Working in the services 13
Are you a
tough
cookie?
There are many
different ways that you
can show a strength of
personality. Paul Johnson
discusses the solid
benefits of a career within
the armed services or police
force, for those who can prove
that they are made
of sturdy stuff
Working for the British armed services for any role is a real strength of character. head of RAF recruiting, says: “We need
or one of the UK’s many geographical or Colonel Paul Farrar OBE, from the Army the best people. We are particularly keen
specialist police forces, can be exciting, Recruiting Group, says: “There is a wide on graduates because of the intellectual
challenging and rewarding, with the sort variety of jobs to choose from in either and academic experience they bring. We
of opportunities and experiences found in commissioned or non-commissioned offer a very competitive package – we try
no other type of work. Few office jobs can ranks, spanning 140-plus trade groups to be comparable to similar jobs in the
offer the experiences that these jobs bring, and over 1,000 different job types.” private sector but also offer lots of other
along with the chance to make a real advantages.” He adds: “A career with the
difference to both people’s lives and the Col Farrar adds: “There are unrivalled travel RAF can bring very early responsibility
interests of the UK. Make a mistake in an and challenge opportunities plus teamwork and personal development, along with a
office job and your firm may lose money, and camaraderie that’s second to none. real work-life balance and the opportunity
but make a mistake in the armed forces or We welcome those graduates who are to learn lots of new skills, such as flying,
police and lives may be at risk. professionally qualified in a chosen area as skiing or sailing.”
well as those looking for new challenges or
Certainly jobs in the forces can be training opportunities.” Qualifications
hazardous, especially those in the While solid academic qualifications are
frontline during military action, but Now is a good time to join up as all the important, military and police recruiters
being in the Army, Navy or Air Force services are actively recruiting, offering will be looking for candidates with strong
doesn’t necessarily mean you have careers that can avoid some of the personal skills and the practical ability
to be a combatant. There is also an uncertainty of working in the private to get the job in hand done properly
incredible number of support, managerial, sector, where many jobs are being shed and professionally.
administrative and technical roles that during the current period of economic
are needed to make sure the soldiers, gloom. The RAF is currently on a large For officer, support and administrative
sailors and air crew can all do their jobs recruitment drive, aiming to take on 4,500 positions, the armed forces will accept all
properly. However, what you still need new people. Group Captain Gordon Bruce, degree subjects, however certain degrees
GradJobs Magazine | Winter 08-09
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