Jobs - what's next after years of armed service life?
Article Submitted by:
Mike W
So you have spent 22 years gaining skills and experience. The door is now opening into the civilian world. Surely all those employers will be lining up to take you? The reality is often different.
Many civilian employers fail to grasp the skills of the ex-service person sitting in front of them. It is often difficult to clearly demonstrate how service skills and experience are transferable to civilian roles. A point I would like to make here - the civilian world does not owe servicemen a living. The services are a career choice just like any other. Not all servicemen are heroes (some are, of course) - this is a mindset that needs to be left behind.
It is up to the individual to think carefully about how their skills and experience can be best used in a civilian role and, then to understand how best to communicate this to potential employers.
Key areas to consider are:
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How does service experience and qualifications translate to
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How to best convey skills in written communication (letters and
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How best to cope with job interviews. |
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How to integrate into a civilian position |
There is, ot course, resettlement help offer to those about to leave the forces. In my opinion, this can be a little limited.
It would be useful for individuals to learn how to approach finding a job from those that have served and now work in civilian jobs.
There is a short survey to take. looking at the 4 points mentioned. It can be found here - www.rnmedics.com.
Remember. It is not enough to be enthusiastic, believing you are awaited with baited breath. You will need to be very clear on what makes you unique to a potential employer and be able to effectively communicate your value to an organization.
Michael Wright
Ex - Royal Navy Medical Branch (Falklands veteran)
