RAF Redundancies
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My worry is twofold:
1) Am I in the firing line.
2) How to effectively manage personnel under my command who are made redundant against their will. Likewise there may be peers so affected.
It is unchartered waters and the usual aircrew way of: "Man the F*** Up and do one", is clearly not what is needed. There should be guidelines set by Manning regarding protocols to employ once the brown envelopes arrive. For sure a recipient of such a letter is not going to want to sing the praises of Govt or Service and the associated depression is likely to be contagious. I cannot remember what happened last time beyond a lot of happy chappies with a large wedge ($) to look forward to.
1) Am I in the firing line.
2) How to effectively manage personnel under my command who are made redundant against their will. Likewise there may be peers so affected.
It is unchartered waters and the usual aircrew way of: "Man the F*** Up and do one", is clearly not what is needed. There should be guidelines set by Manning regarding protocols to employ once the brown envelopes arrive. For sure a recipient of such a letter is not going to want to sing the praises of Govt or Service and the associated depression is likely to be contagious. I cannot remember what happened last time beyond a lot of happy chappies with a large wedge ($) to look forward to.
Last edited by Yozzer; 13th Jan 2011 at 16:58. Reason: >>>A single word changed to accomodate the knobber next in line<<<
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
There will undoubtedly be a number, possibly large, that are being made redundant against their will. This will not be all compulsory redundees as I would guess some are looking forward to being 'pushed' as they would have gone anyway.
Some of the pissed off will continue to put in face time but show no willingness to work outside their job specs. Others will become downright bolshie and turn down offers of secondary duties such as audit boards etc.
I submit that these people are NOT the ones you need to worry about. You need to worry about those not getting out as they will have to carry the additional burden.
The bucket of water principle has long held sway in the RAF and much as you will not be missed when you have left, you will be resented immediately before you go. Manage the survivors; help those leaving if they need help.
Some of the pissed off will continue to put in face time but show no willingness to work outside their job specs. Others will become downright bolshie and turn down offers of secondary duties such as audit boards etc.
I submit that these people are NOT the ones you need to worry about. You need to worry about those not getting out as they will have to carry the additional burden.
The bucket of water principle has long held sway in the RAF and much as you will not be missed when you have left, you will be resented immediately before you go. Manage the survivors; help those leaving if they need help.
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Time to go?
Yozzer's concern is interesting. Being in an organisation that is shedding people can scare those under threat. Looking at a website where posts commonly jeer at the employment prospects of non-pilot aircrew can make folks even more scared. Because it's a big bad world out there.
PN subsequently pointed out that previous rounds of redundency featured happy smiling faces with wheelbarrows full of cash. That's the reality, and it gets better when you get a decent job. If you do your resettlement, learn to write a cv etc and do your networking, there's stacks of opportunity, even for old g**s. Don't be scared, go for it and don't look back.
Good luck.
BigV
PN subsequently pointed out that previous rounds of redundency featured happy smiling faces with wheelbarrows full of cash. That's the reality, and it gets better when you get a decent job. If you do your resettlement, learn to write a cv etc and do your networking, there's stacks of opportunity, even for old g**s. Don't be scared, go for it and don't look back.
Good luck.
BigV
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The world is changing......
As others have said on this thread people can do one of two things. Either accept the packages on offer or put up and shut up and face up to the reality of a much less capable RAF but one that will still demand Loyalty from you. It's a question of attitude.
The fact is that the world has changed. I don't just mean that the Cold War is over like the situation was in 1989/90 but the fact that the UK (sadly) is no longer able to afford the defence posture it once had. (IMHO we clung onto the past - relics of Empire etc. - for far too long.)
The reality is the Armed Forces have been shrinking quietly for years and years. We will never get back to the air force of even 1990, let alone the one we had in 1980. Our polititians have other spending priorities and we can't afford to maintain the welfare state/education/health and defence budgets given the scale of the national debt and lower than forecast economic growth.
I left in 1989 after 10 years when I saw the writing on the wall. Even then the RAF was twice the size it is now and RAFG was the front line. The difference though was I left of my own accord and the economy was still performing.
For those who still love the job stick with it but be under no allusion that the RAF will offer the same career it might have when you first joined. For those who leave (as volunteers or not) the main thing is to exit with the best £££ package you can and use your training/experience/officer-like qualities and leadership skills to your best advantage. You know that you are miles better than any civvy!
Network hard and don't give up. You will find that there ARE careers and there IS a life out in Civvy Street even if it might not appear so. The grass can be greener on the other side of the fence. Be positive.
MB
The fact is that the world has changed. I don't just mean that the Cold War is over like the situation was in 1989/90 but the fact that the UK (sadly) is no longer able to afford the defence posture it once had. (IMHO we clung onto the past - relics of Empire etc. - for far too long.)
The reality is the Armed Forces have been shrinking quietly for years and years. We will never get back to the air force of even 1990, let alone the one we had in 1980. Our polititians have other spending priorities and we can't afford to maintain the welfare state/education/health and defence budgets given the scale of the national debt and lower than forecast economic growth.
I left in 1989 after 10 years when I saw the writing on the wall. Even then the RAF was twice the size it is now and RAFG was the front line. The difference though was I left of my own accord and the economy was still performing.
For those who still love the job stick with it but be under no allusion that the RAF will offer the same career it might have when you first joined. For those who leave (as volunteers or not) the main thing is to exit with the best £££ package you can and use your training/experience/officer-like qualities and leadership skills to your best advantage. You know that you are miles better than any civvy!
Network hard and don't give up. You will find that there ARE careers and there IS a life out in Civvy Street even if it might not appear so. The grass can be greener on the other side of the fence. Be positive.
MB
Last edited by Madbob; 13th Jan 2011 at 12:09.
I echo what Madbob said. My departure, after over 27 years, was in the 90s redundancies. There are three key points:
1. Don't undersell yourself, really believe that you have transferrable skills.
2. Produce a stunning, pithy and attention-grabbing CV.
3. Network, network, network and network - and continue to do so once you are in your first civvy job, beacuse it will help when you move on to the next one!
Good luck to all that leave, there are many opportunities out there, even in difficult economic times.
1. Don't undersell yourself, really believe that you have transferrable skills.
2. Produce a stunning, pithy and attention-grabbing CV.
3. Network, network, network and network - and continue to do so once you are in your first civvy job, beacuse it will help when you move on to the next one!
Good luck to all that leave, there are many opportunities out there, even in difficult economic times.
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I agree with the replies above, its not all doom and gloom on the outside, but I would add that aside from a few who 'fall into a great job the rest have to work to get what they want. Yes those from the RAF are still seen by a lot of industry as choice folks, but equally there are those who have never been in the services who are just as capable. Remember, due to previous reductions there are a lot of ex mil folks who have been in industry for a few years so are just as if not more valuable to many companies.
I left a couple of years ago, granted with the back up of a pension, but had to work hard to get the jobs I've had, at the same time I was aiming high so I had room to wiggle - result I'm with a very good company with an awesome package. A lot of it does come down to your CV, but aware of the fact that you can't fill it out with fantasy bollox just to big yourself up, but don't sell yourself short. Companies are smart and will, based on the level of the role, grill a potential new employee - current job was a 4 person interview that lasted 2 hours. I now have a great position working with a company that is far better at looking after its people than the RAF has become and who are very understanding about my home life. If you are the person they want, use that and make sure you get the most for yourself. Most of the guys that work with or for me are ex mil so there is still that association many crave. My 'two bit' nugget of advice would be there are a lot of jobs out there, you just have to know what it is you are looking for and develop a plan and be prepared to make a few compromises if its the job you really want, whatever they may be. If you are aiming high, be prepared for a lot of rejections, or in most cases no response at all, just take them and move on to the next application - they are not personal. On the same note don't just send out one or two at a time, apply and keep applying for them.
All of that said the initial question was how to deal with your guys, those who are leaving and those who remain. As PN said offer help to those who want and ask, the others if they become bitter and twisted - their choice. For those leaving, encourage them to make use of whatever help there. Will the Seniors put a workable and effective plan into place
The Military is never going to be like the old days, they ended years ago and it has, for too long been a case of dealing with the most recent/next grand plan handed down form above.
Bottom line is as its always been - you are responsible for you - make the most of and for you.
I left a couple of years ago, granted with the back up of a pension, but had to work hard to get the jobs I've had, at the same time I was aiming high so I had room to wiggle - result I'm with a very good company with an awesome package. A lot of it does come down to your CV, but aware of the fact that you can't fill it out with fantasy bollox just to big yourself up, but don't sell yourself short. Companies are smart and will, based on the level of the role, grill a potential new employee - current job was a 4 person interview that lasted 2 hours. I now have a great position working with a company that is far better at looking after its people than the RAF has become and who are very understanding about my home life. If you are the person they want, use that and make sure you get the most for yourself. Most of the guys that work with or for me are ex mil so there is still that association many crave. My 'two bit' nugget of advice would be there are a lot of jobs out there, you just have to know what it is you are looking for and develop a plan and be prepared to make a few compromises if its the job you really want, whatever they may be. If you are aiming high, be prepared for a lot of rejections, or in most cases no response at all, just take them and move on to the next application - they are not personal. On the same note don't just send out one or two at a time, apply and keep applying for them.
All of that said the initial question was how to deal with your guys, those who are leaving and those who remain. As PN said offer help to those who want and ask, the others if they become bitter and twisted - their choice. For those leaving, encourage them to make use of whatever help there. Will the Seniors put a workable and effective plan into place
The Military is never going to be like the old days, they ended years ago and it has, for too long been a case of dealing with the most recent/next grand plan handed down form above.
Bottom line is as its always been - you are responsible for you - make the most of and for you.
There is of course another type of person that you have to consider and that is the individual who wanted to go but for various reasons has been retained. Having been the Line Manager of some of these cases, they are often the most difficult to deal with.
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In reply to Cannofodder's post No 4: my worry is that we have Line Managers at all! Shouldn't we leave all that sort of thing to the civilian workplace and have Leaders instead, just like we used to have before the MBA brigade started running the Armed Forces, with their Traffic Light Assessments and suchlike?
CB
CB
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The MBA Brigade now run civilian industry and as like promotes like, get started on an MBA, as well as getting MRAes after your name. the latter qualification can be got thro a Viva Voca (oral) exam which most service officers/SNCOs should pass without difficulty. The former can be done in a crammer or by correspondence depending on your personal timescale. Currently time is on your side. If you get resettlement leave or resettlement training time, offer to work in the industry of your choice for free and then network like mad to find a slot for yourself in your area of choice.The decision makers in industry are now mostly in their thirties or early forties most with MBAs, they are looking for like minded people and will rail against anyone with a service superiority complex towards civvies. The biggest put down I got when job hunting was "Not much call for hired killers".
Make your CV stand out, One sheet Quality A4 paper, colour photo, SAE enclosed, remember out of hundreds of applicants yours has to attract the filter persons attention or it just goes in the reject file. Employment law is on your side, if you have a disability, say so, as your application will be dealt with under the disability discrimination act. If you feel agrieved you can go to a tribunal and seek redress if you are treated unfairly.
Above all else remember that you have already passed one of the most demanding selection process in the world in reaching your current military position. Trade on your experience, Research the company (Experion published accounts, Companies House, etc) before going for interview ask for a look around and find out the background of the interview panel. Do your information gathering well before interview.
Start your preparation now. I used the above procedure to make the transition after 21yrs in the RAF to 25yrs in civvie street culminating in a Company Director Appointment.
Good luck, Work Hard and Believe in yourself
Make your CV stand out, One sheet Quality A4 paper, colour photo, SAE enclosed, remember out of hundreds of applicants yours has to attract the filter persons attention or it just goes in the reject file. Employment law is on your side, if you have a disability, say so, as your application will be dealt with under the disability discrimination act. If you feel agrieved you can go to a tribunal and seek redress if you are treated unfairly.
Above all else remember that you have already passed one of the most demanding selection process in the world in reaching your current military position. Trade on your experience, Research the company (Experion published accounts, Companies House, etc) before going for interview ask for a look around and find out the background of the interview panel. Do your information gathering well before interview.
Start your preparation now. I used the above procedure to make the transition after 21yrs in the RAF to 25yrs in civvie street culminating in a Company Director Appointment.
Good luck, Work Hard and Believe in yourself
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
In reply to Cannofodder's post No 4: my worry is that we have Line Managers at all! Shouldn't we leave all that sort of thing to the civilian workplace and have Leaders instead, just like we used to have before the MBA brigade started running the Armed Forces, with their Traffic Light Assessments and suchlike?
CB
CB
. We abandoned traditional departments and their Directors and instead created agencies.The Air Secretary's Department became the Personnel Management AGENCY after a short spell as a CENTRE.
The Head of Defence Estates is the Chief Executive. His No 2, a civilian, is the Chief Operations Officer.
Given the preponderance of civil servants in the MOD it was inevitable that we became a civiliansied force.