Do they still treat their employees as lines in a spreadsheet?
Donât most employers?
Thatâs why I prefer the Mom & Pop companies
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People had their gripes like anywhere else, but I never felt that way. I got promoted twice, received regular raises with license upgrades and also got yearly bonuses. When we dredged, we had zero office involvement and minimal when working locally. I know a lot of people had issues but I never once got the impression that I was just a number. They did do some things over the top but by and large, I felt like if you showed up and did good work, it went noticed and you got rewarded.
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I find your comment interesting because I too have VA disability rating and feel that if I could get passed the CG physical exam I still have to deal with some companies exam and that would be where I get screwed.
The only one I ever had an issue with is MSC, but it may be why I am not getting any âtakersâ.
So to be clear you are saying that MSC denied you as an employee because of your VA disability? Is it mandatory to tell them about your disability rating? I ask because I once applied for the railroad, voluntarily disclosed my disability rating and it became so painful trying to explain myself to them I just walked away.
I donât know if itâs mandatory. I have applied for, and worked, many federal jobs where they prioritize disabled veterans. MSC is NOT one of those. They automatically NFFDâd me for every disability I was getting paid for and ones I have claimed. They sent me no less than 12 forms that I needed to have individual doctors sign off on on my own dime. I walked away at that point.
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The Maritime Academies actively recruit disabled veterans because the VA pays for a full tuition.
It seems like everyone that gets out of the service claims hearing loss. And anyone that saw combat claims PTSD.
Iâve had a few disabled veterans onboard.
I tried SUNYâs program but I was denied admission. I guess my educational background wasnât good enough.
Might be time to start looking at union jobs. Best bet is SUP. Also check out SIU as option 2.
I already tried SIU, but I couldnât afford to go, I have mortgage and things I need to pay for, and couldnât afford to not be paid.
This industry can be finicky. The key is to just have a full time job to pay the bills while you wait for your opportunity. If you keep updated applications at all the companies and seasonally call and email them to remind them youâre ready for work at the drop of a dime , eventually somone will call and ask if you are ready to go. Maritime Headhunters can also get you started in the industry. The further you go down the rabbit hole of being a merchant mariner the easier it gets to find jobs, but theres sometimes initially what seems to be perplexing and long period of lots of Noâs and a long break out period. Any crossover skills can help for the sake of your resume: shipyard work, construction, oil and gas, etc. Good luck.
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Did you try SUP?