get to know yourself

Having spent so many years in the RAF, being told on occasion what I could talk about, and who I could say it too I.E. the civil press, admittedly not as bad until I was embedded with the army, I find it liberating that I can type and say within reason and under the official secrets act pretty much what I like.
This inter net  is a wonderful tool, not only to get things off your chest when having a rant but getting help finding out information.
I have struggled in the past working out where I wanted to take my life. Once I wanted nothing more than to be a police officer, then a spaceman and then a pilot, then I joined the RAF and wanted to be mechanic, but found at the time of recruitment I either didn't have the qualifications or the positions did not exist so I was given a career that looking back on now, have only one regret and that is that it ended too soon.

My trade allowed me to work as a member of  team and be an independent person when solving problem loads, but still only allowed to work within very strict rules and still to do as I was told, this left me feeling very frustrated, and as I did not always agree with what I being told to do, I sought  ways to get promoted in fact literately banging on my bosses desk demanding to know what I needed to do to get to the next level, at one point going out of my way to find a different method of doing something  to get me noticed and eventually becoming the man who gave orders, I can see why something's are done the way they are and that's true when it comes to your CV, There are guides around to help you write the perfect CV and get it noticed.

But first it's time to start to think about what you want to be and that means don't let you CV trap you in to your past when you should be looking to your future, just because you cooked for your service doesn't mean you have to stay a chef, "unless it's really what you want to", I thought I wanted to stay in logistics, working with cargo has it's rewards for one it doesn't complain or argue, but I realised that I was in my comfort zone and the future needed to fit my dreams. I had sat a test and then was told what trade I was going to be when I joined up, but in civvi street there is no magic wand or person there to wipe your nose, however there are  plenty of books and on-line questionnaires show ways in which to find your way and write your CV.

Remember you have been learning skills all your life so don't just write your CV on the ones you learned in the services, but never forget those you did use i'm sure some of you either have or are going to assist in cadet summer camps or outward bound activities others may do mountain rescue scouts and girl guides to name but a few, they all involve responsibility and management and in some cases a lot of organisation skills, also like me, you have given briefings or sit reps to management on tasks or projects you have been involved with, some of you will have written 6 monthly and annual assessments on your troops, (a job I hated, but you can't develop someone if they don't know how they are doing).
How many of you have been involved or organised something for Help For Heroes so that means you have handled cash again the list is not exhaustive so have a look.

Lastly you can gain skills from your hobbies which can very easily be passed on onto an employer, sometimes country pursuits such as horse riding fishing or even clay shooting gives civvi employers an area they can assess how you mix and get on with people at their level.