The Worth of NVQs / Recruiting Ex-servicemen vs Youngsters

[seafuryfan]

Hello,

I'm a (non-graduate) RAF ALM, having served for about 25 years or so, recently completing an NVQ L5 in Operations Management. I'm also half-way through a L4 in Learning & Development.

1. I've no immediate plans to leave, but would appreciate replies about how much weight NVQs carry in todays job market. I'd also be interested to know if there's been an attitude shift in the job market with regard to employing someone with an 'over-arching' (sorry :yuk: ) skill set, as hopefully demonstrated by NVQs. After such a long time with one employer, it really feels like probing into the unknown...

2. How competitive do you think older people like me are in todays job market when up against young thrusters? I know that with my 'life' experience (dealing with people, sand in my shreddies, problem solving etc) I can probably sell myself well enough. But I wonder how that would fare against the fresh out of uni, massively qualified person.

Thoughts from those with recent experience in job-hunting or in recruiting will be especially welcome.

BTW, my NVQ assessor seems to think that a L5 is the dogs bo**ocks The cynical serviceman in me thinks 'Well, you would think that, wouldn't you mate!', while the fluffy side thinks 'Cor...I can, and I will!'.

Thanks

[Krystal n chips]

Hello,
Thoughts from those with recent experience in job-hunting or in recruiting will be especially welcome.
BTW, my NVQ assessor seems to think that a L5 is the dogs bo**ocks The cynical serviceman in me thinks 'Well, you would think that, wouldn't you mate!', .
Thanks

Your cynical side is well founded ! :) check you PM's

[shandyman]

Hi SeaFury, read your thread with interest as I asked my NVQ assesor the very same question on Friday. I am currently doing Lvl4 in Leadership and management and have been convinced that these quals are indeed . . . the dog's . . .the cat's pyjama's! Also in a similar trade to yourself and considering Lvl5 next year. With life experience I consider them to be useful quals because the fact is that without them you can only be worse off. Apart from that . . what else would you do with yout time in the desert?

[seafuryfan]

KnC,
Many thanks for the PM. My musings to follow.

shandyman, agreed that they are useful things to have, being better than what I previously had (!). The service seems to really onside to help you and I am using ELCs to partly fund them. I was very surprised at the amount of material/skills I already had to meet the modules; it was a question of researching them to meet the requirements.

If satisfying the syllabus without too much trouble is an indicator of how I could adapt my skills for civvie street, it might not be as difficult as I thought to get work outside.

[Pontius Navigator]

I was involved in the NVQ for one of my men. What a load of cobblers.

He had to write up how he handled a dispute between two subordinates in the workplace. As there were no disputes how could he fulfil that tick in box?

Enter Mills & Boon. An argument was scripted; each subordinate 'wrote' their grievance down. He then wrote up how he addressed the issues and then whole was passed to the assessor. From time to time he presented me with a 'report' to complete. I copied the draft and signed it.

The whole thing was a simple money laundering process from the public purse to the assessor's pocket via the tax payer. It meant not a jot. The man himself? An extremely smart, self-motivating SNCO intent on leaving the RAF and serving his fellow man. Who am I to discourage him from becoming a school teacher.

But, as long as someone thinks an NVQ has value then you are better off with it than someone without.

PS my wife was offered the chance to take an NVQ in nursing. As she had been an SRN and SCM and was employed as a senior practice nurse, having been a district nurse, she told them where to stick it.

[FormerFlake]

NVQ = Not Very Qualified.

I now work in civy air ops, I have no degree or NVQ type thingys. Plenty of other ex-forces people here to with similar backgrounds.

Don't worry, an half decent ex-RAF type will be better than most civies (from what I have seen). If you stay in aviation most companies will appreciate what you have to offer. Besides, ALMs make good cups of tea.:bored:

[Not Long Here]

FormerFlake,

I would suggest that the read across from RAF to civvy air ops isn't that dissimilar.

However, if going for a job in a non-aviation related environment I would suggest that producing some NVQs will be evidence that the ex-serviceman has made an effort to seek tertiary quals and will aid his/her application.

[Pontius Navigator]

As well as NVQ you could also consider embarking on an OU degree course. The keyword here is 'embarking'. There is no need to actually complete the whole set leading to a degree, but the option is there.

The very fact that you are actually studying shows self-starter initiative and commitment. This can be a good 'in' and a good topic at interview.

If asked how you would manage a new job as well then you can either say no problem or you would put your study on hold while you gave your everything to the new job.

[FJJP]

Interviewing someone - she had a raft of flash paperwork, proving that she had done a lot of studying to attain them. When the questioning turned towards experience and personality, she was beaten hands down by someone else with a lot of experience, a cheerful disposition and the standard qualifications.

Just make sure that your CV is well written - it is YOUR advert and is what induces the company to offer you the interview to sell yourself.

As my resettlement mentor said 'why do you need an MBA at your time of life [55]? It's experience they want, not bits of paper'.

[seafuryfan]

Thanks for all the posts so far - all interesting stuff :ok:

[Pontius Navigator]

The other thing to try are the free courses that give you a civ qual. The H&S and Environment courses are all run at Halton and are free if it is part of your job.

Volunteer as the unit H&S rep and get yourself on a 2-week IOSH course Managing Safely (free byt £600+ at RBL Tidworth). Then there is Environment and the Law and Introduction to the Environment. All good certificated courses and applicable practically anywhere.