The Sword - April 2016

In This Issue

Orion 25th Anniversary Spotlight: Founding Partner Randy Nelson

Top 5 Reasons to Hire from Orion

National Distinguished Candidate Conferences

Upcoming Hiring Conferences

According to Our Clients

Meet Our Candidates

Refer a Colleague to Hire Military Talent

Connect with Orion

Orion 25th Anniversary Spotlight: Founding Partner Randy Nelson

Randy Nelson, one of the five founding partners of Orion, is a former Navy Submarine Officer. He served within the Navy Nuclear Program from 1983 to 1989, spending three of those years aboard the USS JAMES MADISON (SSBN-627)(BLUE CREW). 

After separating from the Navy in 1989, Randy began a recruiting career with the same military recruiting firm as Bill Laughlin and Jim Tully. It was their shared vision of creating a military recruiting company that was different and better than anything in the industry that led to the creation of Orion International. He now serves on Orion’s Board of Directors. 

We asked Randy to share his memories and advice below as Orion celebrates its 25-year anniversary.

What was the most fulfilling part of starting Orion? Knowing we could make a difference for both clients and candidates leaving the service, in a way that was different and better than other firms.

What were the circumstances and how did you feel making your first hire?  My first candidate hired  was Jonathan Fulton at Alcoa. I was relieved and ecstatic, and I remember his name 25 years later!

Do you have a veteran you placed that sticks out in your mind? We have had so many success stories over the past 25 years that it is hard to name just one. Marvin Hamilton would be one to mention—he rose very high in Target executive ranks.

What has your career path been since moving on from Orion? I remain on the Board of Directors, so I never really left. I built NSTAR Global Services into a leading semiconductor services company from 2002-2010 and recently published my first book, The Second Decision; The Qualified Entrepreneur. My current business is Gold Dolphins, LLC -- an executive coaching, public speaking, and consulting firm for entrepreneurs and leaders.

What advice do you have for other would-be veteran entrepreneurs? I have had the honor of speaking at two vetpreneur events recently, Patriot Boot Camp and VetStart (which was started by a former Orion employee). I told them to be very proud of their service, take advantage of their strengths (honesty, strong work ethic, integrity, loyalty, teamwork), and build a differentiated company, not just another company that does the same thing everybody else does. I also told them to work with mentors who can help along the way, people who have been there and done that and can act as a sounding board and advisor.

What advice do you have for us as we head in to Orion’s 26th year? Be very proud of what we have done and what you will continue to do at Orion. Remain the industry leader, and continue to take great care of our customers and our candidates. Keep the passionate service and hard work going!

Thank you, Randy, for giving us some insight into the early days of Orion! Your decision to take a chance and start a business 25 years ago has led to a company that has proudly served more than 36,000 veterans today.

Top 5 Reasons to Hire from Orion

1. Orion is the Nation’s Largest Military Recruiting Firm

We recruit from every domestic and many overseas installations on ongoing basis, and have unrivaled access to the top talent exiting the military. We heavily invest in our recruiting tools and networks so that you do not have to. 98% of our candidates would recommend us to a friend or colleague, and 92% say that our services are better than our competitors.

2. Candidates You Would not Otherwise Have Access to

Nearly 3/4 of Orion hires are sourced via methods that cannot be bought or built without our proprietary access and years of networking effort. In fact, more than 1/2 of the military professionals hired through Orion do not have an online job seeker profile.

3. The Quality of our Veteran Job Seekers

Orion’s Military Grade Talent represents 86% of transitioning Active Duty JMOs and 34% of Military Technicians and Technical NCOs separating from the military, and referrals are the #1 source of Military Candidates hired through Orion. We work with our candidates an average of 11 months before they are hired, ensuring the best possible match for each company and candidate.

4. Orion is the ONLY Military Recruiting Firm to Offer Military Talent Programs

Orion is the only company to offer a full-cycle Military Talent Program that address all phases of the process, from candidate attraction and recruiting, through on-boarding, integration, and retention. These programs focus on delivery consistent quality and quantity of candidates, at a lower cost per hire, while incorporation Brand Marketing, Training, and Consulting, to ensure the best possible results. Learn more about Military Talent Programs. 

5. Completely Customized Services to Meet Your Needs

While we offer a number of methods for candidate delivery, our specialty is creating a program unique to each of the organizations we support. At our expense we will visit your site and profile your needs, prior to creating a plan of action. We specialize in customized solutions and will partner with you to fill a single position, develop a high-volume recruiting program, or anything in between. Whether you need to quickly ramp up hiring for project based needs, are looking for a company-wide coordinated Military Talent Strategy, or are seeking to fill just a few positions with the right Military Talent, Orion has the solution.

To get started, contact us today!

National Distinguished Candidate Conferences

Mark your calendar for our upcoming National Distinguished Candidate Conferences:

April 25-26, 2016 in Philadelphia, PA

June 6-7, 2016 in San Diego, CA

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:

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.

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.

South Central

Denver, CO April 8, 2016
Houston, TX April 11, 2016

Midwest

Chicago, IL April 11, 2016
Hampton, VA April 18, 2016 (Interview Technicians for positions in the Midwest)

West

San Diego, CA April 11, 2016 

Southeast 

Raleigh, NC April 12, 2016

Northeast

Hampton, VA April 18, 2016 (Interview Technicians for positions in the Midwest)
Philadelphia, PA April 25-26, 2016 (Distinguished Candidate Conference) 

According to Our Clients

“This was my first Orion Hiring Conference, and I was extremely impressed. I had four candidates to choose from, all of whom were well qualified for the position. We got a great hire, and I am now trying to get my other District Manager counterparts to consider attending Orion Conferences."- Phil Strader, District Manager

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?