Technical Recruiter at Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls wanted a “hands on” leader and former Soldier Ray Cuttino stepped up.
by Warren Duffie

Can you fix a boiler or engine? Operate a state-of-the-art weapons system? Repair a heater or air conditioner? Ray Cuttino wants to talk to you.

A 26-year Soldier, Cuttino is now a technical recruiter for Johnson Controls, a worldwide leader in the repair and maintenance of power systems for buildings and automobiles. Covering the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. areas, Cuttino seeks talented people experienced in “hands-on” fields such as HVAC, equipment automation, fire safety, electronics, and lighting.

“We want technical people who know how to install, maintain, and repair complex systems,” said the former Army senior non-commissioned officer. “Right now, Johnson Controls has 140,000 employees – with between 10 and 20 percent military veterans. By 2012, we want to grow our employee base by 50,000, including more veterans.

“Military veterans are loyal, dependable, and demonstrate excellent attention to detail,” Cuttino continued. “They also know the value of saying ‘Yes, sir’ and ‘Yes, ma’am’ – a valuable skill when dealing with customers.”

On the Job
Based in Maryland, Cuttino, 46, works from 0800 until 2000. He schedules job interviews and reviews applications, conducts phone screenings, passes résumés and applications to hiring managers, and recruits at career fairs and military bases.

“I like to work until 2000 because later in the day is often the best time to contact and talk to transitioning service members. Someone who only works 0900 to 1700 will miss out on outstanding recruiting prospects. It helps give me an edge. Besides, I used to work long hours as a military recruiter. I’m used to it.

“When I was a recruiter, I tried to bring a personal element to the job,” he continued. After all, I was helping young men and women enter an exciting, challenging phase of their lives. I bring the same passion to this job. I truly believe in Johnson Controls’ corporate statement and mission.”

More than a Century of Innovation
Founded in 1885, Johnson Controls has 140,000 employees in more than 1,300 locations throughout 125 countries. It provides products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes, and one million commercial buildings. The Milwaukee-based company has three main business platforms:

Automatic Experience: Interior systems for light vehicles such as passenger cars and light trucks, including seating, overhead, door, instrument panels, storage, and electronics.

Power Solutions: Johnson Controls is the world’s largest manufacturer of lead acid automotive batteries and a leading developer of advanced battery chemistries.

Building Efficiency: Mechanical equip-ment and systems that control heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, security, and fire management in non-residential buildings.

In Uniform
A native of Georgetown, S.C., Cuttino saw the Army as a way to achieve his full potential: “There weren’t a lot of jobs in my hometown. Definitely no opportunities to get money for college. The military looked like a great option.”

Attending boot camp at Fort Jackson, S.C., in 1979 and training as a TOW Missile Gunner at Fort Benning. Cuttino also was an MP, a logistics specialist, and career counselor. In 1987, at the encouragement of colleagues, he went into recruiting, increasing enlistments for the Army National Guard in the Baltimore region.

“I saw recruiting as a way to learn valuable skills that would help me as a civilian,” he said. “I didn’t know too many missile gunners working in Corporate America.”

The Transition
Though he enjoyed recruiting, Cuttino decided in 2004 to start planning his transition. Cuttino took transition, interviewing, and résumé-writing classes, and posted his information on several job websites.

“I was scared,” he said. “For most of my adult life I enjoyed the stable lifestyle of the military. Now, with a son in college and a daughter in high school, I was looking for a new job.”

Cuttino found a job recruiting for a franchise ownership company. It paid the bills and put food on the table, but it was unfulfilling work.

“It took me three years to get comfortable,” he said.

That appeared earlier this year when Cuttino received an e-mail from a Johnson Controls recruiter inviting him to an interview. Only a few minutes into the interview, Cuttino knew he found his “ultimate career”: a world-class company with great size and growth potential, upward mobility, and a serious commitment to hire military veterans.

“I knew right away it was the job for me,” he said. “It’s like a marriage, when you know that person is the one. I saw a strong team atmosphere and powerful focus on the company mission, much like the military.”

Cuttino’s Advice:

• Get your education. “Use your education benefits. Prepare for separations/retirement [as early as possible].”
• Tailor you résumé. “Don’t send out generic résumés. Customize it for each job you’re applying for.”