The Sword - April 2015

Orion Founding Partner Randy H. Nelson on His New Book, The Second Decision

On Friday, March 6^th, Randy H. Nelson stopped by Orion International’s headquarters in Cary, NC, to speak about his book, The Second Decision, that came out last month, as well as to sign copies. Randy was a founding partner of Orion International and led the way for many of the business systems and procedures that the company uses today.

Randy spoke briefly about his vision of forming Orion International with four other former Junior Military Officers, relating the tremendous growth that the company saw within the first couple of years. Today, thanks to the hard work and dedication of Randy and his business partners, Orion International has grown into five offices and has placed over 33,000 veterans into civilian careers. Read more about Orion International’s history here.

He then went on to speak about his book, which addresses the second part, or “second decision”, of becoming an entrepreneur.  He explained that while it is easy to begin a business, running a successful business requires extensive business knowledge and decision-making processes, posing the question, “Do you have what it takes to run a business?”

Randy H. Nelson reads an excerpt from his book at Orion's headquarters in Cary, NC

Randy finished his talk with a call to action to become more self-aware, especially in the area of knowledge. “Always keep learning,” he stated, “and when you think you’ve learned it all – start again.”

The Second Decision is available for purchase here. You can learn more about Randy Nelson and his story on his website.

Why Variable Workforce Staffing May be Right for your Hiring Needs

Military Talent is an outstanding source of proven and dependable talent for temporary, seasonal or project work, without adding to permanent headcount. Companies who utilize this talent also enjoy budget flexibility when paying recruiting fees is not an option, or when there’s not a funded permanent position. They also maximize their return on investment on operational and technical talent, while lowering their risk and overhead cost.

Variable Workforce Staffing is great fit for companies looking to fill positions like Equipment Operators, Production and Operations Supervisors, Assembly Line Workers, Field Service Technicians and Engineers, Test and Manufacturing Technicians, as well as Quality and Project Engineers.

Military Veterans are uniquely qualified for these positions, as they possess mechanical aptitude and a wealth of intangibles, such as outstanding work ethic, self-discipline, eagerness to excel, and proven performance under the most difficult of circumstances.

If you are looking for a scalable staffing model that doesn’t add to overhead and provides outstanding military talent, click here to learn more about how your company can benefit from Variable Workforce Staffing.

Upcoming Hiring Conferences

Meet Our Candidates

National Distinguished Candidate Conference

Mark your calendar for our upcoming National Distinguished Candidate Conference:

Philadelphia, PA
May 4-5, 2015

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 Conference is designed to recruit, assess, screen, and present the top military candidates for your hiring needs. In 2014, nearly 100 client companies strategically hired Orion’s Military Officers through our Distinguished Candidate Conferences, with over 40% making multiple hires.

Orion’s 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.

Veteran Spotlight: Joe Shupe

The Sword recently caught up with Joe Shupe, a former MM1(SW) ELT in the Navy and 1LT Signal Corps in the Army, whom Orion matched with a sales career at Nalco, the world's leading water treatment and process improvement company. His job search process began in August 2014 when he contacted Orion in preparation for his February 2015 separation from the Army. His transition continued through October 2014 when he attended an Orion Hiring Conference, which was noted in an article in Middle Market Growth by Judith Nemes titled “Enlisting Veterans to Bolster Employee Forces”.

Joe attended both an Orion Distinguished Candidate Conference in Chicago and a Hiring Conference in San Diego.  After both conferences, he was invited back to the headquarters of interested employers, where he was given the chance for further interviews and ride-alongs. In her article, Nemes writes that Joe interviewed with seven companies and had been called back by four at the time of publication. She attributes that success to his technical, leadership, and management experience from his time in the military.

In his new position as a District Sales Representative with Nalco, Joe is required to work with large production plants that have many similarities to the propulsion plants that he worked with in the Navy. The leadership experience and presentation skills that Joe gained in the Army will be put to good use, as well.  “I will be making business proposals to key leaders within California's production plants across the Central Valley.  After serving as a junior officer in the Army, I now possess the confidence and ability to make great presentations and leave a good impression on my clients,” explains Joe. He says he is also delighted with the differences that he sees between his civilian and military careers:  “I have much more control over my earnings and my career path now that I am with Nalco.”

Joe has served in the military twice in his lifetime and, therefore, knows what it is like to leave the comfort and security that the military has to offer.  “The first time I served in the Navy, I made the transition by myself.  At the time, I was filled with anxiety and a sense of uncertainty,” recalls Joe, “The second time, I made contact with Orion before I left.  I cannot believe the difference that Orion has made.  My transition was significantly less stressful and much more enjoyable.  Even now, I feel much better knowing that Orion is out there.”

Want to learn more about how Orion can help you hire military leaders like Joe? Click here!

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 now!

Connect with Orion

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

• You can join our LinkedIn group for employers, Hire a Hero, Hire a Vet®. This group is a great way to show your support of veterans in the civilian workforce. In addition, we have recently launched the Hire a Hero, Hire a Vet® for Veterans subgroup for all Veteran members who are interested in networking and learning about career opportunities.

• Read our blog, Hire a Hero, Hire a Vet®. This blog covers everything from veterans in the news to general employer-employee relations. Check it out!

• You can follow Orion on Twitter (@hirevets) to receive updates about Orion, learn about upcoming hiring events, and find links to articles of interest.

• Orion is now on Google+! Follow us to keep up to date on all things Orion.