Your Transition Timeline

One of the first questions to cross a transitioning veteran's mind is when is the best time to begin their career search. In most cases, the right answer is approximately 18 months from the date you plan to begin your next career. Based on that timeline, you can use the following checklist as a guide to ensure you are doing everything possible to prepare for your transition. 18 – 7 months prior to your separation date Attend a base visit presentation and/or schedule a base visit interview. Conduct an initial phone screen with an Orion Candidate Recruiter to determine initial interests and establish general target locations. Your recruiter will send you an initial preparation packet. Establish your timeline. Let your recruiter know your planned Earliest Start Date. Begin your professional reading in target areas using our suggested reading list. Subscribe to The Hunter, Orion’s monthly e-newsletter for military job seekers. You will stay up-to-date on industry trends, articles of interest and Orion hiring events and featured job opportunities. It’s a great way to get a jump start on your civilian career.  Follow Orion on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for updates on our hiring conferences, base visits, and career opportunities. Visit Orion’s Transition Corner and read about the transition experiences of Orion Alumni, see our advice for every step of the hiring process, and download our e-book, Career Transition Guide for Military Job Seekers. During this time, we will be in contact with you every couple of months to check in, and determine your progress.

6 – 4 months prior to your separation date Attend a base visit presentation and/or schedule a base visit interview. Contact your Orion Candidate Recruiter about your preferences. Make sure you clearly communicate the industries that you are looking for, your salary range, and geographic preferences. Keep in mind that the more flexible you are, the more opportunities we can show you. Complete your resume using one of our two resume formats. Continue professional readings. Complete interview preparation as assigned by your Orion Candidate Recruiter. Your Orion Candidate Recruiter will recommend a hiring conference for you based on your projected timeline and geographic preferences.

4 months prior to your separation date Finalize plans to attend a regional hiring conference as recommended by your Orion Candidate Recruiter. Continue professional readings. Conduct a mock interview with your Orion Candidate Recruiter. Ensure resume is completed in accordance with Orion resume standards.  Send a final draft to your Orion Candidate Recruiter for review. Call your Orion Candidate Recruiter to finalize your transition timeline.

3 months out - separation  Attend a hiring conference, mini-conference®, or be submitted to an opportunity via direct placement. Your Orion Candidate Recruiter will contact you as opportunities arise. Please stay in regular contact with your Recruiter throughout the hiring process.

Transition Date  Begin your civilian career! Your Orion Recruiter will be in frequent contact with you as you start your new position and beyond. Join Orion’s Alumni Club to keep in touch with Orion and your fellow Alumni.

Veteran Spotlight: Robb Adams

Robb Adams recently sat down with From the Battlefield to the Boardroom to discuss the path his career has taken since he separated from the Army ten years ago. A military brat, Adams served as both a commissioned and non-commissioned officer and was a Battalion Fire Support Officer at the time of his separation. Adams partnered with Orion International in his career search and was subsequently placed with a pharmaceutical company.

Ten years later, Adams has worked for two companies and has been promoted three times. “I served in leadership roles and have seen my salary increase by 163%!,” Adams tells From the Battlefield “I attribute all of these successes to the leadership and discipline that I learned while serving my country. I would not change a thing about my decision to serve as both an Army Officer and Navy Corpsman.”

That military experience comes into play every day for Adams. As a Field Reimbursement Manager for MedImmune, an immunization developer, he is a field-based employee who operates autonomously. “The discipline instilled in all of us who have served makes working in that type of environment extremely easy. We were all trained to work with limited guidance and supervision in the face of adversity and are expected to make the best decision possible with the information you have. This happens every day for me. It’s a matter of getting up every day and doing what is right, often with limited guidance,” remarks Adams.

Adams tells  From the Battlefield that veterans should not get discouraged in their quest to find the right job.  He reminds them military leadership is very much like civilian management in that you are "making decisions with the best available information that will make the most positive impact on the organization”. Most importantly, Adams says to never doubt the value of your service. 

Adams' career trajectory is another is the long line of Veteran Spotlights here on From the Battlefield that exemplifies the value of veterans in the civilian workplace. As Adams puts it: "The cream rises to the top!"

The Benefits of Using a Recruiter

Most people are aware that recruiters exist but are not fully aware of the benefits of using one. A recent blog post by Evelyn Amaro addresses this issue and outlines five reasons why recruiters can be invaluable.

1. Recruiters have access to a hidden job market. You can search and search the online job boards, but you will never be able to find a lot of the positions that recruiters are working on.
2. Recruiters have connections. Your resume could very easily end up in a massive pile, never to be seen again, if you blindly submit it to HR. However, recruiters have direct access to these same people and can ensure your resume is considered.
3. Recruiters have expertise. Professional recruiters understand the job market and how you fit into it. They are a great resource for strategic career planning.
4. Recruiters have the same goal as you. They want to get you into a great position just as badly as you want to be in one. Amaro reminds us that recruiters are on the job seeker’s side.
5. Recruiters can be your long-term ally. Not only can they help you find a new position, but they can also help down the road if you decide you’re ready to move on to something more challenging.

Click here to read Amaro’s full article.

Orion Alumnus Featured in Industry News

Rigzone.com, an oil & gas industry gateway, recently featured a series of articles called “Veterans in Oil & Gas”. In addition to articles on how to recruit veterans for oil & gas jobs and how these veterans strengthen the industry, Rigzone also profiled Orion alumnus, Seth Robert. The article, by Jaime Kammerzell, explores Robert’s transition from the Marine Corps to his career with Canrig, a designer of automated pipe handling equipment.

A former avionics, electronics, weapons technician, Robert served from 2000 to 2005, only to struggle when it came time to transition to the civilian world. An internet search led to contact with Orion, which in turn led to a job offer in under a week. Seven years later, Robert is still with Canrig and is now the Southern Region Operations Manager.

Robert explains to Kammerzell that his first position with Canrig was a lot like his military experience working on helicopters, though on an altogether different platform. He also says that his success in this industry is typical. “Former military are accustomed to working 12 hour shifts and being on assignment for long periods of time that the oilfield typically requires on the rig. Thus, former military make ideal candidates for oilfield jobs,” he tells Kammerzell. Robert now oversees a large group at Canrig and tells Kammerzell: “All of the managers that report to me are prior military. They work hard and move up quickly. They understand the dedication that it takes to be great in our company."

Congratulations to Robert on his continued success. He serves as a great example of how veterans are driving the oil & gas industry. Click here to read the article.