Let us be clear about one or two matters from the outset:

Culture Shock
The return to civilian life after possibly 20 or 30 years could, if you are not prepared, be traumatic. You have lived in a hierarchical society where all essential needs have been provided - health, welfare, travel, sports, food, clothing and so on. There has always been somewhere and someone to turn to. Above all, you have enjoyed guaranteed employment.

Now forget all that! In future you will have to do most things for yourself, plan and drive your own agenda and cope with the inevitable job insecurity . You must start immediately, take charge of your life and use the agencies that are in place to assist you

Transferable Skills
Early on you should review your skills, consider your options and make choices about future employment. Some of you may change direction - retrain or take higher education as an entry into a completely new career. Most will take the more practical route and build on transferable skills to gain employment - for those with a trade eg, vehicle mechanic, signaller, logistician, driver etc, the path will be easier to define than for those in the general duties branches. The more senior amongst you should assess your administrative and organising abilities, presentational and instructional ability, evaluate your experience in risk assessment, resources and project management and reflect on your managerial and decision making skills

Just what are employers looking for in their workforce? Naturally they will be seeking specific expertise but they also want staff with good interpersonal skills, flexibility, 'can do' attitudes, confidence, outgoing personalities, adaptability, commitment, enthusiasm, courtesy, loyalty, self discipline, punctuality and people who can take on new skills. We all have these characteristics - they have been inculcated into us from the day we joined the Corps. They are second nature to us but are qualities more difficult to find in Civvy Street

Flexibility
The key to finding employment is flexibility but, in reality, most of us have restrictions eg, children's education, wife's well-paid job. Your 'choice' of work and level of responsibility may, in the end, be dictated by external factors

Networking
It is generally accepted that 75% of jobs are found through networking so it is best that you increase your circle of acquaintances, cultivate those who may be in a position to help and provide information about work vacancies. Importantly, find someone to act as your mentor. It is a good idea to register with Countermarch, the Royal Marines Network (www.Countermarch.co.uk) and attend a Royal Marines Business Liaison Group Seminar open to Officers, SNCOs and Corporals going to pension and held at CTCRM/RM Poole twice a year. It is a rare opportunity to talk to senior civilian managers about life in commerce and industry

Check List
There are a number of questions you should ponder:
Is my Personal Development Record up-to-date and available?
Do I know the range and variety of careers available to me?
Can I identify a particular field of employment that interests me?
Do I wish to take up employment for which I have not been trained?
Am I eligible for membership of a professional association or institution?
Do I need financial advice concerning commutation, pensions, investments etc?
Would additional educational/vocational training enhance my existing .
skills/qualifications?
Where will my family be housed when I leave the Corps?