k a year belongs in the WTF thread.

[Guest]

OK... what about a already retired SNCO 4 weeks out from finishing up a Masters Degree? (And no, not on-line either)

Yep. No problem.

[scoobs]

For those who got out are you glad that you did? Is there less BS then being AD?

[Bergman]

For those who got out are you glad that you did? Is there less BS then being AD?

Depends on the day. No.

[Guest JL]

Thought you have to be under 30-31 to get into the FAA.

You have to be working as a controller for the faa or DoD (civilian) by 31 otherwise your SOL.

Edited May 21, 2011 by JL

[Guest]

You have to be working as a controller for the faa or DoD (civilian) by 31 otherwise your SOL.

Otherwise my SOL what?

[Guest JL]

Otherwise my SOL what?

shit out of luck when it comes to working for the FAA as a controller.

[nunya]

Rainman, I think this is the smilie you're looking for:

[HuggyU2]

Rainman, I think this is the smilie you're looking for:

Maybe... depends what you want.

I've got a friend who works as an ARTCC controller, making right at $200K/year.

[ThreeHoler]

shit out of luck when it comes to working for the FAA as a controller.

I think the answer he was looking for was "you're [you are] SOL" as opposed to "your [possessive] SOL"...

Oh God, it hurts to even write the wrong "you're."

[Guest]

[Guest JL]

A friend of mine spent six of the last twelve months launching and recovering remote control airplanes down range and he made 170K. Not sure if I would be interested in being gone six of twelve for the long haul, but it doesn't sound like a horrible idea for a few years. Particularly if you could fly in the guard when home.

That is almost exactly what I do... when I'm not killing Rainman with poor grammar that is.