Director of Community and Veterans Affairs at Able Body Labor
Thank you speech leads to a new job helping vets find work for former Marine captain.
by Warren Duffie

There are dozens of way to find your first civilian job — networking with friend and colleagues, partnering with a recruiting, attending job fairs and reading G.I. Jobs. But Chris Hadsall, a former Marine Corps captain, landed his current position because of a thank you.

Late last year, Hadsall was an operations officer with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines in Brookpark, Ohio. Recovering from injuries sustained in Iraq – as well as preparing for a medical discharge – Hadsall coordinated welcome home events for Marines and sailors returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom, and oversaw programs providing services to wounded troops.

The Transition
One day, Hadsall’s unit received a large monetary donation from co-owners Anne and Frank Mongelluzzi, a Vietnam veteran and co-owner of Able Body Labor – a staffing firm providing workers to the construction, hospitality, and special events industries. Deeply touched by the offering, Hadsall flew down to Able Body’s Clearwater, Fla., headquarters to thank Mongelluzzi and his employees in person.

“I was asked to give a speech, which I did,” says Hadsall, 32. “[Frank] pulled me aside and said, ‘You give a pretty good off-the-cuff speech. What do you want to do with your life?’ He had created a new department in his company and wanted to interview me for the director’s job.”

On the Job
That new department – which Hadsall has headed up since February — is called Community and Veterans Affairs. Its mission is to recruit and retain military veterans to run Able Body’s branch offices, which consist of 120 locations in 17 states, serving 75,000 workers on 15,000 job sites. And although veterans are welcome to apply for temporary positions, Hadsall and his company specifically want them for these branch management positions.

“We want people with strong work ethics and tested discipline,” Hadsall says. “What better candidates than veterans? We’re looking to expand and open new offices, so the growth potential is great. Also, our branches have a very entrepreneurial feel – long hours and hard work – which veterans are already used to.”

An Advocate for Veterans
And no one works harder than Hadsall. He normally arrives at the office around 7 a.m. and doesn’t leave until 6 p.m. His mornings entail reviewing résumé and scanning web sites such as Monster.com for online responses to Able Body job postings. Later, he usually leaves the office to recruit in person — stopping by a Department of Labor One-Stop Shop, attending a job fair (normally two a month), or meeting with representatives from TAP, ACAP, and military networks such as Marine for Life.

“I also spend a lot of time calling candidates after receiving their résumés,” Hadsall says. “A lot of veterans have trouble translating their military experience into civilian terms. So I have our human resources staff send all military résumés to me. I know what to look for, and once I speak to a veteran over the phone, I know if he or she is a good fit for us.

“The thing I love about my job is being able to help veterans,” he continues. “So far, we’ve hired about 23 —18 of whom have stayed on board. They’re a great resource, and Corporate America needs to utilize them.”

Hadsall’s Advice
Have a plan. “There are so many resources available to help you plan a smooth transition. Take advantage of them, so you won’t stress out any more than you have to. Check with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Labor, or armed forces foundations such as www.americasupportsyou.com.”

Truly determine if you want to leave the military. “The benefits are very, very good. Think hard about getting out. The financial costs of civilian life – medical and dental insurance, for example – can blindside you.”

Don’t search for civilian jobs only based on salary. “What’s the growth potential? Can you make a lot of money now but not go anywhere? Or will the money come later with advancement? These are questions to think about when job searching.”

GET HIRED™
Able Body Labor is one of the fastest-growing privately-held temporary labor companies in the United States. Its leaders run their own business. Managing everything from operations to sales and expenses to labor and its teams engage in real world business economics with unlimited earning potential.

Able Body Labor is currently looking for the following positions to staff its 120 locations across 17 states:

• Branch Managers
• Assistant Branch Managers
• Account Representatives

Temporary employment is expected to be the fifth-fastest growing industry over the next decade with nearly 1.8 million new jobs by 2012. Get onboard at Able Body Labor.

Go to www.ablebody.com for more information and current employment listings.