As the Director of Talent Acquisition at PCG and an Army National Guard Veteran with more than a decade of service on his resume, Guy Reynolds’ civilian and military careers afford him a number of different—and valuable—perspectives: as an employer, an executive leader, a recruiter, a veteran jobseeker who’s transitioned to civilian life, and Army Sergeant (E-5), to name a few.

We caught up with Guy recently to learn more about his mission to establish PCG as an employer of choice for those who have served in the armed forces and those who continue to serve, including active duty servicemembers, Reservists, members of the National Guard, and military spouses.

Q: In your opinion, what makes PCG a good fit for employing individuals with a military background (whether veterans, active duty, reservists, guardsmen, and spouses)?

Guy: Public Consulting Group is a “mission-driven company” focused on the public sector so there is a sense of public service that comes with the job. It was an “Honor to Serve” in the military, and it is an honor to work here at PCG. It’s a fast-paced environment and you need to be able to multitask to get the job done – the military trained us to do just that.

Q: Based on your experience transitioning from the military to a civilian career, what advice would you give to a jobseeker who recently transitioned from military-to-civilian status and is embarking on their job hunt?

Guy: The military trained me to be committed and disciplined; it’s about readiness and attitude, be persistent, and be patient. Take advantage of all of the resources the military gives you, including military transition offices, for example.

Q: Would you say that veteran recruitment and retention is a strategic priority for PCG?

Guy: Yes, it is definitely a priority for the firm and rightfully so. Service members [and their families] bring a lot to the proverbial table: diverse skills, training, experiences, backgrounds, and unique perspectives, to name a few. And while prioritizing veteran recruitment and retention is both good for business and part of the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy, it’s also just the right thing to do. For these and other reasons, PCG is committed to creating pipelines for hiring and retaining veterans.

Q: Can you share some insights into how PCG is working to create pipelines for veteran employment in 2022?

Guy: We currently are using Hiremilitary to help us with the DOD SkillBridge program, which connects service members with industry partners in real-world job experiences through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of service.

PCG also uses RecruitMilitary as a service to help us participate in direct recruitment events on military bases and also post our jobs on military job boards. We also use direct employer services to make sure our jobs are being posted and promoted on veteran sites.

Earlier this year, PCG joined forces with the United States Army through the Partnership for Your Success (PaYS) Program. This strategic partnership between the U.S. Army and a cross section of corporations, companies, and public sector agencies, helps to connect enlisting soldiers and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets to post-military career opportunities. PaYS guarantees soldiers and cadets job interviews with up to five PaYS partner organizations—of more than 1,100 across the country—as they transition to civilian life. We’re excited to continue growing our veteran employee base as a PaYS partner.

Q: You established PCG’s first corporate employee resource group (ERG), the Military Networking Group (MNG) in 2021 and have already engaged more than 50 employees through that initiative. Can you tell us more about this group and its mission?

Guy: PCG’s MNG is a group we have established for military veterans, active duty service members, and military families that is dedicated to building an authentic and purpose-driven ERG. This group is “Driven to Serve.” MNG helps the firm recruit top current and former military talent and will help to showcase the skills the military brings to PCG: Commitment – Focus – Discipline. In fact, members of MNG helped put the PaYS program that I mentioned earlier on the radar of PCG’s senior leaders. It’s a great demonstration of the firm’s commitment to creating and sustaining strong pipelines to recruit and retain military veterans and those who continue to serve.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?

Guy: I’m incredibly proud and appreciative of the experiences and opportunities I’ve had thus far in my career – both military and civilian. Now that I’m in a position to help other veterans access meaningful employment with a firm that exists to serve the public sector, I look forward to supporting others who have served and those who continue to serve on their career journeys. To that end, PCG has more than 200 open positions at any given time, and we welcome all interested applicants to learn more about current opportunities here.

If you are a veteran, active duty servicemember, or military spouse who is interested in learning more about a career with the firm or our Military Networking Group, please feel free to contact me directly (GReynolds@pcgus.com). I hope to hear from you, and I thank you for your service!

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Thank you for your service, Guy! To all those who have worn our country’s uniform and their spouses and families, we are sincerely grateful for the extraordinary sacrifices you have made in the name of freedom. Learn more about our veteran employees and those who continue to serve in the Armed Forces in this Message of Thanks to Members of Our Military Community.

Happy Veterans Day.

The following links will connect you to the military veteran employment programs mentioned in this article:

Army Partnership for Your Success (PaYS) Program

HireMilitary

RecruitMilitary

DOD SkillBridge Program

For more information about PCG’s commitment to careers for military and military families, visit: https://www.publicconsultinggroup.com/careers/committed-to-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/