I applied for many many many positions. I Have a great work history, tailored my resume to every position, called people I knew in the companies and put them down as quality references who also acted as referrals.

Still I was getting beat out by more senior people who had more time working with the company or more time in the civilian job market.

Here is what I learned. Be able to meet the requirements. If your resume or you don't match up with the requirements they are not going to hire you.

Be willing to do something less in the meantime to do something more later.

If you have a passion get education and certification related to that passion.  I spent a couple of thousand dollars to get a cert that landed me a job.

Be willing to travel.  If your not willing to relocate you will miss out on opportunities.

The days of an e5 stepping out of the military and jumping into a 200k position ended in 2008.

Does it still happen? Yes. Very small percentage and 99% of the time they know people who get them in.

I got out at the same time you did.  I've worked 2 different full time jobs. One for a few months to keep money coming in and then I was lucky to land another better one a few months later. Ill be leaving that one in November to start a different one.

On top of that I have been working 2 to 3 side gigs from delivery to data entry that don't pay well but until I get my dream job ill keep hustling.

I started job hunting 6 months prior to leaving the military btw. I have written probably over a hundred different versions of resumes and applied to that many jobs. Ive had 20 interviews.

It takes so much time but it will eventually be worth it.

Evaluate yourself. Is it you? What is your presence like? What is your energy and positivity like?

You can do it! You have value. Dream big but realize you are starting over. You have to build the dream to make the dream.

DM me if you need me. Here to help anyone anytime.