How to market yourself for a role in the defence sector

Are you considering a role in the defence sector? If not, you really should be!

The UK defence industry is one of the strongest in the world, employing approximately 146,000 people and supporting a further 260,000 UK jobs.

With opportunities available in roles such as maintenance, engineering and supply and logistics across land, marine and aviation, you are sure to find a role that suits you.

So, if you are interested in exploring opportunities in the defence sector and want to find out more about defence sector jobs, read on to discover how to market yourself effectively, grab the attention of potential employers and make sure you stand out from the crowd.

4 ways to market yourself for a role in the defence sector:

1. Use social media

Technology is constantly advancing and changing how the recruitment process works – and one important way that technology has transformed the world of recruitment is through social media.

Thanks to social media, it’s easier than ever before to connect with potential employers, network with peers and above all, market your skills and expertise. And best of all, it’s completely free – so it’s really important to use it to your advantage.

From researching companies on Facebook to networking and connecting with hiring managers on LinkedIn and keeping up with company news on Twitter, social media is an invaluable job-hunting tool.

By including information about your skills, knowledge and experience on your profile page, you can show potential employers that you can bring value to the organisation and that you’d be a good fit for the team. It basically allows you to market and promote yourself without having to pay a penny!

What’s more, if you do make it through to interview stage, keeping up to date with a company on social media will help you come up with some conversation pointers and potential questions. Find out more about how to use social media to market yourself here.

2. But be careful what you post

It’s important to remember that although social media can be a great way to get yourself out there, you need to present yourself in the best possible light and market yourself as a likeable and hireable professional.

We’d recommend going through each account as if you were an employer: check your privacy settings and consider what information is public. You could even Google yourself to see what comes up to make ensure there is nothing online that could put off a potential employer!

You probably won’t find anything, especially if you are from an army background where personnel typically choose to keep a low profile, but it’s definitely worth checking so you can rectify any red flags before a hiring manager spots them.

Finally, make sure you use appropriate profile pictures – as we said above, first impressions count, so make sure yours isn’t of a drunken night out!_

3. Create a strong CV

Your CV will be the first thing a potential employer sees when you apply for a defence sector job – and one of your main goals when it comes to creating your CV should be to grasp the attention of your potential employers and stand out from the competition.

So, make sure you market yourself, sell your skills and advertise your abilities so they can easily see how investing in you will benefit their company.

For starters, include a short personal summary at the top to really sell yourself, and we’d also recommend tailoring your CV for each role. You should also make sure your CV is up to date and includes all the relevant skills, qualifications, and experience for the job.

Be specific about your experience; if you are leaving the army, for example, and have worked as a Challenger mechanic or have experience working on certain systems, make sure you shout out about it in a clear and concise manner – and check for any spelling and grammar mistakes too.

Finally, you should also try and include keywords or industry specific terminology throughout to show your understanding of the role. Don’t miss this blog for more top tips.

4. Work with an expert recruiter

Finally, if you want to effectively market yourself for a role in the defence sector, it makes sense to enlist some professional help!

This is especially true if you have time challenges against you – for example, if you have a family to support, bills to pay or if you’re leaving the army and want to make the most of your resettlement period.

For starters, specialist recruiters will have existing relationships with key defence industry employers – and because they know what their clients want, they will be able to provide you with inside info and expert advice to make sure you can properly market yourself and ensure you stand out.

What’s more, they will also really take the time to get to know you, your goals and your ambitions – which means they will also be able to put you forward for the most relevant jobs for you.

Having such a close relationship with a recruiter also means you will often get to hear about defence sector jobs before they are advertised online – so you can get in there and wow potential employers with your application first.

They will also be able to help you with all the admin involved with job hunting too, from checking your CV to coaching you for interviews and giving you feedback.

How M&E can help

At M&E, we have over 20 years of experience in defence contract recruitment, which means we can provide the expert advice you need to make sure you get ahead and stand out from the competition.
So, if you are currently searching for a new defence contract role, or are interested in looking for a new position in 2021, contact us today to see how we can help you shake up your career! Alternatively, why not download this expert CV writing guide for even more top tips._