Episode #25: Finding out your Dream Job is a Nightmare with Chris Dreisbach

A 21-year Air Force veteran, Christopher Dreisbach served in the aerospace ground equipment career field as a quality assurance manager and as a leadership instructor. Chris retired at the end of 2020 and directly transitioned to a maintenance manager role in the manufacturing industry. However, he discovered that it was a poor fit for his goals. Within 3 months, after being inspired by the stories shared on this podcast, he quit to pursue new goals. Although his story may initially seem like a success to transition from a full-length military career to a high salaried position, he was not happy. Chris made the pivot, and he shares his story to help others who might have some of the same feelings and similar circumstances.

Lessons Learned:

• When you get to your last PCS and just know that it’s time to press the button, take advantage of all the resources available to you.
• If your resume is not getting you to the interview stage, consider how much more quickly a professionally-written resume can get you there and how many months of searching you can afford without a paycheck.
• You may find that the civilian role you thought you wanted is just as much of a grind as the one you had in the military. It might even be more of a grind, depending on your level of responsibility.
• You’re not a failure if you discover that your new civilian job is a bad fit for you. Don’t overstay out of loyalty to your new employer.
• There are perks to a salaried position, but they come with a cost. Consider if you are willing to pay that cost.
• DoD SkillBridge programs can only happen in your last 180 days of active duty. While it is amazing to take advantage of 6 months of an internship situation, consider taking some time between the internship and your military career while you know what your budget is.
• Your resume should not be written like an EPR. A duty title held throughout 2 or more years and all of its relevant skills and experience cannot be distilled into 1 or 2 bullets on your resume.
• You’re not alone in the transition process. Here are some lessons Chris learned from earlier episodes of our podcast:
  • Consider the culture fit of your post-military role. (Keith Forte)
  • Who are you outside of the uniform? (Rob Rens)
  • Don’t be afraid to pivot. (Jennifer Foxworthy)
  • Consider your legacy. (Ben Killoy)
  • Making more money does not equate to more life satisfaction. (Adam Braatz)
  • Do you pay for a resume or not? (Alfredo Torres)
• Invest in yourself:
  • Time
  • Effort
  • Financial
• You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn at:
  • linkedin.com/in/christopher-dreisbach