Engineer II

Northeast
US Navy, O-3

Getting out of the Navy was a very hard decision. There is a lot of uncertainty during your transition time.  My advice to fellow service members would be to start working with Orion early, and they should be able to get you a job prior to your EAOS.  Having a job prior to my separation allowed me to take a vacation, move, and spend time with my family without the added stress of being unemployed.

Orion helped me start a career as an Engineer with Conectiv Energy. In the Navy, I operated and maintained a nuclear power plant, and I now work at a conventional power plant providing engineering support.  The Navy provided the basic understanding I needed to learn and support power plant operations.

Also, the Navy Nuclear Power Program taught me the basics of power generation and the steam cycle.  Being in the shipyard for 18 months taught me how to organize priorities, schedule work, and track progress during a major overhaul of equipment.  In general, the diverse backgrounds encountered in the Navy allowed me to grow as a person and a leader.

My Orion recruiter, Chris Hurst, did an excellent job of working with my demanding schedule.  Unfortunately, due to this schedule, I was unable to attend a hiring conference, so most of my initial interviews were over the phone.  Chris would give me some information on the company and then setup a phone interview time.  After the phone interview came the site visits and second interview.  After the site visits and second interview came the job offers.

Chris took all my criteria (i.e. job location and type of work) into account and offered me an array of options.  Having a recruiting firm on my side was my most powerful tool for getting my foot in the door with many of the companies I would want to work for.  Chris was always quick to pass on all the information he knew and kept me up-to-date with the current status of all my job opportunities. Orion provided the best opportunities that matched my requirements.  Everyone I worked with at Orion was courteous and professional.