The Hunter - September 2021

In This Issue

Introducing Orion Talent’s SkillBridge Internship Program

Win a Full-Service DITY Move with PCSgrades

Military to Civilian: Business Consulting

Veteran Spotlight: Matthew Cunningham

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

Upcoming Hiring Conferences

Join the Orion Team

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

Companies Recently Hiring

Connect with Orion Online

Introducing Orion Talent’s SkillBridge Internship Program

Orion Talent is a proud participant of SkillBridge, a DoD program in which companies offer internships during a service member's last 180 days of Service. During this time, the service member trains and learns from an industry partner while still receiving military compensation and benefits.

You may be eligible to participate in SkillBridge if you have 180 days of service or fewer remaining prior to your date of separation and you have at least 180 continuous days of active service.* A SkillBridge opportunity is an excellent opportunity to enhance your marketability and post-separation career prospects.

Orion Talent values the experience, dedication and work ethic of service members like you and is currently offering the following in-person internships, with potential for employment:

Apply now if you’re interested in a SkillBridge internship; or if you want to learn more about the program, download the SkillBridge Internship Handbook, or contact Morgan Causie, Orion Talent SkillBridge Lead.

*Please note that release for SkillBridge is always mission-dependent and your unit Commander must authorize participation prior to entering into any agreement with interested industry employment partners.

Win a Full-Service DITY Move with PCSgrades

PCS is a part of military life, and each move can come with its own unique challenges. Whether you're currently preparing for your first move or want to be more prepared for your next, PCSgrades offers FREE resources created by and for military spouses, veterans, and real estate experts to help you navigate each step of the process.

Given this particularly challenging PCS season, PCSgrades joined forces with Shyft, an AI-powered moving marketplace, in addition to The Home Depot and Radisson Hotels Americas to give away up to $60,000 in prizes. Enter to win by August 31.

Enter to Win  »

Military to Civilian: Business Consulting

Today’s blog post is by Jericho Urmenita, an Orion Talent Recruiter, USMC Veteran and USNA graduate. Jericho discusses if business consulting is a good fit for transitioning military officers. Check out Jericho’s other blog post on PMP Certification.

Business Consulting? Corporate Strategy? Board Member? These roles are not uncommonly asked about by newly transitioning officers. There are a few paths available to those with the right specialized backgrounds but we must first ask some very real questions about where your background might truly lend itself to a consulting role.

Typically, when a candidate brings up consulting the first thing I ask them is: “Within a business, where do you see yourself and what would you advise them on?” It’s a very viable question that I believe everyone should ask themselves when considering any role and gets to the root question: what value can I add here? At the end of the day, companies pay for the value you bring to the table. The majority of the time the answer might include any number of combinations of the following:

My follow-up question is: “Excellent, what experience do you have that would help them, say, maximize profit like you said?” This is usually where the train comes off the tracks. For anyone I’ve talked with over the phone, I didn't mean to trigger you. Please understand that these questions are not to stump you. They are intended to help you frame the questions you should ask yourself and answer with real solutions. It is in truth difficult to become a business consultant for a newly transitioned officer, and I present my reasoning as to why that is and possible paths to achieve it for those that want it.

Think about business consultants you have either read books from or seen in the media. They tend to have one thing in common: they run a BUSINESS. Business leaders look for advice from people who have done what they are trying to do; that is to grow a machine that provides value through a product or service and in return, receives money. It makes sense, doesn’t it? If you want to fight your infantry battalion better, you find someone who has fought an infantry battalion to advise you in that regard. Just as “defeat the enemy by fire, maneuver, and close combat” would mean little to Jeff Bezos (no matter how good of a leader he is), I would guess EBITDA means very little to most of my fellow military officers out there. I know it means very little to me, and that’s the trouble, because EBITDA is one of the primary metrics to evaluate the health of a growing business. That’s right my friend, B Co. unfortunately does not count as a business.

“But I’m a leader and I can help them with leadership!” Certainly, but there’s more to it than that. I just know I'm ruffling some feathers here, but hear me out. There are a few paths for you still but it does require more than general leadership skill. Remember, companies are paying money for this consulting you wish to provide and they don’t pay for generalizations. The following are some possible paths:

Are you a technical specialist?

We have seen nuclear officers coming from energy consulting firms or communications officers coming from big data as IT consultants. This is the most common type of consulting, where very specialized individuals are asked to come in and optimize some process or system. It will typically also require a degree in that field coupled with your military experience. Think of Booz Allen Hamilton or a similar organization to help you go this route.

Are you a 99 percenter in a highly competitive MOS?

Consulting firms that hire top level talent from SOF and others do exist. Businesses don’t pay for 8s; but they do pay for 9s and 10s in leadership. Candidates that have gone this route typically did some significant networking.

Are you an O-4+ with a service academy buddy that owns a business?

We've seen folks join the inner circle that way as board members since they have the trust and confidence of their peers who have reached high levels of success in the business world.

How about that fresh off the press MBA that I got right after service?

I actually very recently saw a success story who went down this path. However, using your MBA in this way does require exceptional intentionality and effort. I’ll explain. After leaving service in 2017 as a Crypto Officer, he attended Harvard (pause there for a second and appreciate the effort to get accepted there alone) and proceeded to complete his MBA AND Masters in Cyber Security simultaneously. The MBA program allowed him to network with many decision makers in that area of business. He got a chance to intern at Apple because of the Cyber Security program. He networked. His peers from service who also went down the cyber path introduced him to even more relationships and he networked further. He will now assume a role as Director of Product Development for a cyber security company and advise a venture capital firm on new software company acquisitions. 

One word for these results: INTENTIONALITY. In degree source and choice as well as in networking. These are not jobs you apply to. They are jobs you are introduced to through intentional relationships that you have built particularly in the right circles. You wouldn’t necessarily network into these roles at just any job fair. Rockstar results are indeed possible with that MBA you’ve got, but only if you put in the time, effort and intentionality to warrant getting around other rock stars who can introduce you to these types of opportunities.

However, what if you were just a GTG officer not in any of those categories like me? Consulting doors are hard to open. So, where does that leave you? 

If you have the itch to lead and advise leadership, Orion has many roles where you can do just that directly within a company. Operations Analyst? Executive Leadership Program? Operations Manager? These are paths we can help you with where you can get in there and execute missions with your team. This is the bread and butter of using general leadership skills to your advantage.

And if you have that drive for business specifically, perhaps you can start your own! Orion has partnerships in this realm, and if you are serious about business, a franchise opportunity may be something to consider. Some opportunities may be started for the same price as a well-appointed Mustang GT and I know plenty of officers that have spent the money on those. A little shift in where you money is going and you can strategize to your heart's content, since it's your own business! Check out Orion’s franchise partnerships here and here.

As always, when considering any path, understand your target and put into motion the specific efforts it will take to make it happen. The days of “well-rounded” are over. You are a ball if you do that, and you’ll be bounced around accordingly. Get specific, get sharp and get on the cutting edge, wherever that is for you. 

If you are a military officer ready to find your next career with Orion, contact Jericho or find out more about our free career placement services for officers.

Veteran Spotlight: Matthew Cunningham

We’re proud to profile Matthew Cunningham, a former US Army Career Counselor who is now a Workforce Development Manager with Faith Technologies, an energy expert and national leader in electrical planning, engineering, design and installation. Though he enjoyed his time in the military, Matthew was ready to start a new adventure and career in the civilian world.

While COVID-19 did delay some of his plans, Matthew prepared for the transition process as best as he could. “I planned far enough in advance that I was still able to conduct informational interviews and learn about companies,” he stated. “I had many mentors that I reached out to that assisted me in my transition.”

Matthew reached out to Orion Talent to help him figure out what career path he wanted to take after his military service. “I had logistical, human resources, and talent management experience, but was not sure what I wanted to do after the Army,” Matthew explained. 

After interviewing with Faith Technologies, he knew it would be a good fit. “While I did not have a construction background, the skills I acquired through my 10 years as a Career Counselor aligned well with the Workforce Manager position,” he stated.

In addition to his skills as a Career Counselor, Matthew’s experience in the Army made him well equipped for his new career, most notably the ability to prioritize and manage time effectively, which have served him well in his new role. 

Matthew offered some advice for transitioning servicemembers. “While there is so much advice given to transitioning veterans, it can be daunting. My best advice is seek mentorship from trusted individuals and remember what attributes made you successful in the military,” Matthew advised. “While you are no longer serving, you can use those same attributes to be successful after you transition.”

If you are transitioning soon or are a veteran looking for a civilian career, join Matthew and the thousands of others like him who have found rewarding careers through Orion Talent. Register today to begin your career search with Orion.

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:

149. Reducing the Stress of Relocation from the First Relocation to the Last

148. Air Force Veteran Joins Office Pride, an Award-Winning Franchise

147. Rewarding Career Opportunities with Orion Talent

146. Discover the Power Within You with Navy Veteran/CEO, Joe Evangelisti

145. Build Your Own Path to Success with Nelson Tressler

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!  »

           

Upcoming Hiring Conferences

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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 - Austin, TX

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.

Director, Professional Search - Cincinnati, OH

As the Director, Professional Search, you'll identify, grow, and retain accounts in your specific vertical, including Construction, Finance/Accounting, Medical, Technology, or IT, driving high customer satisfaction, revenue growth, and year over year improvement. The Professional Search team will work with established account managers within our Search Division to gain knowledge of and access to Orion Talent accounts that include over 15,000 clients and a 50,000+ alumni network. You will also leverage prior contacts and industry knowledge to discover new opportunities and grow revenue. Learn more about this position and apply here.

Military Account Executives - San Diego, CA; Raleigh, NC; Virginia Beach, VA; 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

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!

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Connect with Orion Online

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