From Navigator to Amazon Area Manager

I was a Warfare Officer in the Royal Navy, specializing as a Navigator. My last roles were navigating the Falkland Islands Patrol Vessel and then teaching navigation and leadership at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. 

Having had a brief time immediately on leaving the military in a role that I felt didn’t suit my experience and qualifications, I was looking for job role and company that would make me feel as though the transferrable skills I had gained in the Navy were being valued and put to use – ie. Leadership, bias for action, ownership, change management, disagree and commit etc. 

I am a Nightshift Area Manager at a Large AMZL Delivery Station.

I found the recruitment process fairly seamless from applying to interviewing, I felt well prepared as had had contacts who were already working in the company who could talk to me about the role (including a tour of site) and the leadership principals. That would be my recommendation, try and make a contact through your network who can spend time talking through these and how your military skills apply to each. 

I have learned how a large business works and about the drivers of business and those that work in this sector, I’ve expanded my skills in communication and leadership and change management. 

The biggest difference has been being able to go home every day and not deploy for 9 months! I also really enjoy the variety of people in the company, I find it a much more diverse workforce in terms of backgrounds and views than I did in the military.

I enjoyed onboarding although I didn’t get much information about where to be and when, but once I had come to the station and started the process it all worked well enough.