Opportunity comes knocking
After seven years in the U.S. Navy and several overseas deployments, Roberto decided it was time to transition to a civilian career. But where to start looking? And what ultimately brought him to Johnson & Johnson?
“It’s a funny story,” Roberto said. “Back when I was in the military, I was living in an apartment and my neighbor just happened to work at Johnson & Johnson.” An incidental detail, to be sure, and one which barely registered with Roberto at the time. Both men soon moved out of the building, and on with their lives.
But as Roberto geared up for his civilian job search, it came back to him: “I remembered his name and just thought, ‘Wow, I wonder if he remembers me, because I haven’t seen that guy in forever!’”
So Roberto looked him up and dialed the number.
“He told me, ‘The only positions we have right now are for electricians.’ And I said, ‘Well, you know that I’m a navy aviation electrician, right?’ And he was like, ‘Alright, let’s set up an interview and see how it goes.’”
Career-changing investment in learning and growth
How did it go? Pretty well, in fact—since joining Johnson & Johnson, Roberto has rapidly progressed from entry-level Process Technician to Manufacturing Engineer, Team Lead and, most recently, Manufacturing Manager, where he’s overseeing a team of roughly 200 people.
What accounts for his success and growth? Roberto’s drive is a key part of the answer, of course, but tuition-reimbursement programs at Johnson & Johnson have also been a factor.
“The tuition reimbursement program here is so good that I chose to rely on it”—instead of, say, the Montgomery GI Bill, for which he was eligible—”to cover the majority of my tuition expenses while I was earning my bachelor’s degree in business,” Roberto explained. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for Johnson & Johnson, I think I might still be paying off my student loans."
Connecting with leadership through community
A big draw for many members of the military-connected community is the Veterans Leadership Council (VLC) at Johnson & Johnson, our award-winning employee resource group for a broadly inclusive community of veterans, current service members, military families and spouses, veteran caregivers and allies.
After initially joining HOLA—an ERG organized around the Hispanic and Latino communities—Roberto decided to take a look at his local VLC chapter. He was immediately impressed. He also saw an opportunity to grow.
“Right after my first meeting,” Roberto recounted, “I walked up to the co-chair of our VLC chapter and asked him, ‘Will you be my mentor?’”
The co-chair said that he would—but on one condition: that Roberto help him co-chair the VLC chapter in return. Roberto said he’d be happy to.
In hindsight, Roberto thinks the whole experience encapsulates what’s unique about Johnson & Johnson for members of the military-connected community: “If you’re eager to grow, learn and show initiative, then anything’s possible here. My career with Johnson & Johnson has been very fulfilling.”
