14 Working in the services
are needed for specialist or technical Navy or RAF. Participation in these groups forces or the police is often likened to
jobs, often within healthcare, science and isn’t essential, but is a great way to pick up being part of a big family, where loyalty
engineering. Similarly the police will practical skills and will be a bonus when it and duty are important, not just to your
accept any degree. There are no formal comes to adjusting to military life. employer but also to your colleagues.
education requirements at all to join as an
officer, but candidates still have to pass Variety of jobs
You have to be able to totally trust your
written tests. Police staff – those in admin Obviously graduates are a crucial and
co-workers – sometimes with your
or support jobs – may need a degree or essential part of frontline and active service
life. The other side of this coin is that
qualification relevant to their roles, such as personnel in the armed forces, with the
friendships, bonds and camaraderie in
IT or accountancy. recognition that skills and experiences
the services are stronger than in almost
picked up at university make them natural
any other job. Graduate pay differs from
Recruiters are looking for well-rounded leaders and high achievers. Being an
service to service but compares well to
personalities with commitment, motivation officer in the armed forces or the police
other public and private sector positions,
and aptitude as well as management and means you are directly responsible for the
starting at around £20,000-plus and rising
leadership potential. Resourcefulness, men and women under your command,
substantially to £25,000 or more after
decisiveness, responsibility and the ability to including their welfare, fulfilment and
about a year’s initial training. Benefits
give or follow orders are all important. sometimes even their survival. Depending
often include good pensions, thorough
Strong analytical skills are crucial to think on the job role, the further up the line of
and extensive training, excellent holiday
through problems that at first may seem command your career takes you, the more
entitlement – six weeks a year is common
insurmountable, as is the need to work well people you will become responsible for.
– subsidised accommodation and
within a team and communicate effectively. Being a soldier, marine, sailor or aircrew
catering, and the opportunity to acquire
doesn’t mean you’ll be constantly facing
further qualifications. Sports and social
gun-toting enemies. Much of the work
facilities are usually first rate. In many roles
done by the British armed forces revolves
within the armed forces foreign travel is an
around peacekeeping and natural disaster
important part of the job.
and humanitarian relief, with other
duties including search and rescue and
Career progression
ceremonial duties.
Depending on the role and service, career
progression can be swift, with relatively
Armed
service and
“What you still quick promotion through the ranks. In
police recruits
need for any role
all the armed forces and in the police,
are expected to
performance is closely monitored and
be physically fit
is a real strength
initiative, success and the achievement
and capable,
of character”
of specific goals are rewarded. Many
service men and women stay in the
armed forces for their entire career, but
there is also the option, after serving
All three services, as
an initial number of years, to leave and
especially in well as the police,
join jobs in the public or private sector.
frontline roles have an incredible
Employers are keen to recruit ex-military
that can require number of different
staff because skills picked up in the forces
high-levels job disciplines, roles
are acknowledged as a stepping stone to
of stamina. and professions
many other opportunities, especially those
Candidates should needed to support
in management.
be emotionally and and help the soldiers,
mentally strong in order sailors, air crew and
Chris Eccles, MD of website Employment
to cope with the sometimes police officers. These include
4 Students (www.e4s.co.uk), says:
harsh realities of serving in the armed specialists within accountancy, information
“Graduates should learn to look beyond
forces or the police. technology, legal services, human
the politics of military recruitment and
resources, recruitment, logistics, catering,
evaluate whether a career in the services
Employers are keen to see candidates with healthcare, animal trainers and veterinary
will benefit their future career plans. The
evidence of a wide-variety of experiences, care, marketing and press liaison, training and skills learnt via the armed
jobs, voluntary work and participation vehicle fleet management and building forces and the police are well recognised
in university clubs and societies. Many management to name just a few. as being thorough and robust. Graduates
universities have affiliations with the armed should investigate if this approach will help
services, with the opportunity to join the Benefits provide them with the expertise they will
training squads organised by the Army, Unlike many other jobs, being in the armed need in later life.”
gradjobs.co.uk
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49