Sectors: Defence and Armed Forces
Where to start
There are generally three main branches of the Armed Services. In the UK each has a graduate recruitment website that is the natural starting point.
Royal Navy (including the Royal Marines)
Each branch offers three distinct types of role, namely those focussed on operations, combat and peacekeeping, those in specialist or technical activities and a wide range of support roles.
In applying you will be expected to satisfy basic medical, age and nationality recruitment criteria. The application, assessment and selection process can be lengthy compared to graduate recruiting in the civilian world.
Because of the wide and diverse nature of the roles and the work of each service there may be many reasons for being motivated to join. However what is in common will be an aspiration to leadership and taking responsibility, a strong affinity to decision making defined by identifying and meeting objectives, flexibility in responding to uncertainty, excellent communication skills and deep personal resilience.
It can be especially useful and interesting to connect to the branch of the armed services in which you are interested via their Facebook or LinkedIn pages.
You don’t need to have had any prior experience but in general terms activities that demonstrate your suitability do carry some weight. In addition, each service has its own university unit and joining and participating in the activities of the unit will give you insight into the work and culture as well as providing evidence of your motivation.
Cambridge University Royal Naval Unit
Cambridge University Officers’ Training Corps
Cambridge University Air Squadron
Each will hold regular training events with additional occasional periods of activity and training outside term time and away from home.
Paid work in a variety of areas, as well as society and volunteering activities will help develop and demonstrate leadership and management responsibility.
Sporting activities at multiple levels of competency and competitiveness will give you an opportunity to establish and enhance physical fitness for roles where that is relevant.
Graduates of any degree subject can apply and no further study qualification is required although all the services are keen to hear from applicants with a STEM background which can be particularly useful in some operational and specialist roles.
In addition to being able to match the skills required in the role from previous experience it is useful to demonstrate an interest in current affairs and in particular defence issues from reading the broadsheet press. You should also be clear about your personal motivation for wanting to serve and how long you expect that to be for.
The University training units for each branch of the Armed Forces Cambridge are detailed in the ‘how to get the experience to be credible’ section.
Now you have looked at this page, think about your next steps. Everyone's journey is different. There are many ways to move forward. Here are some actions you could take now:
- Look for roles using the resources above.
- Talk to alumni working in this field via Handshake or LinkedIn.
- Talk to a Careers Consultant - book a 1:1 appointment through Handshake.
- Attend events - watch for relevant events.
- Ready to apply? Use the CV and cover letter guide to draft a CV or an application. CareerSet is a tool you can use to review your CV and cover letter. Write a speculative application.
The graduate recruitment websites are;
Royal Navy (including the Royal Marines)
It can be useful to connect to the relevant branch of the armed via their social media as recruitment teams are usually active.
It is worth noting that whilst following a professional career outside the Armed Forces it is still possible to volunteer to be a Reserve, ready to support the “regulars” in times of crisis. You are trained and remunerated for undertaking such a role see Royal Naval Reserves, Royal Marines Reserve, The Army Reserve, and RAF Reserves.