TechVets: The Podcast

Transitioning from military life to a civilian career is a journey filled with challenges and opportunities. For many veterans, the tech industry, with its dynamic environment and constant innovation, offers a promising pathway. In our latest TechVets podcast, we delve into the inspiring journey of Rich Coles, a veteran who successfully transitioned into the tech sector and now dedicates his efforts to helping others do the same. This story not only sheds light on the potential of veterans in the tech industry but also provides valuable insights and advice for those embarking on their own transition journey. Read more: https://www.techvets.co/news/richs-resettlement-rundown-from-veteran-to-tech-innovator-with-smartsheet/(opens in a new tab)

In our latest TechVets podcast to mark International Women's Day 2024, we welcome Seru Nainoca, a veteran with a remarkable story that spans continents, careers, and considerable challenges. Seru Nainoca’s journey into the military was as unexpected as it was transformative. Initially enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts in Fiji, Seru's path took a dramatic turn when she decided to join the British Armed Forces. This decision marked the beginning of an eight-year career that would shape her life in ways she had never imagined. Fastforward to the present day and Seru has finished her degree, retrained in the legal profession and moved into a tech career. Read Seru's story in full and become a member of TechVets

In our latest podcast with Sam O'Donnell from NetCompany, we get an intimate glimpse into the life of someone who seamlessly bridges the gap between serving as a military reservist and excelling in the fast-paced world of technology. Sam's journey is not just a story of personal achievement but a testament to the symbiotic relationship between discipline, leadership, and technological innovation. Find out more about how TechVets and Netcompany work together: https://www.techvets.co/news/microsoft-office-skills-training-for-spouses-partners/

Ben Shorter from Ex Mil Recruitment takes us on his journey to creating an agency that exclusively helps ex-military professionals find jobs, including tech employment after their service. Ben emphasises the often-overlooked diverse skill set of military recruits. From technical expertise to fast adaptability, he believes veterans possess a wide array of transferable skills that make them ideal candidates for various roles, especially in tech. Understanding and empathy are key to Ben’s approach. He recognises how military roles, from risk management to technology expertise, can translate into valuable assets in the civilian job market. His insights have also highlighted the advantage of security clearances that many service leavers hold, opening doors in the tech industry. Read the article in full: https://www.techvets.co/news/how-do-you-get-your-tech-career-started-after-military-service/ Find out more about Ex Mil Recruitment: https://www.ex-mil.co.uk/

David Attwood shares his inspiring journey from 12.5 years in the Royal Air Force to becoming a tech trailblazer, emphasising the role of adaptability, learning, and growth in his career transition. Motivated by family stability, David navigated the challenges of leaving the military, eventually finding his niche in the tech industry, particularly with PEGA, a low-code app development platform. His transition not only led to a significant salary increase after joining Labb Consulting, but also improved work-life balance with a remote work setup. David's story highlights the importance of preparation, networking, and staying open to new opportunities, offering valuable advice and encouragement to others considering a similar leap into the tech world. Become a TechVets member and find out more about Pega and how to upskill: www.techvets.co

If you’re leaving the military or your spouse’s career influences your location and lifestyle, tech sales jobs offer variety, progression and a chance to implement transferable skills. Moderated by TechVets' Training Coordinator Colin Grimes BA Grimes with expert insights from: Alex Gay - Senior Account Executive - SenseOn - Start-Up / Scale Up Josh Keeley - Founder of Trident Search - Recruitment John Ashton - VP Sales, EMEA - Braze - Scale Up Simon Warren - Regional Account Manager - Dragos, Inc. - Enterprise / Mid Size #career #techsales #veteranshelpingveterans #veteransupport

Do you recognise your worth? Can you actually have it all? Discover how Annette Berry from the Forces Employment Charity, TechVets and CAPSLOCK supported Royal Navy veteran and forces spouse Mhairi J. to unlock her #Cyber potential. In a similar frame of mind to Mhairi? Find out how the power of the Forces Employment Charity and TechVets can empower you to appreciate and leverage your sought-after skills. Whether you're a #veteran #Serviceleaver or part of a forces family we can help you to access advice and training opportunities for FREE. Read more: https://www.techvets.co/news/from-royal-navy-veteran-to-cybersecurity-expert-mhairis-journey-of-resilience-and-triumph/

In this TechVets podcast we meet Andy Fawkes, a prominent figure in the world of military simulation and training and a Special Correspondent Military Simulation and Training at Halldale Group. In this interview, we explore why veterans are a natural fit for roles within the military metaverse, where virtual environments blend seamlessly with real-world military training and operations. Their hands-on experience as warfighters gives them invaluable insight into understanding what the end-users truly require. We talk about companies who are operating in this space, including: D3A, Cervus, Bohemia Interactive Solutions, Hadean and others. Plus what events you should be attending if you want to network your way into a job in this sector. For example: DSEI 2023, IITSEC Orlando, ITEC, DSET and others. Check out Military Simulation And Training and subscribe for free: https://www.halldale.com/mst2_2022_digital

Ex-RAF driver Mark Ward, 35, went from military to management consultancy after joining Deloitte’s graduate scheme. “This is a career anyone can do – it isn’t just for senior NCOs or officers.” His journey shows that the right attitude, approach and extra study can help veterans find fulfilling jobs offering progression. Explaining how he joined Deloitte’s graduate scheme, Mark highlighted the importance of company culture and employers who promote staff development. Read the full story: https://www.techvets.co/news/anyone-can-do-it-mark-ward-succeeds-in-deloittes-graduate-scheme/

Following his unexpected medical discharge, ex-Royal Marine Chester Pitts showed how making smart career decisions early on led to a cybersecurity role at Salus Cyber. Chester’s motivation to upskill himself, military-bred confidence and tenacity positioned him well for training and employment opportunities. His story shows that while many resources exist for military leavers finding jobs, it’s individual efforts and advance planning that really count. Know your options and be prepared. Read to his story: https://www.techvets.co/news/creating-your-own-luck-preparing-early-for-a-cyber-career/

On this edition of the TechVets podcast, we sat down with Ian Getty, a former Royal Irish Regiment infanteer whose skill set has shifted over the years to suit military service, private jobs, and the modern tech career world. Ian is currently a Level 1 SOC Analyst at CYSIAM, a leading UK cyber security company. To learn how he got there after a 14 year long military career, keep reading or stream the podcast here: https://www.techvets.co/news/infanteer-turned-soc-analyst-ian-getty-on-changing-with-the-times/

Jim Perkins joined the military as a chef at 19 and left as a commissioned officer and intelligence analyst at 36. In this podcast we find out how he went from RAF chef to Capslock cyber security pro. “I genuinely enjoyed it so much...I thought I definitely want to stay here for as long as I can” he recalls of his time in the Royal Air Force. It took a couple of decades and a particularly tough pilot’s course to change his mind. “I hit my capacity. It was just very, very difficult for me to progress any further.” While he was on the fence about staying in, he got offered a funded place on the CAPSLOCK training course through TechVets that sealed the deal. It was an opportunity to take his career in an exciting direction- and it’s paid off! He recently landed a role with AMR Cybersecurity, a leading UK cyber risk consultancy firm. “I’m institutionalised in many respects, so I’m entering a brand-new wide world where everything is completely different...but there’s a lot of transferable skills as well,” he says. “Time keeping, work ethic, understanding what your role is. All these skills you just take for granted because everyone else around you does them- they're definitely appreciated.” If you’re up for making the most of your own finely-tuned skill set as a veteran, service leaver, or reservist (or partner to one!), keep reading to learn from Jim’s journey: https://www.techvets.co/news/square-peg-square-hole-jim-perkins-finds-his-place-in-cyber-security-after-military-service/

Donavin De Jongh Tells It Like It Is: You CAN Go From Army to IT (And Fast) Within weeks of leaving his job with the Queen’s Dragoon Guards, this former Sergeant landed a competitive job in IT project management at Netcompany. Here’s how. Read Donavin's story in full and find out more about TechVets: https://www.techvets.co/news/donavin-de-jongh-tells-it-like-it-is-you-can-go-from-army-to-it-and-fast/

We catch up with Microsoft's Global Threat Hunting Lead, Shaw to discover how he went from being a military linguist to heading up an international team of cybersecurity experts. In this podcast we talk to TechVets volunteer, Shaw who went from operating as an arabic linguist in the US Army to retraining in tech. We discuss how he retrained, the set-backs, the opportunities and his top tips for nailing a technical interview. Join TechVets: www.techvets.co Get in touch with Shaw: linkedin.com/in/shaw256

Training with TechVets helped Sara become a ‘work-at-home’ mum with more confidence, more career opportunities, and more flexibility in her days. One year ago, Sara Hilton had no technical background in IT, now she's retrained and up-skilled to land her first job in cybersecurity. listen to her story now. Read her story in full via: https://www.techvets.co/news/military-spouse-sarah-hilton-from-the-least-technical-person-to-smashing-it-in-a-cyber-security-career/ Join TechVets: www.techvets.co

TechVets catches up with British Army veteran, TechVets volunteer CV reviewer and IT Compliance Manager at Carnival UK, Matt Hall to find out what his top CV and interview tips are for service leavers and veterans looking to secure a career in tech. Get your CV reviewed and access our CREST CV distribution service: join TechVets today: https://www.techvets.co/

In this special interview, TechVets share Remembrance Day 2022 through the eyes of tech industry leaders, of ex-forces personnel, and representatives of veterans from the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and Australia. We're joined by James Murphy CEO of Uk based TechVets, Canada's Jeff Musson from Coding for Veterans, Tom Marsland, Chairman of US based VetSec and Australia's Heath Moody of Vets in Cyber. Watch now: https://youtu.be/QVYG6DAcTkA

Being born into the Royal Air Force and serving for 20 years in intelligence, Andy Kershaw left the forces after an emotional and challenging four-year resettlement period. He initiated civilian life in the Cyber Security sector working as a cyber assurance manager with the support and guidance of TechVets. Listen now to hear his story, in his own words. Know a veteran, or military family who could benefit from TechVets' free tech training support? Find out more: www.techvets.co

TechVets talk Data Science with Arca Blanca Data Scientist Anna Mackenzie. We discover why data science and analytics roles offer great employment opportunities for veterans. We also talk about Arca Blanca's new free Data Science course for UK service leavers that is due to run in June 2022.

More and more tech companies are looking to the veteran community to recruit talent. One of these employers is TechVets partners NAMOS Solutions. We catch up with Anna Clarke, Chief People Officer at NAMOS Solutions to find out why veterans are in such high demand. What are the strengths a veteran can bring to the workplace? Hiring a Veteran can result in the hiring of a dedicated employee who has developed valuable teamwork, leadership, and job skills. If your company is thinking about hiring UK veterans get in touch. We'll share your opportunities and even help you set-up a training academy. Email team@techvets.co for more info