Sales Account Manager

West
US Air Force, O-2

I officially separated from the Air Force in September 2007 but began looking for a job in January 2007. After not having any kind of luck, one of my co-workers told me that he went through Orion International to find a job when he separated, so I looked the company up. Orion was able to get me in the door for the interview and set me up with a company that I had not heard of and therefore would not have considered before.

For me, the struggle in looking for a job was that I did not know where to look. I knew that if I could just get an interview with a company, I could show them how my military experience made me an ideal candidate. Too often, though, I would hear back from companies that I had found on my own that they were grateful for my military service, but that I just didn't have anything to offer their company. Orion had already shown these companies the benefits of hiring JMOs, so all that was left for me to do was sell myself as the best candidate.

At Orion, I worked with Katrina Ross and JP Sniffen. I felt that Katrina and JP listened to my needs, helped me with my resume, and listened to my concerns about the companies with whom I had interviewed. Their attention enabled me to negotiate a deal that worked best for me and my family.

I attended a hiring conference in Seattle at the end of June where I interviewed with Hilti. I found that Orion's interviewing prep-course and practice made a big difference on the day of interviews. Hilti then hired me as a manager trainee. I will begin in a senior account manager/sales position while training to become a regional manager within the company. I was looking for either a business sales or management position, and this job is providing both for me. I see this job as a great opportunity, both in the long-term and short-term.

Orion stood out among its competitors. No other recruiter I worked with took the time to conduct interview preparation. Also, with Orion, I felt more like an individual. For example, I worked with another company who told me that my resume with them should only include my military experience and nothing else. When I worked with Orion, they had me use all of my past experiences on my resume. It is my opinion that one of my past jobs I held before I was in the military really set me apart and helped me obtain the position I have. I had a great experience working with Orion and am very happy with the job that I found.