The Hunter - June 2021

In This Issue

Military Transition to Civilian Life Part 2 - From the Warzone to the Data Center

How to Handle Employer Ghosting

PODCAST: Army Veteran’s Rewarding Career with the USPTO

VA Refinance Loan FAQ with Mutual of Omaha Mortgage

Exclusive Opportunities Through Orion

According to Your Peers

Career Success with Orion

Podcast Series for Job Seekers

Join the Orion Team

Career Transition Planning and Base Visits

Earn $100 for Every Referral that Finds their Career through Orion

Companies Recently Hiring

Connect with Orion Online

Military Transition to Civilian Life Part 2 - From the Warzone to the Data Center

In part two of their blog series, Salute Mission Critical shares how military veterans are the ideal candidates for the data center industry with a recent global expansion project.

Ending your career in the military can come with many unknowns. How will you transition your skills learned in the military to a successful career in your civilian life? Will recruiters see you as a valued member of their company? In part one of this series, we discussed how a veteran could find a rewarding career in the data center industry after military transition. The data center industry needs you now more than ever because currently, it is experiencing a growing staffing shortage and already sees the value in hiring veterans like you.

With the help of Orion Talent and Salute Mission Critical, a data center services company, many veterans just like yourself have secured jobs in data centers and have become valuable assets within various sectors of the industry. In part 2 of this series, we talk about how a team of veterans is shaping how data centers are run and how military precision is a perfect fit for global data center operations.

Military Precision Leads to Data Center Success Story

Recently, Compass Data Centers, a leading provider of customized move-in ready data centers, partnered with Salute Mission Critical to provide the world’s technology leaders with a secure place to plug in wherever they grow.

With Salute’s help, they are equipped to leverage the tools to build tomorrow’s infrastructure while also hiring veterans to do it - solving the talent challenge that plagues most hyperscalers and colocation providers.

Salute Veterans Enable A Global Expansion

Compass Data Centers has now become more equipped to leverage the tools to build tomorrow’s infrastructure globally. Recently, Compass Data Centers began its planned expansion outside the U.S. via the acquisition of data centers in Montreal and Toronto. Salute Mission Critical partnered with Compass to provide them with an elite team of trained veterans to deploy their custom data centers into international markets with services that included:

Salute built the operational teams and processes for Compass Data Centers’ sites in Canada and  built the operational program from the ground up. In fact, Chris Crosby, Compass CEO shares:

“Most of the incidents happen in the data center industry due to human error. Having a team of operators who understand their purpose and how it translates to mission success is key to mitigating the risk of an incident...veterans are trained to think quickly and clearly to resolve the problems that inevitably arise.”

Veterans Were Mission Critical for the Compass Project

One of the things that Orion Talent, Salute Mission Critical and Compass Data Centers all have in common is the belief that military veterans are an ideal pool of candidates for work in the digital infrastructure industry if they have relevant training and on-the-job data center experience.

Salute has developed an efficient, repeatable system to give vets the training and experience needed to close the data center talent gap; Orion Talent connects veterans with companies like Salute to place them in competitive, highly sought-after positions in the data center industry. And data centers like Compass are able to fill their staff shortages with high quality veteran candidates. Chris Crosby says it best:

“Military veterans are an ideal pool of candidates for work in the digital infrastructure industry if they have relevant training and on-the-job data center experience. Salute has developed an efficient, repeatable system to give vets the training and experience needed to close the data center talent gap. It's an absolute no-brainer to work with veterans through Salute.”

Compass Data Centers’ global expansion success story depicts how a partnership enabled veterans to make a huge impact for data centers worldwide.  This is a perfect example of how much veterans are accomplishing in the data center industry through these successful partnerships.

To learn more about data center services and the training provided by Salute Mission Critical to veterans looking to enter the industry, contact them here.

How to Handle Employer Ghosting

If you are a veteran looking for a career change or are transitioning from the military into the civilian workforce, you have more than likely heard the term “ghosting.” Ghosting, or stopping all forms of communication and contact with someone without any warning and for no apparent reason, is becoming an alarming trend in the corporate world.

While ghosting is very common among job seekers, it is becoming increasingly more prevalent on the employer side as well. 

What Is "Employer Ghosting"?

Employer ghosting happens when a hiring manager expresses interest in a job seeker, but never follows up during the hiring process. This can happen at any point - during the initial application, first interview, or even second interview.

Why Does Employer Ghosting Happen?

Most of the time, an employer ghosting an applicant is very innocent, and there is more than likely a reasonable explanation. Some examples of employer ghosting could be:

They had an unexpected budget change.

Especially now, many companies are experiencing shifts in budget, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company may have restructured a few departments, and applicants could be falling through the cracks. They may be experiencing a hiring freeze, and the position could no longer be open.

They went in a different direction with hiring.

Many times, companies decide to hire a person for an open position from within. They may decide this while the job posting is still public, and while they are still accepting applications. 

They are experiencing organizational shifts due to COVID-19.

At the start of the pandemic, many companies had to pivot quickly, with companies shuttering offices and staff working remotely for the safety of their employees. This change may have led to hiring efforts put on pause, as hiring managers were focused on other aspects of their duties. 

Best practices for dealing with employer ghosting

It’s important to remember that it’s not the hiring managers’ intent to “blow off” interested applicants for open positions. Keep in mind the following tips for how to handle when a company goes dark:

DO...be respectful when communicating.

If you have not heard back during the application process, it is appropriate to reach out to the company or hiring manager for an update. However, throughout the job seeker process, it is important to always maintain a professional and polite attitude. When communicating with a hiring manager that is slow to respond within a reasonable time, be respectful and always thank them for their time and consideration. 

DO...be patient.

The job search process can take time, especially within the current job market climate. Give hiring managers time to review your application (think about the amount of time that you spent on resume writing, interview preparation, etc.!). 

DO...work with a Recruiter.

The best way to avoid employer ghosting is to work with a Recruiter. An Orion Talent Recruiter will have inside knowledge of any position that they present to you, and are in direct contact with the hiring manager that is looking to fill the position. Companies that work with Orion Talent are interested in hiring veterans, and are eager to fill the position in a specific time frame.  

DON'T...take it personally.

If you become a victim of employer ghosting, it’s important to not take the silence personally. More than likely, it has nothing to do with you. Keep moving forward in the job search process, and take the extra time to continue to hone your interview skills.

DON'T...ghost a company yourself.

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is to not ghost a company yourself, even if you have had it happen to you. Remember, ghosting can have a negative impact on your future career options, and maintaining a positive relationship with a hiring manager may come in handy the next time you are searching for a job.

Orion Talent drastically reduces the chances of a veteran job seeker becoming victim to employer ghosting. To help leverage your job search, register on our site to start the job search process and help get your resume in the hands of employers who are looking to hire veterans and transitioning military!

PODCAST: Army Veteran’s Rewarding Career with the USPTO

Orion has proudly partnered with The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the federal agency responsible for granting U.S. intellectual property rights for patents and trademarks. Consistently ranked as one of the best places to work in the federal government, the USPTO aims to be the employer of choice for veterans as well. On average, the organization has hired 100 veterans each year since 2012. 

USPTO’s veteran employees have a proven track record of success after transitioning from the military into federal service. Raj Chakraborty, an Army Veteran hired as a Patent Examiner nearly eight years ago, is one example of veteran success at the USPTO. Raj is now a Supervisory Patent Examiner, and recently joined Orion’s “From the Battlefield to the Boardroom” podcast to discuss his career progression from entry-level to leadership, the USPTO's veteran-friendly culture, and what makes it a great place to work.

One of the things Raj enjoys the most about his career with the USPTO is continuing his service to our country by protecting American ingenuity. “Intellectual property is one of the foundational pillars of the U.S. economy. To be able to contribute to the economy overall and U.S. innovation that ranges from someone working in their garage all the way to big tech companies, is an amazing way to continue serving your country after the military,” he explained.

In addition to the rewarding nature of a Patent Examiner’s work, the USPTO also offers an unparalleled culture and work-life balance. “The work-life balance and the collegial environment tie together here. It allows people to work while they’re at work, but it’s not a job that you’re likely to get a call on your cell phone at 9 pm. As far as the culture, everyone supports each other and they’re looking out for each other to succeed. My managers have always gone above and beyond to make sure I was successful,” said Raj.

Listen to the Podcast:

The USPTO currently has Patent Examiner openings supporting each of the following disciplines:

 - Design (Fine Arts/Graphic Design)

 - Biomedical Engineering 

 - Computer Engineering

 - Electrical Engineering

 - Mechanical Engineering 

In this role, your efforts will play a critical role in giving inventors exclusive rights over their discoveries. A Patent Examiner reviews applications to determine whether patents can be granted for inventions. Patents give inventors the right to exclude others from making or selling their inventions for a limited time. As a Patent Examiner, you will handle these basic patent examining functions: 

 - Search prior art to ensure that an invention is new and unique.

 - Review patent applications to ensure conformity to formal requirements.

 - Write legal office actions on patentability and respond to patent applications.

Visit us online to learn more and apply for a Patent Examiner career with USPTO.

VA Refinance Loan FAQ with Mutual of Omaha Mortgage

Exclusive Opportunities Through Orion

According to Your Peers

Career Success with Orion

Podcast Series for Job Seekers

Have you tuned in to From the Battlefield to the Boardroom, our podcast series dedicated to supporting military job seekers? We have a variety of episodes covering everything from the civilian transition process to valuable insights and guidance from other Veterans and business leaders.

We've recently added new podcasts, including:

144. Launch a Career with America's Innovation Agency

143. Ask A Recruiter: Should I Pursue a Degree or a Career?

142. Founder/CEO of Veteran Owned & Operated Franchise

141. Launch an "Essential" Career with ForgeNow

140. How to Maximize Your Military-to-Civilian Career Transition

If you are ready to enter the interview process, visit our Interview Essentials page to sharpen your interview skills!

Visit us online to listen to all the episodes, and explore our new podcast categories on each stage of the transition process. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast platform or RSS feed, to automatically receive new episodes as they are released.

We'd love to feature your questions in our upcoming episodes. If you have any questions you'd like to hear us answer, click below to email us!

LET US ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS!  »

           

Join the Orion Team

Orion Talent is a customer-centric company focused on helping people discover meaningful careers and businesses grow by finding, delivering, and engaging the best talent around the world. As we continue to experience growth, we are seeking outstanding men and women to join our team. We are looking for individuals that are highly motivated, driven, energetic, and have a passion for helping industry-experienced candidates and veterans find the right career.

We are veterans, professionals, mothers, fathers, men, and women, all focused on one mission: To help people discover meaningful careers and businesses grow by finding, delivering, and engaging outstanding talent around the world.Orion offers its employees competitive salaries, and benefits including paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, medical, dental, and vision coverage, short- and long-term disability, health savings account (HSA), and 401(k) retirement plan.

Positions with Orion Talent

Below is a list of position descriptions for which we most frequently recruit. Be sure to check out each position's page to see if we are currently recruiting for that role and apply if interested. Alternatively, you can view a list of all of our current openings here.

Senior Business Development Leader - Remote

As a Senior Business Development Leader on our National Sales Team, you'll be responsible for leading end-to-end sales cycles for both new business development and existing account expansion, from qualifying new leads and targets through contract negotiation to RPO opportunities and Talent Programs. You will support and enhance Orion's Talent Programs offerings, including solution design and technology / operational enhancements. Learn more about this position and apply here.

Business Development Representative - Remote

As a Business Development Representative, you will work with Orion's Senior Sales Executives calling new leads and prospective customers. The Business Development Representative is meant to serve as a developmental role towards an Account Executive position. Orion will provide you with sales training and recruiting industry training to ensure you have the tools you need to succeed in this role. You'll report to either the Regional Sales Manager or National Business Development Account Executive. Learn more about this position and apply here.

Military Account Executives - San Diego, CA; Cincinnati, OH

As an Account Executive on our Military Talent Solutions team, you'll be a sales leader responsible for growing and developing new business for Orion Talent. You'll serve as a custom solutions developer for top US corporations, uncovering new companies interested in leveraging our resources for military hiring. You'll work autonomously to develop and improve your regional territory, with the backing of your regional leadership, corporate staff, and 30 years of collective company experience. Learn more about this position and apply here.

RPO Sourcing Specialist - Remote

As a Sourcing Specialist on our RPO team, you'll be responsible for building a pipeline of highly qualified candidates and evaluating these candidates against position requirements. You'll support various administrative endeavors in the recruiting process, and work to sharpen your skills as an integral part of the recruiting team. Learn more about this position and apply here.

RPO Recruiter - Remote

Career Transition Planning and Base Visits

Our virtual base visits are a chance to get a jump start on your career search, regardless of your ETS date. Our Recruiters will discuss your goals and preferences with you and present a realistic picture of what to expect in your search. You'll get resume advice, interview preparation tips, and much more! 

We will be holding virtual base visits for JMOs and Degreed NCOs on the following dates:

May 20 - NAS Lemoore, CA
May 21 - Camp Lejeune/Fort Bragg, NC
May 28 - Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA
June 15 - Fort Hood, TX

If you would like to attend, please fill out this form or contact Morgan Causie.

Earn $100 for Every Referral that Finds their Career through Orion

Did you know that Orion candidates earned $3,600 in referral bonuses through the first quarter of 2021?

For every job seeker you refer to us who is subsequently hired through Orion, you'll receive a $100 gift card to a retailer of your choice after they reach 90 days on the new job!

It's simple - just click here to refer a friend. 30 seconds of your time could be $100 in your pocket!

Companies Recently Hiring

Connect with Orion Online

Follow us to keep up-to-date on all things Orion, including hiring events, base visits, webinars, and news pertinent to veterans through our social media listed below.