What kind of careers are available in the UK for ex-military personnel who don't hold a formal degree? Are there specific industries or roles that prefer or seek out military experience?
Absolutely, there are quite a few career options for former military personnel in the UK, even without a formal degree. Military experience is highly valued in several fields because of the strong work ethic, leadership, discipline, and teamwork that military service tends to cultivate. Typically, these jobs may require skills or experiences that match what one might obtain while in service.
1. Law Enforcement: This is a common field for ex-military individuals. The strong discipline, physical fitness, and understanding of law and order make them suitable for roles in the police force, border control, or prison service.
2. Security Industry: There are various roles within the security sector, such as bodyguard, security officer or manager, risk management consultant, etc. Experience in the military can be a strong asset here, as these roles often require a high level of physical fitness, a calm demeanor under pressure, and a good understanding of different security measures and procedures.
3. Project Management: The organisational and leadership skills acquired in the military make former military personnel well-suited for project management roles. In fact, ex-military personnel often thrive in industries such as construction, logistics, or ICT, where strategic planning, risk management, and the ability to lead a team are highly valued.
4. Training & Development: Many companies value the ability of ex-military personnel to train others in various skills. For example, companies in the outdoors industry might hire former military personnel to train others in survival skills, field craft, navigation, and leadership.
5. Sales: Ex-military personnel tend to excel in sales roles due to their discipline, perseverance, structure, and ability to work under pressure, all of which are key factors to excel in sales.
6. Facility & Operations Management: These roles require individuals to oversee the operations of large facilities or properties - a task quite similar to running a base or monitoring a military operation.
Finally, pension and transferable skills aside, ex-military personnel should also look into career transition assistance programs. The Ministry of Defence’s Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is the official provider of Armed Forces resettlement, and provides career transition advice and training opportunities.
Also remember that potential employers will be interested in other soft skills developed during military service, such as resilience, initiative, leadership skills, discipline, ability to work under pressure, and teamwork, to name a few. Having such a broad set of transferable skills can aid in the transition to numerous civilian roles.
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