IN OBSERVANCE OF ARMED FORCES DAY, MAY 17th CivilianJOBS.com’s
Image by MCSA Joshua Walters
The Essential Military-to-Civilian Transition Resource May - June 2014
militarytransitionnews.com
by Heidi Lynn Russell Contributing Editor
O
ne word universally comes up when military veterans discuss the 2014 Most Valuable Employers for Military: Family. For these veterans, their civilian workplaces have that special quality that conjures a familial sense of belonging. Companies that made this year’s list at Military Transition News ensure that military service people are well taken care of, whether that means providing resources to help retired military succeed in their new careers or supporting the loved ones of National Guard and Reserve members who are called up for duty. Thor Angle, who works at Puget Sound Energy, served in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve for 30 years. He was impressed by how PSE’s leadership and his fellow employees took care of his wife during one of his missions. “Once while deployed to the Middle East, the Vice President of Generation personally called my wife to see how she was doing and to answer any questions she may have had regarding a news event related to PSE. This made a very good impression on my wife. Many of my fellow PSE employees called or e-mailed my wife while I was mobilized. Again, this was a
big help for my wife and gave me peace of mind that my family was being taken care of,” Angle says. Joseph Hardin, who serves in the Alabama Army National Guard, joined Air Products shortly after his first deployment in November 2006 as a Vehicle Technician in Decatur, Ala. He had so much support from the company that he convinced a fellow Guard member to join it in 2011. “We have served in various natural disasters for the National Guard while at Air Products. My local management has been very supportive to us on the very short call ups from the Guard. We deployed again in 2012-2013 to the Middle East. The team here at Decatur was very supportive to me and my family while we were gone. I have nominated all of my supervisors here locally for awards from the ESGR for the support of me. Various drivers, operators and supervisors have had former military service before and while at Air Products. This is by far the best military-friendly employer since I have been working,” he says. Other veterans actually see a positive effect on their home lives made by their employers. Navy veteran Annette Davis is now a shift supervisor at CCA, a company that designs, builds, manages and operates prisons. “You would think bringing your work home would be a bad
ANNOUNCING THE
2014 Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military® thing,” she says. “But some of the things that I’ve learned in the military that have been enhanced by CCA training have made me a better parent. My children know that I am there for them, just like my co-workers. In working with the inmates, I can help teach somebody something new every day. I’m so happy that CCA gave me the chance to work with so many beautiful people. I’ve experienced the family environment of the military. I have my family at home. And now I am glad that CCA has made me a part of their family.” Veterans also note that they appreciate how their companies look after customers’ families. Margaret Benson is a Senior Specialist for Client Service at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. “One of the reasons I went into the Army was to serve my country and its people “Working for Schwab, I can
continue to serve people by helping with all their financial needs, from protecting their assets to achieving their retirement dreams. My time in the military taught me some important things: to be a team player, to give attention to detail and to be committed to a goal. All
of these traits are vital to a Schwab employee.”
Congratulations to all of the 2014 MVEs! Turn to page 10 to view profiles of this year’s Most Valuable Employers for Military.
"We’re honored to receive this recognition and encouraged to be part of a growing list of employers who believe, like we do, in a purposeful commitment to providing career opportunities to members and veterans of our nation’s military. Their proven dedication to teamwork and serving others, combined with their passion for excellence, provide the exact blend of talent we need in today’s competitive marketplace. I congratulate all of these companies on their achievement and encourage others to join this important initiative." Walt Bettinger, President & CEO The Charles Schwab Corporation
What to Look for in a Great Employer by Lida Citroën, Contributing Writer
W
ouldn’t it be great if you, the job seeker, could write a list of all the things you want your employer to be and then magically your wish list came true? If you could paint a picture of the type of company you worked for, the kind of people you interacted
with, reported to and supervised? The values and goals by which you were measured and held accountable…and the vision or mission of the work your job fulfilled? In today’s competitive job market, transitioning military service personnel often feel compelled to accept the first job offer that comes along post-
service. We see highly qualified veterans taking work that they are ill-suited for and which does not fulfill them personally. At the same time, employers are seeking a more qualified, dedicated and versatile workforce to keep up with an increasingly global, demanding and diverse marketplace. Hiring managers scour hundreds - if not thousands
- of résumés for every open position. Many of those résumés are from people who are not a good fit for the company or the job. Competition for every job is fierce, and employers are finding new and innovative ways to manage the recruiting continues page 6
INSIDE THIS MONTH’S MOST VALUABLE EMPLOYER ISSUE Transition Talk:
Finance Series:
2014 MVE Profiles:
Career Coach’s Corner:
Job Fairs:
Consider a new address ....................page 3
3 tips for a better future ...............page 9
Veteran-focused companies ........page 10
Dissecting the interview ..................page 22
Get ready to shine ..... page 26