The Sword - January 2017

In This Issue

Hiring Our Heroes Releases New Report on the State of Veterans in the Workplace

Here's What Happens at an Orion Distinguished Candidate Conference

Upcoming Hiring Conferences

According to Our Clients

Meet Our Candidates

Refer a Colleague to Hire Military Talent

Connect with Orion

Hiring Our Heroes Releases New Report on the State of Veterans in the Workplace

Earlier this month, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes, released the results of their survey on Veterans in the Workplace. The year-long study, Veteran Employment Survey: Understanding the Challenges and Creating Long-Term Opportunities for Veteran Employees, surveyed 400 human resource professionals nationwide, as well as 1,000 veterans who have transitioned out of the military in the last five years.

This graphic from the Veterans in the Workplace report by Hiring Our Heroes shows the top five positive attributes hiring managers and HR professionals associate with veterans.

Among the highlights of the results are the fact that veterans are now among the top three recruiting targets for companies nationwide, due to the national focus that has occurred over the last five years. The study also revealed that HR professionals have an "overwhelmingly positive view of veterans" and express few concerns about hiring them.

However, the study also shows that there is still a gap between civilian hiring managers and job seeking veterans. In fact, according to Hiring Our Heroes, less than one-half of 1% of all Americans have served in the military in the last ten years, leaving many hiring managers and HR professionals without sufficient knowledge of military skills or service. Only 20% of survey respondents rated their knowledge of the military an 8 or higher (out of 10), with more than half indicating a 5 or below.

With a majority of professionals reporting that there is no specialized training or onboarding for veterans at their company, Hiring Our Heroes concludes that companies should work to develop these two key steps in recruiting veterans. "America's businesses have stepped up to the plate when it comes to hiring veterans - a fact evidenced by the ever-shrinking veteran unemployment rate," said Eric Eversole, president, Hiring Our Heroes, and vice president, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "However, we need to double-down on our effort to provide veteran-related training and assistance during the onboarding process."

Click here to read the full report.

Here's What Happens at an Orion Distinguished Candidate Conference

As 2016 winds down, recruiting top talent remains a priority. As you assess 2016 hiring efforts and project for hiring needs in 2017, now is the time to reserve your company's seat at Orion's upcoming Distinguished Candidate Conferences. The first three Orion DCCs of 2017 will be held in Dallas, TX, March 6-7; Philadelphia, PA, May 1-2; and San Diego, CA, June 5-6.

Read on for a sample DCC schedule and come prepared to recruit from America's best Military Officers:

Monday Afternoon
Company Presentations

You or a member of your team will have the opportunity to present a 30-minute briefing on the company and available positions.

Monday Evening
Keynote Speaker Address

A keynote speaker will address attendees on topics pertinent to hiring military personnel.

Monday Night
President's Reception

Enjoy an informal reception with Orion's leadership team, other clients, and interviewing candidates. This is a terrific opportunity to observe the networking and interpersonal skills of our candidates.

Tuesday
Distinguished Candidate Interviews

8:00 am - 5:00 pm: Conduct individual interviews with JMOs specifically matched to your hiring needs.

Orion's Executive Leadership Team is 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.

Click here to learn more about Orion Distinguished Candidate Conferences and to request more information.

Upcoming Hiring Conferences

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

Parsippany, NJ January 9, 2017

Norfolk, VA January 23, 2017

Philadelphia, PA February 13, 2017

Norfolk, VA February 27, 2017

South Central

Houston, TX January 13, 2017

Dallas, TX January 16, 2017

Houston, TX February 13, 2017

West

Seattle, WA January 13, 2017

San Diego, CA January 20, 2017

Seattle, WA February 10, 2017

Midwest

Chicago, IL January 16, 2017

Detroit, MI February 27, 2017

Southeast

Atlanta, GA January 17, 2017

Jacksonville, FL February 21, 2017

According to Our Clients

"We were very impressed with the candidates at the Hiring Conference we attended and how they presented themselves. Several of those we interviewed were extremely capable and would be great additions to any organization with potential to move to senior leadership." - Project Executive, Swinerton Builders

Meet Our Candidates

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?