Solving hiring challenges with military talent
by EmanI have been writing about the SRS Program and Bridge Resourcing Solutions role in this historic effort designed by Cisco Systems to help the Cisco Channel Partners with critical recruitment support. I have had a chance to speak with some of the other members of the SRS team and Sandy Morris leads an initiative which is near and dear to me. As a Viet Nam war era veteran I found myself with no help in locating a job after leaving the Navy. I had the good fortune to utilize my IT skills which I earned in support of automated troubleshooting of avionics equipment and turn this into a career. Other veterans are not as fortunate. Sandy shared her vision and answered a few questions for me about her company and her work in the SRS program.
It’s great to have you as part of the SRS program. How long have you been in business?
Thank you, Eman, it’s very exciting to be partnering with worldwide leaders like Cisco and the Cisco Channel Partner companies. We look forward to delivering great candidates for them!
I founded BMI in 1991. I had been in recruiting for about eight years, first on the corporate side, then on the agency side. I first founded a company that focused on administrative staffing, sold it, and then launched Bradley-Morris.
Why focus on the military as a source of talent?
That’s a good question, and there are a variety of reasons. First, it’s a perpetual source of talent. There are always servicemembers who are transitioning out of the military. In the current market, where passive job seekers are retrenching, this is even more important. There are still talented veterans who are separating from the military and who are seeking their first civilian job.
Secondly, they are some of the top talent that is available. The training they gain in the military is second to none. When you couple this training and education with the leadership and dedication to “mission” that they obtain, then you have very impressive job candidates.
Finally, there is the diversity angle. As a WBENC-certified diversity supplier / CCR-registered government contractor, we are keenly aware of the value leading companies have found by advancing diverse workforces. The military was one of the U.S.’s first integrated workforces and that tradition continues today. In fact, over BMI’s history, nearly a third of our placements overall have been minorities and / or women.
What types of positions can you help Cisco Channel Partners recruit for and fill?
There is a wide-variety. Of course, IT positions will be a focus including Network Administrators, Network Engineers, Satellite Systems Technicians, System Administrators, Switch Technicians, Field Service Engineers and Field Service Technicians. But there are also a variety of other positions we want Cisco Channel Partners to be aware of that we can help them with as well. Some of those areas include Engineering, Middle and Senior Management, Sales, Project Management, Logistics, Supply Chain, Operations, Security, Maintenance, and Manufacturing Supervision.
Where are you based?
BMI has offices in Atlanta (our headquarters), Norfolk, VA, Austin, TX and San Diego, CA. From these locations, we serve a national client base. We recruit the U.S. military talent pool from bases worldwide, and place candidates both in the U.S. and abroad.
How will the changes in our government affect your business?
BMI has been helping businesses recruit top talent through five different presidential administrations. President-elect Obama’s will be the sixth. The one constant through it all has been the demand for military-experienced talent remaining strong. This is a testament to the education, training and work ethic that is instilled in the military.
In addition, the vast majority of workforce projections we’ve reviewed show a growing gap between the number of skilled worker job openings and the number of trained workers available to fill those openings. Baby-boomer attrition exacerbates this trend.
So for these two reasons – strength in our candidate pool and skilled worker shortages – we foresee the demand continuing to be high for military talent.
Where do you see demand the highest for your candidates?
Eman, there are three hot sectors right now: Manufacturing, Energy and IT.
In terms of a type of position that’s hot for job seekers, we are seeing more and more demand for Sales-focused military candidates. The top go-getters coming out of the military love the idea of coming from a system where (in the military) everyone is on the same wage scale to sales environments (in the civilian world) where those who perform at the top of the scale are paid commensurate to the top of the scale.
Do you read the CCIE Flyer?
Absolutely. It’s a great resource for Bradley-Morris as well as for any of the Cisco Channel Partners.
How can Cisco Channel Partners learn more about your company and get engaged with BMI to help them fill their open positions?
Our web site can be found at www.Bradley-Morris.com. Interested companies can call me directly at 678-819-4152, or email me at smorris@bradley-morris.com.
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