Veteran - Dennis Mulhorn
Dennis Mulhorn
For the first time since the distinction began four years ago, Southern Company is listed among G.I. Jobs Magazine's 2006 Top 50 Most Military-Friendly Employers. The list is determined by selection criteria that includes the strength of the company's military recruiting efforts, the percentage of new hires with prior military service, and the company's policies toward National Guard and Reserve employees called to active duty.
"This listing is a tremendous achievement on many levels for which we, as a company, should be proud," said Jerome Richard, workforce strategist for Southern Company.
Dennis Mulhorn, a System Operator In Training at Plant Vogtle, and one of Southern Company's military recruits.
Though the recognition from G.I. Jobs Magazine is new, Southern Company has been recruiting from the armed services for some time.
"Southern Nuclear has a structure that is similar to the Navy's so it's a natural fit. The disciplines are similar and the computer training is essentially the same," said Jerry Rainey, Southern Nuclear senior recruiter, and a 24-year Navy veteran. "All in all, it's a comfortable transition for new hires. It's also a great boon to the company because these employees can get up to speed a lot faster."
Rainey also plays a large part in getting Navy personnel interested in Southern Company by taking part in a military-sponsored, Transition Assistance Program monthly in Norfolk, Va. The one week course gives military personnel the information they need to move back into civilian life, including an intense, one-day course on job assistance. The job assistance segment is where Rainey and his team come in, often speaking to audiences of 500 or more.
However, transition from military life to the workplace does have its challenges.
"The job market isn't nearly as plentiful as reported," said Dennis Mulhorn, System Operator in Training at Plant Vogtle and retired SFC, U.S. Army. "A fair amount of persistence is required to find the right company."
After pursuing Southern Company and getting hired at Plant Vogtle, Mulhorn said he was pleasantly surprised by how the running of the plant mirrors the military in many ways, such as application of technical procedures, professional training programs and the huge emphasis on safety and job performance.
"I'm very happy to be a part of the Southern Company team," Mulhorn added. "I feel as if I'm still serving the country in some capacity every day. It's a great career choice and one I recommend highly to my fellow ex-military brothers and sisters."
About 15 percent of Southern Company's current workforce once served in a branch of the United States military, including two Reserve brigadier generals. G.I. Jobs Magazine's formal announcement article appears in the December issue, which can be viewed online at www.gijobs.net.