THE REALITY CHECK

According to the latest Forces in Mind Trust research, only 44.5% of UK ex-service personnel feel they’ve found the ‘right job’, and just 42.5% believe their role maximises their potential. Your CV becomes crucial in securing meaningful civilian employment. As specialists working with veterans transitioning into rewarding careers, we at OWOA have reviewed thousands of military CVs. We’ve seen what catches employers’ attention—and what makes them hesitate.

The Statistics Tell a Story

• Office for National Statistics (2021) reports over 1.85 million ex-forces personnel in England and Wales
• Forces in Mind Trust reveals only 43.2% feel prepared for civilian life
• The Open University Business Barometer 2022 predicts skills shortages could cost the UK economy £120 billion by 2030

Real Example

❌ Original: “Military experience in leadership”

✓ Better: “Transformed military leadership into commercial success, managing teams of 30+ and £2M budgets whilst maximising operational efficiency”

MISTAKE #2: THE TRANSLATION GAP

Common Issues

• Military jargon that civilian organisations don’t understand
• Ranks without civilian equivalents
• Technical skills lost in translation

Example Fix

❌ Original: “OC of maintenance squadron”

✓ Better: “Operations Director overseeing 45 specialists and £5M equipment portfolio”

MISTAKE #3: THE IMPACT AMNESIA

Frequently Missing

• Budget responsibilities
• Team size metrics
• Project values
• Cost savings

Real-World Example

❌ Original: “Responsible for vehicle fleet maintenance”

✓ Better: “Optimised maintenance schedule for 60-vehicle fleet, reducing downtime by 40% and delivering £250K cost savings annually”

MISTAKE #4: THE SKILLS BURIAL

Common Oversights

• Leadership achievements hidden in military terms
• Transferable skills not highlighted
• Commercial impact understated

Example

❌ Original: “Conducted training exercises”

✓ Better: “Designed and delivered training programmes for 200+ personnel, achieving 95% first-time pass rate and £100K cost savings”

MISTAKE #5: THE COMMERCIAL DISCONNECT

Critical Misses

• Business context
• Industry relevance
• Return on investment
• Stakeholder management

Real Example

❌ Original: “Managed operational deployments”

✓ Better: “Led diverse teams of 30+ in high-pressure environments, delivering complex projects 15% under budget whilst maintaining quality standards”

SUCCESS STORY

Take Jaguar Land Rover’s armed forces engagement programme, which has successfully hired over 1,000 veterans since 2013. One of our recent placements mirrors this success: a former RAF officer transitioned into a Technology Project Manager role at a leading aviation risk management company, where they immediately contributed to the organisation’s project management strategy and growth—proving that when military experience is properly translated, it becomes invaluable in civilian organisations.

TAKE ACTION

Don’t let your military experience go undervalued. As part of the 1.85 million ex-forces personnel in England and Wales, your unique skills and experience are in high demand. Contact OWOA at [email protected] or call +44 (0)2089457705 for expert guidance on transforming your military experience into a compelling civilian career story.

ABOUT OWOA

Based in the UK (Company No. 08596032), with offices in Manchester, Birmingham, and London, our all-female team specialises in diversity-focused recruitment across sectors including engineering, IT, defence, and executive appointments. We’re proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant with ERS Silver status, ensuring your military experience is valued and understood.