We matched service leaver, Kyle Lawton, with SAAS company Shipster. Here’s his story. 👇
Military position: Petty Officer Aircraft Engineer Technician (Royal Nay).
What did you do when you left and how was the process?
I researched how people transitioned from the military to the ‘civilian world’ before I started my CTP enrolment with the Royal Navy.
With this in mind, I created a LinkedIn profile and started to think about what I wanted to do. I attended a few job fair webinars, this is where I came across Redeployable.
Ben’s simple presentation of the SaaS industry was an eye opener for me. I did not consider SaaS as a pathway at the time. I knew I wanted to utilise my military skill set, but had doubts whether or not I would transition easily over into SaaS. So I did my homework on Sales to get a solid foundation. I was interested in the combination of tech as well as taking on a client-facing role.
What’s your new position?
I am an Software Implementation Consultant, thanks to Redeployable.
What key skills did you get from the military that help you now?
1. Can Do attitude - A mindset the military empowers you with from day one. It means I can confidently focus on problem-solving.
2. Troubleshooting - My work in the Royal Navy was fault investigating and troubleshooting, which has aligned nicely with my new role.
3. Curious - It means I’m always hungry to understand more about how the software works.
4. Confidence - It means I am calm under pressure and handle situations even if I don’t know the answer.
5. People Skills -The diverse Royal Navy community means I can easily connect and create solid reports with clients on a daily basis.
Do you have any advice for Service Leavers?
I found there can be an unwarranted stigma of doubt for people leaving. This creates a misconception that people will not be able to find a new career due to what they hear on the ‘outside’.
This could not be further from the truth.
I would recommend doing these steps if you wish to find a new career stress-free:
1. Create a LinkedIn profile
It needs to be reflective of what you are going to be, not who you are currently now. No military slang, no rank titles.Ensure your Profile Pic is professional and not a holiday photograph.
Connect!
2. Know your Career
Read books, listen to podcasts, watch YouTube videos. Know your work before your interview, it will go a long way.
3. Reach out and talk to people
Find people in the career you’re interested in, and spark up a conversation. A message and schedule a quick 15-minute coffee chat. These conversations go a long way, both in terms of expanding your network and learning about company life behind the scenes.
4. Be confident throughout the process
Say to yourself “I will be working as X in a few month's time. It's just a matter of who with.” This confidence carries over into interviews, conversations with people, and your overall experience.
If you follow these steps there’s no reason you won’t get the job you want.
You will not truly know your worth and value until you are settled into your first role. The praises and comments you will receive are all thanks to the person you became in the military.
Ready to start your journey into a new career? Create your profile here.
