Meet Mark Swords. A veteran with a long military career behind him, Mark recently transitioned into a new career at Schneider Electric via Redeployable’s training academy.
HERE’S HIS STORY.
Mark joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 2004, as a vehicle mechanic.
In 2009, he decided to move on, to pursue his own business as an electrician. Fast forward almost 7 years, and with a successful company under his belt, Mark got the itch to head back into the military. This time as an ammunition technician, responsible for ammunition storage, safety, and the disposal of bombs.
LEAVING THE MILITARY, FOR GOOD.
Mark finally left the military in 2023, after a career that’s given him an enviable skill set and a hell of a lot of experience.
Soft skills like time management, communication, adaptability, and the ability to perform under pressure, are super valuable on civvie street.
Mark wanted a career that aligned with his values and offered growth opportunities. He joined AWE as an Operations Exercise Deputy Planning Specialist and was with them for 11 months. But with a growing desire to travel less, and spend more time at home with his young family, he felt it was the right time to look for something new.
Enter the Redeployable and Schneider Electric Military Training Academy. Being able to utilise his electrical expertise ticked a box for Mark, and so his journey began.
THE MILITARY HIRING ACADEMY WITH SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
Redeployable's Military Hiring Academy provided Mark with the perfect platform to explore new career opportunities. Through the academy, he learned about Schneider Electric and was attracted to its commitment to employee empowerment, sustainability, and innovation. Mark's interview with Schneider Electric's team leader and line manager further solidified his interest. The positive and supportive work environment, coupled with the opportunity to work in a team-oriented setting, resonated with his values and military background.
"One of the big things with me was progression and their ability to let their people flourish" Mark Swords "They are very good at empowering their employees from what I've seen so far."
THE JOURNEY INTO A PURPOSE-LED CAREER
The academy's insight day, which allowed Mark to visit Schneider Electric's facilities and interact with their team, played a crucial role in his decision to join the company.
"The insight day we did down at Schneider, getting there, having the chance to speak to people, seeing what they actually do, the sort of environment you get to work in, it's brilliant,
“Everyone else is pushing so much to do these things virtually, but we had the option to go down face to face. When you're looking to go into a new world of employment, actually being on the ground and getting a proper feel for what's going on in the environment and the surroundings. Gives you a much better understanding and that warm fuzzy feeling if it's going to be right for you.” Mark Swords
MARK’S FUTURE AT SCHNEIDER
The challenges and opportunities ahead of Mark have left him keen to get stuck in. He’ll be able to flex his experience and learn how to use new technologies. It will modernise his approach to work, and enable him to use his skill set to contribute to Schneider Electric’s mission of creating a more sustainable future. Plus, Schneider’s flexible approach to working hours means Mark’s able to plan his week around his family, making sure he doesn’t miss any important moments with his young son and wife.
We’re super excited for Mark. This is a huge opportunity. If you fancy your chances in a similar role, join the community and you won’t miss a thing.
MARK’S ADVICE FOR SERVICE LEAVERS
> Network. Speak to everyone you can, the more information you get the better.
> You’ll be surprised at how adaptable a military skillset is, and it may be right for some roles that you haven’t even heard of. Make sure you spend your 12 months getting out there; going to trade fairs, and getting in contact with others on a similar path to you.
> Be savvy on LinkedIn, sometimes people aren’t exactly who they say they are.
> Your civilian role might not be forever, and that’s okay. It’s normal to jump between jobs every few years, so find somewhere that works for you, but if it doesn’t just leave.
If you want to meet Mark, and be the first to hear about opportunities like this academy, then log in to Redeployable now!
