Accout Manager
West
US Army, O-3
I left as a Captain in the Army. The Army taught me hard work, leadership, organization, teamwork, accountability, and how to solve problems. All of these skills are transferable skills that companies look for in a candidate. Even if you aren't going into a leadership role (and I didn't), companies still like to see leadership experiences in candidates because it means they have the potential to grow.
Tim Duba was my main contact at Orion. I credit him with my smooth transition out of the Army and into a good career. Not only did he listen to what I wanted, but he took a chance on me since I was location bound to a specific city due to family reasons. He never tried to show me jobs outside of my city and only showed me jobs that I was interested in (sales). Tim fought to find opportunities for me within my city and always kept me in the loop on what was happening both at the companies I was interviewing with and what was happening within Orion. Without Tim's dedication, I would have had a much rockier transition, and most likely still have been looking for a job.
I went both to hiring conferences and direct placement interviews with Orion. I would highly recommend hiring conferences because, not only do you get to interview with a number of different companies, but you receive briefings on the companies (which helps you with the interview and deciding if the company/job is a good fit). Also, you can practice your interview skills. Both aspects contribute greatly to your success on the actual interview day. The direct placement interviews work well for opportunities outside of hiring conference windows, and you receive a briefing from Orion about the position and company.
I am now an Account Manager (salesman) for Hilti North America. Planning is huge as a salesman, as you plan out your day, week, month, and you are accountable for your success (or failure). This means waking up every day and working hard, something that anybody in the military will have mastered. Also, my job in sales means I need to influence people; and, being a leader in the military, I had to influence people, from my subordinates to my peers to my commander. The only difference here is that the influencing is more subtle, but the same principle applies.
Orion not only met my needs but exceeded my expectations of what a career placement company would do for me. They understood what I wanted for a career, how I was geographically bound, and found amazing opportunities for me. They were in constant contact with me, kept me informed of all opportunities, and helped me develop my interviewing skills.
Orion cared about me, invested time in me, and looked out for my interests. I cannot say this about any other company that I worked with. The other companies basically kept me on file and would send out an email if something happened to line up. Even then it was last minute and rushed, with little time to prepare and little to no information about the company and position I would interview for. Orion prepares you for success by investing time in you, listening to you, and working with you. They are by far the best career placement company.