Getting into the Defense Industry

[SethHall]

Hello all, my name is Seth Hall. I'm a 20 year software developer living in Arkansas. Something in the Defense industry has always been my dream job. Whether it be a developer, analyst or whatever. Just something where I can help people and keep them safe.

I have no military experience and due to health issues I'll probably never be able to join the military at least anytime soon. I'm currently going for my Bachelors in Software Development and I'm just looking for some advice from people already in the field.

I'm curious if it's possible for civilians with no experience get into the industry. Do government agencies like the DoD, DHS, etc hire civilians or do I need to go for work with a contractor like Raytheon, Northrop Grumman or what? Most positions I've found I'm not qualified for yet because most require an active security clearance. What type of position do I need to be looking for to work my way up the ladder? I know I'm going to have to start at the bottom and work hard and I'm absolutely fine with that.

If you'd like to see my resume or just what I can do my website is sethhall . com
If a Mod would like to remove the link for spam reason I understand. Any and all help, feedback, criticism or whatever else you may have is welcome.

Thanks
- Seth Hall

 

[SethHall]

Sorry if I come across rude, but really? On a Defense forum no one has advice on getting into the industry?

 

[stadler72]

You still there, Seth?

Sorry if I come across rude, but really? On a Defense forum no one has advice on getting into the industry?

I'm working on a similar thing, although my approach may be different. I'm starting a creative design firm focused on defense and technology. I'm a grad student right now, but I'm working on a package that let my military contacts know what I do, so they can know when it's appropriate to recommend me or hire me.

It's good to have a simply organized resume. Let me know if you want to see mine.

Seems like we all need a bit of experience in order to be more specific about what we want to do, but if you can get a mentor, he/she can help you to figure that out and point you in the right direction. Remember, mentors rarely will hire you. So respect your mentor's time and ask pointed, good questions based on your own research.

Best of luck, Seth.

Chris

 

[PolSciIR]

One option is to go to the USAJOBS website where the Federal Government posts all number of GS (General Schedule) jobs. Going directly to the major contractors themselves is also an option, but depending on the position you're aiming for you could very well be facing a large amount of competition from prior military.