Luke quit the army and is struggling with his CV as well as what roles to apply for.
James Innes
★ The Jobs Guru ★ Author, Columnist & Broadcaster ★ Entrepreneur ★ Business Leader ★ Executive Consultant ★ Professional Actor!
Dear James
I have recently left the Army and I am not sure what to do now. I am struggling with my CV and what roles to apply for.
I am very fit and active and enjoy team work. I think I would get bored behind a desk. But similarly I left the army because I was tired of the gruelling schedule. What areas should I be looking at?
I am also worried about starting from the bottom in the company again when I am used to being in charge of a team.
What advice do you have for ex-military?
Luke, 40, Leeds
Well, Luke; you must immediately put any thoughts out of your head about possibly having to start from the bottom! No ex-military people with whom I have dealt have had to start from the bottom as if they had never worked before.
Whilst not all employers are necessarily ‘wise’ to the numerous advantages of hiring ex-military, there are certainly plenty that are, including – I know for a fact – some pretty big names, with workforces of 100,000+.
You have so much to offer – a huge range of transferable skills – if only you realised it! Fortunately, most recruiters recognise that the ex-military are renowned for their discipline, their drive and determination, their leadership abilities (and/or their ability to function highly effectively in a team) and, above all, for getting the job done. And these are all sought-after qualities on Civvy Street!
What areas should you be looking at? A lot depends, of course, on what precisely you did whilst in the army – but have you considered the telecommunications sector as an option? The construction industry is also a good choice. You really do have a lot of options available to you in many different fields; it’s up to you to decide what would be the best ‘fit’ for you as you embark on your new career.
Use your CV to highlight, in particular, the leadership skills that you have developed during your military career – and actively target roles that will enable you to make best use of these.