Discriminated for being enlisted?

This actually happened in a mock interview,

I spent four years as a system administrator for the Navy in which I received two NAMS for network security and lan administration. I have also served in IT postions while in school. So I was doing a mock interview with a company and I was discussing my experience and they asked me what kind of officer I was in the Navy. When I told him I was a IT2 and a E-5 he was like "oh" and rolled his eyes. After the interview for the feedback he said I should not exaturate my navy experience because a enlisted sailor would not be doing that kind of job the career that I would get into would require officer experience. What the !@#@! !! This isn't the first time it has happened to me. It seems like when people find out that I was not a officer they put themselves into a superior position to me and just assume that I am average or below-average student who is not going anywhere. I am graduating next december with honors from a major university. I have some problems emotionally with self-esteem and a inferiority complex for my enlisted experience. Not to say that the Navy was a bad experience but those of you that were enlisted understand the "lower" regard and assumptions labed on to us IE stay in your paygrade. I have looked into officer programs not because I want to get back into the military but because I feel like I need to be a officer to move up in life and when I meet some veteran that was a officer I feel nervous and subordante to him or her. Has anybody else experienced this and if so how have you coped.
Additional Details
I have no intentions of getting back in.

papi_aka_papi

Hey sailor, get your siht together and cowboy the ufkc up!
There are a bunch of morons out there that have no idea how the military is structured much less the intestinal fortitude it takes to be in the military. Inferiority complex? why, because some civie doesn't have the balls to say"i didn't have the guts to join" give me a break. You are supposed to feel subordinate to an officer NOT to your professor or recruiter. I would do the opposite of what that moron told you and build on my experience during an interview. In fact, if you are near north texas you got a job, shoot me an email.
That idiot was just too egotistical to admit he didn't understand what your rank meant.

Archangel

Never a problem for me. I hold the highest rank possible.......retired! My rank has never come up, because it was the experience at the job I was applying for that mattered not what rank I was when I did it. Experience usually trumps rank in the real world. Intelligent interviewers know that rank isn't everything in the military. If you come across someone like that, then that's a company you wouldn't want to work for, because their interviewers are the face of their company. Although, I was enlisted, I currently have O-5s and O-6s that I supervise. So in business, it doesn't matter what you were in the service...it is what have you done for me lately.

Going back in to "fix" your inferiority complex is not really a good idea. Do it if you feel you must, but how are you going to feel if you don't get above O-4? Besides, some Chief will put you right "in your place" real quick. You need to work on your esteem another way. What rank you are should not dictate how you feel. If so, you are dangerous to the military, because you are not man enough to stand up for who you are. You want to use your rank to feel "superior" to others and that will get you no respect.

Ross

Most people appreciate the sacrifices veterans make. That guy and others obviously don't understand military rank. How could a current undergraduate have served as an officer. I would not suggest becoming an officer for the reasons stated. After another year or so, your eight years should be up and you will soon have the military behind you and it will become less a part of your life since you are not retired and will not have access to military installations. There is no reason you have to tell any veteran that was an officer that you were in the military at all if it is going to make you feel inferior. I think this is also due to a misperception on your part. Most former officers do not feel "superior" to a young guy who enlisted for college benefits and then is a full time college honor's student. That is a GI Bill success story. Most former officer's would admire your hard work and determination. You are still thinking of yourself as E-5 X while everyone else sees you as XYZ University Honor's Student X. You don't have to become an officer to "move up in life" if you don't "want to get back in the military." That will happen when you are hired and then advance within that organization. If you want to facilitate moving up, spend some time at the college career center and determine who actually hires graduates in your major. Often there are files of alumni contacts by major who are willing to meet with current students. This is a good way to begin to network. Try and get hired by a great company, work a few years and then apply to top tier MBA programs.
Good Luck!

John

I would suggest you make a copy of those two citations and send them to that person. In fact I would make a copy of those citations and awards as well as any letters of appreciation and put them in a binder and take them with you to the interview for those people to look over while they are asking questions. Many people in the civilian world do not have an idea of just how much responsibility is placed on mid ranking NCOs in the military and some of the jargon and jobs are so alien to them that it only complicates things. However when they see a flag or general officers piece of stationary with a letter on it addressed to you and a citation or medal for it they realize a lot more quickly that you are just not blowing smoke. Friends of mine have used this and met with good success and it really helps to paint a better picture of you and your skills and abilities. They may not understand what it was you did but they can see it was important enough that you got a citation from a general or flag officer.

Mark B

As a Reserve officer and as someone who has been a Navy civilian and currently a Gov't contractor, I would say you are interviewing with the wrong companies. Obviously, your interviewer doesn't know the military. In Gov't contractor jobs, enlisted usually have an advantage. The companies know that the enlisted are the ones with the hands on experience. Officers were more of a supervisory role.

I've worked with E-5 and below that had Master's Degrees. For the current project, the Chief Software Architect is a former E-4 that was a Reservist in Iraq 3 years ago. He is using that experience for some of his background. One of the most trusted reps from the user community is a retired CWO-5.

Check with Gov't jobs and contractor work supporting SPAWAR (Charleston, SC and San Diego, CA) your background will be a plus. In addition to a lot of different work, they are responsible for certifying Navy computer systems.

Shanna

I just got out of the Marine Corps and I have never felt this way. I do get the "but you're a girl" and "you were really a Marine." But every time that I have done something professional since I have gotten out I have always gotten positive feedback. Well almost always some men do not like the fact that I was a woman in the military and they will not acknowledge me, but that happen also in the Corp.

Mrsjvb

that numb nuts never served a day in his life and has zero clue whatsoever that it's the E5-E7s that run the military.

Randy R

Reach down grab your stuff and verify you are a man.

Now, your DD 214 clearly shows what your job was. The navy helps you get resume' together before you ETS.

I was enlisted and that meant I was too smart to be an officer. And on me, mine are made of BRASS.

And you were a petty officer?

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