Introduction
Leaving the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force and starting a civilian career is one of the biggest transitions you are likely to make during your working life.
Once you have decided what type of work you want to pursue, the next question is usually:
Where do I find ex-military jobs in the UK?
The answer isn't simply one particular website, recruitment agency or careers event.
Today's employment market provides military service leavers with numerous ways of finding opportunities, including specialist ex-military job boards, recruitment agencies, LinkedIn, employer career websites, personal networks and direct approaches to companies.
The most successful job searches will often combine several of these methods.
This practical guide explores where to find ex-military jobs in the UK and how you can make yourself more visible to employers that recognise the value of Armed Forces experience.
Start by Knowing What You Are Looking For
Before searching hundreds of vacancies, spend some time deciding what you actually want from your next career.
A job search becomes much easier when you have some direction.
Consider questions such as:
- What type of work interests me?
- Which of my military skills do I want to continue using?
- What civilian industries could use those skills?
- Where in the UK do I want to work?
- How far am I prepared to travel?
- What salary do I realistically need?
- Would I consider shift work?
- Do I want permanent employment or would I consider contracting?
- What kind of work life balance am I looking for?
You don't necessarily need to know the exact civilian job title you want, but establishing some basic parameters will make your search considerably more focused.
Understand Your Transferable Military Skills
One of the challenges facing military leavers is recognising just how transferable their experience can be.
Your civilian career does not necessarily need to replicate your military trade.
Skills developed during Armed Forces service can include:
- Engineering and technical expertise
- Leadership and people management
- Logistics and supply chain
- Project management
- Training and instruction
- IT and communications
- Cyber security
- Health and Safety
- Risk management
- Operations
- Planning and organisation
- Problem solving
- Working effectively under pressure
Employers may describe these capabilities very differently from the terminology you are familiar with in the military.
Learning how your military experience translates into civilian language can dramatically expand your job search.
Use Specialist Ex-Military Job Boards
One of the most obvious places to start looking is a specialist ex-military job board.
Unlike large generalist job boards covering almost every profession and candidate demographic, specialist military job sites are specifically designed to connect Armed Forces personnel, service leavers and veterans with employers interested in recruiting them.
This has an important advantage.
An employer advertising on an ex-military job board is already demonstrating an interest in military talent.
That can remove one of the uncertainties experienced by some service leavers, whether an employer will understand or value their Armed Forces background.
At CivvyJobs.com, UK employers advertise opportunities specifically to reach people from the Armed Forces community. These can span engineering, logistics, manufacturing, utilities, healthcare, facilities management, IT, project management and many other sectors.
Specialist job boards should therefore form an important part of your search for ex-military jobs in the UK.
Don't Ignore General Job Boards
Specialist platforms are valuable, but they shouldn't necessarily be your only source of vacancies.
Large generalist job boards advertise thousands of opportunities across the UK.
The challenge is identifying suitable roles.
Experiment with different search terms rather than simply typing your military job title.
For example, someone with a military engineering background might search for:
- Maintenance Engineer
- Field Service Engineer
- Engineering Technician
- Mechanical Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Service Technician
- Technical Support Engineer
Changing the terminology you use can reveal completely different vacancies.
Set up relevant job alerts where available so new opportunities come to you rather than relying entirely on repeatedly searching websites.
Use Specialist Recruitment Agencies
Recruitment agencies can be particularly valuable during the transition from military to civilian employment.
A good recruitment consultant can help you understand:
- Which civilian roles match your experience
- What salary you might realistically command
- How employers will interpret your military background
- How to prepare for interviews
- How to negotiate an eventual job offer
Some recruitment companies specialise specifically in ex-military recruitment, while others specialise in sectors such as engineering, logistics, IT, construction or manufacturing.
The important thing is finding recruiters who understand either your background or the sector you want to enter.
Make LinkedIn Part of Your Job Search
LinkedIn has become an important recruitment platform and professional networking tool.
Recruiters regularly use it to identify potential candidates, including people who may not have applied directly for their vacancies.
Before becoming active on LinkedIn, ensure your profile explains your military experience in terminology a civilian employer can understand.
Your profile should make it reasonably obvious:
- What you do
- What skills you possess
- What type of opportunity you are interested in
- Where you are looking to work
You can also follow organisations that interest you, connect with recruiters, engage with industry content and build relationships with people already working within your target sector.
Don't simply create a LinkedIn profile and wait for somebody to discover you.
Use it proactively.
Search Employer Career Websites Directly
If there are organisations you particularly want to work for, visit their career websites regularly.
Not every employer advertises every vacancy through external job boards.
Create a shortlist of potential employers within your preferred sector and location, then monitor their careers pages.
Many large UK organisations also operate programmes specifically designed to attract veterans, reservists and military service leavers.
Look for sections of their websites relating to the Armed Forces Covenant, veteran recruitment or military talent.
Use Your Military Network
Never underestimate your existing network.
Someone you served alongside five or ten years ago may now work for exactly the type of company you want to join.
Former colleagues can provide valuable insight into:
- Which companies recruit veterans
- What different civilian roles actually involve
- Typical salaries
- Company culture
- Recruitment processes
- Potential vacancies
This doesn't mean contacting everyone you know and asking them for a job.
Instead, ask for information and advice.
A simple conversation with someone already working within an industry can sometimes provide more useful career insight than hours of online research.
Build a Civilian Network Too
Your military network is valuable, but your professional network should continue growing after you leave.
Connect with people working in your target sector.
- Attend industry events.
- Speak with recruiters.
- Follow relevant companies.
- Join professional organisations where appropriate.
The more people who understand your skills and the type of opportunity you are seeking, the greater the chance that someone will think of you when an opportunity becomes available.
Consider Careers and Recruitment Events
Military careers fairs and recruitment events can provide an excellent opportunity to meet employers face to face.
However, preparation matters.
Before attending an event, research the organisations exhibiting and identify those you particularly want to speak with.
Prepare a short explanation of:
- Your military background
- Your transferable skills
- The type of opportunity you are seeking
Bring an appropriate CV and make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date.
Most importantly, follow up afterwards.
Meeting an employer is useful. Turning that initial conversation into an ongoing professional relationship is considerably more valuable.
Approach Employers Directly
You don't always have to wait for a vacancy to appear.
If you have identified a company that strongly aligns with your experience, consider approaching them directly.
Research the organisation first and explain clearly why your skills could be relevant.
A targeted approach demonstrating an understanding of the business is far more effective than sending the same generic CV to dozens of employers.
Some companies have recruitment requirements that have not yet been publicly advertised.
Your timing might simply be right.
Don't Forget the Hidden Job Market
Not every job vacancy reaches a job board.
Some positions are filled through:
- Employee referrals
- Recruitment agencies
- Professional networks
- Internal recommendations
- LinkedIn conversations
- Direct approaches
This is sometimes referred to as the hidden job market.
It is another reason why your job search should extend beyond applying to vacancies advertised online.
Building relationships and making yourself visible increases the likelihood of hearing about opportunities before they reach the wider market.
Tailor Your CV for Each Opportunity
Finding the right vacancy is only half of the challenge.
Your application still needs to demonstrate why you are suitable.
Avoid sending exactly the same CV to every employer.
Review the job description and identify the experience and skills the organisation considers most important.
Then ensure those areas are clearly visible within your CV.
This does not mean changing or exaggerating your experience. It means emphasising the most relevant parts of your genuine background.
It is also important to remove unnecessary military terminology and acronyms that civilian recruiters may not understand.
Don't Judge a Vacancy by the Job Title Alone
Civilian job titles can be confusing.
Two organisations may use completely different titles for essentially the same job.
Equally, two companies may advertise vacancies with identical titles that involve very different responsibilities.
Read the complete job description.
Look at the responsibilities, skills, experience and qualifications rather than deciding solely on the title.
This is particularly important for military leavers because the civilian equivalent of your military experience may appear under several different job titles.
Research Before You Apply
Applying for every vacancy you find is rarely the best strategy.
Before submitting your CV, research:
- The employer
- The role
- The location
- The salary, if available
- Working hours
- Travel requirements
- Training
- Career progression
Ask yourself whether you would genuinely accept the position if it were offered to you.
A smaller number of well researched, targeted applications will often be more effective than sending your CV indiscriminately.
Keep Track of Your Applications
Once your job search becomes active, it can quickly become difficult to remember where you have applied.
Keep a simple record containing:
- Company name
- Job title
- Date applied
- Where you found the vacancy
- Recruiter or contact name
- Interview dates
- Follow up actions
This becomes particularly important if several recruitment agencies are representing you.
You don't want your CV submitted to the same employer multiple times by different recruiters without your knowledge.
Be Consistent
Finding your first civilian job can take time.
There will probably be applications that receive no response and interviews that don't result in an offer.
Don't interpret every rejection as a judgement on your military career or ability.
Recruitment decisions are influenced by many factors.
Maintain a routine, continue researching opportunities, develop your network and learn from each application and interview.
Consistency matters.
Your First Civilian Job Is the Start, Not the Finish
There can be enormous pressure on military leavers to find the perfect job immediately.
Remember that your first civilian position is simply the next stage of your career.
Once you enter commercial employment, you will develop new experience, expand your network and gain a better understanding of the civilian employment market.
That may open opportunities you cannot currently see.
The objective is to make an informed and positive transition, not necessarily to identify the job you will hold for the remainder of your working life.
Summary
So, how do you find ex-military jobs in the UK?
The most effective approach is not to rely on one source.
Combine specialist ex-military job boards with general job sites, recruitment agencies, LinkedIn, employer career pages, military networks, careers events and direct approaches.
Most importantly, understand the value of your military experience and learn how to communicate it in terminology civilian employers recognise.
Thousands of people leave the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force with valuable technical, leadership, operational and professional skills. UK employers increasingly recognise the contribution this talent pool can make to their organisations.
At CivvyJobs.com, we connect people from the Armed Forces community with UK employers that recognise the value of military experience.
If you are looking for your next opportunity, explore the latest ex-military jobs in the UK advertised on CivvyJobs.com and discover where your military skills could take you next.