Former armed forces professionals wondering what to do after military life could not find a more inspiring example than Mark Hendry MBE. This decorated former Lieutentant Colonel of the British Army is not only a true British hero, but also an outstanding role model for anyone looking for ex-military jobs in the corporate sector.

How to find jobs after military service

In this episode of Life at Sage, Mark Hendry MBE discusses the anxieties, challenges, benefits and—ultimately—the satisfaction of finding jobs after military service.

Drawing on his own experiences of leaving the British Army after a rewarding 23-year career, Mark explains what it feels like to want to find a new path in life—and just how nerve-wracking that can be for veterans who have been “insitutionalised” by military service.

He talks about the feeling of “learning a new language” in switching from the rigidity of the armed forces to the fluidity of corporate culture. And how his Officer’s ability to quickly adapt to new situations are the skills that helped him to thrive in his new corporate arena.

Mark also offers hints and tips on how to find the right “after-military careers”—including his top four things to look for from a corporate employer, and which transferable skills to draw on when starting a new job.

Is Sage good for after-military jobs?

Having joined Sage as Global Performance Intelligence Director, Mark Hendry MBE has found a corporate positition that befits his leadership “superpower” as he describes it. He talks about:

• How the Pathways programme helped him sift through ex-army jobs to find the perfect role
• The support he received—and continues to receive—from his Pathways advisor
• The diversity of thought that ex-military professionals bring to Sage and how this is encouraged by the company
• How high-performance culture at Sage reflects the team spirit of military life
• The lesson he believes the armed forces could learn from Sage on why development doesn’t always have to be upwards to the next rank
• The Colleague Success Network at Sage dedicated to former soliders, airmen, sailors and their extended families

There’s no doubt that Mark has found the transition over to the corporate world a challenge. But, by sticking to his guiding principle of “go where you feel you belong,” he says he feels he has found exactly the employer he’s looking for in Sage.

And he encourages other armed forces professionals considering leaving the services to reach out to him personally if they’re looking for help and advice on what to do next.

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