Hi-Tech Hires Military
Book Excerpt:
HIGH-TECH HIRES
Those with High Expectations
by Joshua Hudson
The technology industry has a mystique about it in the employment world. We are a technological society after all: new products, new processes, affect how we run the world. What is imagined today becomes reality tomorrow. The technology industry needs employees with leadership ability, discipline, and a knack for thinking “outside the box.” So the technology industry needs veterans. The worldwide market for information and communications technologies and services was estimated at more than $3 trillion in 2006, and will grow to about $4 trillion in 2009, according to Plunkett Research. The industry grew 6 percent 2006; analysts forecasted a 5 to 6 percent global growth rate in 2007.
EDS
Before Naval Academy graduate Ross Perot became a front-page name, he made his fortune in the global technology services company EDS. The company provides solutions to the military, Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Veteran Affairs. It supplies information technology (IT) services to all levels of the government and needs employees that understand the military and government culture.
“We look for veterans because we have had very positive experiences,” said Dan Ward, senior human resources business partner for 14,000 employees in EDS’ Government Solutions Department. “They come right through the door with the proper mindset. They have consistently had high-caliber training that is focused on accomplishing a vision with a good level of project management experience.”
Alex Glanz-Berger, division recruiting coordinator, is looking for everything from help-desk staff to programmers. “A military background is something that you should definitely add to an application,” said Glanz-Berger. About 17 percent of the employees in the EDS Government Solutions department have military experience.
Micron
“Our hiring managers get excited when we have a military candidate. They understand military personnel have an ability to focus on the mission,” said Brett Nolte, military recruiting manager for Micron and a retired 20-year Air Force veteran. “They bring a distinct advantage to any company.”
Brett understands that Micron’s success depends on having employees who are more than just well educated in electronics. It wants candidates who also bring hands on experience, and understand troubleshooting. The military trains on a professional as well as a technical level. Military employees end up becoming mentors Micron hires with less real-life experience.
“We definitely put the time, money and effort to recruit military veterans for our Boise, Idaho, and Manassas, Va., offices, because they bring a lot of talent and values that are hard to find elsewhere,” said Nolte.
“Being Air Force, I wanted to go somewhere I would get the same kind of challenge. Something cutting edge,” said Christopher Patterson, an equipment support technician at Micron’s Boise office. He has a year at Micron since retiring from the Air Force as a 23-year Master Sergeant. “My technical skills definitely helped getting the job, but people skills were a big part of it too.”
As an equipment support technician, Patterson maintains everything on the floor: from computers to microscopes. In the Air force he was an aerospace ground equipment mechanic. The Wisconsin native found his transition from the military to Micron challenging, but he feels it was a great match for him.
“My first day was pretty uncomfortable,” he said. “It was totally new, but everyone was good about leading me along. No one throws you to the wolves, because they want you to succeed. But I prepared myself as much as I could. I found a company that shared a lot of the same values. “
According to Nolte, life at Micron offers more than working with cutting edge equipment. “Veterans like the fact that Micron has a strong set of values that generally parallels what they were used to in their military career. A lot of our benefits are geared specifically towards military, like our TRICARE supplement program for our retired military.”
Micron’s culture may share a lot of the same values, but the work environment does have some very significant differences. While Nolte puts heavy consideration on management and leadership skill for military hires, new hires can expect to be “a lot more specialized” in their new position. “When they come and work for us,” Nolte said, “initially we focus more on their technical skills and let their integrated management expertise develop into their responsibilities.”
Military experience is valued at Micron, but so is preparation. Nolte stresses the importance of preparation when searching for a post-military job. “I can tell you, that when we deal with someone who went to TAP class, it really comes across,” said Nolte. “You learn a lot in those classes. The interview skills are important. I have seen terrible interviews and good ones. You don’t want to be too relaxed, but you want to be comfortable and sell yourself. Don’t be shy about selling yourself.”
“The mock interviews in TAP helped me the most,” said Patterson. “I joined at 17 and never had another real job. Those interviews helped a lot.”
Technology is a fast growing field full of opportunities and exciting assignments. Many of the skills learned in your military career can be a great match for the
ever changing world of technological advances.
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Publishers:
Original Published Source:
G.I. Jobs Magazine
Original Publish Date:
2007-12-01
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