Mid-Career Transition To HR

Simon,

Something that's often not talked about in resettlement but which I found to be important and which others who've been through it since have confirmed to me is your flexibility when it comes to the location of your resettlement.

For example, as a junior Army officer with a Level 7 CIPD qualification, I had several offers of interviews with London-based corporations, but as I was going to work in London over my dead body, I declined. But companies of equivalent size that had enough understanding of the value of military service whilst also having the capacity to wait while industry knowledge developed were few and far between outside London. Whilst they existed, it wasn't in sufficient volume that I would have been able to pick a resettlement location before finding a job.

I elected to pick a location that suited my family first and find the job second.

It took six years and meant starting again at the bottom.

Now, this was a while ago, but I recently met up with some recent Service leavers who reported a very similar experience - wanting to resettle in my bailiwick of Gloucestershire, their only openings were for HR admin roles - often on a temp or FTC basis - despite being SNCOs with Level 5+ CIPD qualifications (and, in one case, an MA in HRM).

The only one who reported finding a role at an equivalent level to his rank on exit was one who was lucky enough to find an ex-Services HRD who already knew how to get the best from a Service leaver.

However, you do have a significant advantage in that you are a fair way up the greasy pole - I assume you are at Wing Commander or higher - which gives you access to a fairly exclusive network of former senior staff officers working in industry who will be ready and willing to open some doors for you.

Your formal qualifications are going to be less important to these than your experience and reputation (because they will definitely reach out to mutual acquaintances to check that you're worth a punt). However, that said, if you want to build a second career in civil HR at a senior level, FCIPD is a status worth being able to flaunt and a Level 7 qualification is pretty much the gateway. If you can get MoD to pay for it (as I did) it's probably worth pursuing.

Robey

I am very grateful for your comments. It is very useful to hear from someone who has made the transition that I will need to make. You may well think I am mad, but I am looking at the London job market as I have a house near a good commuting station and in an area that works for the family. I recognise the difficulties that I will face and my thinking is that London offers more scope for employment opportunities. I would be looking to get as qualified as possible as it will hopefully make me a more attractive proposition and develop me as a HR specialist.

You rightly mention networking, which I have deliberately not started as I want to be very sure of my ground. I know that this is something that I need to work on in the forthcoming year. Thanks once again it is really useful to get this type of feedback as it is helping me to plan out the transition process in a more informed manner.

Simon

Robey

I am very grateful for your comments. It is very useful to hear from someone who has made the transition that I will need to make. You may well think I am mad, but I am looking at the London job market as I have a house near a good commuting station and in an area that works for the family. I recognise the difficulties that I will face and my thinking is that London offers more scope for employment opportunities. I would be looking to get as qualified as possible as it will hopefully make me a more attractive proposition and develop me as a HR specialist.

You rightly mention networking, which I have deliberately not started as I want to be very sure of my ground. I know that this is something that I need to work on in the forthcoming year. Thanks once again it is really useful to get this type of feedback as it is helping me to plan out the transition process in a more informed manner.

Simon

Good to have you part of the Community, Simon.

Working in London's not all bad Simon ;) There's a certain frenetic buzz that we all eventually adapt to! #21yearsandcounting

Jenny

I admit that I am quite excited by that buzz. I have spent lots of time in and around London and have always been drawn to the idea of working there at some point. I am lucky in that I will be within a reasonable commuting distance and in an area which suits.

Simon