After 22 years in the Royal Signals as a communications engineer, Karl thought he’d walk into a civilian career without a problem. Three and half years (in the wrong job) later, he discovered that landing any job and landing the right job are two very different things.
His path back to finding a role he wanted to get out of bed for, led him to Redeployable and ultimately to Honeywell, where his second career really begins.
Military Background
Karl spent over two decades in the Royal Signals, rising through the ranks as a communications engineer. His role involved maintaining worldwide communications systems for operational tours and keeping IT and communications equipment running across the globe. It was hands-on, technical work that required problem-solving skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
After such a long stint, Karl felt it was time for something new. But like many service leavers, he had absolutely no idea what that something would be.
The First Attempt
Karl's initial transition seemed straightforward enough. During resettlement in 2021, he quickly landed a role with Openreach - decent pay, similar technical background, job sorted. Or so he thought.
"It was a well-paid job, which was absolutely brilliant, but it was extremely stressful and very, very long hours," Karl explains.
The role turned out to be management-focused, keeping him desk-bound when he preferred hands-on engineering work. The real kicker? Unlike the military's approach to training, his new employer had a different philosophy: sink or swim. Without structured training and the right support to get him up to speed, he struggled. After three and a half years of this, Karl's health started suffering.
He made the call to leave and finished up in early 2025, right before the government's national insurance announcement sent the job market spinning. Brilliant.
Redeployable: *Slides into DMs*
What followed was seven months of job hunting through LinkedIn and various recruitment agencies - some interviews went well, others felt like disasters, and most ended in weeks of silence followed by rejection. Then Redeployable's Rishi got in touch.
"He was brilliant," Karl says. "He told me about the Honeywell job and explained in great detail what it would involve, and actually, it really did genuinely pique my interest."
Unlike the generic opportunities he'd been seeing elsewhere, this role as a Security and Fire Safety Systems Engineer actually matched with his interests, salary expectations and way of working. Check, check, check.
Wait, An Enjoyable Interview Experience?
The Honeywell assessment day was a world away from Karl's previous interview experiences.
"Interviews are stressful at the best of times but Honeywell made it just so welcoming," he recalls. "It was so refreshing... it was actually really good fun to meet up with other veterans and have a chat about our different experiences."
What impressed Karl most was Honeywell's approach to training and development - the complete opposite of his other experiences. Plus, the company's attitude towards diversifying teams and progression meant future opportunities to move between other areas of the business if he wanted a change.
Kick Off: His Civilian Career
Now starting as an apprentice Security and Fire Safety Systems Engineer, Karl's getting back to what he actually enjoys: hands-on problem-solving and technical work.
"Getting back into actual figuring out problems and getting hands-on experience is something I absolutely love doing," he says.
The role combines his technical military background with his long-standing interest in fire safety systems, while offering proper training and support - something that was notably absent from his previous civilian role.
Advice for Other Veterans
Karl's transition journey offers some hard-won wisdom for other service leavers:
- Get in touch with ex-military recruiters early. "This is not something I did straight away and in hindsight I really regret that."
- Your CV matters. Write it yourself, then use AI to tidy up the terminology, but watch out for LinkedIn scammers who want to charge for CV services and then disappear.
- Don't settle for the first offer. Karl's first civilian experience taught him that landing any job isn't the same as landing the right job.
Most importantly, don't underestimate what you bring to the table. Karl's story shows that sometimes the second attempt gets it right. His military communications background, combined with proper support and a company that values training, has led him to a role where his skills actually make sense.
Ready to discover where your skills could take you? Dive into the platform: it'll show you opportunities that match your military experience, help you build a personal brand and LinkedIn presence, and connect you with employers who understand your value. Don’t hang about.
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