Transitioning from a military to a civilian career
Leaving the military is a big life change. It can affect your housing, family, finances, mental health, and of course, employment. Here you'll get advice on how to describe your transferable skills and find links to resources dedicated to supporting employment as a military veteran.
Using your military skills and experience
Don’t be afraid to sell the skills and capabilities you have developed in the armed forces. As a military veteran you'll have developed transferable skills that are valuable across many civilian roles and sectors.
Examples of employability skills include IT, written and verbal communication, project planning, training others, critical thinking, decision making, teamwork, leading, motivating and inspiring others, and working under pressure.
Look at the job description of the roles you’re applying for and try to use a similar style of language to describe your own skills and experience. You can even adapt the titles of your previous jobs to be more appropriate to the area that you’re applying for. Avoid using military jargon. Try to use civilian terminology that most employers will understand. Presenting your skills when applying for jobs has useful activities and techniques to help you.
See our overview of Applying for jobs for more advice.
Back to topMy service has allowed me to gain a number of skills. These skills have given me the confidence to seek new challenges. Understanding the different language of civilian work life and how my skills were actually transferrable was a light bulb moment for me; allowing me to see that although my experience was different it was still valued. For me the constantly changing environment of military life has allowed me to draw on my personal resilience to achieve my goals.
Karen, OU student and veteran
Open University (OU) online resources
OU students have access to Navigate Your Future, a pathway through all the bespoke resources offered by Careers and Employability Services. OU students also have access to the following resources made especially for veterans.
Back to top[Studying with the OU] has been a great way to kick start my career in civilian life.
Barry, OU student and veteran
Veteran career programmes and schemes
Find military-friendly organisations and what they offer veterans by searching the Armed Forces Covenant directory. Below is a selection of organisations that run programmes specifically for military veterans or who are looking for military veterans in their recruitment.
Back to topI got this job as part of the FDM Group Ex-Forces Programme. My military experience has helped me greatly in my current role. ‘Calm under fire’ says it all.
Tom, OU student and veteran
General sources of help
These links will take you to organisations offering general advice and help for veterans, many of them include specialist help regarding careers and employability.
Back to topVeterans have experience of working in and leading and managing teams, they are organised and good at problem solving. They are flexible and able to work in a stressful, fast-paced, dynamic environment. They are dependable, demonstrate a strong work ethic and have the tenacity to consistently complete the work. Veterans display integrity, loyalty and a high degree of professionalism. Veterans are experienced with culturally diverse and global work environments. They have communication skills practised with internal and external stakeholders. They also have knowledge of health and safety, security awareness and best practice.
Sarah Barrett, Project Coordinator at the Forces Employment Charity
Disability support
If you have a disability, see the following articles for further information and support from the OU.
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