If you were to be asked for an example of something impressive you had done within your military career you would have no issue listing the many things your unit had achieved but ultimately struggle to deliver an example without saying, we.

It’s a different mentality in the civilian world, you’re are going up against civilians who have been doing this their whole career, you need to learn to take credit for the things you have done, it’s advisable to write a list of things you and your team/unit have achieved highlighting your specific individual input. If you feel slightly embarrassed doing this you're doing it right as it goes against everything you’re taught.

Translating Transferable Skills

Too often service leavers and veterans will discount themselves from roles as they think they don’t have the necessary skills and or qualifications for, overly simplifying their experience to a top line, for example “I was infantry, I know how to shoot people”. 

In reality being an infanteer requires discipline, good communication skills, the ability to make decisions under pressure, regardless of rank everyone in the military has some degree of leadership training or experience.  

This is a two-way street, many civilians don’t understand the underlying transferable skills, for example if you asked what a sniper can do they would only recognise the ability to shoot, when in reality its attention to details, communication, making decision, extreme patience etc. so it’s your job to sell them on what you can do. 

These are things that we teach during a CV & Interview workshop, its advisable you keep an eye on the Barclays MVO website as the CV & Interview workshops are advertised and do fill quickly.