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Independent resettlement & recruitment guide for serving Armed Forces & Veterans

Career Guides

Already know what kind of career you’d like to move in to? Or maybe you’re still looking for information that’ll help you make up your mind? Whatever stage you’re at, the QUEST Careers Hub provides in-depth insight on a wide range of industry sectors. To find out more, click on your area of interest below or use the search facility.

ALPHABETICALLY:
Accountancy and Book-keeping
Accountancy and Book-keeping
Whether you want to work as an accountant or book-keeper yourself, or if you’re thinking of starting your own business and need to get more of an idea of what looking after your own finances involves, read on …
Airport Roles and Ground Crew
Airport Roles and Ground Crew
It takes more than pilots, engineers and cabin crew to keep flights operational. Transferring your air transport-related skills to an airport-based role could see you get off to a flying start in a civil aviation career … while your feet stay firmly on the ground!
Auditing
Auditing
It might not be a sphere that immediately springs to mind as you approach the end of your Forces career, but have you considered training to be an auditor?
Aviation Security
Aviation Security
Aviation security staff are at the forefront, tackling a myriad of challenges from air rage and assaults to handling potential national and international terrorism threats. They combat issues like drunkenness, smuggling, and various forms of crime within the aviation sector. Ready to confront one of the most formidable and demanding challenges of our modern era? This role demands resilience, vigilance, and a steadfast commitment to safeguarding passengers, crew, and the integrity of air travel.
Breakdown Services
Breakdown Services
Attention to those transitioning from the armed forces! If you've served and are gearing up for a new chapter, this Breakdown Service Career Guide is tailored just for you. Your unique experiences and skills from the military can find a meaningful home in the world of breakdown services. Let's navigate this path together and uncover how your expertise can drive a fulfilling and impactful career beyond the forces.
Building Trades
Building Trades
Want to turn your talents to a practical career on leaving? Together, the building trades make up one of Britain’s widest-ranging industry sectors, offering many different roles to choose from – and perhaps the firm foundation you’ve been seeking for your next career …
Business Start-up
Business Start-up
Starting a business can be an enticing prospect, especially in times where flexibility and autonomy are valued. However, venturing into self-employment comes with its own set of challenges and rewards. While it offers independence and the chance to explore your entrepreneurial spirit, it equally demands unwavering commitment and resilience.
Care Work
Care Work
The healthcare sector, of which care work forms a significant part, is an amazingly diverse area of employment that offers a range of opportunities to Armed Forces leavers. Could you work in care?
Catering Management
Catering Management
As an enormous, wide-ranging sector, the catering and hospitality industry offers an array of opportunities and a strong framework for progression. Could catering management be the career you’ve been waiting for?
Charities Sector
Charities Sector
If you want to continue to make a difference after leaving the Armed Forces, a career in the charities sector offers a way to earn while also supporting a good cause …
Close Protection
Close Protection
The various sectors of the security industry offer a huge range of job roles that are particularly suitable for ex-Forces personnel – and a close protection career in particular could well be your perfect next step. Read on to find out how to become a close protection officer …
Computing and IT
Computing and IT
The strong growth of tech-related employment in the UK sends a clear message to anyone considering career opportunities in this sector: there’s a multitude of exciting openings. Are you ready to unlock them?
Construction
Construction
Lay a firm foundation for yourself with a future that’s safe as houses in one of the variety of practical and supervisory career options offered by a career in the construction industry
Consulting
Consulting
If you've been involved in roles that require analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication, you may find a career in consulting both rewarding and well-suited to your skill set. Consulting, often regarded as a critical driver of business strategy and performance, offers a dynamic and challenging environment.
Cyber Security
Cyber Security
Embarking on a career in cybersecurity is a journey into the heart of the digital frontier, where the guardians of cyberspace thrive. In this guide, we navigate the landscape of cyber skills careers, delving into the technical expertise that defines this dynamic field. Whether you're drawn to the intricacies of ethical hacking, the strategic dance of incident response, or the cryptic world of network security, this guide is your compass. Join us as we explore the essential skills, certifications, and pathways that pave the way for a fulfilling and impactful career in cybersecurity. Your journey into the realm of cyber skills starts here.
Cyber Skills
Cyber Skills
A push to engage veterans with cyber skills is currently taking place, as more businesses look to utilise the unique skills of this group.
Digital Infrastructure Industry
Digital Infrastructure Industry
Digital infrastructure serves as the essential foundation of our modern world, but what precisely does it encompass? Let's delve into the intricacies of the industry, shedding light on why embarking on a career in this dynamic and cutting-edge sector holds tremendous promise for Service leavers. Beyond financial rewards, it opens doors to engaging and fulfilling professional pathways.
Driving Instruction
Driving Instruction
Do you have a driving ambition? Driving instruction is a profession that offers varied opportunities and flexible employment to those of the right temperament. If that sounds like you then buckle up and read on …
Drone Operator Training
Drone Operator Training
The rapid growth in commercial acceptance of unmanned aerial vehicles – commonly known as drones – is fuelling an enormous expansion in applications and related careers. What does it take to become a commercial drone operator? Read on to find out …
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Power up your future with a career in electrical or electronic engineering, whose applications span a host of diverse industries
Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Management
Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Management
Emergency planning and business continuity management are two separate but very closely related industry sectors. In this article, we will look at the two fields in parallel …
Emergency Services
Emergency Services
If you are looking to continue in public service post-Forces, a career in the UK’s emergency services could well be for you. Police, Ambulance, Fire and Rescue, Coastguard …? You are highly likely to have exactly the skills and aptitudes that make you well equipped to say ‘yes’ to 999!
Engineering careers
Engineering careers
Engineering stands as a vast and diverse employment sector, demanding a wide array of largely hands-on skills. Many ex-Forces personnel are well-positioned to possess these skills, complemented by sought-after personal attributes highly valued by employers. As we delve into the engineering career guide, we’ll explore the dynamic landscape of this sector, offering insights and opportunities for those transitioning from military service.
Financial Services
Financial Services
If you’ve been in a finance-related role while in uniform, you’re likely equipped with valuable skills that could open doors in the dynamic world of finance – a sector of constant growth and opportunity in the UK…
Franchising
Franchising
Franchising is a much more common business model than many people realise, encompassing a surprising number of the most recognisable high-street brands. The benefits of opting for a franchising format may seem clear-cut, but taking a step back to assess the pros and cons before making your mind up is a must …
Gas Installation and Maintenance
Gas Installation and Maintenance
A shortfall of qualified engineers means there’s never been a better time to pursue a career in this expanding sector …
Health and Safety
Health and Safety
Today's health and safety professionals are on a mission to protect the workforce by adopting a proactive and preventive stance against issues like injuries, accidents, and equipment failures. Do you possess the qualities to be part of this crucial endeavour?
Health and Safety in the Construction Industry
Health and Safety in the Construction Industry
Do you have what it takes to join today’s health and safety professionals playing a vitally important role on-site?
Healthcare
Healthcare
The healthcare sector, public and private, offers a huge range of career opportunities. When the time comes for resettlement, you may well find you already have sought-after skills. But, to really make sure your prospects are in the pink, now’s the time to start getting some appropriate qualifications under your belt.
Horology
Horology
What makes horology (the study of clocks and watches) an ideal hobby – or even a promising new career direction – for practically minded Service leavers?
Human Resources
Human Resources
This time it’s personnel! When you make the leap to the civilian workplace, maybe human resources could be the career for you?
Law
Law
If you haven’t yet considered law as a profession, Ahmed Al-Nahhas, partner and solicitor-advocate at London-based law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp, explains the variety of opportunities it offers that might make it a very advantageous career move – it may even offer you the chance to help other ex-Service people and maintain your connection with the Forces …
Locksmith
Locksmith
A career as a locksmith requires many different skill-sets. These, complemented by the appropriate training, can make it a rewarding, well-respected occupation – and perhaps the key to your success in the civilian workplace
Logistics and Distribution
Logistics and Distribution
As an organisation that is highly dependent on its skilled logistics staff, the Armed Forces represents a valuable source of suitably qualified professionals equipped to move in to the nationally important field of logistics and distribution. Could it be the logical next step for you too?
Management and Leadership
Management and Leadership
Effective management is vital to every organisation. If you’ve taken a leadership role while in uniform – maybe with the relevant institute membership and qualifications to back it up – you could already have a suitable skill-set to transfer to the civilian workplace
Media
Media
For veterans transitioning from military service, the media industry presents exciting opportunities to apply their unique skills and experiences. The world of media, encompassing television, film, digital platforms, and public relations, is dynamic and values the discipline, leadership, and communication skills honed in the military.
Oil and Gas
Oil and Gas
Although working on- or offshore in the UK’s oil and gas industry might seem a challenging prospect on many levels, it’s also well rewarded for those with the right skills, and has the potential to lead to a productive future.
Personal Trainer
Personal Trainer
In the realm of fitness, the mainstream has embraced a significant transformation. Approximately one in every seven individuals in the UK holds a gym membership, signalling a surge in fitness involvement across the nation. This surge, propelled by various media channels like social media, TV, blogs, apps, and games, has led to an amplified demand for skilled and certified fitness professionals. The need for these professionals has never been more pronounced, given the substantial volume of individuals engaging in fitness pursuits.
Project Management
Project Management
Organised, methodical, good at keeping work on track, confident about meeting deadlines and happy to take on responsibility? If you recognise your own skill set here, project management (aka PM) could be the perfect match for you …
Rail Industry
Rail Industry
The modern rail industry offers so much more than the traditional train driver role, with jobs covering a huge range of areas – from signaller to site manager, engineer to HR officer – so take your seat and read on …
Renewables
Renewables
With climate change and energy prices currently firm fixtures in the news headlines, the renewable energy sector has really come to the forefront of the public consciousness. If you’re seeking new employment that is both challenging and worthwhile, maybe renewables should be on your radar too …
Risk Management
Risk Management
Ready for risk? The skills required to ‘know your enemy’, and the development of tactics to counter that enemy, are basic risk management aptitudes. This means that, without even knowing it, you may have spent a significant proportion of your Services career preparing for a role in this industry – and could well be more ready than you know for a rewarding new career in risk management …
Road Transport Driving: Licences and Qualifications
Road Transport Driving: Licences and Qualifications
If you’ve been thinking of carving out a new career in the world of road transport driving, or using your military-gained driver qualifications when you leave the Armed Forces, there’s never been a better time – especially where HGVs are concerned. Here’s the steer on professional driver qualifications, licensing and training …
Security
Security
Secure your future … with a career in an industry to which many Service leavers find themselves very well suited. Planning ahead with relevant qualifications now could see you sitting pretty in a civvy security role when the time comes.
Smart Meter Installation
Smart Meter Installation
Spurred by the cost of living crisis, there’s a backlog of consumers waiting for their energy provider to supply and fit a smart meter, boosting demand for installers nationwide …
Sport and Fitness
Sport and Fitness
From boot camp leader to basketball coach, personal trainer to Pilates instructor, the sport and fitness sector could be just the thing for your future career … and there are plenty of online courses you can do to prepare yourself for action.
Sustainability
Sustainability
Growing public awareness of environmental issues, and the responsibility we have to control our future and slow down the progression of climate change, means more people are looking for a career in a sustainable role …
Teaching
Teaching
If you’ve been involved in training or mentorship roles during your time in uniform, it's highly probable that you have amassed a range of skills ideal for entering the realm of education and guiding the next generation…
Technical Communication
Technical Communication
Got the write stuff? Perhaps your future lies in a career as a technical author …
Telecoms
Telecoms
If you’re thinking of a future role that involves you with technology at the cutting edge and where constant change is on the menu, why not connect with a fast-moving career in the telecoms industry?