Finding a good recruiter

[dhinkle5]

Hi All,

Does anyone know of a good recruiter for the S.E. Michigan area? I have tried calling the number listed on the navy website but they have not contacted me or returned my calls. Does anyone know of a backdoor that I could get in to get my foot in the door? This is really getting frustrating!

Thanks for any help!

 

[m26]

http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/michigan/

http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/michigan/Documents/officersprogram.htm

Work the phones. You'll get a hold of someone with with a little initiative and perseverance.

 

[SpaceApe29]

Does anyone know of a backdoor that I could get in to get my foot in the door?

...and the joke completes itself. What I did was called an Enlisted Recruiting station and asked around. Never hurts and you get some good advice in the process from Chiefs who know the system well.

 

[GreenLantern330]

I'll second what SpaceApe said. The site didn't list any ORs in my area so I called the number, but no one ever picked up. I just drove to the enlisted recruiter near my campus and they ended up having 2 ORs and were surprised the site didn't list it. Check your local enlisted recruiter.

 

[ajalali]

A trip to the actual recruiting station pays off for sure! It might be a drive, but its a drive that will most likely end up in a face-to-face connection with (hopefully) a caring and honest recruiter. My OR is the man, but that was complete luck of the draw for me. Unfortunately, I've heard stories of other people not being so lucky. I think it's more of a "first person you talk to has you" kind of thing.


One more thing...this was mentioned before but i think it's worth saying again:

When you're looking for a recruiter, don't write chiefs off because they are enlisted. Since they've been around for a long time, they know their stuff and have a lot of connections that an LT may not have. They've been in for that long for a reason!

Good luck finding your recruiter man!

 

[marmoset54]

My OR is a CPO - one of the finalists of SOY a few years back, going on 17 years. He's an awesome guy, someone I intend on maintaining contact with after he retires. Mine had worked in MEPS for a good while, as well as VBSS. He's a wealth of information and someone I feel very fortunate to have met.

 

[Seafort]

A trip to the actual recruiting station pays off for sure! It might be a drive, but its a drive that will most likely end up in a face-to-face connection with (hopefully) a caring and honest recruiter. My OR is the man, but that was complete luck of the draw for me. Unfortunately, I've heard stories of other people not being so lucky. I think it's more of a "first person you talk to has you" kind of thing.

Absolutely not the case. You can change officer recruiters, and in some cases, you absolutely should. Like all professions, there are those that take their jobs seriously, and there are those that don't. If you are being yanked around by someone who does not take you seriously, call the Officer Programs Officer, explain the issues dispassionately and professionally, and ask for input. If nothing happens, call again and request a new officer recruiter. Each time the situation is not resolved, go up the chain of command, XO, then CO.

Not to say this should happen very often, or that I advocate a tattle-tale mentality. This process should only be used if the situation seems to warrant it (your OR goes weeks or months without contacting you, even you call/email consistently, or the OR seems always disorganised and doesn't seem to remember where you are in the process, multiple missed boards for no seeming reason, disparaging comments about your chances etc...).

One more thing...this was mentioned before but i think it's worth saying again:

When you're looking for a recruiter, don't write chiefs off because they are enlisted. Since they've been around for a long time, they know their stuff and have a lot of connections that an LT may not have. They've been in for that long for a reason!

In a way this is true, in a way it isn't. If possible, I know at least one NRD CO that advocates asking for a commissioned officer recruiter, especially if you are having trouble working with someone already. This is very often because the commissioned officers have been through the same process, I know my new OR had the same trouble with his officer recruiter, and became an officer recruiter to help others get through the process. The commissioned ORs have been through the process and through OCS. No matter how experienced a perspective an enlisted officer recruiter has, it is inherently fundamentally different from the perspective of a commissioned officer- a person who embodies your goal.

 

[fjd24]

A trip to the actual recruiting station pays off for sure! It might be a drive, but its a drive that will most likely end up in a face-to-face connection with (hopefully) a caring and honest recruiter. My OR is the man, but that was complete luck of the draw for me. Unfortunately, I've heard stories of other people not being so lucky. I think it's more of a "first person you talk to has you" kind of thing.

I am in Boston also and can say the same about my recruiter. It sounds to me like we are lucky applicants, as they are running a tight ship over there. It's funny too, I began my interest in military careers a few years back and was initially interested in the Air Force. To make a long story short, lets just say my impressions of recruiters took a complete 180 when I talked to my Navy Officer Recruiter for the first time over the phone. Type of guy I feel obligated to take out for a beer if I get pro-rec'd in Sept...

ajalali congrats on the pro-rec and PM me if you are in the Bean over the summer; we should get aquatinted.

 

[SpaceApe29]

My OR is a CPO - one of the finalists of SOY a few years back, going on 17 years. He's an awesome guy, someone I intend on maintaining contact with after he retires. Mine had worked in MEPS for a good while, as well as VBSS. He's a wealth of information and someone I feel very fortunate to have met.

Chief Barr? I really looked up to him. Too bad my DD368 got denied at Fort Polk, he was just a straight up wealth of knowledge. My current Officer Recruiter is just as awesome though and I'm glad the Navy promotes Chiefs of such outstanding character.

 

[dhinkle5]

Thanks for all the insight! I actually did call an enlisted recruiter in the area and told him my dilema. Within several hours the LT in charge of recruiting for my state called me and wanted names of people who blew me off. I wisely stated that I didn't remember names but it looks like I do have someone in my court now!

 

[marmoset54]

Chief Barr? I really looked up to him. Too bad my DD368 got denied at Fort Polk, he was just a straight up wealth of knowledge. My current Officer Recruiter is just as awesome though and I'm glad the Navy promotes Chiefs of such outstanding character

That's the man indeed. Excellent Chief.

 

[Steve Wilkins]

Absolutely not the case. You can change officer recruiters, and in some cases, you absolutely should. Like all professions, there are those that take their jobs seriously, and there are those that don't. If you are being yanked around by someone who does not take you seriously, call the Officer Programs Officer, explain the issues dispassionately and professionally, and ask for input. If nothing happens, call again and request a new officer recruiter. Each time the situation is not resolved, go up the chain of command, XO, then CO.

Not to say this should happen very often, or that I advocate a tattle-tale mentality. This process should only be used if the situation seems to warrant it (your OR goes weeks or months without contacting you, even you call/email consistently, or the OR seems always disorganised and doesn't seem to remember where you are in the process, multiple missed boards for no seeming reason, disparaging comments about your chances etc...).

In a way this is true, in a way it isn't. If possible, I know at least one NRD CO that advocates asking for a commissioned officer recruiter, especially if you are having trouble working with someone already. This is very often because the commissioned officers have been through the same process, I know my new OR had the same trouble with his officer recruiter, and became an officer recruiter to help others get through the process. The commissioned ORs have been through the process and through OCS. No matter how experienced a perspective an enlisted officer recruiter has, it is inherently fundamentally different from the perspective of a commissioned officer- a person who embodies your goal.

Keep in mind these guys are on their shore duty. Whether commissioned officer or enlisted, this period of their career is supposed to be their "down" time....a time to work on their education, get to know the family again, and recharge the batteries. Sea duty will wear your ass out, so cut these guys some slack if they don't immediately return your calls or emails. Don't get me wrong. They still have a job to do and I stand by what I've said before. I think they should aim to respond to emails and phone calls within 24-48 hours. If they're blowing you off, that's another matter altogether.

As for the OR's that are commissioned officers, not all have been through the same process or OCS for that matter. That doesn't mean those that didn't don't empathize with your situation or understand your desires though.

 

[ajalali]

Absolutely not the case. You can change officer recruiters, and in some cases, you absolutely should. Like all professions, there are those that take their jobs seriously, and there are those that don't. If you are being yanked around by someone who does not take you seriously, call the Officer Programs Officer, explain the issues dispassionately and professionally, and ask for input. If nothing happens, call again and request a new officer recruiter. Each time the situation is not resolved, go up the chain of command, XO, then CO.

haha cool your jets! I didn't say you couldn't switch, I said that you can't line all them up along the wall and say..."I pick that one!" If the traits you described usually don't come along for a couple weeks to a month, then how would you know that your OR is flaky within the first conversation? You wouldn't.

Usually the first OR you talk to is the one that becomes your recruiter. If that's not the case, then I'm wrong (but I'm pretty sure I'm right). But no one said you can't switch!

Anyway, I'm gonna go hang out in the sun. Have a good day e'rybody!

 

[Seafort]

Keep in mind these guys are on their shore duty. Whether commissioned officer or enlisted, this period of their career is supposed to be their "down" time....a time to work on their education, get to know the family again, and recharge the batteries. Sea duty will wear your ass out, so cut these guys some slack if they don't immediately return your calls or emails. Don't get me wrong. They still have a job to do and I stand by what I've said before. I think they should aim to respond to emails and phone calls within 24-48 hours. If they're blowing you off, that's another matter altogether.

Absolutely true. That's why I was careful to say what I did, ie "your OR goes weeks or months without contacting you, even if you call/email consistently, or the OR seems always disorganised and doesn't seem to remember where you are in the process, multiple missed boards for no seeming reason, disparaging comments about your chances etc..." My original recruiter went three months without replying to my emails, and after a history of communication errors and troubles, and after going up the chain of command two previous times. This is when I finally took my career into my own hands and started making polite, but firm inquiries. It wasn't long before I was given my new OR, a commissioned officer, who went through OCS, and never even needs to take 48 hours. He usually responds in only a few hours. My new OR has done more in three months than my previous OR did in a year.

I'm not advocating that one should ask for a replacement because of light or transient reasons, but only when a clear history of unprofessionalism emerges.

As for the OR's that are commissioned officers, not all have been through the same process or OCS for that matter. That doesn't mean those that didn't don't empathize with your situation or understand your desires though.

Point well taken. I didn't mean to dismiss other commissioning sources (given my own experiences, that would be hypocritical at best). I do think my point about commissioned officers representing your goals in the flesh.

ajalali, I'm quite calm. And it depends. The first recruiter I actually spoke to was the OPO, a chaplain LCDR. He assigned me my first OR, who I never got to meet, and barely had any kind of real contact without outside of email and maybe two calls. Probably not a good start from the get go. Sun is good... Can't wait until I get to Guam to hang out with an OHARP Ensign from the Academy who is going to show me around!

 

[Gus Gorilla]

Dhinkle5. I'm in the same area and am sure to have the same recruiter. My advice is to drop in the office, it's north of the D near 75. Little bit of a drive from AnnArbor but worth the time if you have it. Good people up there. You'll also be dealing with the processing center in Detroit. It's right down the road from the Eastern Market. Also good people. Comparing to some others on this site and their experiences with a slow process, mine was extremely fast with good back-and-forth contact. Before expecting too much attention you will need to get in the office and test. Good ASTB scores will go a long way. With so many Colleges/Universities in the area they are extremely busy at the office.