Quick Facts:

• Career Journey: RAF Supplier → Partner Sales Manager at Xero
• Transferable Skills: Consistency, adaptability, discipline, relationship building → Team leadership, performance management, coaching, client relationship management

The journey from military service to a successful civilian career can be a challenging one. For many veterans, it’s a winding road filled with a mix of self-discovery and a gradual recognition of their unique and valuable skills. This was certainly the case for Peter, a former Royal Air Force (RAF) supplier, now smashing it as a Partner Sales Manager at the global technology company, Xero. His story is a powerful testament to how military experience forges qualities that are a perfect fit for a fast-paced, modern sales environment.

A Solid Foundation Built from Service

Peter joined the RAF in 2001, just after the 9/11 attacks. At only 17, he was packing his bags as the Twin Towers came down. "It was obviously very scary," he recalls, "but I was keen to do my part." During his eight weeks of training at RAF Halton, the station was on "red alert," and he didn't get to go home at all. This intense environment taught him the value of structure, resilience, and supporting his new friends. His training flight even went 13-0 in inter-flight competitions, a moment he was immensely proud of.
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As a supplier, Peter travelled, knew everyone on camp, and was integral to the station's performance.. During his time at RAF Waddington, he supported Red Alert Afghanistan operations and even completed a tour to the Falklands, staying at the remote refuelling site at Fox Bay. "A fantastic experience," he says, reflecting on his time.
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Does this sound like you? Let us help. Jump into the platform and we’ll show you just how valuable those years in uniform were. ‍

The Winding Road to Sales

After leaving the RAF, Peter's career took many turns. With each new experience, he reflected on what the military had taught him. Core skills like consistency, adaptability, discipline, and relationship building. He realised that his service had given him an almost effortless ability to navigate different social environments. 

"When I left, I was comfortable in almost any environment," Peter reflects. "I could just adapt to what needed to be. I could speak to different types of people, whether it would be a business owner, CEO, or whoever. It didn't really matter to me."

Landing at Xero

After building his confidence in sales roles, Peter found his way to Xero. It was just what he'd been looking for: fast-moving, values-driven, and genuinely interested in developing its people. He jumped straight into a leadership role as a Partner Sales Manager, managing a team of six, focused on new and existing sales. He also supports larger commercial decisions, helps with market strategy, and mentors his team.

"My job is to facilitate an environment where my guys can thrive and feel confident and bring their best work to it," he explains.

For Peter, the connection between his military experience and his success at Xero is clear. The systematic approach, high standards, and ability to adapt to any environment are exactly what's needed in a fast-moving tech company. Military life also teaches individuals to work in high-pressure situations where failure has real consequences. 

As Peter puts it, "while civvy street spends years learning how to handle pressure, you've already been tested under far worse conditions."

Advice for Veterans

Peter's advice to veterans considering roles at companies like Xero is simple: embrace your unique story and use the three P's: Preparation, Passion, and Personality.

"In an interview environment, it's about storytelling, but doing it with passion, personality, and being prepared," he advises. "If you're ex-military, you've probably got way better stories to tell than somebody who isn't. You are different, own it!"

His biggest insight is to stop boxing yourself in. "I encourage people leaving the military to back themselves because you've been in scenarios that only a select few get exposed to. You will have lots of experiences under your belt that you're not even aware of that play out and make you stronger in the real world, giving you a competitive edge.”
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Peter's journey proves that military training creates exactly the kind of people tech companies like Xero are hunting for. As he says, "Sometimes you just need someone to point out the obvious."
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