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Behind every phone call, email or piece of advice with a spouse or partner is a member of the Families programme who make it their mission to provide strong employment support for the military spouse or partner.

As a team of spouses the Families Programme thoroughly understands the barriers, such as frequent moves, isolated locations and employer reluctance, that military spouses and partners face. Female military spouses in particular find that employment comes with extra barriers such as gaps in career due to being a primary caregiver or a need for flexibility due to spousal deployment. By providing one-to-one advice, guidance, bespoke career and training advice and so much more the Families Programme team help spouses and partners to move past these barriers.

This month we are carrying on our monthly Meet The Team interviews by speaking to Sarah Peñaluna, military spouse, veteran and Families Programme caseworker.

Hello Sarah! Thanks for joining me today. My first question is, can you tell me about your career up until you joined FEC?  

Absolutely! I started in the Irish Defence Force. I then worked for 11 years in the Army at HQ in County Cork then six years with the Naval Service! I studied at the TUS Technological University and the University of Limerick. I got a BA in Business and a Masters in Human Resource Management. Prior to moving to the UK where I took a career break, I started in the careers and employment department as a careers officer at the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS). From there I moved on to a staff officer for the VP of academic affairs and from there I became a lecturer in human resource management at the International Business department at TUS. That’s what I did in Ireland! My first role in the UK was working for Oxford Health NHS as an HR officer and an Armed Forces champion, where we provided dedicated employability and mentoring support to members of the Armed Forces community. We wanted to identify in-house opportunities within the NHS for Service leavers, reservists, veterans, cadets and their families. I offered advice and support for their professional journey and the transition into the NHS with Step into Health.

You sound like you have had quite the journey. So you were in both the Navy and the Army?  

Yes, I was in both! 

Great, what appeals to you about working in the Forces?  

I had done a significant amount of years and achieved everything I wanted to achieve in the Defence Forces, I was in logistics as a driver. I never actually knew how to drive and learnt in the army! Off road driving, tactical driving, everything, it was so cool, I went from not knowing how to drive to getting my licence up to a truck. I just felt like there was a lot to explore in terms of transferable skills that could be used in the Navy. What I wanted to do there was essentially the same thing but also be on an RIB – I wanted to be able to be deployed on the ships and wanted to be trained on the RIB. I wanted to get that element of maritime skill and ship ops. But I was also one of the senior drivers in my unit! It was so good and so interesting, and I am so glad I got to wear both hats and experience both Forces.

Sounds like an incredible journey!

On the back of both these significant experiences, I did a lot of recruitment too. I always incorporated training into my role, whether I was training others how to drive or how to be a good soldier or specific aspects of how the ship functioned, I was always factoring in conversations about the trajectory of my job and others’ jobs too. We would do a lot of training and then talk about where we wanted to end up in a few years. I also did a lot of confidence-building elements, I created a safe space where people could talk about their aspirations and future. I believed and still do believe that having a career champion is so important. We called it the buddy-buddy system and these conversations were key in making me feel fulfilled and that I was giving back to my comrades alongside me.

That leads quite nicely into my next question, which is what you do at the Forces Employment Charity. You mentioned that recruitment and development has always been a part of what you’ve done. So what do you do now?

My role now is as an employment advisor with the Families Programme. We support civilian spouses and partners of serving and ex-Forces personnel into employment, which includes divorced spouses and widows. The areas I cover are East, South East, NI and overseas, as part of a close-knit team within the Forces Employment Charity.

What made you want to work on the Families Programme?  

Something I think people need to remember is that transition also happens for the spouse, so my transition was moving from Ireland to the UK to be with my husband who was serving in the British Army. I took a career break, I was committed to being a supportive military spouse. I researched military spouse support and found Forces Families Jobs. I then emailed someone called Jenna and told her about myself. She referred me to RFEA, now Forces Employment Charity, Families Programme and from there I got a phenomenal employment advisor, Joanne (Armed Forces Veterans and Families programme manager)! We hit it off perfectly. That element of support was exactly what I needed – I mean, I knew how to job search, I could write my own CV, I was a professional! But I needed a career champion, someone I could relate to, military spouse to military spouse, who understood me on a deeper level. I needed a confidential safe space to talk about my desires and aspirations. Once I had done that I needed to have an action plan in place and milestones to work towards. I enjoyed the process so much more than if I had done it alone. I really tried to keep my journey into employment separate from the support I was providing my husband and his new role in the British Army.

That support really made me realise how much I wanted to merge my Armed Forces experience and my career consultancy with being a military spouse and combine it and work within the military community. I could wear those multiple hats and I wanted that one role that would allow me to utilise all the different parts of my identity. I identify as a veteran and I identify as a military spouse. This role allowed me to encompass all of that. I understand what it’s like to be serving and to be a military spouse and I have the expertise to back it up to help individuals to reach their goals and aspirations.

That is so true, you can understand the veteran and military spouse perspectives. Let’s talk a little more about your job, what is your favourite part of your role as an employment advisor?

My favourite part of my job is making a positive impact. Without a shadow of a doubt. Supporting my clients in achieving everything they set out to in their journey. Seeing the happiness and enthusiasm in my clients when they achieve each and every step of their career plan, and supporting and motivating military spouses to fulfil their potential in their career with the employability support I provide. That’s it. I feel that the core element of making someone’s aspirations a reality is helping them to have a positive journey.

Military spouses go for interviews and sometimes they don’t get the job making them feel knocked down, but with us, there is backup, and there is support available from your careers advisor. I am there to be that strong element for them, I am their champion, part of their buddy-buddy system, their comrade and they can offload to me, and I’m there to actively listen, help and support them.

So it’s the supportive aspect that you love most? You enjoy providing that buddy-buddy system you mentioned so that military spouses know they are never alone.

Absolutely! They are never alone. One of the best assets you can have as a military spouse is a fellow military spouse supporting you. Relatability is absolutely, profusely key when trying to support someone. You have to be singing off the same hymn sheet. You have to really understand that person’s desires and wants. I provide a very non-judgmental space, everything is significant so it’s very important that they enjoy the process. Enjoying the process means it’s easier to get to their goal.

What energizes and motivates you?

This is a lovely question! Seeing people succeed in their aspirations motivates me. However big or small the milestone. I honestly feel that everyone’s achievements and all the steps in an employment career journey are important and have a purpose. I’m really determined, positive and dedicated to each of my clients’ employment journey and seeing them achieve their goals is incredible. It is really rewarding to provide that support that gives results, like overcoming challenges, barriers and securing employment. I am highly motivated and dedicated to supporting others.

I appreciate that it’s the provision of support, being that friend and that shoulder to lean on when times are hard that energises you! What sort of challenges do your clients face and how do you support them?

Finding and growing the right career as a military spouse can be elusive. There is a certain amount of pressure being the primary parent and dual parent that military spouses face such as managing the household alone. Essentially they hold down the Homefront alone.

Another challenge is the isolation in the community when adjusting to a new place. I believe growing the confidence to network and be social in the community is important.

When it comes to the support I provide, I like to say that nothing is impossible and let’s talk transferrable skills! I really want to highlight transferrable skills because I think it assists us with the confidence-building element of employment support that again, complements the employment journey.

What’s something you’re proud of?

I’m really proud of what I represent. Representation is important, it’s key. I’m really proud of being an advocate for the military community and representing the community across the board and military spouses in particular. Anything can be achieved with the right support around you and having that burning desire to accomplish your goals. I am so proud of seeing how confidence grows in each client as we progress through the programme. It’s a journey and together we can make any career goal come true. It’s an energising, positive moment to see clients bloom.

What is the most interesting role you supported a client to obtain?

All successes are as important as each other and I couldn’t decide on only one! I have supported clients to work in the aviation industry, senior management positions, engineering roles, marketing management, MOD, civil service, and clinical and non-clinical roles! There are so many! And if we think about tech – there are so many opportunities in the sector (shoutout to the TechVets team who support our clients with incredible training opportunities)!

What advice would you give to military spouses who have been out of work and are trying to find their way back into work?

I would say, first of all, you are amazing! You are a phenomenal human being. You are strong, ambitious and courageous. You are talented. Continue to pursue your own professional goals, needs, wants and goals. Learn about the resources available to you, it is super important that you do this. Learn about the programmes available to you as a military spouse. Fellow military spouses are your biggest asset – all the advisors on the Families programme are military spouses. When you are speaking to an advisor who is living the same life as you – living on a garrison, similar accommodation and going through that same military life, you are going to get so much more from them, because of that crucial relatability factor.

Women need to celebrate each other and show the world how phenomenal we are!

Anything else you would like to add?

I have always been someone who supports the people around me, as a student, as a class rep, when I was in the Armed Forces and for my friends on a night out! My various roles and experience helped me to understand what my passion is – and this role itself doesn’t feel like work it just feels like a purpose. So I am so glad I found this programme. My experience on the Families Programme was life-changing for me. As a client, I was constantly learning new things so as an advisor I love being able to give all that back to my clients.

I also believe it is super important that we support fellow military spouses by celebrating their accomplishments and recognising the sacrifices that military spouses make each and every day not just once a year!

Find out more about our Military Women Programme here and our Families Programme here!

Recognising the interest in financial services as a second career for many veterans, the Forces Employment Charity ran a Careers in Finance Day in February, bringing together over 16 organisations to give a snapshot of their industry…

Lucy Heaver, Senior Manager, Executive Services and Employer Partnerships, shares more about the successes of our recent Careers in Finance event sponsored by Citi.

Why it matters

Our recent event aimed to provide Service Leavers with a complete overview of the Financial Services Sector, as this industry continues to be one of the most popular options for veterans when leaving the Armed Forces.

How did it go?

In developing this day, we brought 16 banks together in the same room for the first time to talk about their military programmes, what they offer, how they differentiate from others, their timelines for applications to the programmes and other available direct entry opportunities. This offered the 60 Service leavers and veterans interested in careers in finance the chance to understand the structure of a bank and the different roles available to them and hear directly from veterans already embedded within the bank about their journey and transition out of the Armed Forces.

The event enabled delegates to directly compare different banks, identify which bank/programme would suit them best, and engage with the military programme leaders and HR partners during the networking session.

We had 35 speakers across the day imparting valuable insight, advice and guidance to Service Leavers and veterans from across the Armed Forces community. These included Ian Rand, CEO of Monument and FEC Trustee, Michael Cole Fontayn, Patron of City Veterans CIC, and Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments.

A resounding success

The day offered delegates a chance to hear from a variety of speakers and the ability to speak to personnel from different banks. We hope that this is just the beginning of a wider initiative to collaborate and support Service Leavers and veterans from the industry. Without this generosity, wider team support and the help of the venue team, the day would not have been possible.

 

Get involved and view our upcoming events online.

Iconic Hollywood actor Ginger Rogers once said, “I did everything that Fred [Astaire] did, only backwards and in high heels.”

Women have the same skills, the same education, and the same training opportunities as men, and yet they face additional barriers because of their gender. When you’re a woman involved in the military, be that having served or being a military spouse, the barriers to employment are even higher.

The statistics for military women

Women make up over half of the UK’s population, and yet, as of April 2022, only 11.3% of the military is female.

Research by Cranfield University and the Institute for Employment Studies found that women have a lower employment rate (69%) compared to men (81%), after leaving the Armed Forces. Female Service leavers and employers interviewed for the research noted that women, unlike their male counterparts, undervalue their experience and may deselect themselves from roles they are suitable for.

Former army nurse and Military Women Employment Advisor Annette Berry comments, “military women are equally served, equally qualified, and sometimes even better qualified. I want us to be equally valued.”

The view from a military spouse

When you are a military spouse, employment comes with extra barriers. From gaps in employment from moving to requiring a flexible job so you can be the prime caregiver to your children, building a career as a military spouse is not an easy task.

Military spouse and Families Employment Advisor Sarah Penaluna notes, “Women wear many different hats – the professional hat, the primary caregiver hat, the spouse hat – and yet aren’t recognised in industry as working hard and getting the credit for all that they do.”

Over skilled, overqualified, yet undersold

“Female veterans, in the same way as many women, undersell themselves,” says Annette. “They don’t see their value.  They don’t recognise that they are usually over-skilled and overqualified and potentially underpaid.”

Recognising their value is an issue many women struggle with. It could be due to a lack of confidence in themselves and their abilities. It could be because they don’t recognise the transferable skills that they have. Whatever the reason, by selling themselves short women are increasing the likelihood of having lower levels of job satisfaction and are more likely to be earning less money than they deserve.

“I have clients who don’t have the confidence to apply for roles because they only tick half the boxes on the job description,” says Sarah. “But I take the time to go through their CV, make them realise the transferable skills that they have, and encourage them to go for it.”

What are your transferable skills?

Transferable skills are abilities that can transfer from one job to the next. They can be soft skills, such as communication, or hard skills, such as project management. Although related to employment, transferable skills are not only learnt from being in a job. They are also learnt by experiencing different life situations.

“Military spouses have transferable skills through being a military spouse,” Sarah notes. “They have to move every few years, and they need to have confident, open communication with people around them. When you consider what a military spouse has to do in the household on a daily basis, they have transferable skills in abundance. They have to be organised, not only for themselves but their children, if they have any, their household, and their spouse. They have to be reactive to situations, solve problems on a daily basis, planning their routine around their spouse’s leave. All these are skills that can transfer to the workplace”

Female service leavers also have transferable skills that they may not realise they possess. Employers of female service leavers have praised their abilities in areas like forward planning and preparation, administration and organisation, and gathering evidence and pulling it together in a coherent way.

“Military women’s time management is exceptional! They have multiple plates spinning simultaneously so they have to be,” says Annette. “Women, by nature, don’t want to have to go back and correct mistakes. They don’t want to give only 50%. They want to give 100% and get it right first time, every time.”

Take up space and be confident

Women have the relevant skills to find high-quality, sustainable employment, but confidence is key when finding and maintaining a job. Being confident in your skills and abilities is how you will be able to win the job that you deserve, negotiate your salary, and navigate the sometimes tricky world of civilian employment.

“Women need to be confident in themselves and know who they are. It’s important that they know their value because they are an asset to any company,” says Sarah.

Self-confidence is not something that comes easily, and there are plenty of ways that it can be tested in a workplace environment.

“There is a whole thing around the semantics of it,” explains Annette. “When women are in the workplace, they are not always seen to be the go-getters.”

In the workplace, if a man speaks up about an issue that is bothering him he may be called assertive. However, if a woman did the same thing she may be called feisty. These subtle changes in language can often be discouraging to women and prevent them from having the confidence to take up the space they deserve in their job.

“I get called forthright all the time, and feisty, and do you know what I own the space now. So when people say that I am forthright, I say yes I am,” declares Annette.

Alternative routes into employment

There is no straight road into employment, there are many routes that can fit around any schedule.

“There are a lot of ways for military women to get into employment. They can look at part-time work, which could turn into full-time work. They can look at volunteering. They can look at asking to shadow, which most people don’t consider. They can look at return-to-work programmes. Adult apprenticeships are excellent when you want to change direction in your employment,” advises Annette.

“Online classes, remote learning, remote degrees, night classes, there are so many ways that women, particularly military spouses, can upskill, but it is still them that have to adjust their schedule around their partner which is not always easy,” says Sarah.

The age barrier

The rising cost of living in the UK has prompted a rise in those over 50 re-joining the workforce. Women over 50 could encounter another barrier – their confidence.

“A lack of confidence can be amplified in older women. You’re not just being judged as a woman anymore, you’re being judged as an older woman,” says Annette. “Adding to that, they may have had knockbacks over the years and memories of the bias and sexism that existed in the workplace, especially in the 80s and 90s.”

Age should not be a factor when considering a potential employee and hiring someone older comes with an abundance of benefits, such as more experience and a greater skillset.

“A woman who is 40, for example, will have almost 30 years of working life left. She’s only worked, potentially, 22 already. The majority of her working life is still ahead of her. People need to forget the numbers, and look at the human being,” observes Annette.

Returning to work is daunting, especially if it has been a prolonged amount of time since you have worked and you have had negative experiences in the workplace. Many benefits to returning to work go beyond financial gain, including meeting new people, staying mentally and physically active, and learning new skills.

Annette’s top tips for getting into employment

1. Register with the Forces Employment Charity.

2. Sit down and think about what you are bringing to the table and what value you are bringing to the table. Remember to be kind to yourself when doing this. Reflect on what you have done in your life and how those skills transfer.

3. Look at your transferable skills.

4. Be open to change. What you think you want to do is not what you may end up doing.

5. Look at social media, look at LinkedIn, and see what people are saying about themselves. Learn to recognise those things in yourself.

Register with the Forces Employment Charity

Our Military Women programme caters to the needs of female veterans, offering them the practical tools that they need to find successful employment while helping with their emotional needs as well.

“The Military Women programme takes someone who is lacking in confidence and reminds them what they have done while serving. It’s about holding a mirror to them and reminding them how good they are and will be again,” explains Annette.

For military spouses, male or female, our Families Programme supports civilian spouses and partners of serving and ex-Forces personnel. Our team of dedicated Advisors are all military spouses themselves and have both the professional knowledge to help you find employment, and the personal experience as well.

“We have a very holistic, one-to-one approach, where we help with CVs, networking, interview skills, as well as building on confidence and self-belief,” says Sarah.

Register with the Forces Employment Charity today.

At the Forces Employment Charity, behind every phone call with a veteran or military spouse, every specific piece of job advice, and every successful job placement, is a member of staff who empathises and values those who have served and the military families that support them. Each staff member has their own story to tell – how they got here, what drew them to their current role, what makes them tick, and crucially, their motivation to support veterans, spouses, partners and dependants.

Continuing our monthly interviews with staff across departments such as employment advisors, operations and specialists we’re interviewing Natalie Wright, Employment Advisor on the Specialist Vocational Advice programme.

Read on to learn about Natalie’s career, motivations and advice to veterans.

Hello! Thank you for joining me today. So to start with, what do you do at the Forces Employment Charity?

I am a Specialist Vocational Advisor (SVA) at the Forces Employment Charity.

Perfect. Can you tell me what an SVA does?

Of course. Clients on the SVA programme tend to need a bit more support before they are ready for training or employment due to the barriers they are facing. Barriers to employment vary, from PTSD to mental health issues, homelessness, substance misuse, relationship breakdowns and long-term unemployment.

It sounds like it can be a challenging job.

Yes, challenging but rewarding. Each client is different, and their circumstances vary, so you never know what barriers you will come up against day to day. Which is good!

Can you tell me about your career up until you joined Forces Employment Charity?

I joined the Army right after school and I was an Electronics Technician. When I left the Army I went into the police force for a few years, then went into banking and then recruitment. I enjoyed all the jobs but none of them gave me what I was looking for – job satisfaction. One day I came across a job at a charity for a veterans caseworker. I applied for that role and that was it. I have been with Forces Employment Charity as an Employment Advisor for 3.5 years and found my place. My spot. I have finally found a job I enjoy that gives me satisfaction.

How long were you in the Army?

Only a few years! I came out and then joined the police, thinking it would be the same environment as the military, you are sort of in a bubble there. Working for the police wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t give me the job satisfaction that I have now.

What led you to this career? What is it about being an Employment Advisor that appeals to you?

A passion for helping, for making a difference in people’s lives. This job is not a chore! I am not constantly waiting for the weekend to start. I enjoy working with veterans, I still have a lot of friends I served with. Even my daughter is in the Army!

So you are familiar with what people are going through. You work with people that you understand.

Yes! It’s precisely that.

What advice would you give to veterans who are job searching?

Don’t give up.  I hear quite often that people are applying and not getting any responses. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Your job is out there, we will get you to where you want to be. When we support clients we will look at and work on their CV so we know that it works for a particular sector and if we need to regroup at any point then we will. Keep plugging away!

What is your favourite part of your role?

Interacting with clients and getting to know them as an individual. You really drill down and get to know the core of every person you work with! You have got to know them well to be able to be successful with your client. You have got to know what they like what they don’t like, any barriers, things like ‘do you like working outside?’ ‘Or indoors?’ ‘Big teams or small teams?’ Because all that is going to give you a really good idea of the right environment for your client. It means the client can go into an interview happy. You don’t put them in a situation that’s not right for them. I love that because it’s a privilege to get to know about their lives, and their family situation, where they have been in life, their experiences.

What energizes and motivates you?

The journey and the outcome. You have the starting point when someone is referred to me – they might be at rock bottom, they could be homeless, their relationship could have broken down, or maybe they haven’t worked for some years. A lot of the time my clients feel as if they are under a cloud. For me, it is knowing that we are going to go in and get rid of those barriers. Everything is going to come back together. If the client needs training, we can organise that for them and then it’s into employment. And that energises me, that motivates me, I’m there from beginning to end. I am empowering somebody. It’s a mindset change, it’s getting someone to believe in themselves again because you know they are going to get where they need to be. That motivates me. I get to see that from start to finish. I get that phone call at the end telling me ‘I love this job! Everything is fantastic!’ and that’s brilliant.

That sounds like such a satisfying place to be!

Yes exactly, you are on that journey with them. You are that voice on the bad days when they tell you they are sick of it all, you are that voice of reason that tells them ‘I know, but we need to keep going that’s all’.

What’s something you learnt recently?

To take a pause when needed. Clients that have been job searching for months are sometimes referred back to me. At that point I say let’s take a break, let’s take a breather. And then we will come back to it in a few weeks. Baby steps. When job searching people often put themselves under a lot of pressure and if you have somebody who has suffered anxiety for years and years it can be so overwhelming to send applications over and over. So I have learnt that taking a pause, a breather, can be so beneficial for the job search.

What’s something you’re proud of?

There are lots of situations with clients that I’m proud of. I had a client referred a couple of months before Christmas. She was homeless and had been living in her car for 3 years. I met up with her face to face and she told me she was a trained counsellor who was living in a car because she had left an abusive relationship. It was awful to see her in this situation. I had contacts within the housing association, called my contact up and got her housed within 10 days. Then we looked at her CV and tweaked that a bit. Applied for a few jobs, one of which was with the local police where she was given an interview. She rang me post-interview to say it went well and then rang me a couple of hours later to say she got the job! So I am so proud of her as my client but also as an SVA. We worked together from such a low point to a successful situation! She checks in every so often to tell me what’s happening, her house is coming together, and she’s decorating to put her stamp on it. That makes me so proud!

What is the most interesting role you supported a client to obtain?

This is a good one, I received a call from a veteran, and I asked him “in an ideal world what you would like to do? I know we aren’t living in one, but if we were what would you want to do?”. And he told me that he would love to be a dog handler in France. I thought okay, that’s fine. Finished our call and did a job search and, bizarrely, found a dog-handling role in France! Right after the call! It was so unexpected! So I emailed him the details and told him to have a look. He responded that it was perfect and asked me how I found the perfect role. We tweaked his CV and cover letter and added some meat to the bones. A couple of days later he had an interview, got a trial and a week later he had the role as a dog handler in France – his ideal role. I felt like a magician that day, it worked out so perfectly for this client.

I love this! Both client stories are so different and heart-warming.

I think that with my job when I talk about motivations, that is it! Every week, sometimes every day, I get to be a part of someone’s journey to success. Every day is different. You can’t match that job satisfaction!

Check out our interview with our longest-standing Employment Advisor, Dave Hilton, here.

Congratulations! You’ve just received confirmation that you have secured an interview for the job you applied for. Now, it’s time for the preparation to begin.

What is the purpose of a job interview?

Your main goal when attending a job interview is to secure yourself new employment. For the interviewer, the purpose of a job interview is to figure out what you have to offer. What are the skills, abilities, and knowledge that you have that sets you apart from the rest? And does who you are fit with the ethos and values of the organisation that you are interviewing for?

When being interviewed it can seem like an interrogation. But it’s important to remember that interviews are a two-way street. Your interview is an opportunity to assess whether the role, and the organisation, is right for you. Of course, before applying for the job you would have researched the company and role; however, you may find when being interviewed that the role and/or organisation isn’t exactly what you thought it might be.

Key information to take note of

It is more than likely that you will be told about your upcoming interview via email. Within this email will be all the key information that you must take note of in order to attend your interview. This information will include:

The date of your interview

It may seem obvious but noting the date of your interview is hugely important. You don’t want to completely miss the event, and it’s also important to figure out how much time you have to prepare.

What type of interview it is

You shouldn’t assume that your interview is going to be face-to-face. During the pandemic, interviews were done virtually, and many companies are continuing to interview in this way. It may be that your first interview is virtual and, if there are second interviews, the second in-person. Either way, knowing what type of interview you are having will allow you to better prepare for the event.

The interviewers

On your interview invite it will usually let you know who you will be interviewed by. It could be one person, or a panel of people, it is entirely up to the company that you are interviewing for. Taking note of who you are being interviewed by will help you in your research and preparation.

Task

Sometimes an interview will include a short task for you to complete. The task could be competency-based, a maths and/or English test, an IQ test, or a short presentation. Knowing if there is a task, and what it will be, will give you time to prepare anything that you may need.

Preparation is key

Regardless of how confident you feel about an interview, you must prepare. By getting an interview you have shown that you are a strong candidate, but you can not assume that you are the best candidate. You don’t know who else they are interviewing and how their experience compares to yours. With this in mind, be proactive and thoroughly prepare for your interview.

Preparation for an interview includes:

• Researching the company and your interviewers.
• Preparing for the task (if there is one).
• Answering practice questions.
• Preparing what you are going to wear.
• Knowing how to get to the location (if the interview is in person).
• Making sure that your interviewers know of any accessibility issues you may have.

Research, research, research

“It’s important to do your research before going to an interview,” says Specialist Vocational Advisor Natalie Wright. “Try researching the company and making notes on points of interest that you can bring up in your interview.”

Before your interview you want to know as much about the company as possible so that you can show your interest in the role and company to your interviewers.

There are several places that you can look to find out more about a company, but the first place should be the company website. This is the most logical place to start your research because you will be able to find out about the organisation, the work that they do, the partners they work with, and any news/updates. This will give you an excellent base of knowledge to build upon.

On the company website, you should also be able to find their most recent impact report. This will give you the latest information on how the company is performing, latest statistics, and ambitions for the future. With this information you can more clearly align your experience with the current work that the organisation is doing, and emphasise how your skills can contribute to further success.

After browsing the company’s website, have a look through its social profiles – Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Not every company will have all these social channels, but they should have at least one for you to browse. A company’s social channels will give you the most recent updates, including what they are working on and recent successes. During your interview you can comment on these bits of information, letting your interviewers know that you are keeping up to date with the progress of the organisation.

Finally, Glassdoor is an excellent resource for finding out more about how a company is rated by their employees. On Glassdoor you will find ratings and comments by past interviewees, as well as current and former employees. With this knowledge you will get a more authentic look into the company and a better understanding of the morals and working ethos they have.

How do you fit into this role?

Now that you are an expert on the company that you are interviewing for, it’s time to think about how you will fit within both the organisation and the role. The best way to do this is to look at the person specification and write down what relevant experience you have. “Go over your initial application and make sure that you know your CV,” advises Natalie.

When you are doing this part of your preparation, you may find it difficult to think of relevant experience or situations that you have been in. If this is the case, think back to the roles that you had in the military and try to find suitable links. Think about what you have achieved and where you have added value. Try and memorise a few key achievements and tangible outcomes that you could mention in the interview.

The big day

Hopefully, you wake up on the day of your interview after a restful night’s sleep – you certainly don’t want to be yawning during your interview.

Regardless of whether your interview is a morning or afternoon appointment, it’s important that you eat a good breakfast to set you up for the day. You may not want to eat due to nerves, but food is brain power so it’s always best to eat something.

Then, it’s time to get ready. “I would ask the interviewer beforehand what to wear,” says Natalie. “Some potential employers may want formal wear; but some may ask for anything just not jeans, or casual.” If you are unsure of what to wear, always err on the side of caution and dress in something smart. It is important, however, that you feel comfortable in whatever you are wearing, so bear this in mind when picking your outfit.

If your interview is in person, then make sure that you know how to get to the location with plenty of time. It’s always best to arrive 15 minutes early so that you can do any check-in procedures necessary and calm your nerves before the main event. Alternatively, if your interview is online, make sure that you are in a quiet location with a strong internet connection, and that you can access the interviewing platform. Although technology issues do happen, it’s always best to be well prepared so that they are less likely to occur.

Calm your nerves

Interviews can be incredibly stressful, and it’s perfectly normal to be nervous – it shows that you care. But it is important to control your nerves so that you can show the most confident version of yourself in your interview.

Everybody calms their nerves in different ways, however, taking some deep breaths is an excellent starting point. Box breathing is just one technique that you can try. Used by the US Navy SEALS, breathe in for four seconds, hold for four seconds, breathe out for four seconds and hold for four seconds. Repeat this process as many times as you need until you feel yourself becoming more relaxed.

Putting your interview into perspective can also help calm you down. It’s important to remember that your interviewer(s) are not there to interrogate you. They want to know more about you, your experience, and how you might fit into the role and company. Remember that you are there to interview them as much as they are interviewing you.

Of course, this is an important opportunity, and you must do your best to succeed, however, if you aren’t successful this time, there is always another opportunity. “Just remember you can only do your best,” says Natalie.

Before you go into your interview, whether it’s virtual or in-person, take a final deep breath and let out all your nerves.

Five top interview tips

Listen, think, answer

It’s important to remain calm during your interview, because if you don’t then you could misinterpret a question or not give a full answer. When you are asked a question really listen to what is being asked, take some time to think about your response, and then answer. This is the most effective way to get a clear and concise answer to your interviewer(s).

Use STAR

When answering interview questions don’t forget to use the same STAR technique that you used in your interview preparation.

Avoid military jargon

When interviewing for a civilian job it’s important to bear in mind that your interviewer(s) may not necessarily have a military background. As such, try and avoid all military jargon unless absolutely necessary. If you do have to use any jargon, then make sure that you explain what it means in context.

Ask questions

Remember that a job interview is a two-way street and that you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. At the end of your interview, you will be given the chance to ask any questions you have, so take this opportunity to ask anything you want to know. “During the research stage, you should get some idea of questions that you want to ask an interviewer. One of the questions I like to ask is what do they like about working where they are,” says Natalie.

Say thank you

Regardless of how well you think the interview went always say thank you at the end. It’s important to stay professional and polite whilst you are in the presence of your interviewers and members of the organisation. Firstly, because your interview may have gone well and you may be a strong contender, and secondly because you never know if another opportunity may come up at the same company.

The aftermath

Before you leave your interview, you should be given a timeframe of when you should hear back from them. Regardless of what this timeframe is, a day after your interview send a thank you email to thank the interviewers for their time. This may seem like a small gesture, however, it shows that you are polite and appreciative of the opportunity even if you are unsuccessful.

If you haven’t heard anything back from your interview after a week, or if the length of time has exceeded the timeframe given to you, then don’t hesitate to send an email or phone your interviewers with a polite enquiry into whether they have made their decision. Make sure that you don’t do this any earlier than a week, or before the timeframe they have given you, as you don’t want to pester them.

Regardless of how well you think the interview went, it’s important to continue networking and applying for jobs. This will put you in good stead in case you are unsuccessful this time, plus it is always good to have a wide range of connections made through networking.

Dealing with rejection

Dealing with rejection is always difficult, especially when it is a role that you wanted. That being said, it’s important to stay calm and not let anger drive you to lash out at the company that you applied for. Instead, stay positive. Ask your interviewers for feedback as you can put this information towards your next application and interview. “I always remind people that they have done very well to get to an interview stage and it is all practice and things to learn from,” advises Natalie.

Remember, getting a civilian career is a time + volume = success equation.

Help from the Forces Employment Charity

We are here to help you throughout your career. Our specialist team of Advisors are on hand to provide you with life-long employment support and guidance, including interview tips and tricks.

David registered with us in 2020. He says:

“The biggest challenge I was facing was my interview skills. My Advisor helped me check my CV and gave me strong advice on what to do during interviews. I don’t think I would have succeeded without their help and support.”

Once you have registered with the Forces Employment Charity we will be here for you whenever you need us. Whether you need help taking the first steps into your civilian career, or you want to climb the career ladder, we provide tailored employment advice and guidance to help.

Register with the Forces Employment Charity today.

The Forces Employment Charity supports veterans in contact with the justice system, and understands that stability is a crucial factor in preventing offending, or indeed reoffending. To help provide stability, we created a community benefit programme, Past and Present.

 

In June 2022 the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) estimated that 3.6% of the UK’s prison population were ex-Service personnel, with 1,768 members of the prison population confirming that they had been a member of the Armed Forces.[1] There aren’t currently statistics available for the reoffending rate specifically amongst ex-Service personnel, however the MOJ’s most recent report on overall adult reoffending rates provides a rough indication, with figures fluctuating between 22.7% and 30.6%[2] since 2009.

However statistics, by their quantitative nature, fail to explain why these figures are the case. By combining personal stories with statistics, we can start to draw a picture of the challenges that some veterans face in leading a law-abiding life.

Lack of appropriate accommodation, unemployment, mental or physical health struggles, substance abuse, isolation from family and friends, and lack of community[3] can lead to instability and increase the likelihood of offending.

Isolation and lack of community were widespread issues that affected many people in March 2020 when the UK (and the world) was forced into lockdown as a result of Covid-19. It presented a need to provide further support for ex-Forces personnel in contact with the justice system, and as such, Past and Present, a community benefit programme, was born.

Past and Present

The programme encourages veterans to survey, photograph and provide general garden maintenance for scattered war graves in the UK. Past and Present is designed to be inclusive, to instil a feeling of community amongst participants and to provide purpose, whilst also being interesting and relevant to ex-Service personnel, finding graves and histories of those who also served. During lockdown, veterans could participate in the programme by walking to local graveyards, and identifying military graves as part of their daily exercise.

The conversation continued online via a Facebook group, where veterans were encouraged to find the genealogy and history of graves and share images online with the Past and Present community, prompting further discussion. It proved hugely popular, with over five thousand images of war graves collated throughout lockdown. This wealth of data was offered to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).

Past and Present also provided virtual training, delving into the history of graves, research methods and grave restoration techniques. For some veterans this led to education opportunities through the Open University veteran scholarship scheme. Education, similarly to employment, provides stability.

Post lockdown, Past and Present shifted its focus to private memorial war graves. These are non-identifiable military graves and many have been left untended. Finding them can be a historical treasure hunt, but take a look and you will find them in practically every graveyard. The community benefit programme has since delivered group clean-ups of graves and live demonstrations from a military grave restorer, bringing the online community offline.

Veterans with community hours, who are on probation or have an out of court disposal, are increasingly taking part. Their work identifying, recording and researching graves is of local historical value, and their findings can be offered to the CWGC, local libraries, historical societies and the National Archives. The programme has also recently secured funding to work with Suffolk Probation. Veterans will be involved in Past and Present as part of their sentence, which will encourage them to give back to the community, and provide a sense of purpose and achievement.

The Forces Employment Charity provides tailored support for veterans, which can be life-changing and often life-saving, and Past and Present is an essential part of this, providing individuals with the means to live fulfilled, law-abiding lives.

Find out more about Past and Present by visiting the Facebook group or contact us via freephone 0800 917 7299 or email at [email protected].

[1] Ministry of Justice, Official Statistics, Ex-service personnel in the prison population, England and Wales, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1113741/Ex-service_personnel_in_the_prison_population_2022.pdf , accessed 1/11/22

[2] National statistics, Proven reoffending statistics: October to December 2020, https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/proven-reoffending-statistics-october-to-december-2020/proven-reoffending-statistics-october-to-september-2020#adult-offenders, accessed 1/11/22

[3] West Midlands Reducing Reoffending plan, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1094641/West-Midlands_HMPPS_Reducing-Reoffending-plan.pdf, accessed 1/11/22

Dave Hilton, one of our Employment Advisors at the Forces Employment Charity, who served in the Royal Artillery for 22 years, explains how to get yourself ‘job ready’ this January.

With January comes a period of the year when job searching is easier, as organisations actively seek new talent. As the new year stretches ahead and organisations kick into gear post the holiday hiatus, January is the perfect time to consider your next career move and begin your job search.

However, job searching can seem a bit of a daunting process, especially if you are a Service leaver and haven’t worked in a civilian job for a prolonged period (or ever), if you haven’t moved jobs for a number of years, or if you’re planning a career change, such as seeking a different role or moving into a new industry.

When Sandra signed up with the Forces Employment Charity, the biggest challenge she faced in her job search was that she had spent ‘24 years in the same company since leaving the RAF, and for the first time ever I left a job before I had my next one.’ Sandra worked with one of our expert Employment Advisors who provided her with networking advice, introductions to organisations, confidence building, CV preparation and interview technique support, to help her find her new role.

We’ve put together some top tips to help make your job search less overwhelming, more focused and time-efficient. Job searching can be an exciting time, as you consider your next steps and see the numerous and exciting possibilities open to you.

Define what you want

‘When I started looking for a new job I really didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do. Then I was introduced to Karen from the Forces Employment Charity who made me realise exactly what I have to offer and why someone would want to employ me.’ – Marsha, ex-RAF

Before you start looking, ask yourself what you want. Breaking it down can make it more manageable to understand what you are looking for in your next role.

Is there a particular industry you would like to work in? Do you want a managerial or senior position? Do you want to manage people? What are your salary expectations?

Consider your current role

Looking at your current situation and evaluating it can also be useful. Are there elements of your current role that you enjoy and would like to replicate in a new role? Conversely, what do you dislike in your current role and would like to move away from? Are there any skills you would like to explore and learn? Or do you have current skills you would like to exercise further?

Locations and organisations

Think about organisations and environments you enjoy working in, or would be interested in working in. Are there particular values or priorities within an organisation that you’re looking for? Are you drawn to working for a larger corporate company, or would you prefer to work for a smaller organisation, or even a start-up?

Following the shift in working following Covid-19, many employers are offering greater flexibility, enabling you, the candidate, to have greater choice over how and where you work.

This shift in the world of work has given rise to other practical considerations including your working requirements and environments. For Sandra, when she secured her new role with the support of the Forces Employment Charity, she found that the role had a positive impact on her life, with her working life being more relaxed with much less time spent traveling in addition to her working hours.

You may have similar considerations regarding the location of your work. Consider the environment you work best in. Do you want to work from home, or do you prefer a hybrid model? Are you seeking a more practical role that will need you at your workplace every day? Do you want to travel for work – and how does this suit your home life and other commitments?

It is also worth knowing that as an employee you can request flexible work hours, as long as you have worked for the organisation for more than 26 weeks. Although it’s not mandatory, the employer must give due consideration to the employee’s request – but if this is something you know you would like from the outset, incorporate this factor into your job searching.

Make a list

It might help to jot some of these ideas down. Consider what you’re looking for, and what aspects of a new role are non-negotiable for you. It doesn’t have to be hugely specific at this stage – this will be enhanced and may even change as you begin researching, but having some ideas about what you do and don’t want will provide you with an initial roadmap to navigate your job search.

You can contact the Forces Employment Charity at any stage in your job search for support, but if you have some ideas about what you want, convey these and your expectations to an Employment Advisor. They will be able to give you facts about employment within specific sectors or about specific roles, and will help you identify whether you require any extra training, so you can find a role best suited to you.

Research

Once you have thought about what you would like from your next role and organisation, then begins your research.

Job specifications

If you have a particular role in mind start looking at job specifications across different companies that appeal to you, to see how the role can vary between different organisations and what the expectations are. You can also speak to an Employment Advisor at the Forces Employment Charity about the variations between different roles. Understanding the job specification will provide you with a checklist of how your own experience meets the criteria, and if you need to do anything more, such as training or upskilling, in order to secure that role.

Company and culture

Whether you have a specific role in mind or not, start researching companies within the sector(s) that you would like to work in. Look at company websites to understand more about them, what they do, where they fit within an industry, and also to start learning more about the company’s culture and values, and whether these would suit you.

It can also be useful when researching specific companies to notice their industry jargon and type of language. If you are interested in a specific company, it will put you in a stronger position to work with them if you have an understanding of some of the sector and organisation-specific language.  You can also view the organisation’s vacancies online, although be aware that not all jobs are publicly advertised; if you don’t see a role that suits you, it may still be worth getting in touch with the organisation.

An organisation’s LinkedIn profile and other social media accounts, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, also provide useful insights into what the company does and their general ethos, outlook and tone. How the organisation chooses to present itself to the world is a useful indication of the sort of company they are, and will enable you to start determining what it would be like to work there. You can also look at senior staff profiles on LinkedIn, such as the CEO’s, to see what they are posting, what they are talking about and what their online presence is.

For more statistical information and to see the company’s future goals, their positioning within the sector and their aims and scope, look to the organisation’s annual report, their strategy and their long-term plan. This will provide you with an indication of what the organisation has already achieved and what their ambitions are. The majority of good companies will have this information publicly available, and if not then this can be something you ask once you start networking.

Networking

The thought of networking can make some people feel uncomfortable. However, if you break down what networking actually is – having conversations with people in the sector that you want to work in, and asking them questions – it can feel less intimidating. The more people you connect with and talk to, the more you will understand how the sector works and what opportunities are available.

There are three main ways of recruiting. Candidates can be headhunted, they can be advertised to (for example, listings on job boards), or recruiters can go directly to candidates (and often these jobs aren’t advertised at all). The latter is all conducted via networking, and hirers are looking for people in their networks to speak to about new roles. Combine this with the surprising statistic that approximately 70% of all jobs are gained through networking, and that the more senior the role the greater this percentage becomes, then we start to draw a picture of how important creating your own network and making new connections can be. Plus successful networking can considerably shorten your job search.

There are a few ways to start networking. You can network virtually via email, telephone, or LinkedIn. You can meet new people at events, such as sector-specific business conferences, which are often advertised on LinkedIn. The Forces Employment Charity hosts a variety of events both online and in person which can help you build your network. Or you can arrange a face-to-face meeting with a new contact.

To network effectively, research the people you want to connect with. These can be people who are currently working at an organisation you are interested in finding out more about. Ask them about their organisation, particularly if you have questions that your research did not answer. If you want to find out more about the industry in general, then strike up a conversation about it. You could also start a conversation by asking for advice and guidance on your job search.

After any kind of networking, whether it is face-to-face or an exchange of emails, it is good practice to keep a record of who you met and what they do and what you discussed.

You can find out more about networking here.

Using LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a brilliant tool to help you network and build your community, and has become one of the main platforms for organisations to advertise job opportunities. Many hires are made directly via LinkedIn, so it’s an especially useful platform to have whilst job searching and networking, and is a profile you can keep updating and using throughout your working life.

The platform has a wealth of information about different industries, employers and trends. You can see what organisations and their people are talking about, plus you can contact people on the platform via direct message.

Here are a few tips when creating or updating your LinkedIn profile:

• Keep your profile up to date with a recent profile picture. It is always good to have a profile picture as the contacts you make and meet through the platform are more likely to remember you, and if you do meet them face to face, will recognise you.
• Use the experience section of your profile to talk about your previous roles. Ensure that the information you provide matches up with your CV.
• Spend time building your network. Start by adding family, friends, colleagues. Then start reaching out to new people in organisations you are interested in to find out more about or working for.

Finding extra support for your job search

At the Forces Employment Charity, we’re here to support you throughout your career and job search. Many of our expert advisors have military backgrounds and empathise with the specific challenges that Service leavers, veterans and reservists can face when job hunting, and can provide tailored support to suit your particular job search. They will coach you through the process of job searching, preparing your CV, interviewing and accepting a job offer.

Wherever you are on your career journey, and whatever you are looking for as your next step, the Forces Employment Charity is here to support you.

‘I was amazed by the support and professionalism of the Forces Employment Charity and cannot praise them enough.’ – Sandra, ex-RAF, found a new full-time role with the support of her employment advisor at the Forces Employment Charity.

What happens when you register

• Once you have registered with the Forces Employment Charity one of our Advisors will be in touch to find out more about your current situation.
• Your Advisor will carry out a ‘needs assessment’ which will help them understand any barriers to employment relating to issues such as health, housing, or debt. If any additional needs are identified, your Advisor will then be able to refer you to other organisations that can provide the relevant support.
• Our Advisors can then help develop your employability to present you to employers in the best possible way. That can involve advice on what to apply for, how to find work and develop a good CV, interview skills, training, etc.

Register with us for free today.

Who am I?

The question ‘who am I?’ is a tricky one to answer, and yet it is the most important thing to think about when building your brand. To successfully take your next steps into your civilian career you must first assess what is important to you. Luckily, a self-assessment can help you with this.

What is a self-assessment

Think about your self-assessment as a combat estimate about your transition. By answering a set of questions, you will be able to specify the factors that are going to affect your transition into civilian employment. By evaluating these factors, you will be able to narrow down your job search and make the most of your time and energy applying for jobs.

What are the questions you should be asking yourself?

To effectively complete your self-assessment these are some of the questions that you may want to consider:

What are your interests?

When considering your next career, think about your interests and what job roles corollate with these.

What are your values?

Working for an organisation that holds the same, or similar, values to you will help you transition to a civilian workplace a lot easier. Your values could be sustainability, open-mindedness, or room for personal growth. Whatever your values are, try and match them to the jobs that you are applying for.

What motivates you?

Think about what it is that motivates you to go to work. Rather than applying for jobs because you need employment, figure out what it is that motivates you and apply for roles that support your motivation. For example, if you are motivated by making the world more sustainable then you may want to apply for engineering roles.

What external factors do you have to consider?

External factors will undoubtedly influence the jobs that you apply for. External factors include family situation, relationships, area you live, and distance you are willing to travel. Considering these factors will help you to keep a realistic outlook on the jobs that you apply for.

What job would you like?

If you already have a role in mind that you would like to apply for, then that’s great! Note down all of the possible roles that you would like to try and use your other self-assessment questions, such as external factors and motivations, to narrow down your options. Even if you don’t know the exact role that you want to try, knowing the sector that you would like to go into is equally as helpful.

How much money do you have to earn?

There is a difference between how much money you must earn and how much money you want to earn. When doing your self-assessment, consider how much money you need to earn in order to survive and make this the base salary for the jobs you apply for. It’s always good to have aspirations, so also consider, realistically, how much money you want to earn. This can be a goal that you can work towards through skill building in employment, internal promotions, or sourcing new job opportunities.

How do you do a self-assessment?

A self-assessment needs to be completed by you, only you know the answer to the questions being asked. You may find it useful to talk to friends and family about your self-assessment. You could ask them what civilian roles they think you would thrive in, what external factors you may need to consider, or you may just want to ask them about their jobs.

As well as friends and family don’t be afraid to reach out to your network of ex-Military personnel. These are the people that would have had to complete their own self-assessment, or may even still be completing theirs, so lean on them for support.

What comes after your self-assessment?

Once you have completed your self-assessment you should have a much clearer idea of what type of role you want to go into, including what type of organisation you would like to work for, roughly where your job will be located, and what your base salary will be. With this information you will have a much narrower job search which is much more focused on you successfully entering a career that you like rather than just any employment.
If you are struggling with your self-assessment, or even just your job search, then register with us today for tailored employment advice and guidance.

When you think of the word brand, you think of big companies ready to sell you their products rather than individual people. In fact, it feels unnatural to think about yourself as having a brand. But what if I told you that your personal brand is the key to taking the next step in your career?

What is a personal brand?

Before we begin dissecting what makes a personal brand, it’s important to establish what it is. Your personal brand is how you establish who you are and what you bring to a prospective job role. This includes what skills and attributions you have, what your experience is, what you value, and what your motivators are. This includes your military experience, civilian job experience, and any voluntary work you may have done

Why is a personal brand important?

Knowing what your values are and what skills and attributes you have will help you narrow down your job search. Remember, job searching takes time, so narrowing down what jobs you are applying for will help you to use your time efficiently. It’s important to remember that you have a limited amount of time to convey to potential employers why you are the right person for the job. A strong personal brand will help you do this. Executive Services Career Consultant Lisa Jones says, “Applying for a job is essentially selling yourself and your skills, so it’s important to be able to get across a strong and clear message of who and what you are and what you can offer as soon as possible. Your branding is part of this, so the clearer and more succinct you can be, the better.”

It begins with a self-assessment

To establish your personal brand, you must do a self-assessment. By answering questions about what you value as a person you’ll better understand who you are, what you can bring to a job role, and what career you’re interested in. Questions that you may want to ask yourself include:

• What are my interests?
• What are my skills?
• What are my values?
• What motivates me?
• What external factors do I have to consider?
• What job would I like?
• How much money do I have to earn?

Only you can provide the answers to these questions, but you may want to ask friends and family for their input. You could ask them what interests they have and see if any resonate with you. Or what external factors they considered before applying for jobs.
Once you have answered your self-assessment questions, get rid of any answers that make you think ‘so what?’. These are the factors that, although important to still keep in mind, might not prevent you from accepting a job offer. For example, a job that requires you to travel 100 miles every day is not, realistically, one that you would apply for, but, you may be tempted to apply for a hybrid role despite wanting to work from home. Separating out your ‘so what’ responses will leave you with a clearer idea of what your personal brand is.

Applying your personal brand to your CV

Now that you have established what your personal brand is, it’s time to use it to build your CV. You may already have a CV, but it’s important to go back and look at it to make sure that your personal brand shines through. Lisa says, “If you do not know who you are and what you are good at, how can you expect others to grasp this?” For each job that you apply for it’s important to tailor your CV and highlight your relevant experience. This could be military experience, volunteering, or any civilian jobs you may have had. Remember, though, that your CV must include your recent experience.
Your CV should also show potential employers that your values match the company’s. “If you are applying for a job, then your branding should be compatible with the organisation as much as possible,” says Lisa. Don’t be afraid to highlight some of the interests and values that you noted down in your self-assessment. As long as these are relevant to the job or company that you are applying for then this can help set you apart from the crowd.
Once you have finished writing your CV, make sure that your cover letter and LinkedIn profile also display your brand. This means that when prospective employers look at your CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn page the brand is consistent. You must make sure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date with your relevant work experience, skills, and interests.

Pitch yourself

An elevator pitch is a 30-60 second summary of who you are, what you do, and what your skills are. They are useful for networking events and for writing CVs and cover letters. Think about getting into an elevator with the person hiring for the job you want. You only have a limited amount of time to tell them why you are the right person for the role, so what do you tell them?
If you are writing your elevator pitch for a job application, make sure that you are clear on who you are talking to, what the company does, and which position you’re applying for. This will allow you to keep your pitch relevant to the opportunity that you are applying for. If you are writing a general pitch for networking events, keep your desired role in mind and think of some of the things that the role may require. This will help you to think about how your experience can translate to fit the potential job description. To write your elevator pitch, refer to your CV and pick out the key experience that is relevant to the role you are applying for or the job that you want. Using statistics to back-up your experience can be impressive and make your personal brand stand out.

What your elevator pitch may look like

“My name is Lisa Jones. As an Executive Career Consultant at the Forces Employment Charity, I help both serving personnel in transition and veterans find meaningful employment. A qualified coach, I work with them to give them the tools that they need to find a job that matches their skills and salary expectations. I’m a veteran myself and when I left, I worked within the financial services sector. This gives me the insight I need from both sides to understand not only the needs of the commercial world, but also the concerns or anxieties that a service leaver or veteran might have in job seeking. I use my experience, knowledge of the job market and salary levels,in addition to my coaching skills, to do this. The feedback I receive is that this helps makes the job seekers transition process, or search for another job, much easier and more successful.”

Using LinkedIn to network

LinkedIn is an excellent platform for networking with potential companies that you may want to work for. You can follow their LinkedIn page to stay up to date with what the business is doing, and also keep an eye out for any upcoming job opportunities that may be of interest to you. As well as following the company in general, you should also be able to find current employees to connect with. Connecting with these individuals is a great way to find out what it is like to work for the company and could also lead to a recommendation into employment. In addition to using LinkedIn to network with specific companies, you can also use it to connect with people in the same sector or job role that you would like to get into. This is a great way to explore various avenues into employment and is your chance to speak to individuals about their experiences on the job.
There is a lot of networking to be done on LinkedIn, which is why you must make sure that your LinkedIn profile reflects your brand. Make sure that you have completed your profile, including adding your professional experience, education, and your skills and attributions. Posting regular content that highlights your passions and interests increases your visibility. When you apply for jobs, potential employers will visit your LinkedIn page to get a sense of who you are, so make sure your brand is clear for them to see.
Every day brings opportunities to network. Whether you are at an in-person networking event, a job fair, or even walking down the street, you never know who you are going to meet and what possibilities they can open for you.
“Over 70% of people get their jobs through their networks,” says Lisa. “This can mean recommendations or referrals, or even access to jobs before they are advertised, so being able to articulate what you are offering an organisation can help people understand how they can help you or to point you in the right direction. You may sometimes only get a few minutes to get your message across, so it is crucial that this is clear and in a format that people will understand and remember.”
If you are at an event, let curiosity guide you. Consider what sectors and roles you would like to explore and speak to the relevant people. Networking is about pitching yourself and your brand, as well as learning about the opportunities that are open to you. It may be easier to do this if you set some goals for yourself before heading to an event. Your goal could be to find out more about a certain industry or talk to at least three people about their roles.

Top tips for networking in person

• Talking to people about yourself can be daunting and feel uncomfortable, but the more you do it the easier it becomes.
• Practice your elevator pitch before heading to an event so you have a strong starting point to show off your personal brand.
• Although your elevator pitch should only be 30-60 seconds long, make sure that you are not rushing – the people that you are networking with will want to hear about you and what you could potentially offer them
• Don’t forget that networking is a two-way street, so it’s as important to listen to the people you are networking with as it is to have them listen to you.
• Make sure to exchange information at the end of your conversation. If you have a business card don’t forget to give one to each person you talk to, if not, then exchanging email addresses or phone numbers is equally as useful.
• Keep a note of the names of everyone that you meet and add them to your LinkedIn network.

Help from the Forces Employment Charity

We are here to help you throughout your career. Our specialist team of Advisors is on hand to provide you with life-long employment support and guidance, including:

• Help building your personal brand
• Access to employment and networking events
• CV and cover letter tips
• Interview techniques

Once you’ve registered, we will be here for you whenever you need us. Whether you need help taking the first steps into your civilian career, or you want to climb the career ladder, we can give you tailored employment advice and guidance.
Register with the Forces Employment Charity today.