On this page you will find information about:
- Accessing support from the Careers Transition Partnership programme.
- Finding a job if you left service more than six years ago.
- Organisations, benefits and programmes which may be able to support your employment journey.
As someone who has served, it can take time to adjust to working in civilian employment. There is no set amount of time that it should take for you to feel ready.
The resources below are organised by what support you may be eligible for based on how much time has passed since you left service.
If you have left service within the last six years
Careers Transition Partnership
If you are in your last two years of service or were discharged within the last two years, you may be entitled to full resettlement support from the Careers Transition Partnership (CTP).
The CTP service supports those who are leaving service
to transition into civilian employment, further education, and retirement.
Visit the CPT website to find out more about the support available to you.
The type of resettlement support you could receive will depend on your length of Service and personal circumstances. The programmes available to those who are preparing to leave and those who have recently left HM Armed Forces are:
- CTP Assist Programme - for personnel on Recovery Duties (PRD) and other service leavers who face significant additional challenges with the transition to a civilian career.
- CTP Future Horizons for Early Service Leavers (ESL) - if you are discharging before completing four years service.
- Employment Support Programme (ESP) - for those who have served between four and six years.
- Core Resettlement Programme (CRP) - if you have served more than six years.
Learning opportunities
As someone who has served in HM Armed Forces you may be entitled to training opportunities supported by the MOD. These include:
- Standard Learning Credits(SLC)
- Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC)
- Individual Resettlement Training Costs (IRTC)
These schemes could help you to access training and education to help you find a civilian job.
If you left the Armed Forces more than two years ago
A satisfying job can help ex-Service personnel with their mental and physical wellbeing and can lead to financial independence.
Read about mental wellbeing guidance and support on the RBL Knowledge Base website.
In many cases, employers are keen to hire those who have served in the Armed Forces. Your military skills can give you an advantage in the job market, and you should share them in your CV and job applications.
If you're a veteran or ex-Service person living with a disability, injury, or other medical condition, and are looking for work, we have created a page containing helpful information about job seeking and the support available to you.
Preparing, searching and applying for jobs
Applying for jobs can be a very exhausting and time-consuming experience. If you have never applied for a civilian job, or have not applied for a very long time, you may not know where to start.
The RBL hosts guidance to help you find, apply for and secure employment. Read more here on our website or visit our online Knowledge Base website to learn more about:
- Finding and applying for jobs.
- Education and training support for the Armed Forces Community.
- Returning to work after a gap in your employment.
- Employment support for those who are living with a disability or medical condition.
- Employment grants for veterans and family members.
- Becoming self employed or starting your own business.
- Managing your money.
Jobcentre Plus and Armed Forces Champions – England, Scotland, and Wales
The Jobcentre Plus have access to a wide range of job opportunities, special training and work programmes which may be able to help you find employment.
Find your local jobcentre on GOV.UK.
As part of the Armed Forces Covenant, the Department for Work and Pensions has placed Armed Forces Champions in every Jobcentre Plus district. Their role is to ensure that the Jobcentre Plus meets the needs of the Armed Forces Community.
The Armed Forces Champion is there to support veterans, service leavers, serving personnel within their resettlement period and spouses or civil partners of serving and ex-service personnel.
Jobs and Benefit Offices – Northern Ireland
Jobs and Benefits Offices in Northern Ireland can support you to access benefits, support, training, and job opportunities.
Work Coaches
Work Coaches at the Jobs and Benefit Offices can offer information and advice on a range of topics including:
- Job applications, CV creation, and interview preparation.
- Benefit eligibility and applications.
- Support accessing training, work experience and job programmes.
- Help if you have been made redundant.
Find out more about how a Work Coach from the Jobs and Benefit Offices could support you.
Additionally, your local Jobs and Benefit Office may be able to support you to access a digital device, such as a computer, tablet or smartphone, and improve your digital skills.
Visit the Nidirect website to find your local Jobs and Benefit Office.
National Careers Service – UK
The National Careers Service is a government run website which provides support with finding a job, learning and training for employment.
Learn more about how the National Careers Service on their website.
The National Careers Service has detailed guidance that may be able to support your career journey as someone who is living with a disability or health condition.
Skills assessment
If you are thinking of starting, returning, or even progressing in your career you may find it helpful to use the National Careers Service’s online skills assessment tool.
The tool can help you identify skills, interests and personal motivations and help you figure out how to use them in employment.
Career support from nidirect – Northern Ireland
The nidirect careers department offers advice on a range of topics including:
- learning your career options
- choosing or changing careers
- applying for jobs, and
- preparing for job interviews
Find out more about the support offered on the nidirect website.
My World of Work- Scotland
The My World of Work website is Scotland’s career information and advice website. The online tool allows you to access a range of guidance about education opportunities for your career, finding jobs and the application process.
Learn more about the advice available on the My World of Work website.
Service leavers, ex-service personnel and veterans
Transitioning into civilian employment is a big life change for every service person and their family. My World of Work has specific support available for the Armed Forces leavers and ex-service personnel to help you:
- identify and build upon key skills
- access training to support your employment journey
- improve your reading, writing or number skills
- speak to an advisor to help you figure out transferable skills and explore new career options
- search for jobs
- write your CV and make applications
Find out more about the support available for those who have served from My World of Work.
Careers Wales
Careers Wales in an online platform which can support you to plan, prepare and find employment.
Additionally, Careers Wales may be able to support you when applying for learning opportunities such as apprenticeships, courses, and training.
Op ASCEND – employment support for veterans and their families
Op Ascend is an Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) programme which is delivered by the Forces Employment Charity.
The programme provides veterans and their families with opportunities to gain meaningful employment. This includes support with CV writing, interview preparation, employment fairs and advice on setting up a business.
Op NOVA - for veterans who are in contact with the justice system
OP Nova provides support for veterans who are in contact with the justice system. The goal of the programme is to enable veterans to access the services, and receive practical and emotional support they need.
The service is delivered by the Forces Employment Charity and commissioned by NHS England. The specialist team is made up of ex-service personnel, partners, children, and parents of those who serve or have served in addition to those who have worked in the police, probation, prisons, or the charity sector.
Reporting problems in the civilian workplace
When working in civilian employment, you may come across situations or disputes that make your daily life difficult.
This may be something you find hard to approach as an ex-service person but there is guidance available to help you to resolve workplace conflicts.
England - Citizens Advice
Find out more about dealing with disputes and unusual situations in the civilian workplace.
Northern Ireland - Nidirect
Scotland - Citizens Advice
Read about dealing with disputes and difficult situations in civilian employment.
Wales
Applying for Jobs
The Forces Employment Charity provides support throughout the job application process, from building a strong CV to performing well in an interview.
Visit the Forces Employment Charity website to find out more.
How can my military skills transfer to help me find civilian employment?
When leaving the Armed Forces, you may feel like the specialised skillset you have been taught does not apply to civilian job postings. However, as someone who has served, you will have many skills which you use every day without realising how valuable
they are.
All those who have served will have skills that employers will be looking for.
When applying for jobs, it is important to demonstrate how you have used your skills in previous work environments. For example, telling
your employer that you were always at work five minutes early is better than just telling them you have good time management. This will also help civilian employers, who may have a very limited understanding of what day-to-day looks like in the Armed
Forces, to know more about your experiences.
The following examples were provided by those who have served, transitioned and found civilian employment.
Skill keyword | Example given by veterans |
Active listening | “The ‘Orders’ process and extracting what is relevant at your level and is prevalent throughout all ranks. If you worked in any leadership, Service Police, or Welfare roles, you should have this down to a T!” |
Communication | “We are able to communicate in a multitude of ways and adapt who we’re speaking to; it’s very different speaking to your Commanding Officer vs the Public vs your mates!” |
Computer skills | “Role dependant, but many people in the Forces, especially as they progress through the ranks, have to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams. If you’re not great with computers and are still serving, you could use your Standard Learning Credits (SLC – up to £175 a year with 80% personal contribution) to do the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) or other IT courses.” |
Customer service | “At some point you may have had to provide services to other members of the Armed Forces and at some point you may have had to use Conflict Resolution too; complaints about food or pay, working as a Movements Operator and checking people in to flights, supplying people with kit from stores, helping people resolve IT issues.” |
Resilience | “Even Basic Training isn’t for everyone and you have to have a degree of Resilience to get through the drill, combat PT, weapon handling, room inspections and CBRN drills whilst tired, hungry, getting shouted at etc.” |
Team work/collaborative working | “You’ll have done this as second nature throughout your whole career; whether it be your immediate team you’re working with, representative sport, course mates or as part of a secondary duty or charity event. You’ll likely be adept at motivating others and noticing each other’s strengths and weaknesses so you can work more efficiently. Bad at bulling shoes but great with an iron and have a mate who’s the opposite? Do their shoes and get them to press your kit!” |
Providing feedback/ reflective practice | “Mid Period Appraisal Reviews (MPAR) and Service Personnel Joint Appraisal Report (SJAR) spring to mind. You should have been identifying objectives with your line manager throughout the year and giving / receiving feedback. We also like to review how exercises, operations and projects have gone by reflecting on what went well and what went wrong so it can be applied for future efforts.” |
Leadership | “It’s instilled into us from Day 1 to strive for promotion. Often you take on additional responsibilities to showcase your potential for the next rank up. Even those who don’t make NCO status, may have had to lead at some point, be it on Exercise as a Section 2ic, or even being on Guard Duty.” |
Time management & Task Prioritisation | “If you’re not 5 minutes early, you’re already late! Being able to concurrently handle tasks whilst getting fastballs thrown at us and then needing to prioritise the tasks is second nature to many people in the armed forces. We thrive in chaos and generally remain calm in a crisis; that’s what we’re trained to do.” |
Training & Mentoring | “Chances are if you made it to NCO, at some point you would have delivered some kind of training in your workplace, or at the very least you would have probably mentored the newbies straight out of training, or joining your unit from somewhere else.” |
Finding employment if you are living with a disability or medical condition
Having a disability sometimes means that you may face challenges when finding work that suits you and your needs. There are a range of government schemes and other organisations that can support you to find fulfilling employment.
The support
offered can range from specialist Disability Employment Advisors to tailored programmes that work with employers to modify workplaces.
Returning to work after a gap in employment
You may feel unsure about how or if you even can return to work after a gap in employment. The Knowledge Base hosts guidance to support your career journey when re-entering the workplace.
Finding job vacancies
There are services which can help you find vacancies through online job boards and at career events.
Careers events offer an opportunity to network and meet with potential employers from a wide range of different industries. All companies who
take part in the events are there because they recognise the qualities and skills that service leavers can bring to their workplace.
Read more about how to find jobs in:
Learn about finding job vacancies on the National Careers Service website.
Additionally, you can search for jobs through the Armed Forces organisations below:
CV writing
A CV is a short, written document which summarises your relevant skills, achievements, and experience to the job that you are applying for. It is an excellent opportunity for you to introduce and promote yourself to an employer.
Learn more about what to include in your CV on the National Careers Service website.
Job interviews
It is important to prepare for an interview by researching the job, the organisation, and the employment sector, so you are able to answer a range of questions that are likely to be asked.
As a member of the Armed Forces community, if you need help preparing for interviews, The Forces Employment Charity can provide advice.
Visit the Forces Employment Charity website to find out more.
Read more about:
Financial support whilst you are looking for employment
You may need financial support whilst you are searching for work. If you are unsure of what you could be eligible for, you can use the GOV.UK Benefits Calculator to check what you are entitled to.
Learn more about the benefits and financial support available to those who are looking for work.
The Benefits Calculator will give you an estimate of the benefits and payments you could receive in addition to how they could be affected when you start work.
Further Support
Military Women Programme from the Forces Employment Charity
The Military Women Programme supports ex-service personnel to gain meaningful employment in a range of sectors and positions, including self-employment.
The charity aims to:
- increase the engagement of women in the veterans’ community, and
- equip women with job-seeking skills and knowledge to access Forces-friendly employers.
The Poppy Factory - England and Wales
The Poppy Factory supports those who have served in HM Armed Forces, including Reserves, and family members to access employment support.
Additionally, if you are living with a mental or physical health condition or disability, you can access
extra support from the organisation. The condition or disability does not need to be linked with your time in service.
Through The Poppy Factory you could receive support with:
- matching your skills and goals with job opportunities
- writing a CV, job applications and preparing for interviews
- training and qualification opportunities, and
- overcoming barriers in the workplace.
Walking With The Wounded - England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Walking With The Wounded has programmes to support ex-service personnel to regain their independence and secure sustainable employment.
The charity provides personalised support through their Employment Advisors to help ex-service personnel
build confidence through practical skills and experience.
Find out more about employment support from Walking With the Wounded on their website.
Mission Motorsport - England and Wales - ex-service personnel & service leavers
Mission Motorsport supports the recovery, rehabilitation and employment journey of service leavers, ex-service personnel, and veterans. The charity hosts events, training, and employment opportunities in motorsports to support the wellbeing and careers of service leavers and ex-service personnel who have been affected by military operations.
