Transition Story: taking charge of your own destiny

As much as a broad understanding of the commercial world will prepare you for a career in wealth management, ‘it’s whether or not you possess a genuine interest in people that will determine your success.’ Simon Roffey’s opinion may surprise those who still associate the sector with a rather more money-driven attitude – an outdated […]

25th May 2017

Career and vocational opportunities in the land-based sector

Deciding on a new career in the civilian working world can be a daunting prospect for many Service leavers. For those of you facing a resettlement brick wall will perhaps feel that life behind a computer screen just isn’t for you. Maybe you’ve become accustomed to a life outdoors but simply don’t know how to go […]

19th May 2017

Everything you need to know about a career in facilities management

The health, well-being and productivity of staff is largely down to workplace design – facilities management is about making buildings work and the integration of processes within an organisation run as smoothly as possible. In short – it’s about ‘managing processes’. And the good news is that the role facilities management plays in maintaining the […]

22nd May 2017

OA Awards Prize to RAF Cadet for Outstanding Charity Work

OA’s Chief Executive Officer, Lee Holloway, was delighted to present Flying Officer Jordan Polonijo with the Officers’ Association Prize at RAF Cranwell’s Graduation Dining-In Night on 5 May 2017 at RAF Cranwell.  The OA provides the ‘Work in the Community’ charity award in recognition of the work carried out by cadets supporting a charitable cause […]

16th May 2017

Financial Services: It’s not just a numbers game

Many believe that money is at the absolute heart of Financial Services and the career paths involved remain unvaried but the OA’s recent Pathfinder article revealed that there’s so much more to the sector than numbers… From FinTech (financial technology) start-ups to operations management and cyber security the diversity of roles means that there is […]

17th May 2017

Transition Story: ‘Joining the Armed Forces doesn’t put you back in your career – it makes you more marketable’

Within five minutes of speaking to Francis, you quickly realise that he isn’t your archetypal private banker. Certainly he is well spoken, erudite and passionate as you would expect, but it’s around helping others to recognise their strengths and abilities to make the most of translating their military skills, that really gets him engaged. Francis […]

15th May 2017

Transition Story: let your curiosity lead the way

You may be forgiven for thinking that Rachel’s voluntary commitments at Barclays sound as demanding and time consuming as her full-time work. From her activities as co-chair of one of the Barclay’s Women’s Initiative Networks, to organising the annual Light The Night Dragon Boat race for Bloodwise and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Rachel also […]

9th May 2017

Transition Story: starting with a blank piece of paper

Ade Clewlow is an ‘internationalist at heart’ and it shows from his varied experiences across the globe – from a Jane’s Defence Weekly correspondent and freelance journalist with the BBC in Portugal, to an education professional at the Qatari Staff College, and strategic communications expert in Somalia. During his career as a Royal Signals Officer, […]

5th May 2017

The Value of Attending Insight Days

During your transition journey you’re likely to hear a lot of talk about the importance of attending networking events, careers fairs, online tutorials and insight days.  Insight days are often overlooked.  Attending them can be seen as a bit of a ‘luxury’ yet these events are run by employers with the specific purpose of giving […]

2nd May 2017

Landing the right role – Careers with HSBC

After a career spanning 20 years in the Royal Marines, Steven Lee is now a Delivery and Assurance Director at HSBC. He joined us to discuss his transition timeline and the range of recruitment opportunities available at HSBC ahead of the forthcoming recruitment day HSBC are hosting. Since joining HSBC in 2014, Steven is now […]

27th April 2017

Former officers to participate in the Blackthorn Rally in Morocco

Following the success of the inaugural Blackthorn Rally in 2016, fourteen former Army officers will once again travel to Southern Morocco to cover a 1500km route in nothing more than motorbikes and desert racing buggies. Participants will travel over 250 km per day on a route that will see them start in the Moroccan town […]

Coping with Redundancy

“How can this happen to me?” “I must have done something wrong” and “How can I tell my family and friends?” are three commonly experienced reactions to being made redundant by your employer. The topic of redundancy presents an important and deep-seated concern to not just the military but individuals employed in the civilian working […]

13th April 2017

Operations Management – getting things done

A career in operations management demands an expert ability to get things done. A popular career choice for ex-military personnel, operations management focuses on streamlining processes as effectively as possible and requires the ability to apply logical thinking, especially when under pressure. As the industry continues to change and grow, it also offers exciting opportunities […]

12th April 2017

Transportation sector comes together to showcase second career opportunities for Service leavers

The OA and Siemens were joined by Network Rail, Northern Rail, Transport for London and Alan Dicks Communication at the National Training Academy for Rail in Northampton, on 30 March, to provide an insight day for Service leavers. Phil Heathcote, Sales Director for Siemens Rail Systems stated that rail passengers numbers were now at the […]

A better work and life balance with a career in interim management

Pursuing a career in interim management can be an interesting choice in terms of satisfaction, reward and a better work/life balance. You will be given the chance to make a real impact on a number of contrasting businesses and often be offered highly competitive rates of pay. But how do you know whether you possess […]

11th April 2017

Virgin Money demonstrate their support for the Armed Forces community and sign the Covenant

The Officers’ Association attended the event on Wednesday 29 March when Jayne-Anne Gadhia, Chief Executive Officer at Virgin Money, officially signed the Armed Forces Covenant. This is the culmination of 18 months of preparation to ensure that the business would meet its commitments to the Armed Forces community. During this time, Virgin Money had already […]

5th April 2017

The Alternative CV – How the Employment Market is Changing

The evolution of technology means that you can now conduct your job search through a variety of channels – just using a printed CV and cover letter on their own isn’t likely to get you as noticed as before. The recent digital transformation in how we go about applying for jobs has forced job seekers […]

24th March 2017

A big ‘Thank You’ from the OA as our Bristol Office celebrates its 2nd Birthday!

Two years ago this week the Officers’ Association (OA) opened its first regional office; with the aim of supporting officers as they leave the Armed Forces and transition into civilian life. We started with an empty office on the Bristol Business Park – a real blank canvas – but well placed to start growing our […]

17th March 2017

OA Celebrates Second Anniversary of Bristol Office Opening

Two years ago the Officers’ Association opened its first regional office in Bristol with the aim of reaching out to military officers, providing them with support as they transition into civilian life. What started out as a blank canvas is now evolving into an impactful community – engaging with organisations and Service-leavers through networking events […]

16th March 2017

Management roles offering reward and opportunity at Siemens UK

With a core strategy aligned to global trends and digital transformation, Siemens understands more than ever the fundamental benefits of hiring ex-military personnel. For transitioning officers, knowing that military skills are recognised by successful and prosperous businesses across the UK is an encouraging prospect, but many of these organisations also view the work of service […]

14th March 2017