Veterans Excel in Retail

The word "retail" often evokes thoughts of cashiers, stockers, and customer service; however, behind the scenes, it takes a well-oiled management, logistics, and operations team to keep business thriving. Retail is just one of many industries in which veterans are successful leaders. From enlisted Technicians to Junior Military Officers, hiring managers in the retail industry have found a talented labor pool in veterans.

One such veteran is Ashley Arney. A former Army Captain, Arney was recently placed by Orion into a Leadership Development Program (LDP) with Safeway, a nationwide grocery chain. LDPs are an increasingly popular tool used in many industries to ensure a solid pipeline of future leaders. Hiring Managers find that putting key hires through a rotational training program and exposing them to many facets within their companies helps in their development, retention, and performance.

When asked about how her experience in the Army prepared her for her new role with Safeway, Arney answered, “From my very first job after flight school, I was given more responsibility than my non-military friends could even imagine. I had to utilize my leadership skills almost every day. There is probably not another job that could prepare for the corporate world more than being an officer in the military.”

It is not just JMOs like Arney that are finding career satisfaction in the Retail industry, though. Paul Cordy, a Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserve, was familiar with Wegmans Food Markets, a regional supermarket chain, when Orion presented him with the opportunity to interview for a Distribution Supervisor position. He jumped at the opportunity to work with a company ranked #3 on FORTUNE magazine's 2010 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. Cordy is enjoying his new job and says his new position utilizes his experience as a Gunnery Sergeant.

Arney and Cordy are just two examples of how veterans fit into the retail industry, but they are very common examples of how the leadership skills developed in the military serve the retail industry well in all facets of business, from Operations to Logistics and Transportation to Management. Click here to read more.