Forces: Ex-Army
Russell D - Warrant Officer 1 (RSM)
“Don’t undersell yourself: Service leavers are the most employable group of people.”
Background
Russell started with the Royal Signals as an Electronics Technician, later reaching Staff Sergeant. Russell always liked to work with people, and completed many technical, skill- and business-related courses. He also developed his strong coaching and mentoring talents by doing a lot of instructing. Russell left the Forces after 23 years as WO1 (RSM).
Resettlement
Russell attended a Career Transition Workshop (CTW), finding it particularly helpful for CV writing and interview techniques. As Russell was looking for a management position, preferably in a school, he also did the Potential Bursars Training Course. He was especially pleased with the visits from specialists and other bursars who came on the course to talk to the potential bursars, to give advice and to consult. Furthermore, the Project Management and Finance side of the course proved very useful.
Outcome
Russell quickly landed his dream job, after only the second interview of his life. He has now worked for five years as School Business Manager for Pershore High School in Worcestershire.
Fifty applied for the job; five were interviewed. All other applicants had relevant civilian experience and industry background, but after a whole day of assessment, with three interviews, an “in-tray exercise” and an accountancy test, Russell won out.
The school told him it came down to a lot of general aspects that seem normal to most soldiers: his presentation skills, his confidence, his personality and his sense of humour. His ability to sell himself, the courses and his background research also helped.
As Business Manager (and school governor), Russell uses all his Military skills but also many new ones. He manages finances, admin, personnel, planning and much more – everything bar the teaching!
Russell says a civilian environment is quite different: “No orders, but tact and diplomacy are most important.” He also found that “A good sense of humour is very important on civvy street.”
Russell’s advice to all Service leavers? “Don’t undersell yourself: Service leavers are the most employable group of people. And don’t be put off by the statement ‘Required Qualifications’; your experience far outweighs these.”
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