Defence Skill Sets and Employable Skill Sets

For a lot of current and former military personnel, awareness of what natural skills have been honed and developed through years of service can be difficult.

Skills that have taken years to develop, become part of an everyday behaviour. What other have to think about, you do naturally and competently.

We know from our own experience; 3CIR was founded by former military personnel.  It’s inevitable that throughout your military career, skillsets are honed.

But what is little known, is that those skills can transfer to new career opportunities. Such skills can assist you in training to a new career, through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. Covering Army RPL, Navy RPL, Air Force RPL and Emergency Services RPL.

These skills can include:

• Communication
• Flexibility
• Integrity
• Problem Solving
• Technical Aptitude
• Teamwork

These skills are often the foundation of what future employers are looking for in their employees. Let’s take a look at them individually and ask a few questions for you to discuss with peers, friends or family to build confidence and understanding:

Communication

The foundation of all efficient businesses, and workplaces. Essential to ensure that themes, tasks, goals and targets are understood, acknowledged and accepted. Both written and verbal communication skills are important to develop, and can be done so through practice.

• When have you experience effective communication?
• Why was the communication method effective?
• How would you adopt this in a new workplace environment?

Flexibility

The ability and willingness to adapt and respond to change of expectations and circumstances. Having a flexible mindset can allow you to take leadership positions and assist in meeting client or business needs short notice. It also extends both ways; having an employer that can be flexible with your needs is important to ensure you stay engaged and enjoy your time at work.

• Can you think of a situation where you have had to be flexible?
• What did you find helped the situation?
• When have you experienced someone being flexible to your needs?

Integrity

As important as communication, demonstrated through adherence to moral and ethical principles, honesty, places value in maintaining relationships with co-workers, customers and clients as well as key stakeholders.

• Can you think of a person who has demonstrated integrity in the workplace?
• What values did they uphold?

 Problem Solving

Reliant on existing skills, such as communication and flexibility, problem solving can be demonstrated through working through an issue, challenge or problem to find solution. This isn’t just making a decision; it’s the analysis of all available options to determine potential solutions, and understanding the impact of any decision made to solve the problem / issue.

• Share an experience where you had to solve a problem.
• Did you think of any other solutions for the problem?
• Do you prefer to work through solutions on your own or with others?

Technical Aptitude

While generally task specific, technical aptitude is the ability and knowledge to perform a task. Technical aptitude can be defined by each niche industry sector, but generally relies on a hands-on approach. Future employers rely on technical expertise and competence to perform tasks.

• Can you recall a time where your technical skills were required?
• Have you helped others gain technical knowledge?

Teamwork

Working well within a group brings together all the above skillsets, along with your colleagues own skills and abilities. An efficient team builds confidence in each other and unique abilities, knowledge and understanding. It can increase productivity, and strengthen relationships. Along with clear leadership, effective communication, specific responsibilities and a defined goal or objective – the ability to work well with others is important in all workplaces.

• Can you share an experience where you worked well in a team?
• Do you prefer to lead a team, or work with a team?
• What do you like about working with others?

You can complete a FREE RPL assessment form to get started today! If you are after Army RPL, Navy RPL, Air Force RPL or emergency services RPL, we can assist.

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