At The Timken Co., engineering principles are embedded in our culture.
The people who work here quickly learn how their individual roles contribute to our collective success. Military veterans who join our team already have this mindset as soon as they walk through the door. I should know ― I’m a veteran who works at Timken.
After spending eight years in the Army National Guard, I started my career at Timken as a senior accounting analyst and recently accepted a finance position at our bearing factory in Guangzhou. I’m also proud to work for a company that not only supports veterans as they transition from the military, but also provides them with opportunities to advance their careers here.
Celebrating Veterans Day last month got me thinking about how so many of us pass on our sense of Army service to our businesses and communities. Veterans bring a strong work ethic and diverse perspectives to area employers.
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Did you know that the unemployment rate for veterans is only 2.7%? That’s about the lowest in two decades and nearly a point lower than the country’s current overall unemployment rate. This statistic underscores the fact that employers around the world value the characteristics that veterans bring to roles at all levels of their companies.
Timken, for example, has found that military experience gives people job skills that help drive our business forward. Veterans learn and adapt quickly, we respect processes and procedures, we understand the importance of teamwork and we lead by example.
Additionally, veterans appreciate the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of inclusion. We are used to serving alongside people of different races, genders, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds. Regardless of these differences, we always remain united in the accomplishment of our mission.
I’m not surprised how this mindset translates from the military to our industrial environment at Timken. My fellow veterans easily adapt to working with and around the advanced technology and tools we use to create industry solutions.
The engineering problems we’re asked to solve can be complex, not to mention the tools we rely on to get the job done, but veterans are always up for the challenge. After all, we have already served in much more intimidating environments, solved equally difficult problems and, in some cases, used equally complex equipment.
Veterans are also showing an increased level of awareness and awareness. We embrace the concept of putting safety first. We understand as well as anyone that a bad decision or wrong decision can have very serious consequences. Our attention to our own well-being, as well as those around us, makes us highly sought after employees.
You can be sure that we will do what we say we will do from the start. We stick closely to our training to be honest and respectful, and our actions inspire those around us to do the same.
Finally, veterans are active outside of work and represent their employers well in the community. Service is an essential part of who are, and long after our military enlistment ends, we seek opportunities to volunteer and contribute our time and skills in the cities and towns we call home.
On behalf of Timken, I would like to thank all of my fellow Veterans for the contributions you continue to make in Northeast Ohio and across the country. If you’re a veteran looking for a job, Timken and many other great companies in the area are looking for someone with your unique skills.
Mathew Wharmby served eight years in the Army National Guard. He works at The Timken Co. in Canton.
