Top contractor recruiters answer vet questions - Civilian Jobs, Military to Civilian transitions, Jobs for Veterans - Navy Times

Top contractor recruiters answer vet questions

Various estimates put federal spending between $400 billion and $500 billion a year in the private sector.

Much of the money flows through massive government contractors. These companies span diverse industries and offer a range of jobs, everything from dockhands to accountants to top-tier executives. For job-seeking veterans, the biggest contractors offer a wealth of opportunities, with fast-track programs designed specifically to bring former service members on board.

Here, top hiring executives from three of the leading government contractors provide an overview of their industries and a look at veteran hiring strategies.

Does your company have special programs to recruit veterans?

Mike Bruni, Staffing Manager, SAIC (Defense company providing scientific, engineering, systems integration, and technical services and solutions): Three years ago we established Operation MVP — the Military Veteran Program. This centralizes our military recruiting, with a focus on transitioning and retiring military members as well as disabled veterans. Out of this came an outreach program, providing assistance to make it a little more comfortable for veterans to make that transition into the private sector. We partner with military transition centers, military associations and veteran organizations to identify and hire separating and retiring military personnel. Of our 40,000 employees, roughly 10,000 to 12,000 are self-identified veterans.

Glennon J. Cook, Director, Boeing Global Staffing (Multinational aerospace corporation based in Seattle): Boeing has recruiters dedicated and trained to work with the military and veterans organizations, including the following:

* Transition Assistance Program: On-base information sessions conducted by military employment representatives.

* Military job fairs: On- and off-base job fairs open to active and non-active-duty military personnel.

* Boeing coordinates with Still Serving Veterans to identify veterans who are qualified candidates for current openings.

* In November 2011, Boeing launched its transitioning military careers site and unveiled a military skills translator tool. The online interactive tool enables U.S. armed forces personnel and veterans to translate military skills to find the Boeing career opportunities that best align with their experiences.

Tim Strike, Recruiting and Staffing, General Dynamics Information Technology (Provides IT, systems engineering and professional services in the defense, federal, civilian, government, health, homeland security, intelligence, state and local government, and commercial sectors): General Dynamics Information Technology has a defined veteran initiative to identify, recruit and hire individuals transitioning from the military. We are also a member of the Network of Champions, an alliance of companies who are committed to assisting severely wounded service members and their families in finding career opportunities.

How can a military background help me get hired?

Bruni: In our industry, it is tailor-made. Take an intelligence analyst. We recruit a lot of people in that area, and you’re not going to get that experience anywhere else except the U.S. military. That’s just one example, and there are many others: in the logistics field, in the IT field. The military services are going to provide more and better training in these fields.

Cook: Veterans can find jobs at Boeing in all areas of our business: commercial, administrative and defense-related. About 24,500 veterans are currently employed at Boeing, and many continue to serve in the National Guard and reserves. Before coming to Boeing, they may have worked on Boeing products [and] we can give them the opportunity to continue to work in this high-tech environment.

Strike: Because a majority of our career opportunities are directly supporting our federal and DoD customers, an individual transitioning from the military will possess the skills and knowledge to support our customers’ missions. Government contracting can offer military personnel an easier transition from military to the civilian sector.

What skills do you need? What jobs are you filling?

Bruni: Anywhere in the analytic or operational areas — your combat operators, your special forces. Veterans will have specific experience that you can’t find anywhere else. Supply chain and logistics is another good example. Those are very, very specific skills.

Cook: Our products and services require an amazing array of technical skills, and the armed forces develop skills that match well with our needs. Aircraft maintenance and repair, cybersecurity, and intelligence are just a few examples. In addition, we are always looking for talented individuals who possess or are able to acquire U.S. security clearances. Other good areas include mission operations, flight operations, intelligence operations and cyber intelligence.

Strike: General Dynamics Information Technology hires veterans as analysts, engineers, trainers, technicians [and] network specialists, as well as for many other positions including management jobs. A link to a military skills translator tool is found on our careers page.

Your best advice for those looking to get in?

Bruni: There are many ways to go about your job search. The most effective is your connections — your network, your ability to reach out. Once you have researched the marketplace and found a fit for your skill sets, you need to really build your contact base. Make sure you are making those connections.

Cook: Boeing recruiters and hiring managers who are former military attend military-targeted job fairs or on-base transition assistance sessions every week throughout the country. In addition to attending these on-base information sessions, I recommend networking and mentoring.

The way to get a job at Boeing is to visit our careers website. When we are selecting people to interview, we look only at the résumés people post online at the careers website.

Strike: The best tip for an individual transitioning from military is to network, network and network. Many have transitioned successfully into government contracting, and the individuals who have been there and done it can provide excellent assistance on how best to find [your] next career. You never know if the next connection might be the one that has an opportunity for you.