From Captain to Senior Project Manager

Ex-Operations Officer Kristian served for 6 years before leaving the Army in September 2012. He says, “I felt I was still young enough to take the wealth of experience I had gained from the military and transfer it into a new employment stream.”

When asked what he most enjoyed about his time in Service, Kristian says, “I enjoyed the camaraderie, the varied work we undertook, the responsibility and the opportunity to travel to different places around the world on exercises.”

Kristian used his Graduated Resettlement Time to undertake a Prince2 Project Management Course, which he says “opened my eyes to civilian Project Management; it was a good well-rounded course for developing my own PM skills and understanding.”

Kristian secured his current job as Senior Project Manager with Faithful+Gould “through a contact I made via the Officers Association. It was a two stage interview – a telephone Interview followed by formal interview within the regional office.”

He explains that the role with Faithful+Gould, a member of the Atkins group of companies, involves “management of projects and tasks, stakeholder management, and communications”.

Kristian finds much of his military experience of value in civilian life: “I use all the managerial skills I developed in the military in some shape or form in my new employment. The Army’s Core values factor highly in my approach to civilian life.”

When asked what obstacles he faced when starting the role, he says: “Not saluting when I enter an office!”

Kristian’s advice to other Service leavers is: “Network! Talk to people and use all the organisations that have been set up to help you. Have confidence in your own ability.”