What’s on offer at your RRC?

Careers consultant Rebecca Sanger-Davies looks at the possibilities....

Leaving the military and making the transition to civilian life is a huge challenge. If you need to focus on the opportunities that lie ahead when you leave the Forces, the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) can help. CTP is the partnership between the MoD and Right Management consultants, which aims to provide a flexible, personalised resettlement service and job-finding support for Service leavers.

After initial briefings and administration with unit resettlement staff and Service resettlement advisers, Service leavers undertake most of their resettlement activities at one of the nine Regional Resettlement Centres (RRCs) in the UK or at Herford in Germany. All are based within military establishments and are easily accessible. The partnership also has a Resettlement Training Centre at Aldershot, providing in-house resettlement training courses. Additionally there are over 30 consultants in the Regular Forces Employment Association (RFEA) who provide a job-finding and matching service. All have access to the CTP’s database.

The Staff

Within each RRC the Service leaver can expect a friendly welcome from the experienced civilian CTP staff. With five years’ contract experience, they have developed an affinity with military life, including the rank structures, the culture and, of course, the sense of humour.

The Regional Manager is responsible for the day-to-day running and management of the centre and its facilities. There are three or four career consultants, dependent upon the size of the centre, who provide ongoing support and guidance to Service leavers. No centre is complete without the administration staff who run reception, and all the paperwork, forms and bookings associated with the resettlement service.

What is available?

All centres run regular Career Transition Workshops (CTWs). These three-day interactive workshops enable students to identify and evaluate the skills and qualities gained during their time in the Armed Forces and how to market them to bring them to future employers. (See below for a description of just such a workshop.)

Ongoing support, advice and guidance is available from a career consultant until discharge date and for two years afterwards. Service leavers can contact their consultant as much as they wish, to discuss job-search issues, get feedback on a CV or application form, or just to talk things through. All advice is impartial and based on the individual’s best interests.

If registered leavers move to another area, resettlement can be transferred to the RRC nearest the new location. All information is held electronically, so no new forms are required when transferring.

Other one-day interactive workshops and seminars are run at most centres, including Self-employment and Business Start-up for people interested in running or setting up their own business. One-day Interview Techniques workshops are run as a refresher for those facing their first job interviews, with CV-writing workshops provided for those who need help and feedback when producing this important document. For those intending to retire completely when they leave the Forces, there are one-day Retirement Seminars covering all aspects of planning and enjoying retirement.

Employment fairs

At regular intervals throughout the year, RRCs run employment fairs attended by local and national companies that are recruiting Service leavers. RFEA consultants and RRCs make employers aware of the skills and experiences Service leavers can offer, and the fairs enable Service leavers to practise the networking skills gained during their CTW and find out more about employment opportunities in many different sectors. Some RRCs run Industry Days at which employers from a particular sector (like railways or logistics) give presentations and answer questions from Service leavers about opportunities and entry requirements.

Research

Along with well-equipped training and seminar rooms, each RRC holds careers-related material in its ‘resource centre’. These rooms also have computer equipment, with career-choice and sector-based research software, and Internet access. Other resources include national and local newspapers, trade journals, specialist recruitment publications, information on preferred training providers, employer information and samples of job vacancies. They also provide a telephone, fax, photocopier and scanner. Service leavers can visit as often and for as long as necessary, while the Information and Vacancy Coordinator is responsible for information and publications, and can assist with research and the use of computers.

Housing and finance briefings

Together with external authorities, RRCs run housing briefings during the year, covering house purchase, rental, local authority housing provision, the MoD nomination scheme and related issues. They also host finance briefings delivered by independent financial agencies, which include topics such as financial planning, investments, insurance, house purchase and Armed Forces pensions.

Diary of a Career Transition Workshop at RRC Uxbridge

Tuesday, 9:30am, at Uxbridge is the first day of a CTW. Fifteen Service leavers are sitting bolt upright in the training room around three tables. They are dressed smartly, suited and booted; no uniforms as per the joining instructions. The mood is apprehensive and silent.

In walks Ruth, the trainer. ‘Morning everyone.’

A few mumbles.

‘Shall we try that again? Morning everyone.’

A louder mumble of ‘Good morning’ fills the room.

Ruth introduces herself and the CTP, and briefly outlines the agenda for the next three days. She tells everybody that this will be a participative workshop, and that the more people put in to it the more they will get out. But first it is time for everyone to get to know each other and the people behind the uniform.

Icebreakers

Each person is told to turn to their neighbour and ask some questions to find out something about them as a person – past roles and future ambitions. They then tell everyone else in the room what they have discovered. Favourite films and reasons why raise a few laughs and the atmosphere begins to lighten.

Blow your own trumpet

The serious work begins when people are asked to identify their transferable skills and qualities. They must tell the customer how good they are. If they don’t, who will? Service leavers have an abundance of skills but do not sell themselves, as this can be alien and difficult. The identification of key transferable skills proves challenging and heavy going, but they soon start to realise the wealth of experience and skills they have acquired during their Service life.

Profile and CV writing

After lunch, people are told that this selling business continues. Ruth is blunt: ‘I want you to tell me in writing all about yourself and why I should employ you. You’re going to write your CV, starting with your profile.’

The fledgling civilians write short sharp summaries of their qualities and attributes. Explanations follow about two CV styles and which format suits which situation. Next comes group discussion and individual preparation before the day closes and people head home with some serious homework in order to arrive in the morning with the beginnings of a CV.

Research the market

Day two finds everyone more relaxed and casually dressed. It begins with a critique of CVs that have been prepared, highlighting areas requiring more work. Most people did not realise how much time and effort CVs demand. Next they need to think about their future direction and the training they may need in order to compete on equal terms with civilian job applicants. They head for the resource centre with all its facilities.

Revitalise and network

Lethargic after lunch, it is time for a revitaliser. A listening skills exercise highlights the importance of listening correctly – a skill essential for success at interview, and one that needs practice.

Refreshed and full of energy, people think about where to find jobs. The usual and expected answers are given – national and local papers, JobCentres, noticeboards. Someone mentions the ‘old boy network’ and they begin to identify contacts who can help in the job search process. ‘It’s not what you know but who you know’ often offers a new opportunity or change of direction, and this happens every day in Service life, both formally and informally. Homework is set to compile a list of contacts and commence their network preparation. Some interpret this as the ideal excuse to visit the bar. ‘I have to. It’s an essential part of my networking!’

Face-to-face selling

Day three and there is no sympathy for those who networked in the bar last night. Today is serious, there are to be one-to-one consultations with a career consultant. Members of the group also draw lots to see who will be put through mock interviews and who will sit on the panel. Some are more concerned about which questions to ask than the prospect of being interviewed.

Discussion and debriefs are held, and hints and tips shared. People are advised about body language, dress codes, preparation and good questions to ask. Overall, the mood is buzzing and individuals feel ready to face civilian interview panels.

The transition has begun

To draw to a close, let us return to the first morning and remember those 15 men and women sitting upright, looking like rabbits caught in headlights as they embarked on their first day of transition into the civilian world. As the third day closes the stunned appearances have gone and there are now 15 determined individuals with the tools they need to search, locate and obtain their next job ... and those for the rest of their working lives.

The three-day workshop is participative and interactive. It can be hard work, but it is thought-provoking and fun. Above all, it is a necessary course for any person leaving the Armed Forces and wanting to make a successful transition into civilian life.

For further details about the CTP, workshops, briefings or any of the other services offered please visit the website at www.ctp.org.uk, or contact your nearest Regional Resettlement Centre