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Your decision to pursue a career in the armed forces is one that should not be taken lightly. Are you prepared to go to war? Are you a natural born leader? Can you cope when the going gets tough? Once you have made your decision, like in any walk in life, you need to be aware of the skills and personal qualities that the armed forces will be looking for in all potential new recruits so as to give yourself a strong chance of being selected.
Some of these skills are tangible (technical ability) while others are intangible (physical and mental attributes) skills and it’s your job to demonstrate how you have used these skills in the past and potential to use them in your new career.
The key skills that recruiters seek are:
- Patriotism – are you prepared to fight for Queen and Country?
- Team player – although you will be leading from the front you need to be able to work as part of- and support your team
- Leadership – an officer is expected to be self-confident and instil confidence in others
- Communication skills – this is arguable one of the most important skills to possess. You need to be able to communicate clearly and concisely – especially at times of conflict when people’s lives may be at stake. This includes being tactful and diplomatic
- Quick-thinking and effective problem solver – as an officer it is your job to think clearly and act decisively under pressure
- Sense of responsibility – you are in command and you alone are responsible for your staff
- Flexibility and adaptable to change – the very nature of the armed forces means that you may be relocated from one base to another at short notice and even to the other side of the world
- Stamina and physical fitness is essential
- Empathy – you may find yourself posted in some of the most deprived areas of the world where local tensions create a volatile and uneasy environment, you need to understand and relate to people from varying socio-economic backgrounds, races, cultures and religions.
Having the right qualifications is one thing but they won’t help you if you are commanding a platoon of 30 soldiers outnumbered by an encroaching enemy by 2-to-1. This is why the armed forces look for candidates who can display evidence of a range of qualities and aptitudes and it is your job to recognise these skills and make a concerted effort to acquire as many of them as possible do that you can demonstrate you’re potential to be the leader they expect you to be.
Wondering what to do now? Check out our expert career advice, find out more about working in the Armed Forces or search for the latest Armed Forces jobs.