Focusing on 3 Key Areas
A Better You; Understanding You; Developing You
Leaving Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, presents us with a bit of a conundrum, as it is not just the new role we are after:
It is shift in the way we have lived our lives:
- A new home in a new area.
- A new role for yourself, maybe now working shifts, no sports afternoons and early fliers (Friday).
- A new role for your spouse.
- A new school for your children.
- Understanding your pension, your entitlements.
- Acclimatisation to the realisation that you are on a new journey, that has to start somewhere.
- Being thriftier with the family finances.
It is safe to say that most of us will look back at our time in the services with great fondness and when we get the opportunity, spin a story or short ditty, but it is how take stock of experience and project this through; our CV, LinkedIn Profile, Cover Letters, Interviews which matters, and the old adage of ‘Time on Recce Seldom Wasted’, is so true in this instance as what we put into our transition plan, our resettlement, is exactly what we will get out of it.
We are quite often asked, ‘When?’:
- When is the right time to write a CV?
- When is the right time to start professional networking?
- When is the right time for professional development?
- When is the right time to plan our exit strategy?
- Think Ownership
- Think Plan
- Think Career
- Think Location
This section is about evaluating where you are:
- Your Personality
- Your Skills
- Your Values
- Your Interests
In the past we have never taken for granted what we achieve as an individual, but it has mainly always been about the team and this has its place in certain areas but it is time to focus on you.
Your experience is not to be underestimated, so your experience in trade, coupled with transferable skills, is powerful when used in the right manner, below are just a few of the transferable skills that you have:
- Communication Skills – Critical in conveying orders and articulating information clearly, effectively and persuasively.
- Leadership Qualities – The ability to inspire, influence, motivate, assess situations, make decisions, take risks, determine goals, and achieve results through resourcefulness, creativity and teamwork.
- Analytical Skills – Used to evaluate data, research, compile, and interpret information, apply logic, handle numbers, and determine patterns.
- Organisational Skills – Includes time management, the ability to prioritise, disseminate and record data, generate accurate report, manage resources, multi-task, administer, direct and coordinate.
- Technical Skills – The application of practical know-how and hands-on proficiency, with specific equipment and machinery, software and hardware, chemical substances, techniques and procedures.
- Personal Skills – Having integrity, loyalty, resilience, character, self-discipline and control, being punctual, reliable, responsible, structured, resourceful and mission-oriented, with a can-do attitude.
- Interpersonal Skills – The ability to listen, take orders, cooperate, supervise, negotiate, guide and be part of a team.
We know that your experience and transferable skills are value add to any organisation, however the more you can add to your personal toolkit, ensuring you are bridging the gaps between your Military Experience and the field you are looking to move into, in the commercial world and wider industry ensuring that you stand out from all of the other applicants.
Attached via Annexes to this document are a couple of short exercises, which may help you evaluate the future.
In this section we will also take a deep dive into the worlds of:
- CV Writing
- LinkedIn Profile
- Professional Networking
- Professional development (How to remain current)
- Benefits of being a member of a Professional Accredited Body relating to your field.