Is it What you know? or Who you know?

T

twoeyesee

New Member
Hi everyone,

I am due to leave the British Army in 11 months time after completing my 22 and I am looking to start a second career in the industry. Like most of the new faces on here I have spent the past few months researching training providers, talking to the limited contacts that I already have within the industry and putting together a plan of action for making the transition to a new career. Although I have been offered a good deal of advice and information in the past few months the past few hours spent reading posts and views on this site have been every bit as informative so thanks to all concerned for that.

My plan as it stands, and having spoken with a couple of mates currently working in Iraq/Afghanistan, is to do a combined CSO/SSO/AP Cse with Securewest, followed by a Medicine in Remote Areas Cse with ExMed and to do my CP Cse wth either Argus Europe or Control Risks (undecided at the moment). I'm also looking to do an advanced driving skills package of some descripton before I leave the Army. I am already an experienced infantry weapons instructor, combat shooting coach and CQM Advisor as well as being surveillance trained.

The initial impression I get from reading many of the posts on here is that the industry is currently suffering from a saturation of bodies looking for work and as a result, and understandably, getting work for a new face is extremely difficult. In view of this, and the fact that I am not naive enough to believe that my military experience and rank will count for too much (if anything at all), I would be interested in opinions as to how much weight a CV and previous military experience/qualifications/courses carry with employers and if I am better off trying to cultivate more contacts through my mates already out there doing the job as opposed to spending lots of money on courses that will do me no good in the long run? Is it really all about who you know as opposed to what you know?

I spent most of my service in an infantry battalion, including 7 years in a reconaissance role of one type or another, so I do have operational experience as well as plenty of recent experience in the training world (planning and conducting live firing tactical exercises, battle inoculation etc) and I am determined to make a go of it outside, however, I only get one shot at resettlement so I need to be certain that I am on the right track with regards to the use of my IRTC/ELC/SLC's.

Apologies if this reads a bit like a badly structured CV but any constructive advice or observations from the more experienced people on here regarding anything that I have covered would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

TES
 
You seem to be all over it mate, The hardest part is getting the first contract from there on in it usually networking. My advice get on a contact with your mates from there network with all the people you work with and you can then start to look for a better contract, assuming your not 100% on that one!
Get a good CV sorted as well as a lot of clients as well as the company you work for may see it.
Your experiance in the military will be a great start as you may find yourself training the LN's wherever you may be.
Best of luck and Im sure with the way you are heading you will have no problems so dont worry, there is loads of work and with so many muppets about finding work is not that hard, watch out for the ones that have been and done it all they are usually the muppets. But look in for some good advice on here and when you start as remember you are a civi now and someone who was well below you will may well be above you now.
Good luck mate
 
Its a little of both mate, who you know goes a long way but it doesn't get you employed if you've flipped burgers the last ten years. It sounds like you are heavy on the experience side, a little networking (linked in, this board etc,) and you should have it pretty well made my friend. Best of luck.
 
Aditional Qualification

As you are still in the Army and been an instructor, if you dont have your PTLLs course then make sure you get it. It will be free for you in the Army called TATE,TALD or something. If you need help on info for this course just let me know.

I must say I'm in the exact same boat as you so dont know much more than that Im afraid. Every little helps or so they say.

Kind regards and good Luck.

Mark
 
There is a third issue cap badge, many maritime companies prefer booties even though less are going to see due to other commitments. The same principle can be applied to outfits in Afghan and Iraq. This combined with what you know and who you know is a melting pot. Guys apply for vacancies from all over the world as the circuit is not as big as most think.

Sometimes a guy experiencing hard time needs only a little bit of luck to turn his fortune and even life around. It can be tantalising sometimes as a job or contract is within your grasp until someone comes along and puts a spanner in the works.

Good luck in your quest
 
Assuming your a SNCO or WO Ideally I'd be looking at Security Management Roles within the Oil & Gas Sector in Iraq, the Market is swamped & overcrowded with PSD Lads in both Iraq & Afghan and with Projects such as Matrix, FCO and Reconstruction Projects all drawing down the swamped & overcrowding issue will excerbate....

Anyone can be a ''Bum on a Seat'' within reason, but not all and in fact very few of those PSD Lads are suited to Security Management Roles, I know this from experience, most if not all of the OIC's have introduced Minimum Standards with regards Site Security Managers, and I'm not refering to your ''Average Triple Calamity Security Manager'' managing a few Ugandans or Peruvians on the Front Gate....

All Candidates applying for Security Managements roles must be a minimum of SNCO or above, It's worth noting I have 4 ex WO1's & 1 ex Rupert (Capt) on my Project, so it will give you something to consider & ponder over...

In the meantime, continue to add strings to your bow while you have the opportunity and as Dodger rightly pointed out there is plenty of work out there with those who have the right attitudes and mentality to secure positions...

ATB
 
the industry is simular to being in the armed forces. When you join the armed forces, you are the new boy and you dont get many breaks, whereas you see others getting all the breaks and doing the good jobs. well once you have been in the industry a while you get networking, start to get to know people and they start to know you. if you are a good head then you will get on, if you are a pain in the backside, then you will find it dificult.

Just take your time and whereas you do not have to learn to walk again, you may have to klearn to walk differently so to speak.
 
hello, mate, just been reading your message, im also very new to the web site, Im out on August this year 22 years, like yerself, so mucker yer not the only one, i have friends in employment as CPO's and a mate over in Las Vegas, who are a great help for me, im not even started to book my course yet, however im in the process in doing so, ive had loads of e-mails saying they feel for me and are giving me good course providers and various contacts etc etc as they have been through the same thing but are a massive help and boost, everyone needs help and advice to get the ball rollin, Phecta is totally bang on and correct about the new boy, as everyone has to start at the bottom of the ladder, im sure you and i, and many others will make it, Gid Luck ...
 
Network, Network, Network.
If you've got contacts then work on them to get a position, then do the job well and build a rep. Doesn't matter how good your CV is if nobody reads it (and many just go straight in the bin)

By all means do the right courses so you can do the job well when you get one, but there are so many crap guys working while the decent ones sit at home or make ends meet as a store guard in Tesco, what do you think really gets you the work? :)
 
MrBlonde said:
Network, Network, Network.
If you've got contacts then work on them to get a position, then do the job well and build a rep. Doesn't matter how good your CV is if nobody reads it (and many just go straight in the bin)

By all means do the right courses so you can do the job well when you get one, but there are so many crap guys working while the decent ones sit at home or make ends meet as a store guard in Tesco, what do you think really gets you the work? :)
Click to expand...

As MrBlonde stated Networking is the key, and your CV may well find the "filing cabinet" don't be afraid to actually knock on the door to potential clients and hand your cv in person, its worked for me on a few occasions, but be prepaired to get knocked back also, as the crap guys and blaggers will undercut experienced operatives, a lot of record companies and tour management i work with have asked me to reduce my rates, but in my opinion you pay for what you get.
I wish you all the best for the future and if i can help anytime give me a shout

Reesy
 
hello thanks for that ,, that was good reading but i allso need help with it all. its a really big step leaving army but i know this new career will be for the best ...so any info good and bad will help plz ..CP courses,,,witch companys have best results and what i should use my resettlement cash for ,ie courses...many thanks
 
Hey good luck with it all, as a few have eldued to who you know works both ways hence the reason you see muppets in good positions whilst go dpeople watch supermarket shelves. I always run by the addage that it is very often ho you know that gets you into a position and what you know that determines how well you do and how high up the ladder you go, very much so if you seek work in Asia, repeat the words business lunch many times over and over. Don,t be backward with networking but remember first impressions stick, treat all networking as a potential job interview,albeit some of them very casual, i even made up a simple contact card with name and number on it and always had a few on hand, nothing flash but better than a ripped corner of a napkin, good luck
 
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