Page 19 - SyI Quarterly - Q3 and Q4 Edition 2023

with unpredictable situations because there was always a need to think about how best to tackle
each scenario. We call this the ‘Estimate Process’ and I think it’s a relevant point to remind service
leavers that they have been groomed in the processes and they have the tools to plan effectively.
Although opportunity surrounds us, I think that tucked away somewhere in the back of every service
leaver’s mind (even though some may not admit it), is the need to have a job or training opportunity
secured before the final days of service. I was due to retire from the military in November 2020 and
everything I had planned leading up to this date, albeit with a few minor adjustments was still very
much on track. That was until the outbreak of COVID-19, and then everything changed.

Almost immediately, in-person classroom-based courses that I had already booked were being
cancelled and replaced with online remote courses. The courses would fill up overnight or be
oversubscribed with long waiting lists to attend some of the courses spanning up to 6 months
after my discharge date, this was not ideal. This along with the constant IT and technical problems
we face as a country as we all tried to adapt to this new way of working. I found this a bit of a culture
shock, and I know so many others who felt the same, as we had no exposure to anything like Teams,
WebEx, or Zoom at this point, so we would spend our time on various YouTube tutorials so we could
learn fast.

Strong personal resilience here is key, and the ability to dig deep when things begin to unravel by
recognising that some things are beyond your control. A wise soldier once told me, ‘It’s better to do
something than nothing at all’ so do not just sit there, get on with it! Managing my time to develop
myself through the resettlement process, as well as homeschooling my daughter was just another
challenge to undertake.

I had never used LinkedIn before, but it soon became apparent as to how valuable it was. There is
literally a world of experience throughout LinkedIn, as well as plenty of professionals who are happy
to connect, help, and give advice. I would network by sending a short message as to why I wanted to
connect, which meant that more people were likely to accept my invitation. The first step was for me
to update my CV. We did touch on how to write an effective curriculum vitae early on in my
resettlement but I had not put one together since 1996. A quick search on LinkedIn and I had
professional CV writers with very good recommendations at my fingertips. Understandably, there
are many ways to write a CV, and so some of the advice I was given was inconsistent with other
professionals. My advice would be to choose wisely, research and not get drawn into the first one
you connect with. In the end, I took what I had learned and opted to write my own and requested
guidance from a couple of Senior Military Officers with experience in this area to look at and ‘red pen’
where necessary. My next step was to further identify employment opportunities through plenty of
networking groups aimed at actively supporting service leavers and veterans. After a couple of good
leads which turned into great opportunities in varying industries, I eventually accepted an
employment opportunity with a company that supported service leavers and had strong links in
construction management. I had successfully secured a role with the UK’s leading large home
builder.

For me, there is no right or wrong way to leave the military but be mindful that the effort you put into
it, sits firmly with you. What I would advise, is to plan early, expect the plan to change, and remember,
’no plan survives contact’ so remain flexible and adaptable. Service leavers have a great deal to offer
so do not undersell yourself. Try to approach people and network, and continuously seek new
opportunities. Do not be afraid to ask questions or for help, be proactive, confident, courteous, and
always respectful. Finally remember that there are many other military personnel going through the
same transition as you, and so you are not alone.

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