Ahead of Armed Forces Day, we spoke to Joe Gillies, who works as a Finance Analyst at our Skyways Head Office and is an ex-paratrooper. Take a look at the Q&A to find out more.
Q: What was your military background?
Joe: From the age of 18 I was a paratrooper for four years in 2 Para, an airborne light infantry battalion capable of a wide range of operational tasks.
Q: What is your job?
Joe: I am a finance analyst and have been doing it for 12 months. It's office based, but mentally challenging - perfect.
Q: How did you find the role you are in now?
Joe: I found this role on the Army's Career Transition Partnership's website and i was offered advice and given a number of tools. This allowed me to develop my CV and interview skills to increase my chances of success. This was amazing as it helped me identify skills i already had and developed during my time in the military, and realise how transferable they could be in a civilian workplace. Things like being organised and a logical thinker are all strong skills.
Q: Why did you join Yodel?
Joe: When I was searching for a new job after leaving the armed forces, I wanted to be part of a workplace that would inspire and challenge me on a daily basis. Challenges are an essential part of any career and can enable you to leave your job at the end of the day feeling accomplished and proud of the work you have done.
When I saw Yodel was advertising for different roles, I was drawn to what they had to offer and the potential career opportunities available. There is already a large community for ex-service members within the company. This is evident from the moment you walk in the door and start talking to people. Yodel has many links to a wide range of groups that aim to assist armed forces personnel transitioning back into civilian life. A lot of veterans join Yodel due to the sheer amount of support offered, the opportunities available, and the fantastic community within the company, which is brilliant as many veterans miss camaraderie when they leave the forces.
Q: What support have you recieved?
Joe: I am incredibly grateful for the abundance of information provided prior to starting at Yodel. This allowed me to educate myself on what I could do to prepare, succeed and thrive in the role I was going into – even though it was the completely different to my previous occupation. I’ve been lucky to have had brilliant tutoring and a vast amount of knowledge shared by my mentors, which has allowed me to settle into my role much quicker than I initially anticipated and gain a greater understanding of the progression available within the company. I genuinely look forward to coming into the office.
Q: What advice do you have for fellow veterans?
Joe: I would recommend going back into civilian life with a completely open mind. You learn so many vital skills and lessons in the military and, with your co-workers’ help, you can easily mould this existing skillset to the role you end up in. On top of this, don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as possible, and seek advice from others in the industry you want to go into.
My top tip, though, is to keep yourself active and keep on learning – otherwise it is easy to fall into a rut and lose momentum with the transition. Veterans will feel the change of pace and intensity a lot more, especially if they come from an active military role and then work in an office environment.