Originally Posted by smallbrownprivates

Certainly, SIA is not really an industry advancing qualification scheme, more induction training for a limited cartel (how many SIA trained illegal immigrant were working at the Home Office?) and with most unimaginative leavers blowing all their resettlement money on CP courses, it would be fair to say the market is getting overpopulated.

The way forward would therefore seem to be setting up a school for people who want SIA or CP qualifications.........

Best way to make money in a gold rush is to sell pans and shovels!

Trotsky

Originally Posted by Trotsky

The way forward would therefore seem to be setting up a school for people who want SIA or CP qualifications.........

Best way to make money in a gold rush is to sell pans and shovels!

Trotsky

Like the Klondike Gold Rush? all major claims staked before the masses get there? most going for the adventure, not to make significant dosh?

Makes those who sell pans and shovels, spivs and profiteers at best

Its not just the infantry though that find it hard on the outside, everyone not in a technical trade does. For example RA, what do they have to bring to civ div? Even RMP only really have CP and security these days. Not having a go at anyone just highlighting the fact that if the Career Transition Partnership is going to continue to call itself that then they really need to look at providing a much better resettlement package than it currently does however with hindsight as someone who joined the army aged 18 with only GCSE's, I wish I had had a bit more of structured plan than I did towards my career after the forces.

A good mate of mine started his military career in the D+D's. He finished his 22 as a CSgt and left to start work labouring on construction sites. The firm employing him retro-fit mezzanines into big shed type stores giving them extra retail space. His work ethic, sense of responsibility, attention to detail and organisational skills soon got him talent spotted and promoted. He has been promoted and given more responsibility over and over meaning that in a relatively short second career, he has progressed from labourer to site supervisor.

This is a little vague, I know, but the skills you develop as a soldier are transferable to civvy strasse but sometimes they're not as easily described by a course title like "Senior Brecon".

Apologies for errors, I'm a Sapper and still in (not Peter Wall).

Originally Posted by Travelgall

I'm ex-Infantry. Now have a job as a trader in an Investment Bank. Did have a degree though which helps A LOT.

Why was it revoked?

Originally Posted by Mag_to_grid

I wish I had had a bit more of structured plan than I did towards my career after the forces.

Read this: This should be pinned up in every recruiting office

Originally Posted by msr

Read this: This should be pinned up in every recruiting office

Thanks for that link MSR. I've recently embarked on an OU degree myself and some of the comments on that thread were encouraging.

It's hard sometimes to quantify and elucidate the management and organisational skills that you pick up in the Army, but they are very real and, with reflection, have proved very helpful in my civilian life. I definitely would not have my current civvie job in Teaching had it not been for my experience as an Infantry NCO and the exposure I gave it in my CV.

The best way to strive forward in Civvy street is qualifications and being able to categorise your qualities in a way that recruiters are able to tick boxes.

Key buzzwords for Forces are:

Hard Skills (Organisational Skills):
Administration (Personal and Organisational), Machine Operation, Computer Protocols, Safety Standards, Financial Administration (TAFMIS)

Soft Skills (People Skills):
Excellent Team Player, Respectful, Organised, Well-Motivated, Consistent, Conflict Resolution, Problem Solving.

Hard skills are easy to demonstrate as they are generally qualifications wheras Soft skills are normally difficult to prove. But Civvy employers generally have a pre-conceived idea of the professional standards of the Armed Forces and so are willing to look at Soft skills very favourably. i.e. You have to be a team player to work in an organisation like the Army, you have obviously been tested in solving problems.

If you play on your strengths then you're well ahead of the game in terms of employment. There's no reason for you to follow the usual CP/security path or go for an 'easier-access' job when you actually stand in very good stead to realise a fulfilling and ambitious career.

Good luck