Move to HRM career advice

There's some excellent advice that's been provided and I'd highly recommend that from Robey. If I may add my thoughts as one who has also just passed the 10th anniversary of quietly leaving the Royal Air Force. I was in the Administrative/Secretarial Branch and had focused primarily on HR, and in addition had joined the CIPD prior to leaving, so I had perhaps more than one foot in the door in terms of 'recognised' HR experience. That said, like Robey, I had to accept that the level I was at in the RAF was not that I could achieve outside. I was fortunate in that I obtained an interim role, a route I would thoroughly recommend, as it led to permanence.

The biggest issue is, I think, the cultural understanding of the Armed Forces. Unfortunately despite respect of what we've done, there are still perceptions that the Armed Forces approach is not necessarily in line with the organisations approach and so you need to be able to show the organisation that their perceptions of the Armed Forces are essentially wrong and you would be a valuable asset. Therefore getting an opportunity for the organisation to know you, and you to know them, on an interim basis may be very worthwhile.

On the plus side you have said you have project management experience and I'd suggest looking at developing the transferable aspects of this; there are a number of HR roles in terms of continuous/business improvement and transformation and organisational development/design that ask for such skills and they are not easy to come by, so perhaps explore these areas. Additionally a number of HR Generalist roles also have 'hidden' project management requirements; be it implementing workforce planning (something I'd recommend you highlight if you've been involved in this area), developing a rewards/benefits package, implementing a staff survey and so on.

As Robey has said, and in line with my experience, for generalist HR roles you might have to consider a 'lower' level role to start. Perhaps considering HR Officer or HR Adviser roles may be worthwhile as, to echo Robey, once you get a role you can show your real worth. Incidentally, the 'can do' and 'get on with it' attitude is one of those soft skills often inherent with those from an Armed Forces background that is really valued, but can't actually be seen until you are doing the job. You may be more likely to achieve progression accordingly (if you want to do so and the organisation is large enough for such opportunities). If you want to progress I'd suggest looking for larger organisations in which there are teams or departments of HR. I was fortunate to obtain work in an organisation that meant I was able to move from HR Manager, to HR Business Partner and to Operations Manager whilst I was there.

I'd also consider casting your net quite wide and into environments you might not have considered. I went into Higher Education, which may seem opposite to the Armed Forces, but there are a lot of similarities; after all HR is primarily about enabling people to be managed better and HE is facing a number of challenges and opportunities that means HR is needed. Don't discount anything! It may surprise you that some environments are after exactly the skills you have got despite seeming to be nothing like the Armed Forces.

If you do see an opportunity directly advertised (not through an agency) then ring up the point of contact and ask if you can visit the organisation and, ideally, meet the people with whom you'd be working. In my view too few people do this and therefore don't know the organisation, don't know if it suits them and don't get a feel whether they would fit with the team and people already there. It also is a huge opportunity to sell yourself. Admittedly it is also risky but if 'you don't try, you don't know' and sometimes these can lead onto other things. My first interim role was purely as a result of a visit and discussion with the HR Director.

Finally, I'd concur that you need to maintain and develop your CIPD membership as much as possible. It is asked for in many HR jobs now and your CPD record can be invaluable to show the experience you've gained over the years. If you haven't already done so please use your resettlement package to the full; from an HR perspective courses on mediation and coaching would be very worthwhile.

I hope this helps. If you'd like to discuss further please let me know as I'd be glad to assist, albeit it is a while since a left the RAF.

Ladies and Gents, I left the Army as an RAO in Sep 15 after 30 years Service and I too had 15 years of HR Management experience and 28 years of HR Development experience and sought employment as a HR Manager/HR Business Partner; I also qualified in my Post Graduate Diploma in HR Management and Development. Having applied for 327 jobs, I successfully secured approximately 9 interviews and in each case got down to the last 2 or 3 but failed to nail the job as a result of my '...lack of experience in the civil sector...' I joined the Army Reserve on a Full Time Reserve Service contract but continued looking. Eventually, having failed to secure a role as the HR Business Partner at my local college I was asked back for an interview as a Lecturer. In Sep 17 I commence as Program Lead for each of the CIPD Levels 3, 5 and 7 in addition to the Chartered Management Institute course and am supporting the BA(Hons) Business Administration course as well as a few modules on the Business Studies courses.

So what I hear you say...perseverance, dogged determination and flexibility are key. I kept getting told by people in the same boat as myself that something would come up and it did...I took the phone call on my very last day of service and started 5 days after leaving my FTRS post

Ladies and Gents, I left the Army as an RAO in Sep 15 after 30 years Service and I too had 15 years of HR Management experience and 28 years of HR Development experience and sought employment as a HR Manager/HR Business Partner; I also qualified in my Post Graduate Diploma in HR Management and Development. Having applied for 327 jobs, I successfully secured approximately 9 interviews and in each case got down to the last 2 or 3 but failed to nail the job as a result of my '...lack of experience in the civil sector...' I joined the Army Reserve on a Full Time Reserve Service contract but continued looking. Eventually, having failed to secure a role as the HR Business Partner at my local college I was asked back for an interview as a Lecturer. In Sep 17 I commence as Program Lead for each of the CIPD Levels 3, 5 and 7 in addition to the Chartered Management Institute course and am supporting the BA(Hons) Business Administration course as well as a few modules on the Business Studies courses.

So what I hear you say...perseverance, dogged determination and flexibility are key. I kept getting told by people in the same boat as myself that something would come up and it did...I took the phone call on my very last day of service and started 5 days after leaving my FTRS post

Wow, Carl, that is an impressive CV and a lot of jobs applied for to get 9 interviews. Scary times ahead.