The Sword - June 2016

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Why You Should be Recruiting Senior Military Officers

Many companies approach building a military talent program with a preference for Junior Military Officers. And, while JMOs are an excellent talent pool from which to recruit, Hire a Hero wants to remind hiring managers that they should be considering Senior Military Officers, as well. We have helped many successful Senior Military Officers who are able to leverage their Leadership, Project Management, Maintenance Management, Technical Management, Logistics, and/or Business Development related experiences in the civilian work force.

Ben Metzler is one such veteran. A retired Major in the Army, Ben was matched with a Project Management career in fleet management through Orion. “Most of my career was in Operations, which translates really well to running projects in the civilian world. There are significant parallels between my experience as a BN Operations and Executive Officer and leadership positions to my new career as a Project Manager,” says Ben.

“The way the Army conducts day-to-day operations is very project based. Preparing for live fire gunneries, individual, team, and battery/company/battalion gunneries, Table gunneries, field exercises, prep for deployment, etc., all fit the PMI description of projects. I feel like I am better prepared to succeed in my new career than I would have been had I risen through the ranks of the civilian world," he explains.

There are many positions for which a Junior Military Officer may be better suited, but it is short-sighted to overlook the breadth of experience and potential that comes with a Senior Military Officer like Ben and dismiss them as either “over-qualified", or yet "not qualified" for executive level roles that are a closer lateral move from their military titles.

At Orion, we have seen Senior Military Officers successfully begin careers in a variety of industries and positions. Examples include Supply Chain Managers in the aerospace industry, Production Supervisors in the medical device industry, and Director of Inventory Management in power generation, to name a few. When management and director-level positions call for a seasoned leader, companies are well-served to consider Senior Military Officers.

National Distinguished Candidate Conferences

National Distinguished Candidates

Mark your calendar for our upcoming National Distinguished Candidate Conferences:

July 11-12, 2016 in Columbus, OH

August 29-30, 2016 in Philadelphia, PA

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 2015, more than 100 client companies strategically hired Orion's Military Officers through our Distinguished Candidate Conferences, with nearly 50% making multiple hires.

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

Our 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:

  • This event 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 the event 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 2015 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

The Distinguished Candidate Conference enables 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.

Upcoming Hiring Conferences

Military Job Seekers

Orion Military Hiring Conferences - Interview Junior Military Officers, Noncommissioned Officers and Enlisted Technicians Recruited for your Hiring Needs

An Orion Hiring Conference is your chance to interview the best military job seekers, selected specifically for your open positions. You will be presented with prescreened, qualified and suitably matched veterans that are interested in your available opportunities. Click on the dates below to learn more about our upcoming hiring conferences.

Northeast

Providence, RI June 6, 2016

West

San Diego, CA June 6, 2016 (Technician Conference)

San Diego, CA June 6 - 7, 2016 (Distinguished Candidate Conference)

Seattle, WA June 24, 2016

South Central

Houston, TX June 20, 2016

Dallas, TX June 27, 2016

Southeast

Jacksonville, FL June 20 -21, 2016 (Junior Military Officer Conference) 

Jacksonville, FL June 21, 2016 (Junior Military Officer Conference) 

According to Our Clients

“This was my first Orion Hiring Conference, and I was impressed with what I saw. My Account Executive was very professional, and I will use this service again.” – Todd Thompson, Field Service Manager, Stryker Medical

Meet Our Candidates

Meet Our Candidates

The battle for talent in the workplace can be fierce. It doesn't have to be if you know where to look. Below is a preview of actual Orion International candidates and the valuable skills and experience they possess.

Navy Surface Warfare Officer with an MBA View Resume

Naval Academy Graduate View Resume

Navy Nuclear Mechanic Pursuing a Nuclear Engineering Technology Degree View Resume

Army Officer with a Master's Degree View Resume

Navy Electronics Technician View Resume

Aviation Electrician View Resume

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 hire, 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!

Connect with Orion

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

Download the report