Why join FCDO Services?
Category: Success Stories
Publish date: 03/06/2021
From military service to FCDO Services
"Transitioning out of the military can seem like a daunting step – but with FCDO Services, you’ll find you’ve got transferable skills, familiar projects, and a team beside you to support you all the way. Here’s one of our team – a former Army Telecommunications Operator and now Operations Manager – with an honest exploration of his experience:
“I was drawn to a military career by the opportunity to travel, the chance to learn wide-ranging skills, and the doors it opened to interesting experiences. That’s why I joined the Royal Signals at 18 years old. After basic training and trade training, I was deployed to my first unit in Germany, and from there, I undertook a further two postings in the UK, completing short and long tours around the world as a Class 1 Telecommunications Operator Telegraphist. I was focused on becoming a Yeoman of Signals and completing a 22-year military career.
"But somewhere between the seven and eight-year mark, my priorities changed. I decided I wanted to develop in other areas – so I started exploring the opportunities that Civvy Street had to offer. Then, with just under nine years of service, I left the military for pastures new, eventually joining FCDO Services within the Technical Service Centre – part of our Engineering and Operations arm.
"I won’t gloss over it; there were some challenging aspects of leaving. First, there’s how to redefine your experience. I had learned so many skills – both life skills and technical skills – and some of them were fairly specific to the military. I found it difficult to know where I should pitch myself in terms of employment and what type of jobs I should be applying for. It was also a challenge to translate what I knew from military lingo to civilian language, to show employers what I could do.
"On top of all that, of course, is the trepidation that comes with leaving that way of life. The military had looked after me very well and given me everything I needed for the past nine years – food, accommodation, medical facilities and more. Suddenly I wouldn’t have that or the big military safety-net to fall back on.
"So, if you’re thinking about making the transition, rest assured that I, and many others have experienced all those worries you’re likely facing now. What I’d say is, looking back, the overwhelming majority of military personnel leave with a well-developed work ethic, high levels of resilience, professionalism, and an ability to overcome obstacles in order to succeed. Combine all those qualities, and add plenty of preparation and research into what you want to do, and you’ll undoubtedly find you’ll have a smoother and ultimately more successful transition into civilian life.
"During my time in the Royal Signals, I was fortunate to work with a diverse range of colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds. That included foreign military personnel, sometimes in challenging and dynamic environments. You really had to develop relationship skills and communication skills, to quickly build rapport and an understanding with people at all levels.
"As an Operational Manager of a large technical engineering department, these are all skills I continue to use and build upon. It means I can quickly establish credibility, trust, and strong working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders worldwide, even if we’ve never worked together before. And I know how to convey my expertise in a way that’s right for my audience too, whatever their level.
"So, there’s a definite skill overlap here, and I think the sense of purpose is similar too. Personally, I was attracted to FCDO Services for very similar reasons to why I joined the military: the chances for travel, the personal development, the variety of work, and even the opportunity to move roles and locations, just like military postings. Most of all, though, it was knowing I’d be part of a team involved in important work for the benefit of our country. That gave me an enormous sense of pride. Plus, it’s an obvious parallel with the Armed Forces; just part of what attracts ex-military colleagues here.
"Speaking of which, before I joined, I didn’t realise just how many ex-military colleagues I would work with: some I already knew and some I didn’t. In fact, whilst attending the FCDO Services Leadership Conference last year, I ended up sitting next to a colleague who was in my first unit with me. It’s a small world – and it means you aren’t on your own here. Within our support groups and networks, we have ex-military colleagues from across all three Services, with a wide range of skillsets, all keen to support each other whenever and wherever possible.
"So how can I support you right now? Let me give you some advice. First, it’s natural to be nervous about transitioning – but don’t let it stop you. When you’re ready to make the move, prepare thoroughly. Talk to ex-military people; especially those who transitioned some time ago – they’ll be in a better position to advise you than those who’ve just left, since they can look back at their whole experience to tell you all the obstacles they overcame.
"Finally, the best thing you can do is work out what’s important to you. It could be travel, pay, progression, family commitments – everyone is different. Work out what matters, then tailor your approach. If you’re focused on a particular location, find out the key employers in that area, the types of jobs they offer, and make sure you have what they’re looking for. Use your resettlement or enhanced learning credits to gain the skills they ask for. Give yourself your best opportunity to thrive – and you can’t go wrong.
"And of course, if you want variation, teamwork, optional travel, progression, personal development, job satisfaction and a rewarding role where no two days are the same, consider applying to FCDO Services. There are so many similarities to make you feel at home here, and in addition to all of the above, our rewards and pension scheme are some of the very best available."
To find out more about working for FCDO Services, visit Career Transition Partnership’s online job portal, RightJob, where all our vacancies are updated regularly. Just check under ‘FCDO Services’. We’re currently recruiting for Technical Team Leaders, Electricians, Engineers and Category Managers. So check out our exciting opportunities across the business – we’d love to hear from you!