Fiona Jackson, OA Career Consultant, shares her insights into working in HR

There are many misunderstandings about the purpose of HR. Many Service leavers may have worked in different aspects of HR but probably not the whole range.

HR is a varied and diverse industry, which is part of the corporate strategy of an organisation. Its functions include employment law, organisation design, discipline and grievance procedures, equality and diversity, learning and development, managing union agreements, recruitment, pay and benefits and talent management and succession planning.

Nick Hartley was a senior officer in the RAF and now works in cyber security for BT.

Tell me about your military career
I joined the RAF as an engineer straight after graduating from Manchester University, having been in the University Air Squadron. I served for 29 years and left in January 2018. I completed three tours as a Group Captain in Joint Forces Command, I was previously appointed Deputy Director of the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy and then became Head of Capability Development for Cyber, Cryptography and Influence operations in Joint Forces Command at Northwood.

Lisa Jones, OA Career Consultant, explains why work placements are good for veterans and employers.
Work placements will develop your skills and give you vital experience, improving your employability. They also increase your knowledge of different industries, helping you to make better informed decisions about your career. You can be exposed to new areas where veterans often struggle, such as customer service and gain commercial experience.

Join us for what promises to be a fascinating and entertaining insight into the perils of establishing and running your own business.

We are delighted to welcome Simon Watson, ex-RAF Wing Commander, as he discusses establishing your own business and the best ways of going about it. Simon will share some words of wisdom as someone who recently established two of his own cleaning businesses.

The skills and experience required to manage a project are common within the Forces and many individuals look to transition into a new career within Project Management when they leave, but what does this look like in a civilian context?

What are businesses looking for in their Project Managers?

What qualifications do you need to be recognised as a Project Manager?

How can you optimise your applications for these roles?