The Hunter - May 2019

Would you purchase a house without consulting a realtor? What about transitioning out of the military and starting a civilian career without the help of a military recruiter? Brian Henry, Senior Vice President at Orion Talent, breaks down the top five ways military recruiters are like realtors, and how you can utilize this resource to achieve the best possible outcome - a rewarding career after the military.

A trusted advisor to help steer you in the right direction.

“A realtor knows his/her market, and a good one is going to get to know his/her client and understand their wants and needs, and then offer solutions that align with their stated goals,” Brian explained. “They have years of experience in the market and can advise their client to zero in on the right locations and types of housing that will meet their need.”

Similarly, a military recruiter has experience in their niche of the job market and has worked with hundreds of different companies and types of jobs. “After getting to know a candidate’s background and preferences, they are able to provide insight on the types of roles that the candidate is qualified for and confirm the expected salary ranges and availability of those opportunities in the locations the candidate desires,” Brian stated.

While anyone can browse the internet and search for homes for sale, a realtor will use his/her established network to streamline the process and find “off-market” deals or hot leads on houses that are just coming on the market.

“In a similar manner, job seekers can engage with an experienced military recruiter who will have access to ‘off market opportunities,’ and many other positions that have an urgency to hire,” Brian explained.

Their fees are not paid by you, but by the client companies.

As a home buyer, you get the services of a professional realtor, but their commission is paid by the seller. As a job seeker, you get to tap into the services of a military recruiter and all those their team without having to pay anything for that service.

In the case of military recruiters, the company that ultimately hires you will pay the fee for the services of the military recruiter. “Contrary to some myths, that fee is NOT taken out of your salary. It is a fee negotiated between the recruiting firm and the company that is typically a percentage that is based on your first year’s base salary,” Brian explained. “The higher your salary, the higher the fee to the military recruiter. Truly a win-win scenario!”

They do the heavy lifting.

A realtor will scour the MLS, coordinate with sellers and other agents, and schedule a day of house hunting, getting you access to pre-selected homes to see first hand outside of an open house setting.

With a military recruiter, you can get similar filtered access directly to the decision makers inside a company. “At an Orion Hiring Conference, you are not just attending an ‘open house’ or job fair. You are invited to a professional event with detailed information sessions, interview preparation seminars and scheduled one-on-one interview sessions with the company representatives you have been matched with, based on your background and preferences,” Brian said.

Additionally, military recruiting firms have a staff of Account Executives that are working every day to find new companies with vetted openings. “In the case with Orion, those companies are specifically interested in and want to hire candidates with a military background,” he explained.

They help with every step of the process.

A realtor will work with their client all the way through the process from finding the right home, negotiating and writing up the offer, and finally closing the deal.

A military recruiter is there to do the same thing, from resume and interview preparation, specific company briefings, giving feedback throughout the process, and providing assistance in negotiating and accepting a position. “Another benefit of using a military recruiter is that the military recruiter is likely to have inside knowledge. They may know if you are competing with three other candidates for the same position, give you key advice that helps you win the job, or help you in a situation where you have multiple offers come in at the same time,” Brian added.

They help land your new career - and are there if you need help in the future.

A realtor builds their business based on referrals. They want to put you into a home and deliver a great experience, and their hope is that you will refer your friends. Also, when the time comes for you to sell your home, they hope you will come back to them for your next move.

Similarly, military recruiters thrive on recommendations of past candidates. “The best thing a candidate can do to ‘pay’ the military recruiter for their services is to refer others,” Brian explained. “The relationship with the military recruiter does not end with taking that first job. We have seen many candidates promoted to Hiring Managers and come back to us looking for people to add to their team. In cases where someone needs to make another career move, they can quickly re-engage with the military recruiter to kick start the next search.”

Find out more about how Orion Talent can help you find a career after the military, and register to gain access to a military recruiter today.

Careers for Veterans with TEKsystems

Orion has recently partnered with TEKsystems, an industry leader in Technology and Talent Services, to provide rewarding careers for IT Professionals in its key Technical Performance Areas:

- Applications Services
- Cyber Security
- Cloud Services & Network Support
- IT Support, Outsourcing and Deployment

TEKsystems has a team of 80,000 and works with 6,000 clients, including 80% of the Fortune 500 companies across North America, Europe and Asia. TEKsystems invests in nurturing and developing a new generation of leaders for whom diversity is a core strength and asset, and helps like-minded organizations do the same.

Military Friendly

TEKsystems has helped thousands of servicemen and women—more than 15,000 since 2013—with their career aspirations in a wide variety of fields, including the leadership of its own company. With a broad range of career development, training and transition programs, the company provides the flexibility and support you need for a successful career.

TEKsystems firmly believes that companies should take extra steps to help veterans transition to rewarding careers and to accommodate active reservists. The company understands the exceptional grit, discipline and work ethic the military instills can help organizations achieve great things.

The company’s commitment to veterans includes veterans recruiting programs, Guard- and reserve-friendly policies, partnerships with the Pat Tillman Foundation, VetsinTech, and the Military Spouse Employment Partnership. In addition to its partnerships, TEKsystems has earned numerous awards including:

Visit us online to learn more and apply for an IT career with TEKsystems.

High School Student Ashley Kimbel Uses Siemens USA Solid Edge Software to Build Prosthetic Limb for Local USMC Veteran

When Huntsville, AL high school senior Ashley Kimbel heard about Kendall Bane’s story and his limitations with his prosthetic limb hindering his active outdoor lifestyle, she decided to come up with a solution.

Kendall Bane, a local USMC Veteran who lost his leg in Afghanistan, has a passion for mountain biking, white-water rafting, snowboarding, and other outdoor activities, which his previous prosthetic limb hindered him from doing. “I’ve always been an active person, and I’ve always loved the outdoors,” said Bane in a Today show segment. “I have a heavy duty foot that allows me to be very active. But at the same time it’s a bit heavy, and anything that requires more energy really just fatigues me faster.”

Using Siemens’ Solid Edge software platform, Ashley was able to design, create, and test a more comfortable, flexible, and efficient prosthetic limb, without ever leaving her engineering classroom.

Siemens’ Solid Edge software platform allows engineers to virtually design a product or new process. By creating a “digital twin” of the physical product, the software will recommend design changes and perform virtual tests, ultimately leading to a more advanced and efficient final design and product.

Over the course of a year, with the help of her teacher and working closely with Kendall, Ashley was able to come up with a prosthetic limb that is sturdy, lighter, and more versatile.

“My goal as an amputee is to remain as active as I can,” Kendall said. “A lighter foot helps not to tire me out and enjoy the outdoor activities that I love.”

Watch the video below to learn more about how Ashley Kimbel used this Siemens technology to help USMC Veteran Kendall Bane.

Siemens is dedicated to helping veterans, and has partnered with Orion Talent to hire military members for positions across the country. Over the last 20 years, nearly 1,500 veterans have found rewarding careers at Siemens through Orion Talent. As this partnership continues to grow and expand, we are seeking outstanding Military Technicians and Officers to join the Siemens team. Learn more about a career with Siemens.

Military Officers Connect with Civilian Careers at Orion’s Distinguished Candidate Conferences

Orion Talent is gearing up for another exciting season of Distinguished Candidate Conferences. With DCCs scheduled in May and June all across the country, there will be Engineering, Sales, Project Management, Leadership Development, and Operations Management positions available nationwide.

Distinguished candidates include graduates of Military Service Academies or Top Universities, those with an advanced education, and those that have consistently ranked above their peers in Officer Evaluations.

Our DCCs offer a unique format, designed to maximize our candidates’ chances of receiving a job offer, consisting of interview preparation, briefings by the interviewing companies, and a President's Reception to network with hiring managers and other candidates, culminating in interviews the next day.

You can view a complete guide to our DCCs in this video featuring Orion Regional Recruiting Manager Mike Wood:

The feedback from candidates attending our DCCs is consistent every year, with veterans saying it is by far the best way to find their next career.

In 2018, nearly 130 Military Officers found their civilian careers through our Distinguished Candidate Conference, with companies including Corning, Honeywell, Ingersoll Rand, Siemens, and many others. See below for our upcoming DCC schedule:

May 6 - 7, 2019 - Chicago, IL Request an Application
June 3 - 4, 2019 - San Diego, CA Request an Application
June 10 - 11, 2019 - Parsippany, NJ Request an Application

Orion only holds a few DCCs each year, so opportunities to attend are limited. If you would like to be considered for one of these special hiring events, please contact us via the links above.

Virtually Interview for your Next Career through Orion Talent

An Orion virtual interview is your chance to interview with hiring managers for positions across the U.S. that are a match with your background, skills, and preferences. All you need is a good internet connection and smartphone or web camera to interview for your next career from anywhere in the country without the need to travel.

Orion virtual interviews are an effective and efficient way to find your next career. And as more and more companies turn toward this technology, it's important to become comfortable in front of the camera.

Here are just a few of Orion's top clients who virtually interview military talent:

Lam Research
Unilever
Schwan's
Siemens
Stryker
Lutron

Orion's next Virtual Hiring Event will be held on May 22-24 for careers in the Eastern U.S. and Midwest for Military Technicians. Learn more and apply to be considered.

Listen to our podcast to hear an Orion Account Executive discuss keys to acing your virtual interview:

Keep Your Resume Up to Date in our Database

If you haven't already, be sure to upload your updated resume in our database. Our search engine will pull key information from your resume that recruiters are searching for current job opportunities. By keeping an updated resume on file in our database, you will increase the chance of us making a great match as new career opportunities are presented.

You can upload your resume by logging in to your account and selecting "My Resume," entering in your information, and uploading your document. Forgot your password? Click on the forgot password link and enter your email address.

You can register on our site here. Creating an account gives you access to apply for jobs in which you are interested, and allows our recruiters to identify you as a potential match for positions they are are seeking to fill.

Exclusive Opportunities Through Orion

New Video Series: Minute with Mike

We are pleased to introduce a new weekly video series, Minute with Mike! Every Tuesday, Recruiting Manager Mike Wood offers a brief review of the current job opportunities nationwide. Watch the video below to see this week's, and keep an eye out on social media for the weekly editions!

According to Your Peers

Career Success with Orion

Podcast Series for Job Seekers

Have you tuned in to From the Battlefield to the Boardroom, our podcast series dedicated to supporting military job seekers? We have a variety of episodes covering everything from the civilian transition process to valuable insights and guidance from other Veterans and business leaders.

We've recently added new podcasts, including:

79. Rewarding Careers for Veterans with HSB

78. 5 Tips for Leading When You're Not the Boss

77. Nationwide Franchise Opportunities with RedLine Athletics

76. Navy Veteran Finds Success with Siemens as a Senior Product Engineer

75. Navy Electrician Finds Rewarding Career as a Maintenance Manager

If you are ready to enter the interview process, listen to these episodes!

Visit us online to listen to all the episodes, and explore our new podcast categories on each stage of the transition process. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast platform or RSS feed, to automatically receive new episodes as they are released.

We'd love to feature your questions in our upcoming episodes. If you have any questions you'd like to hear us answer, click below to email us!

Upcoming Hiring Conferences

If you will be separating from the military and preparing to begin your civilian career within the next 90 days, be sure to attend one of our hiring conferences. After a full day of preparation, you'll interview with hiring managers for only those positions that are a match with your needs and preferences.

Northeast

Parisppany, NJ May 5 - 6 - Officers please contact Chris Hurst, 757-998-8524, for more information; Enlisted candidates please contact Annette Stephens, 757-998-8520, for more information.

South Central

Austin, TX May 9 - 10 - Officers please contact Bob Berkholz, 737-209-3362, for more information; Enlisted candidates please contact Doug Bell, 737-209-3361, for more information.

Midwest

Chicago, IL (Military Technicians) May 5 - 6 - Contact Dan Young, 513-644-3355, for more information.

Chicago, IL (Distinguished Candidate Conference) May 6 - 7 - Contact Dan Young, 513-644-3355, for more information.

Southeast

Columbia, SC May 6 - 7 - Contact Kristin Zimmerman, 984-208-3987, for more information.

Western

Seattle, WA May 9 - 10 - Contact Jay Koranda, 858-267-4233, for more information.

Virtual Hiring Event

East and Midwest (Military Technicians) May 22 - 24 - Contact Rick Hinkson, 757-998-8541, for more information.

Join the Orion Team

Account Executive Careers with Orion

Orion Talent is currently seeking transitioning or former military officers with a strong record of achievement to join our Sales Team as an Account Executive. We are hiring for our San Diego, CA; Virginia Beach, VA; Austin, TX; and Cincinnati, OH offices.

As an Account Executive, you will be responsible for identifying and working closely with America's leading companies in order for them to hire transitioning military veterans and develop smarter hiring programs. Average total first year income for Account Executives is $80K+, with a goal of $100K+ in your second year and beyond.

To qualify, you should have military experience, a Bachelors degree, and a desire to succeed in sales. You do not need prior sales experience, as we will provide you the training, tools and resources needed to succeed.

Visit our Account Executive Careers with Orion Talent page to learn more about working at Orion, including a video, podcast, and webinar on our Account Executive positions.

Watch the video below from Dave Lehmkuhl, our Raleigh Regional Sales Manager, for more info about this position:

Once you are ready to apply, the next step is to complete an online sales assessment.

If you're looking for a quick way to introduce yourself, please send an email that includes your resume to our Senior Vice President of Operations, Brian Henry.

Career Transition Planning and Base Visits

When our Recruiters visit a location near you, it's a chance to get a jump start on your career search, regardless of your ETS date. Our Recruiters will discuss your goals and preferences with you and present a realistic picture of what to expect in your search. You'll get resume advice, interview preparation tips, and much more! Click here or on any of the base visits to receive more information about the base visit you are interested in attending. You can also fill out this base visit form for more info or email careers@oriontalent.com.

Camp Lejeune - May 1
Fort Bliss - May 22
Fort Hood - June 18
Fort Hood - June 26
Fort Carson - July 24
Fort Hood - July 31

Earn $100 for Every Referral that Finds their Career through Orion

Did you know that Orion candidates earned $34,000 in referral bonuses in 2018?

For every job seeker you refer to us who is subsequently hired through Orion, you'll receive a $100 gift card to a retailer of your choice after they reach 90 days on the new job!

It's simple - just click here to refer a friend. 30 seconds of your time could be $100 in your pocket!

Connect with Orion Online

Follow us to keep up-to-date on all things Orion, including hiring events, base visits, webinars, and news pertinent to veterans through our social media listed below.