What does it mean when a military recruiter says " you need to be flexible" in terms of jobs?

Question

Does that mean i dont get to pick on what I want, also if i insisted on choosing my area of interest, does it mean i wont get in, or a serious delay towards boot camp. Pls. Advice.

Answer 1

Don't get stock on one job.  It either may not be open or you do not qualify.  The Air Force has contracts for specific jobs and job fields.  Don't go into it thinking he is trying to deceive you.  Be realistic with your choices.  If you scored less than 50 you have scored below average and will have less offered to you.  If you scored closer to 99 you will have more options but still not every job will have openings.  

Answer 2

It means he's got a fish (you) on the hook, and he doesn't want to lose it while reeling it in.

When you go to the MEPS, or whatever they call it these days, there will be another "recruiter" whom you've never met before who will tell you that only certain jobs are available.  DON'T BELIEVE IT!  Nearly everything is available.  If your ASVAB scores are high enough for the particular job you want, then insist on that particular job.  As soon as they realize you seriously will not sign on the dotted line unless you are guaranteed a particular job, then you WILL get that job.  Even if the recruiter needs to get an approval from some Colonel in Washington DC, and you need to wait seven hours while that approval is pending.

BTW, I'm referring to the Army.  I'm not sure if the other services slot recruits for particular jobs at the time of enlistment.  

Answer 3

well, if you have a specific date in mind, then you must be flexible with jobs, because the job you want  may not be available for a while...otherwise, if you have a specific job in mind, but the date doesn't matter, then you don't have to be flexible...

this is all depending on whether or not you qualify for the the job(s) with your ASVAB scores

Answer 4

THE AIR FORCE AINT HURTIN FOR PEOPLE RIGHT NOW SO WHEN HE SAYS YOU GOTTA BE FLEXIBLE HE MEANS KEEP AN OPEN MIND, THE ARMY WILL BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO PUT YOU IN ANY JOB YOU QUALIFY FOR, IF YOU WANT TO BE A -------- IN THE ARMY AND THEY DON'T NEED THEM THEN THEY WILL MAKE ROOM FOR YOU,BECAUSE THEY JUST NEED WARM BODY'S (ASSES IN THE SEATS),  THE AIR FORCE DOES NOT, THE RECRUITER WILL PROBABLY TELL YOU TO MAKE A LIST OF 5 JOBS YOU WANT AND WHEN YOU GET TO MEPS THEY WILL GO DOWN THE LIST TO SEE WHATS AVAILABLE, IF I WERE YOU I WOULD MAKE A LIST OF TOP 3 JOBS YOU WANT AND GO DOWN TO MEPS, IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED THEN EITHER WAIT FOR AN OPENING OR DON'T JOIN, LOOK INTO NAVY, THEIR PRETTY GOOD FOR TRAINING ESPECIALLY IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, BUT DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT SIGN UP FOR SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT 100% ON THAT WILL CAUSE A WORLD OF GREIF REGRET AND IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I SEE YOUNG RECRUITS MAKE, GOOD LUCK.

Answer 5

It means you will be in some job that nobody else wants.

Answer 6

They did that to me. I was supposed to be guaranteed heavy equipment operator and ended up infantry. I said B.S. Got out on a general discharge under honorable conditions after 18 months. I'm 48 now and wish I would have gotten what was promised. Make sure you get the MOS you want, Enjoy.

Answer 7

Being "flexible" means you have to take what they give you and make the best of it.  This is the single most important aspect to sucess in the military.

Answer 8

There are no guarantees..and you have to be willing to accept the next opening available. It's best to choose or make an interest of at least 3 positions you are interested in.

Answer 9

It means your scores aren't high enough that the benefits of putting you in your job of choice outweigh the risk of not putting you in at all.

Answer 10

it means depending on how you score on the ASVAB and what the military's needs are, you may be placed in a job you don't want. When you go to MEPS, the career counselor will look at your ASVAB score, your background check & medical physical, and give you some options of jobs to pick. But unless that branch can put a guaranteed job on your contract when you sign, you could definitely end up in a random job they picked.

If you got a great ASVAB score, great health physical, and no prior criminal stuff, you should be able to 'write your ticket' to a choice job. However, if you got waivers and have a low score on ASVAB, you could be in infantry, motor pool, hands-on type jobs. They won't invest the cost of training you in some cool computer job if they think you'll s***w up a lot, so they tend to place those types of recruits in the cheap-o jobs that serve a purpose immediately.

They'll definitely accept you into the military if you have the bare minimum requirements, you can complain about the c**p job you're given but you'll still be allowed to enlist if you want to. It's always best to enlist if you'll be happy with the job though, so get a guaranteed job in your contract.

Answer 11

Stick to your guns.  If there is something you want to do in the military don't let them tell you otherwise.  Everything is guaranteed these days.  The only thing holding you back is your ASVB/GT Scores.  Certian jobs may require higher than normal scores.  Also, if you have any criminal issues, you may not be able to get a security clearance.  This limits some jobs.

Bottom line, don't sign until you get what you want within reason.  Take your time, it's your military career.  Don't let the recruiters force you into something you don't want to do.

Answer 12

It can mean several things

1 you don't have the score for that job.

2 that job is already over strength.

3 (for non Army contracts) it means we are going to put you where we want you.

4 he doesn't think your physically or mentally cut out for the job.

It could be any of these and more. Just remember the recruiter is not your friend. He has a job to do.