Leaving the forces

G8311374

Experience counts and civvy employers want examples and proof of everything you are qualified to do not just the certificates. So even if its a secondary duty doing H&S, there will be a committee or OC H&S so contact them and I am sure they will be happy to give you the experience and the reference when it counts. Also take all the free courses you can get whilst you are in, on civvy street they cost a fortune. You never know if you might want to use them. Good lck!

samroo

My husband left the forces 9 years ago after 24 years service.

We didn't want to move from the area where we were settled and luckily we were already on the ladder of owning our own house.

He did a couple of part time jobs at first - nothing directly to do with his previous work experience. He is still with his second company and has two promotions.

I think what I am trying to say is that if you want to live in a particular area, don't focus too much on any particular line of work. You will have to see what vacancies come up when you're available for work and apply. Accept anything you are offered and if it's not exactly what you want just keep on looking.

The only thing he has struggled with (he;s lucky that he gets school holidays off) is the feeling that the job he's got is it until he retires (no changing every 2-3 years),

Good luck

Brassedoff

I have IOSH Level 3 and work as a Business Consultant, I use the experience and qualifications.

If I can say anything to help you is to aim and get the highest level of qualification. The higher the qualification the higher your earnings potential. All too often I see people with the "at work" level qualification and the only advantage it can give is to make you more PAYE employable.

I don't know if you know how consultancies work normally, but the higher qualified command a higher fee. If a fee earning consultancy you will find the money will far outrun the costs of becoming a fee earner in the first 12 weeks of the financial year.

Finally, can I thank you for the service you have given this country and say that people like you and your comrades deserve far more from it than those who have not had the Cojones to do as you've done.

iwannabefree

Thanks Brassedoff, really appreciate your comments. I've been lucky and haven't had to go away too often, but it was difficult when I did.

Seriously looking into the NEBOSH General Certificate at the moment, then maybe a complete career change and get the construction certificate as that appears to be the growing market. Fortunately have relatives in the engineering/construction industry or at least have contacts. My problem is most companies or businesses require experience, so a new field is going to be difficult especially in my current role. Would have to do some work experience in my leave. Needs must I suppose. But I want to try and get this even before I put my paperwork in to leave the RAF so I have something to work with.

Thanks again all for your comments.

cheesemelts

I wish you the absolute best of luck. And thank you for being in the armed forces you guys do an amazing job.

iwannabefree

Yet again, the goalposts have moved, and I have decided to leave sooner rather than later. Plan is to submit my paperwork once I return from holiday in October and get the resettlement ball rolling. Done some research and am looking at taking up the NEBOSH National General Certificate starting in Jan 14. Once this is done, I may look at the construction certificate also. I have been in contact with my unit H&S gurus and hopefully I will be able to shadow them around for a few days. Also, I am looking at the Managing Safety course held at Halton so that I can become my section H&S rep. This should count towards gaining some experience within the trade and hopefully make me more employable. As many of the people I have spoken to have said, experience counts, so hopefully this will help me get a foot in the door.

This is all very daunting and nerve wracking but I think I am making the right decision. Only time will tell.

peteuk

If you take the 7 JPA steps (or paperwork) in Oct, how long is it until your out (so to speak)

sbradnam

peteuk wrote: »

If you take the 7 JPA steps (or paperwork) in Oct, how long is it until your out (so to speak)

Having decided to go, I signed off on 18 Jun 13, with last day in the office on 26 Jul 13 and last day of paid service 4 Oct 13 - to allow me to start work (as a school teacher!) on 2 Sep 13.

I have completed 32 years and 11 months service - after 30 years service/age 50, the ability to leave quickly is much more straight forward, as my case proves! I suggested the dates to my poster, and he accepted within 24hrs! I am leaving 4 years early btw.

Very exciting!

Stuart

iwannabefree

I think if I apply to leave in October, I have up to 12 months before I leave. (Standard time for my trade) However, I know many people who have left well before their official due date as they have secured a job and their boss and manning people have allowed them to go.

Basically, we need to re-locate back to Oxfordshire before next September due to youngest daughter starting GCSE's, so hopefully I can get out, secure a house and job and start the rest of my life outside the mob.

I think one of the most difficult things is to write down on paper my qualifications and experience in a way that could be related to health and safety. Forces personnel have a habit of under selling themselves having been under the umbrella of "Just getting on with it" without thinking about it mentality.

So in a nutshell, I'm going on a H&S managing safely course in Nov. A weeks work experience the week after, apply for a NEBOSH General certificate and construction course to start in Jan 14. During my resettlement phase try and gain further work experience.

Is anyone on the LinkedIn Network that could give me some advice on how to promote myself? I would like to have a profile that shows my intentions for the future without looking like a complete numpty in which potential future employers would look at me seriously.

Thanks again for all your replies and advice, I really do appreciate it.

Alias_Omega

Hi Iwannabefree,

I don't have any advice for LinkedIn as I am not a member.

But, I do have the PDR setup with all my certificates in a story book outline from Attestation to Current day, I also have a little sheet between each posting similar to what would be on the back of your F4820.

It means I can flick through, telling a story of what I have done & when.