Forces: Ex-Army
Colin H - Sergeant Vehicle Mechanic
“Start as early on in your Service career as possible for the transitional period that will inevitably arrive. Make use of the CTW, particularly the interview skills.”
Background
Prior to joining the Army, Colin was already an experienced and qualified Mechanical Engineer. He took up an FTRS contract in 2001 as a Sergeant Vehicle Mechanic. His service provided him with man management and project management skills, often while working in highly pressurised environments, including in Afghanistan.
Resettlement
After ten years, Colin’s FTRS contract expired and he had to return to civilian life. In June 2010, he attended a Career Transition Workshop (CTW) at Aldershot. Colin found the CTW useful in terms of refreshing his job-finding skills and interview techniques. It also gave him the confidence to express himself articulately and effectively.
Having already spent many years in the civilian job market, the transition to emotionally difficult. However, Colin had decided to augment his existing portfolio with a Health and Safety qualification, and he completed a course for this with the CTP at Aldershot.
Colin was very pleased with the help from his Employment Consultant and the number of opportunities that came through, both by email and RightJob. He was also proactive in his resettlement and completed a Civilian Work Attachment with a haulage company to refresh his driving experience.
Outcome As a skilled engineer with an H&S qualification, plus myriad transferable skills, Colin was offered a role with a local hospital. The interview came about as a result of work done with the CTP. He has now been working for Spire Health Care at Dunedin Hospital in Reading as the Engineering Services Manager for some time.
Colin is responsible for all engineering, building maintenance and project management. His opinion is that the training carried out as part of his resettlement was invaluable.
The advice Colin would offer to those leaving the Services is: “Start as early on in your Service career as possible for the transitional period that will inevitably arrive. Make use of the CTW, particularly the interview skills.”
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