Think Inside the Box
Big box retailers go shopping for military veterans.
By Kristina Martin
Mike Wilson learned how to think on his feet and multi-task while serving in the U.S. Air Force. He also picked up some management skills from leaders along the way.
“I learned to get in there with my people and do what they do,” said Wilson, 42, a former master sergeant who left the Air Force in 2006 after 20 years of service. “If I don’t know what they’re going through, I can’t lead them in the right direction.”
After he transitioned, Wilson put his military skills and love of home remodeling to good use as a department supervisor for The Home Depot store in Gulfport, Miss.
Coming Home
Former members of the military like Wilson showcase traits that recruiters from The Home Depot look for in potential employees, and thousands of veterans are hired each year for full- and part-time positions. Stephen Holmes, the company’s spokesman, said prior military are known to be dependable, “solutions-oriented” hard workers who possess strong leadership skills.
“The Home Depot works to link members of the military community with rewarding career challenges that allow them to utilize skills learned and honed while serving our country through participation in numerous military hiring partnerships and hiring fairs,” Holmes said.
Swapping Boots
Once Wilson traded his combat boots for work boots, he became part of a changing, customer-focused environment. His daily routines are never the same, but he still has a plan in place each day. And Wilson enjoys the camaraderie with his fellow veterans at the store.
“We have numerous veterans in my store, and we enjoy the competitiveness between our departments – in a fun way,” Wilson said. “It’s like we used to compete between squadrons in the military.”
Wilson said he comes to work with a smile on his face – something that never happened at any of his other jobs. Part of his job satisfaction may stem from the thorough on-going training The Home Depot provides.
“Training for store associates is a career-long progression that includes hands-on project training and one-on-one learning in the aisles to ensure The Home Depot associates are the most knowledgeable in the home-improvement industry,” Wilson said.
1,700 Still Serving
The company also ensures that each member of the military is taken care of.
“With more than 1,700 associates currently serving our country on military leave of absence, support for our troops is something that The Home Depot takes personally,” Holmes said. “In addition to ensuring these associates have a good job when they return, The Home Depot equalizes pay for its active duty associates who are currently serving our country.”
Wilson and his wife are a prime example of what The Home Depot can do for its troops and military spouses. Because his wife is still serving in the U.S. Air Force, she must relocate occasionally. When she received news about PCS-ing from a base in Mississippi to Arizona, Wilson was able to transfer to a Home Depot store in Phoenix.
How to Get Hired
Since he successfully transitioned into a civilian job after leaving the military, Wilson hopes his advice can help other troops, who should “come prepared and dress for success.”
“Just share what you’ve been through and focus on what you can bring to the employer,” he said. “You’ve been through a great deal of training that’s extremely valuable. We bring a different style to employers that they really value.”
Succeeding at Sears
Conversations add to progress in the military, and they can help advance civilian careers as well. Just ask Michael Saubert.
After retiring from the U.S. Army as a captain in 2005, he found a position with Sears Holdings Corporation, where top performance is vital.
“A tremendous amount of communication needs to take place in order to meet goals established by our leadership team,” said Saubert, a 46-year-old industrial design manager for the Kenmore brand. “In all situations, there is a certain lack of clarity at times; you need to cut through the fog and ascertain what is really important and achieve the goals with the resources you have at your disposal.”
Fabric of America
Sears actively recruits military veterans, mainly because they are known to be loyal and possess “many talents and skills” that add to the company’s success, said Jeff Terry, director of associate and community engagement for Sears.
Saubert first looked into a career at Sears because he wanted to make use of his “God-given strengths,” among them creativity. On any given day, Saubert can be found solving problems with visuals and carrying out regular management tasks.
From the start, management-level associates like Saubert undergo comprehensive training – from organizational development to growth – while sales associates are taught strategies and selling techniques. Degrees are normally required for managers, while technicians need to be certified in their area of expertise.
Great Benefits
In addition to training employees, Sears offers a benefits package, military pay differential and benefits continuation programs to service men and women.
“We have grown up with America and been a part of our country’s fabric over the past 125 years,” Terry said. “An important piece of this is the commitment we have made to support the men and women of our military for generations.”
Terry said Sears sees “great growth potential” for its position within the retail industry, which comes after a two-and-a-half year slump in the economy.
Saubert advises transitioners to take advantage of benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, including the GI Bill, simply because they earned them. Also, network “like crazy” and “immerse yourself.”
“Find a mentor that can help you and learn from them,” he said. “As soon as you can, be a mentor for someone else.”
Endless Opportunities at Walmart
Samuel Moore Walton devoted more than three years of his life to the U.S. Army and proved to be an “excellent role model.” Seventeen years after finishing his service, Walton opened what would be the first of countless Walmart stores in 1962.
“The relationship between Walmart and the military dates to founder Sam Walton and has grown,” said
Gary Profit, the company’s senior director of military recruiting. Profit, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general, said service men and women have “a level of maturity well beyond their age” and possess important technical and leadership capabilities.
Profit, 59, was hired by Walmart less than two years ago. He said there are “almost endless career opportunities within the company.”
JMOs Jump Into Retail
Such opportunities attracted 29-year-old Michelle Terry, a store manager in O’Fallon, Mo., who began working for Walmart in 2009. Terry, a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, was recruited through the Junior Military Officer (JMO) program, which Walmart established in 2008. Terry stays busy each day – from 6:45 a.m. when she arrives until the very last minute of her work day. Terry especially loves that “no day is the same.”
“I feel like I am able to have a positive impact on people’s lives on a day-to-day basis,” said Terry, who graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2003 and served on active duty before joining the Army Reserve.
Members of Walmart’s talent-acquisition team, like Director Jennifer Seidner, look for qualities in new hires that can be found in members of the military, including responsibility for others, the opportunity to lead early on and the ability to lead through influence.
Walmart has additional reasons for seeking veterans, who offer a wide variety of backgrounds. “I believe that we need a diversity of perspective in order for us to stay relevant to our customers,” Seidner said.
Each area of opportunity within the company has different job qualifications, and with those positions comes training to better prepare the employee. “Walmart is a learning organization with the same commitment to lifelong growth that I found in the Army,” Profit said.
Live Better
Seidner wanted service members and veterans to hear one last reason to become a team member of Walmart.
“A lot of people go into military service to be able to give back – to help their country and people,” Seidner said. “Walmart has a mission statement to help people live better. You make a difference in customers’ lives – [you] provide things for their family that they need.”
Transition Tips
Learn from those who landed great civilian jobs.
Mike Wilson
Department Supervisor
The Home Depot:
Come prepared and dress for success. “Just share what you’ve been through and focus on what you can bring to the employer,” he said. “You’ve been through a great deal of training that’s extremely valuable. We bring a different style to employers that they really value.”
Michael Saubert
Industrial Design Manager
Sears Holdings Corporation:
Network “like crazy” and “immerse yourself.” Take advantage of benefits offered by the Department of VeteranAffairs, including the GI Bill. You earned them. “Find a mentor that can help you and learn from them,” he said. “As soon as you can, be a mentor for someone else.”
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The Home Depot
HQ: Atlanta
Founded: 1978
Number of Employees: More than 300,000
2010 Revenue: $66.2 billion
www.homedepot.com
www.careers.homedepot.com
www.careers.homedepot.com/military
Civilian Jobs
The Home Depot fills positions based on the needs of each store. Management positions may be available at any given time, while sales associate positions need filled regularly within various departments. Quite often, though, the company searches for qualified candidates to fill full-time sales consultant positions in its installation business, At-Home Services. In addition to those openings, some jobs within the Atlanta Store Support Center may need to be filled, mostly IT and strong supply-chain professionals. Lastly, there may be a need for merchandising execution associates, depending on the market. To find up-to-date job vacancies within The Home Depot, visit the company’s website.
Show Me the Money:
The salary and starting wages greatly depend upon the position, along with the region, skill set and other factors.
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Sears Holdings Corporation
HQ: Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Founded: 1886
Number of Employees: 296,000
2010 Revenue: $4.4 billion
www.searsholdings.com
www.searsholdings.com/careers/opportunities/military
Civilian Jobs:
Military veterans have had the biggest impact on Sears in these fields:
• Inventory management
• Logistics management
• Retail management
• Service technicians
• Service technician managers
The company continues to search for qualified individuals to fill these positions; most of the five interest areas are part of nationwide searches to fill job vacancies.
Show Me the Money:
Salary ranges vary because of differing job functions and units. The company remains competitive within its market in terms of paying its workers.
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Walmart Stores, Inc.
HQ: Bentonville, Ark.
Founded: 1962
Number of Employees: Over 2 million
2010 Revenue: $408 billion
www.walmartstores.com
www.walmartstores.com/careers
Civilian Jobs:
Just some of the job opportunities available with Walmart include:
• Store manager
• Shift managers
• Optometrists
• Recruiters
Show Me the Money:
Salary depends upon the position, market and experience, but veterans may be pleasantly surprised by Walmart’s pay and benefits. Developmental store managers start at a flat rate in the high five figures, with bonus potential based on the profit and sales figures for their store. Upon becoming store managers, salaries can climb through the six figures.