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Feb 22, 2008 3:18 pm

Hello,

Looking for some advice.  I am a Captain in the US Army and am finishing up my second tour in Iraq.  Upon completion I will be seperating form the military and am very much interested in pursuing a career as a FA.  I have the resume to back the leadership skills, drive etc etc but have a weak college GPA (2.5 - too many kegs).  I will be living in a suburb of Boston, MA (Holliston) and am looking for advice on the business.  I've been in contact with Edward Jones (online assesment and application is on hold until return to the states).  Does anyone recommend any other firms since EJ hires about 10% of applicants.  Boston is an option for commute.  Any advice?  Thanks.   Mike
Feb 22, 2008 4:10 pm

Jones will love you.  Don’t even begin to worry about a GPA-they won’t ask.

Feb 22, 2008 4:13 pm

nobody will-didn’t mean only Jones won’t ask about your GPA.

Feb 22, 2008 6:11 pm

[quote=mike4]Hello,

Looking for some advice.  I am a Captain in the US Army and am finishing up my second tour in Iraq.  Upon completion I will be seperating form the military and am very much interested in pursuing a career as a FA.  I have the resume to back the leadership skills, drive etc etc but have a weak college GPA (2.5 - too many kegs).  I will be living in a suburb of Boston, MA (Holliston) and am looking for advice on the business.  I've been in contact with Edward Jones (online assesment and application is on hold until return to the states).  Does anyone recommend any other firms since EJ hires about 10% of applicants.  Boston is an option for commute.  Any advice?  Thanks.   Mike[/quote]   Mike, Ice cold gave you some good advice.. However i think the 10% with Jones is too high.. I was under the impression it was a lot lower than that.   Best of luck. Miss J
Feb 22, 2008 7:20 pm

Mike - First, thank you for your service.  I have a brother who was boots on the ground in Baghdad within a month or so of when this thing started.  He’s also a Capt, but in an MP unit in the reserves.  He’s headed to Kosovo in the next couple of months.  Very few of us will truly understand the sacrifice you and your brothers have made for our country.  So again, thank you for your service.

  OK, about EDJ.  If you want EDJ to really look at your application, you need to get an FA's name on it as a referral.  Do you know any of the EDJ FAs in your town?  Do they know of you?  If you don't, I'd suggest trying to meet some of them in person as soon as you get back.  As with most jobs, it's easier to get a job if you know someone.  If that FA can send an email to the home office recruiters and tell them something positive about you, then your application may go from the tall stack to the short stack.  Just something to put on your agenda when you get home. 
Feb 23, 2008 2:21 am

Thanks much for the kind words - much appreciated.  Everyone else, thanks for the advice - I am sure I will be using it once I take the boots off....not soon enough.

Thanks again,

Mike

Feb 23, 2008 4:01 am

Mike,

You’ve definitely gotten some good advice.  I am a military officer who is transitioning to the “real world” as we speak.  I begin my training as a FC at AGE next month and can’t wait!  I talked with EDJ, ML, and AGE.  The advice on sitting down with someone in your area from Jones is spot on.  If they like you and see potential, they can pick up the Bat Phone or shoot an e-mail and you will get phone calls from their recruiters.  I would recommend looking at other places as well.  As stated before ML, does have a section or career transitioners like us with their POA program. 

The key with all though is being personable, confident but not cocky, and show that you have a large natural network.  They all are interested in the bottom line - how you are going to bring in assets.  Afterall, all of our leadership experience doesn’t really translate to bringing in the green.  Start thinking of how you would build/structure your business.

Best of luck and come home safe.  My wife is happy that I’m done and home for good.

Feb 23, 2008 5:08 pm

ML loves the military.

Feb 23, 2008 8:21 pm

Mike 4 -

  Thank you for your service and I look forward to being able to help.  I work in Boston and have contacts at virtually all the major firms.  If you want to PM me with your phone number or private email address.  I would be more than happy to help.  IMO ML is the best place to start if you are getting into the business.  Great training and excellent resources.  Let me know
Feb 26, 2008 3:41 pm

Hi Mike, I am a retired Military Officer (Mustang) and I spent 15 years at Jones and left 10 months ago to go Indy—You would do well at Jones I’m sure—don’t worry about the GPA, hell half of the GP’s at Jones are still sucking from the Keg.  Jones is a good place to start and they have a great training program.  Like everyone else–thank you for your service to your country—however, GO NAVY!  Beat ARMY!  PM me with any questions that you think of!  I don’t have any bones to pick with any of the firms–be careful of the recruiters though, they will try to pick you off for some cash!  In the meantime, keep you head and ass down!

Get back here alive first!  Will be thinking about you brother!
Feb 26, 2008 4:26 pm

Mike,

  I'm another retired officer (Mustang also, but Air Force) who started at Jones.  I agree with RH, great place to start and they'll love you because you are a military officer.  Just keep the great place to start part in your head.  I really appreciate what you and the other brethren are doing right now and tell my kids every day how lucky they are that we still have brave folks serving and protecting our freedoms.  Look for an older Jones office in the area you want to be in and contact that FA.  He/She will be a great point of contact to start.  Stay safe and make it home!!
Feb 26, 2008 5:40 pm

Its a great place to start and a great place to make a career out of for some…but not others.  I question my existence on the EJ grid at this moment.

Feb 26, 2008 5:58 pm

[quote=mike4]Hello,

Looking for some advice.  I am a Captain in the US Army and am finishing up my second tour in Iraq.  Upon completion I will be seperating form the military and am very much interested in pursuing a career as a FA.  I have the resume to back the leadership skills, drive etc etc but have a weak college GPA (2.5 - too many kegs).  I will be living in a suburb of Boston, MA (Holliston) and am looking for advice on the business.  I've been in contact with Edward Jones (online assesment and application is on hold until return to the states).  Does anyone recommend any other firms since EJ hires about 10% of applicants.  Boston is an option for commute.  Any advice?  Thanks.   Mike[/quote]   If you promise not to mention your GPA we won't either. Actually, it's only relevance is the work ethic that created it. If you apply the same work ethic to this business you will fail. Of course, you are entitled to be young and dumb for at least that one time in your life, so don't sweat it.    College degree in hand, with your leadership skills, and military background, you can write your own ticket when it comes to getting interviews. Why limit yourself to one firm? As you come into what you call the real world, do so with an open mind. I'd advise you to call or write to each of the branch managers of every major firm in your area. And also interview with the major regionals. Learn from those interviews. Hopefully, your biggest problem will be which offer to accept. Good luck!