Choosing training to suit your career
Category: Tips and Advice
Publish date: 20/11/2018
Choosing training to suit your career
Deciding what training to undertake can be a daunting process. Which course is best? Is it recognised and sought after by employers? Most importantly, will it enhance your job prospects?
Studying for a new qualification or completing additional training can often be one of the most effective ways of boosting your career prospects, whether by enhancing your current skills and experience, or by equipping you with professional qualifications that will enable you to move into a new line of work. Considering the array of courses available, along with the cost and time involved, it is imperative that any course you undertake and all the hard work you put into it, will benefit your transition into civilian employment.
The first step in considering potential training to undertake is to identify:
What do you want to do?
• Are you intending to continue in the specialisation of your military career?
Consider if your military qualifications recognised in the commercial world? If so, do you need to undertake any training at all? Perhaps your military qualifications are not industry recognised, but is there a route whereby you can translate them under an “Accreditation” scheme. Consider instead asking an employer for if they can accommodate you on a “Civilian Work Attachment” or unpaid work experience to demonstrate your experience and abilities. A great way for Service leavers to gain sector specific work experience prior to leaving the Forces is by using some or all of your Graduated Resettlement Time allowance to complete a trial attachment with a civilian employer. Civilian Work Attachments (CWA) involve undertaking unpaid work experience with an organisation, in order to gain insight into a particular job role or industry. Along with on-the-job training and experience, CWA’s can also ensure that employers and employees are well matched, prior to any commitments being made by either party. You will also have the opportunity during this to explore suitable qualifications with the employer which could enhance your suitability.
• Are you looking for a complete change in career path?
If you are looking to change direction completely then gaining a qualification relevant to your chosen field will almost certainly be necessary, however it may not require attendance on a formal course. Research to see if there is an employer/organisation who offers on the job training, Traineeships, Internships or Apprenticeships, where you can earn while you learn. A vocational qualification is likely to have a more immediate effect on your job prospects as you'll be able to prove to your employer that you already have training relevant to the job at hand. In fact, in many industry sectors, such as accounting or IT, there is a clear vocational learning pathway that must be followed in order to secure certain roles. Consider your living costs, whilst a fresh start in a new career will almost certainly mean a lower entry level salary than you have received in the military, you may progress quickly to higher benefits.
Additional Information on the above can be found at the links below:
Traineeships
Internships
Apprenticeships
During your resettlement, you will also have the opportunity to discuss the civilian qualifications you have obtained during your Service career, and seek advice from CTP staff on additional short courses or professional memberships which may enhance your career prospects.
For those who have not obtained relevant civilian qualifications, CTP offers a range of fully accredited short courses which may be taken during Resettlement and for up to 2 years post discharge. Our Preferred Suppliers throughout the UK also offer a range of civilian recognised courses and qualifications covering many industries.
What Training Allowances and Grants am I entitled to?
The next step is to identify your training entitlements which are based on a number of factors relating to your specific military service. Your Resettlement Officer can guide you on this, and outline details are on the CTP website under the “Getting Started” section.
How do I identify employer qualification requirements?
• Will employers value my qualification?
One of the most sensible things to do before signing up to any further study is to speak to employers in your sector to find out which qualifications are most sought after. If your motive for further study is to improve your prospects then this should be a prime consideration. You will soon realise that there are a wealth of courses under umbrella subjects but often with slightly different content and objectives, so it's essential you choose the course most pertinent to your job.
• Researching Companies
It is absolutely crucial to research the local job market to ascertain the training you wish to undertake is sought after by employers. You can use local recruitment websites as well as CTP RightJob. On the CTP website, under “find a job”and “employer focus” you will find information on organisations that are interested in recruiting Service Leavers and have ongoing employment opportunities. These employers have provided invaluable information, for example, advice on general requirements for their roles and / or industry, what it’s like to work for the organisation and how you can submit a successful application.
The Industry Sector Guides on the CTP website are another great resource you can use to find general information about a particular sector along with market trends and updated training requirements.
• Networking
The people you know can help you find a job. Studies have shown that most job seekers find their positions through networking. As soon as you decide to look for a job (or even while still employed), tell people you are looking.
Networking involves contacting friends, friends of friends, family members and colleagues to discuss new directions, generate career options, help in decision-making, assess your transferable skills, find job leads, shape up your CV, rehearse for interviews, gain access to role models and mentors and receive emotional support.
This Networking Guide will give you some ideas for your initial networking contacts. As you continue your search, your network will expand through visits to job fairs and other events, classified ads in newspapers, industry publications and newsletters, and Internet communities.
• Identify qualification requirements through CTP events
In addition to conducting research into specific companies, consider taking every opportunity to engage with employers at CTP events. CTP organise Employment Fairs, Online Chat Events and Company Presentations across the UK and in Germany. Details of these again can also be found on the CTP website. These events not only give you the chance to network with potential employers and find out about different sectors, but they are a fantastic opportunity to find out what qualifications you need and in turn, identify any training needs. You will be notified about appropriate events if you have completed your Right Job online profile indicating your chosen sectors so it is important that you ensure it is up to date and accurate.
• CTP Guidance and Training
The majority of Service Leavers will begin resettlement by completing the three day Career Transition Workshop where you will focus on identifying your transferrable skills and developing an effective CV, learn how to enhance your personal brand and online profile, develop tactics for approaching the job market and get tips on successful interview techniques. If your future plans include either self-employment or retirement, register for one of these dedicated workshops. Additionally, we offer a range of “follow on” workshops and briefings, including Networking, Finance and a range of Online Webinars. A CTW will give you the opportunity to discuss with a Career Consultant the direction you would like to go in and any training you are considering. The Career Consultant will discuss with you your options and ensure the training is appropriate considering your background and experience and if the course is recognised and asked for by employers. They will also help identify if the course is part of the CTP Training programme and sign post you to the courses and workshops page on the CTP website. You can view a list of CTP Preferred Suppliers on the CTP website.
Why book with CTP?
• Courses tailored to Service leavers
• Excellent value for money
• Links to employment
• MOD approved
• 20 year track record of success
Everyone is different and every Service Leaver’s journey through resettlement and transition will not be the same. Completing a training course is not always the correct path for every Service Leaver. It may be more appropriate for you to consider an apprenticeship or work attachment; again, these are advertised on the CTP website through the Employer Focus pages and CTP RightJob. Work attachments are a great way to assist you with understanding an industry better and also decide if it’s right for you. If you are interested in exploring a Civilian Work Placement (CWA) discuss this with your Career Consultant during your one to one with them, they can seek the assistance of the team of Employer Relationship Managers to engage with an employer in your chosen sector or geographical region.
Please don’t forget about all your transferrable skills that you will be bringing with you to civilian employment, for example, teamwork, integrity, punctuality, leadership and time management. Employers highly value these ‘soft skills’ even though you don’t carry a piece of paper proving that you have them. These can be demonstrated in other ways and your CTP career consultant or employment advisor are there to help ensure you have appropriate examples prepared for job applications and interviews.
Don’t forget a wealth of CTP support is available to you whether through your Career Consultant, Employment Advisor or Specialist Employment Consultant. If you would like to book a CTP training course, please call: 01252 954 007 or email: [email protected]