The Sword - September 2014

Join Orion as We Raise $100K for Veterans in 2014

Join Orion as we raise $100K for Veterans in 2014 through the Veteran Low to High Challenge - directly supporting Burned and Wounded Personnel and their Families, Children of Fallen Service Members, and Transitioning Combat Veterans. 

All donations are tax-deductible and will benefit our partner Charitable Veterans Organizations - Operation Military Embrace, Children of Fallen Patriots, and Warrior Hike. Learn more about our Partner Organizations.

The culminating event of the Veteran Low to High Challenge will occur in October, when our team of Orion Employees, Veterans, Partners, and Corporate Sponsors, will hike from the lowest point in Death Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney, a trek which will span 7 days and 130+ miles. It is our goal to gain national recognition for our Partner Organizations and raise $100K+ by undertaking and completing the Low to High Challenge.

Get Involved

• Make a donation to the Veteran Low to High Challenge! All donations are tax-deductible, and we appreciate each and every contribution. To make your donation even more impactful, Orion will double your donation by matching, dollar-for-dollar, the first $14,505 (the height of Mt. Whitney!) raised in Individual Donations. Donate now

•  Get your company involved! Corporate Sponsorship is an opportunity for your organization to receive high-visibility recognition within the military community while directly supporting our partner charitable organizations. We have several levels of Corporate Sponsorship available, to allow your company to contribute in a meaningful way to the Veteran Low to High Challenge, regardless of budget. Learn more about Corporate Sponsorship

•  Participate in a 5K in your area. We are holding a 5K Race in support of the Veteran Low to High Challenge in each of the cities in which we have an Orion office - Austin, TX; Cincinnati, OH;      Raleigh, NC; Virginia Beach, VA; and San Diego, CA. All proceeds from these events will be donated to our partners. Learn more and register

Please contact us any questions and to learn more about contributing to the Veteran Low to High Challenge. We appreciate each and every donation, and thank you in advance for your support!

Donate to the Veteran Low to High Challenge

Local 5Ks in Support of the Veteran Low to High Challenge

We are holding a 5K Race in support of the Veteran Low to High Challenge in each of the cities in which we have an Orion office - Austin, TX; Cincinnati, OH; Raleigh, NC; Virginia Beach, VA; and San Diego, CA. All proceeds from these events will be donated to our partners. Learn more about our Partners.

GI Jobs Article on Operations Management Features Orion Alumnus at Polaris

A June 2014 article in GI Jobs by Sarah Hodon focuses on Operations Manager careers and why they are such an excellent transition for veterans. Careers in Operations Management span all industries and ensure that the company "keep[s] their businesses running, with the right people doing the right jobs with the right equipment while delivering their products or services on time and at the right price."

Polaris, maker of off-road vehicles, including ATVs, motorcycles, and snowmobiles, is among the companies leveraging veteran talent among their ranks. “Our operations managers can support any piece of the company. Right now we’re filling a lot of these positions in our international groups, corporate procurement, sales and service, and the manufacturing side, where they’re focusing on things like lean," explains Amy Fossum, Staffing Manager at Polaris. She goes on to tell Hodon that Polaris hires veterans because they know how to lead, how to plan and conduct training, and they're adventurous.  

The article points out that not only does this career field offer great advancement opportunities and responsibility, but also excellent pay making it a great option for veterans. Hodon cites payscale.com stating that the average pay for operations managers in the U.S. is $80,339, and the top pay potential is well over $100,000.  

In addition to exploring what this career entails, the article also profiles veterans from various companies, including Orion alumnus Harrison Drapo, supervisor at Polaris. Drapo was hired by Polaris through Orion in November 2013. An Army Captain with five years of service, he describes his typical day as "mak[ing] sure the employees are happy, productive and keeping everything on track."  

Dalton Pierce, Director of Operations for Polaris’ Roseau, MN, manufacturing facility, explains that while military experience might help to set a veteran apart from other candidates or get the job, veterans should expect a learning curve. “Veterans are going to be looking at starting out behind their peers from an age group standpoint because they’ve spent the last three to four years defending their country, while their peers spent three to four years learning manufacturing,” Pierce states, “But in my experience, vets quickly outpace the typical college graduate."  

Careers in Operations Management a great match for veterans and offer great advancement, salary, and a diversity of responsibilities that make them attractive to veterans. To read about the success other veterans in this field are experiencing, read Hodon's article. And to learn how your company can hire military talent for operations positions,  please click here.

Upcoming Hiring Conferences

Orion Featured Employer Whirlpool Corporation Highlighted in GI Jobs Article on Retail Industry

In his August 2014 GI Jobs article, Industry Intel: Surprising Retail Careers, Marty Levine interviews Ellen Davis, senior vice president of the National Retail Federation (NRF), who describes a robust career field. Davis explains: “Retail is a fantastic career opportunity. First of all, it’s big – there are a ton of opportunities. You can work in retail in your hometown. You can travel around the world with retail. The biggest tip I would give a veteran is that this is an industry that really offers career opportunities.” That includes careers in IT and cyber security, logistics, and operations.

Featured in the article is Whirlpool, the world's leading global manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances. Whirlpool is also an Orion International Featured Employer, having distinguished themselves by their commitment to hiring veterans. Whirlpool’s top careers for Veterans, as listed in the article include Engineering/Project Management, Procurement, Information Technology/Global Information Systems, Production Management, andLogistics. Orion is currently recruiting veterans for engineering and technician positions with Whirlpool.

In addition to hiring veterans, Whirlpool also supports them on the job through their Whirlpool Veterans Association (WVA), a group welcoming all Whirlpool employees interested in recognizing and supporting their veteran colleagues. The group supports community events, advocates veteran recruiting, provides on-boarding support for veterans and their families, and even hosts social events. To learn more about how Whirlpool recruits and supports the veterans they hire, click here.

Kimberly Fry, senior manager for talent acquisition at Whirlpool, tells Levine, “We’ve found veterans to be outstanding talent. Our biggest challenge is finding roles that are big enough for them – which is a great problem to have. What I found is that the background of the military is so diverse that I can place the veterans anywhere in our organization and we’ll be confident in their performance – from hourly to the top and everywhere in between.”

Due to the diversity of available positions in Retail, Davis points out that veterans are going to find tremendous opportunity in areas where they already have experience in the military, be it logistics, security, management, or even IT. “Forty-four percent of retail jobs have nothing to with being in a sales role,” she says. Salaries can vary greatly by position but, according to Davis, Retail is one of the few “meritocracies” left, with many people in retail bring home $100,000+.

Ultimately, Levine illustrates that Retail is more than just being a cashier and that those who are cashiers have a shot at working their way up the chain into management. He also points out that the breadth of experience veterans have makes them a great fit for this huge, diverse industry.

To learn how your company can become an Orion Featured Employer like Whirlpool through a full-cycle customized Military Talent Program, please click here.

Meet Our Candidates

National Distinguished Candidate Conference

Mark your calendar for our upcoming National Distinguished Candidate Conference:

San Diego, CA
October 13-14

Since 1991, our clients have told us that the most important factor in deciding to hire military through an agency is the Quality of Candidate. Our unique Distinguished Candidate Conferences are designed to recruit, assess, screen, and present the top military candidates for your hiring needs. In 2013, more than 170 client companies strategically hired Orion’s Military Officers through our Distinguished Candidate Conferences, with nearly 50% making multiple hires.

Orion’s Distinguished Candidates are carefully selected and represent the very top tier of Military Officers transitioning from Active Duty. They are seeking careers in growth roles including Leadership Development, Operations Management, Engineering, and Sales.

Our Junior Military Officer Candidates at these National Events:

• Service Academy Graduates and graduates of the nation’s top universities.
• Candidates with MBAs and other advanced degrees; and those with PMPs, PEs, and other professional certifications.
• Candidates who have consistently ranked well above their peers in their professional military evaluations.
• Willing to relocate and geographically flexible.

Distinguished Candidate Conference Highlights:

• These events will feature 30 minute Client Presentations in which you can present to the candidates you’ll be interviewing in advance. We recommend a C-level or VP Presenter for client presentations.
• Enjoy an additional opportunity for socializing with the candidates and other Hiring Managers, at our President’s Reception following the Keynote Address on Monday evening.
• Pre-screened, assessed, qualified Officer Candidates suitably matched for your particular hiring needs.
• A private and professional interview setting.
• Personalized attention to ensure the best in customer service, including insight on the candidates and advice on the most effective hiring strategy.

In addition, Orion’s Executive Leadership Team will be available throughout these events to meet and discuss your company’s talent planning and how our dedicated on-boarding programs, assessment tools, and other enterprise-scale service offerings may be able to support your organization in 2014 and beyond.

What do our clients have to say about the caliber of candidates at an Orion Distinguished Candidate Conference?

"Our experience at Orion's Distinguished Candidate Conference was a great success. The candidates were of the highest caliber and extremely well matched for our Leadership Development Program. This event enabled us to hire 5 outstanding JMOs very efficiently, saving weeks of time. I look forward to seeing the impact these new leaders will have on BP." - Program Manager, BP

Our Distinguished Candidate Conferences enable you to develop a strong pipeline of future leaders and foster strategic organizational growth.

Learn more about our Distinguished Candidate Conferences and discover for yourself the impact a Military Officer can have on your organization.

Alumni Update: Jeff Moehling

U.S. Army Captain Jeff Moehling separated from service in June 2000 and began working with Orion International to find a civilian career. That partnership led to a position as a Sales Representative with Eli Lilly. The career match was an excellent one, and, in August 2014, Moehling celebrated his 14-year anniversary with the company.

After three years in his initial position, Moehling was promoted to Senior Sales Representative as a result of above average sales results and consistent leadership within his district. In May 2004, he was promoted to an associate role in Eli Lilly’s corporate office in Indianapolis, Indiana, and spent two years there as a Sales Training Associate. Following that, he was again promoted to a District Sales Manager position in Tyler, Texas, where he supervised ten sales representatives all over East Texas.

Then, in August 2009, Moehling made the decision to return to Austin and an Executive Sales Representative role in order to spend more time with his family and explore other outside interests. Moehling explains that doing so paid off, “I am now a father of two, and a three-time Ironman triathlon finisher!”

The success that Moehling is experiencing at Eli Lilly is not unique. His continued progression at the company is a prime example of the impressive talent companies are finding in veterans. Moehling advises that employers "take a close look at our veterans. The future leaders of your company are likely among them."

To read Moehling's profile and see more examples of veterans excelling in their civilian careers, please visit Transition Corner. And to learn more about hiring veterans, click here.

According to Our Clients

Refer a Colleague to Hire Military Talent

Is your company or that of a friend or colleague in need of military talent? For every referral you provide, you will be automatically entered into our monthly drawing for a $50 gift card. Even better, if your referral results in a placement, you will personally receive a $100 gift card as our way of saying thank you. As always, we will maintain your privacy and never share your information nor that of your referral.

Click here to refer a colleague to hire military talent now!

Connect with Orion

Did you know that there are several ways to connect with Orion and learn how veterans impact the civilian workforce?

• You can join our LinkedIn group for employers, Hire a Hero, Hire a Vet®. This group is a great way to show your support of veterans in the civilian workforce.

• Read our blog, Hire a Hero, Hire a Vet®. This blog covers everything from veterans in the news to general employer-employee relations. Check it out!

• You can follow Orion on Twitter (@hirevets) to receive updates about Orion, learn about upcoming hiring events, and find links to articles of interest.

• Orion is now on Google+! Follow us to keep up to date on all things Orion.