Laser Tube Technician

Northeast
US Air Force, E-4

During my Air Force active duty and reserve time, I always did my best and tried to excel in everything I could. That and the fact that the US military is the best training environment in the world gave me a wealth of knowledge and experience (technical and personal) that really prepared me for the civilian workplace. I was really prepared; I just didn't know it at the time of separation. It all changed when Orion helped me put it all together. 

I had two outstanding people at Orion who really coached and treated me in the best possible way. Dan Clevenger and Scott McNary gave me all the tools that I needed, helped me with any doubts I had, and were really there for me during the whole process. I can tell that the two of them really enjoy their jobs and get a lot of satisfaction from it. They really want to help military people. They have been there: they’re both veterans. They know it can be tough.

When it came time to attend the Midwest Hiring Conference, I was very anxious. But, the "interview training" day before made all the difference. If I had not been there to practice, it would have been a disaster for me. 

The day of the conference went extremely well. I was interviewed by four companies, and all of them wanted me for a second interview. Two of the companies were really aggressive in the hiring process and scheduled me for a second interview the same week. The second interview was very challenging, but thanks to Orion, I was prepared. I received an offer from the two companies that brought me for a second interview. 

I was hired by BLM Group USA. They specialize in manufacturing automated machines that cut different types of pipes using high power lasers. It is very technical. I really enjoy working with state of the art equipment, and I really like the people I work for. The pay is more that I hoped for, and I feel really happy. The job requires a lot of travel, and it is all very interesting. I feel like I have a dream job.

When I compare my current job with my military career I see tons of similarities. Military or civilian, I have a lot of responsibilities: I must constantly train on different types of equipment, I have to be a team player to get the job done, there is a chain of command, and I deal with a lot of stress. 

Orion has no match! That is very clear to me. The level of preparation and support Orion provides to military people is the best. I dealt with my fair share of recruiters before, and none of them was so prepared, had so many high quality jobs, or provided assistance to job seekers like Orion does. 

If you put in the effort, and you have the right people helping you (Orion), there is no way to fail. Luck is when preparedness meets opportunity. I put a lot of effort into this; I did everything I could, and Orion guided me in the right direction. I am very grateful for the last two months which have been awesome! I must confess that at times, it seems too good to be true... Not every day you get hired to work in a company with so many benefits, good pay, good people, and doing what you really want to do. There is no way to beat that!