Knowledge Hub

All too often I find myself speaking with people of all ranks and military backgrounds who are struggling to find work. It is important to clarify that these conversations are not just limited to the young person who has completed four years military service but to all ranks, backgrounds and lengths of service. Your rank, status, experience and qualifications do…

EXCEPTIONAL EX-MILITARY TALENT It does not happen all the time but when it does it is great! This placement was different. So what made it different?  Well it was all down to the candidate that my colleague Joanne had found and introduced to our client in Cambridgeshire.  Joanne knew from the onset that this candidate was good, possibly exceptional.  An…

Over the weekend, whilst tidying up, I came across my last Army badge, albeit a bit grubby, and it reminded me of the time I was considering starting my own business. The main reason was that I had spent 24 years in uniform and during all that time I had not heard of one commercial company championing the skills and employability…

My first introduction to the Exclusive Club was back in 1981, just before Christmas, when I was ‘invited’ to help decorate the Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess at the Army Apprentice College in Harrogate. I was sixteen and remember it well. My ‘friendly’ Troop Sergeant stood us all in a line and explained that, although we would be giving up…

Having worked as a military recruiter within a busy city centre Armed Forces Careers Office I have witnessed it with my own eyes; a good ratio of people looking to join the Royal Air Force want to be a pilot. Sadly the majority do not make the grade and therefore pursue other careers within the RAF. These careers ultimately revolve…

Normally at this time of the week I would send out a ‘vacancy alert’ but I thought I would take the opportunity to point out some ex-military jobseeker mistakes I have already come across this week. Mistakes that are possibly preventing your applications from moving forward!!! So if you are looking for work it might be wise to take a…

RECRUITMENT PROBLEMS - ARE YOU EXPERIENCING THESE? I recently delivered a presentation to companies on the employability of personnel who have previously served in our Armed Forces; Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Part of my presentation concentrated on a few of the problems employers are experiencing all across the UK:     Increased competition in your local…

MAXIMISE YOUR APPLICATION This article is not an exhaustive list of actions you should undertake when applying for a job but a short list of key points that many ex-military jobseekers do not take into account within the application process. It can be relevant to either an application direct to an employer or through a recruitment agency. Always remember the…

During our morning team meeting I congratulated Kim on successfully filling a client vacancy which on the surface presented itself as a very difficult recruitment assignment. We also shared and discussed previous filled positions listing those perceived as ‘difficult’, see flip chart image below. These ‘difficult to fill’ vacancies come in various permutations; tricky location, unfamiliar skill sets, salary restrictions,…

The Scratch Card When I initially set my company Demob Job up back in 2005 I operated from ‘Bedroom #3’.  Accompanied by my mobile phone, laptop and my two dogs I set out to create a business from scratch.  I built the website, designed all the promotional material and started learning the ‘skill’ of being a recruitment consultant. For me…

Prior to working in the ex-military recruitment sector I worked as an Estate Agent and the term ‘whole of market’ was a very popular phrase, especially when customers were considering their mortgage options; after all who would not want the BEST deal from all that is on the market.   Now working in the recruitment sector I do not hear the phrase ‘whole of…

You might be surprised to find out that even the most experienced ex-military person gets nervous before a job interview. I recently coached David who had served his full 22 year Army career and was about to attend his very first commercial interview. ‘Adrian, believe it or not, I am quite nervous as I have not had an interview before’…