Transitioning from military to civilian life can be daunting and it’s important to know what support and opportunities are available to you when you leave the forces.
It’s staggering to know that 21% of service men and women are unemployed 6 months after leaving the military. What’s more, 76% don’t use their ELC (Enhanced Learning Credits) entitlement, meaning that approximately 120,000 veterans are unemployed in the UK.
Many service men and women will be in civilian employment much longer than their time in the forces by the time they retire. MoD reports show that the average length of service is currently around 9-years. Taking the time to plan for the future and develop your skillset whilst serving can be a real game changer for your long-term goals.
Leaving the forces and returning to ‘civvy street’ can be stressful, so having an idea of what you’ll do once you’re ready to return to civilian employment will help make the transition smoother and prove more successful.
If you’re unsure what your next professional step will look like, it’s worth taking stock on the skills you’ve gained during your time in service, your personal interests and your long-term life goals.
A career in the armed forces will have equipped you with a wide range of skills that you can easily transfer to a range of other vocations.
When thinking of leaving the forces there are a few things to take into consideration before you plan your next steps.
Try writing out and answering the following:
- “What transferable skills have I got and how do I demonstrate these on a CV?”
- “Will I need additional qualifications to secure the role I want?”
- “What are the earnings likely to be?”
- “What challenges am I likely to face and how do I overcome them?”
- “What job opportunities am I likely to find?”
Once you’ve considered these points, you’ll have a better idea of the next step you’ll need to take to get started in your new career. As a result, you’ll probably need (or want) to enrol on a training course to gain up-to-date qualifications or certifications to give you the best chance of getting hired.
Using your ELC credits for an online course is the perfect way to study for your future while you rest and recover. You’ll be able to study at a time and pace that suits you with full support from a dedicated tutor. Graduating from a course also helps you to transition back into civilian life, develop a new routine and give you a new sense of achievement.
Your career in the military will have provided you with a rich set of skills and experiences that many employers and recruiters look for. But skills alone aren’t always enough to get you into the career you want; many companies require certain certifications for you to even be considered for a role. And heading back into short-term education can give you the skills you need to get hired.
Let’s look at a few industries that will make the most of the skills you’ll have gained through your time in the military:
Become a Personal Trainer
Your leadership skills, resilience, dedication and the ability to get the best out of your team means you’ll make a great Personal Trainer!
Most people who join the armed forces are expected to be in peak physical fitness, that’s exactly why many ex-military personnel make a successful career in the fitness industry as a Personal Trainer after they finish their service.
1 in 7 people in the UK are now members of a gym, so as the nation becomes healthier and fitter, more people look to different training methods to push them and develop their fitness further.
Military-style training is becoming more popular than ever, with bootcamp workshops and suspension training being in high-demand. This gives you a wide variety of options to choose from while training clients and earning a lucrative income.
Find out how much you could earn as a Personal Trainer.
Start a career in IT
The technology sector is expanding faster than any other industry and skilled technicians are in high demand due to a worldwide skills shortage. Whether you’ve served in the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force or Royal Marines, you’ll be able to develop the technical skills you’ve learned while serving and carve out a successful career in the digital industry!
Find out why the IT skills shortage is great for your new career.
Every modern business needs some form of technical support and your analytical skills, quick-thinking and problem-solving ability makes you the ideal candidate to
become a web developer,
software developer or
network specialist.
Become a Teaching Assistant
As ex-military personnel, you’ll bring a wealth of leadership qualities with you when you leave the forces, this makes you ideal for a career in the classroom.
It’s not surprising that the numbers of veterans training for a career in the classroom are increasing. You’ll have an appreciation for the importance of education, and an ability to work in stressful environments with a calm head – all the essential qualities needed in the role of a Teaching Assistant.
Discover the 7 perks of being a Teaching Assistant.
If you’re ready to return to education to further your next career move, let us help you.
Download our free career switch guide now to find out more about transforming your career after service: