Like many veterans, Sean Wilkins gained a wide range of skills during his time in the Army. After his service, he applied that knowledge to lead talent acquisition at two mortgage companies, which ultimately led to his current role as Manager of Military Recruiting at Penske.
In this position, Wilkins combines his passion for talent acquisition with a commitment to helping other veterans transition to civilian life.
“I really enjoyed my time in the Army and had a great overall experience,” said Wilkins. “It helped a lot with being successful in this role, understanding veterans and doing what I can to bring their talent into our organization.”
Sean Wilkins, Manager of Military Recruiting at Penske
Wilkins joined Penske in 2018, and his role was created specifically to lead military recruiting efforts. Much like a military assignment, the job required him to relocate to Texas, where he also manages the logistics training program and is an active member of Penske’s Veterans Business Resource Group (BRG).
He credits the variety of experiences he had in the Army for his ability to juggle multiple responsibilities.
“While I was serving, I had a variety of jobs and took things on that I didn’t have formal training in,” said Wilkins. “I started to realize that being able to step into positions and make opportunities happen creates value that many organizations appreciate. That’s something I really began to learn and understand in the Army, and I’ve tried to bring that to Penske as well.”
Wilkins enjoyed the challenges of stepping into unfamiliar, and sometimes uncomfortable, roles during his military service. He believes veterans with similar experiences can also translate their skills into successful civilian careers.
Learning to collaborate with people from different backgrounds is standard in the military. Despite differences, there is always a shared mission to accomplish–a mindset that Wilkins sees reflected at Penske.
“The military is probably the most diverse organization in the world. Despite the various walks of life that are brought together, you have a singular mission that you’re all working towards,” Wilkins said. “So, there are a lot of similarities between coming from the military and how we operate at Penske. Both organizations offer opportunities that empower people to be leaders.”
Wilkins believes Penske is at the forefront of veteran recruiting.
“We’re an organization that has invested in positions like mine. Having veterans throughout our recruitment team is an advantage. We have folks who understand first-hand what it means to be a veteran,” said Wilkins. “During the recruiting process, having recruiters who can vouch for Penske and make the connection between their military experiences and potential roles makes all the difference.”
Wilkins continued: “We also connect potential veteran hires with veteran associates who are currently in the role they are interested in. It allows them to have an open conversation about what the job entails. That level of transparency goes a long way.”
Penske’s Veterans Business Resource Group further enhances the company’s veteran hiring efforts.
“Our BRG offers continuous support to both our veteran associates and allies. It has helped us with being recognized as a top military employer, but in addition to being great at hiring veterans, we also want to be excellent at retaining them.” said Wilkins. “The BRG provides a support structure for associates to connect, learn more about Penske, and see how they can grow their careers with us. For anyone that has dedicated their life to this country, we want to provide that same level of dedication as a place of employment.”
Penske’s veteran hiring efforts have been recognized by organizations such as the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Hiring Our Heroes, Mission: ABLE and Militaryfriendly.com.
Even with this recognition, Wilkins said there is more work to do.
“I’m very excited about all the efforts and progress we’ve made. This is a company that values the military and loves to support veterans. While the support is evident across the entire organization, there’s still a lot of opportunity,” said Wilkins. “We’re looking to expand some of what we do with drivers and diesel technicians into other areas of PTL. I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished and have been able to get off the ground here in the past six years, and I’m excited for what we are going to do moving forward.”
For more information about Penske’s open roles, please visit: www.penske.jobs/veterans