Employment Case Study 1

Aircraft Engineer, Bob Clay

 “Take advantage of the opportunities within the resettlement system and maintain a positive attitude. People with military service experience have a lot to offer the outside world – all you have to do is get out there and sell yourself!”

Bob Clay spent 32 years in the RAF as an aircraft engineer, responsible for a line shift of 80 men preparing Nimrods for flight. Less than a year after leaving, he is Company Manager of Reboot Moray Computer Recycling, an independent company with charitable status that puts discarded computer technology back on the market for people who don’t need state-of-the-art equipment.

“Apart from the managerial skills I acquired with the RAF, there’s nothing at all compatible between what I used to do and what I do now,” he laughs. “Previously I was dealing with hydraulics and my job was mechanically orientated – now I’m handling IT, much to the shock and surprise of everyone I worked with!”

When it came to looking for a career beyond the services, Bob found there was plenty of help, from the comprehensive Resettlement Services offered by the RAF, to various outside agencies.

“The course on CV writing and one particular workshop completely changed my outlook on what I should be looking for. In the military services, you acquire all sorts of skills that people outside aren’t aware of. We’re trained to find solutions to problems, to think laterally, so even if you don’t have the formal qualifications, go for it anyway.”