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BY Brock Dudley
August 2025 Conference Review
August 2025 Career Conference Recap
Another Cameron-Brooks Career Conference is complete, and I’m excited to share the August 2025 Conference Review with you!
Once again, I’m energized by the sharp, talented, and agile leaders we had the privilege of working with. I’m equally impressed and thankful for the companies and industry leaders who continue to show up, committed to finding the right leaders for their organizations.
A heartfelt thank you to every Junior Military Officer (JMO) who placed their trust in us, and to our client companies who remain dedicated to investing in future leadership – many of them being Cameron-Brooks Alumni returning to hire.
I’d like to take an opportunity to provide a quick update on the Economy. Additionally, next week, we’ll also be launching Episode 227 of the Cameron-Brooks PCS to Corporate America podcast. Our CEO, Chuck Alvarez, and SVP, Joel Junker, offered an in-depth review of today’s economic and career landscape.
Their discussion was both candid and encouraging, providing clarity on the challenges and opportunities facing JMOs preparing to transition into business leadership roles.
The Economy: Challenging, & Full of Opportunity
Headlines around global unrest and shifting economic priorities continue to dominate news outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and CNBC, daily.
The new economic reality is that from the period 2023 and onwards, including 2024 and 2025, the market has entered a “new normal” that is unlikely to revert to previous conditions.
This “new normal” environment is characterized by economic challenges, high interest rates, geopolitical instability, and technological advancements like AI, all of which create increased scrutiny on hiring and demand for higher-skilled talent.
For example, High interest rates – significantly increased by 500 basis points by the Federal Reserve in the past few years – has made borrowing more expensive for businesses and individuals, slowing consumption, which is a key driver of the economy.
While the overall unemployment rate remains around 4.2% (Normal levels), new college graduate unemployment is higher (6-7%), and the unemployment rate for veterans is around 6%. Notably, 25% of Harvard Business school graduates were unemployed at graduation in May 2025, indicating a challenging market for career transitions.
General economic uncertainty is resulting in a more cautious hiring environment, and companies are exercising more scrutiny on hiring.
That’s not to say that companies aren’t hiring – JMOs at the August 2025 Conference averaged 10.3 interviews for open positions over two days, and every single JMO was pursued at the Conference, meaning, companies advanced them to the final round of interviews.
***It’s not all doom and gloom! While I say this, the U.S. Economy expanded 3.3% annualized pace in Q2! Understanding what is happening at the macro and microeconomic level is hard to fully understand and pin down. While I was a Quantitative Economics major at the Naval Academy, I’m certainly not sitting in on meetings at the Federal Level.
What I am focusing on, is the JMO considering making a career transition, and why it’s impossible to time the market. Focusing on the controllables is paramount to a successful career transition***
Impact on the Labor Market
Increased Scrutiny on Hiring: Uncertainty leads companies to be more cautious about new hires, with budgets and openings undergoing higher levels of approval. Hiring managers cannot simply add staff without a rigorous process.
Upskilling of Roles: While the number of openings decreases, the quality of talent companies seek for these roles increases. Jobs are “upskilled,” meaning that the remaining positions demand more advanced skills and capabilities. For instance, those six financial analysts replacing ten might all be senior financial analysts with higher skill sets.
Higher Competition: The competition for available roles is higher, not necessarily among similar candidates, but because junior officers are competing against experienced businesspeople and MBA graduates for the same positions.
Opportunities for JMOs in this Landscape
Despite the “new normal”, the overall increased complexity and higher quality demands of the remaining roles create a “wonderful opportunity” for talented and prepared junior military officers. Companies at the August Conference were looking for specific attributes in these high-complexity roles:
Strong Leadership: Beyond functional skills, companies value individuals who are good leaders, highly collaborative, quick learners, analytical, innovative, and possess a strong drive for results.
Differentiated Talent: The market seeks “special leaders” rather than just a “human”. Junior officers are considered among the best-trained junior talent, possessing invaluable leadership experiences from the military.
My encouragement to JMOs: opportunity exists for those who are prepared, intentional, and develop a strong gameplan early on.
As Chuck Alvarez, our CEO, reminded us of this past week:
“Always love whatever is happening to you.”
It’s a Stoic principle—amor fati—and it’s about leaning into challenges instead of wishing things were different. Ryan Holiday says it best in The Obstacle Is the Way:
“The rock in the path is the way.”
For JMOs transitioning into business leadership roles, the current environment isn’t a roadblock—it’s an opportunity to stand out.
“Peak Behind the Curtain”
Industries represented at the conference:
Biotech, Medical Devices, Aerospace, Automotive, Energy, Construction, Semiconductors, Food and Beverage, Machinery, Communications, Materials, Packaging, and more.
Roles Included:
Plant Finance Controller, District Sales Manager, Operations Manager, Application Sales Engineer; Clinical Territory Associate, Six Sigma Black Belt, Commercialization Project Leader; CRM Field Clinical Representative; Manufacturing Supervisor, Business Analyst, Project Manager, Senior Buyer, Maintenance Team Leader, General Manager, Plant Manager, Warehouse Manager, and many more.
Want to know more and learn about specific companies? Give me a call below, or I encourage you to listen to the last few Conference reviews:
E226: Post June 2025 CC Review | Cameron-Brooks
E222: April 2025 Post Conference Review | Cameron-Brooks
E217: January 2025 Post Conference Review | Cameron-Brooks
Walking the Journey Together
As Joel Junker reminded the team at Cameron-Brooks before we kicked off the Conference, we never know what people are going through during a transition. Some candidates face hidden challenges while preparing for this next chapter of their professional careers. At Cameron-Brooks, our role is to:
- Accompany you on your journey
- Speak truth and provide honest guidance
- Show up when it matters most
This isn’t just about landing a job; it’s about helping young talented JMOs find purpose-driven careers in business post military transition and laying the foundational work for the next 40 years. For over 50 years, Cameron-Brooks has helped JMOs transform their lives and launch into business leadership roles with confidence and clarity.
For those considering a transition, now is the time to explore your options. Whether the market is booming or competitive, the right strategy, preparation, and mindset can open doors to exceptional opportunities.
We’re here to walk that journey with you. Give me a call, or share with a friend you know considering the transition to business.
Your transition partner,
Brock Dudley
Associate Principal, Cameron-Brooks
(210) 874-1495
