Process Engineer

West
US Navy, O-4

I was a LCDR (O-4) Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy. SWOs are trained to become experts in leadership and management while learning new missions and leading new teams every 18-36 months. It made me good at walking into a new environment and quickly learning the language and processes, so I could effectively lead the team and benefit the overall mission by finding better ways to do business and making the team more effective.

I worked with three recruiters at Orion. I initially met Karin Roberts at a base visit out in San Diego just before Memorial Day. She introduced me to the process and screened me as a candidate. She knew I was heading east as soon as my separation was final, so she immediately got me into the system for the Chicago DCC in July. She introduced me to Todd Phillips who was coordinating the DCC. Todd took the time to listen to what my priorities were and did his best to find good interview matches for me.

I spent the most time with Mike Wood in my specific preparations for the conference both on-line and in the small group sessions leading up to my interviews. Additionally, he advised me both during the conference and while I was in my second-interview phase. Todd was also very communicative during the second interview phase and helped me through the protocols of talking with multiple companies. Overall, the team of recruiters I worked with was very personable and passionate about their jobs.

 

My hiring process moved very quickly. In the six weeks between my initial meeting with Karin and the Chicago DCC, I attended three Orion webinars and talked with Todd about what I was looking for. I was initially scheduled for two interviews at the DCC, but during the social I began discussions with other companies that led to a third interview at the conference and an invitation to interview on-site with another company after the conference. From the three interviews I had at the DCC, I received invitations from two of the companies for an additional interview and ended up accepting a position with one of them. Within a month of the DCC, I have a job that I'm very excited about.

Had I not gone to the DCC, I would never have thought to apply for the position that I am holding as an Operations Manager at AMCOL's Health and Beauty Solutions plant. Orion facilitated the conversations that needed to take place for the match to be made. I had never interviewed for a job in my life prior to the DCC, and the information, advice, and encouragement that I received throughout the Orion preparation process was very effective.

I think that it is great to have a company like Orion that exclusively matches former military with good companies. The fact that Orion has laid the groundwork with the companies as far as the benefits of taking a chance on someone who has never been directly involved in their industry makes a huge difference. I could tell that the hiring managers were ready to look for the transferable skills that matched their needs rather than toss aside a resume/candidate because it didn't read like their specific position description. The hiring conferences are a very efficient way of getting hiring managers and job seekers together. I think all parties benefit considerably from that part of the process.