Does 'Job Security' Exist?

Lots of forces leavers are fearful of civilian life. For most, the safety blanket of the military is all they have ever known. Walking out of the camp gates and fending for yourself can be a daunting experience.

Most people seek 'job security'… but let’s be honest, does it really exist?

Before we get into that, I need to stress that I completely understand the fear. I walked out of the camp gates for the last time at the end of 2008. The world was in the middle of a global recession and companies were making redundancies left, right and centre. People who had left were re-enlisting because they couldn’t find any work.

It was a long time ago, so maybe my memory isn’t perfect, but I don’t remember being particularly fearful. What I do remember is feeling genuinely excited. I’d felt restricted in the military, and my main goal was to live as freely as possible.

Don’t get me wrong, I was in a fortunate position. I was young, with very few responsibilities and no dependants. Had that not been the case, I'm sure that I would have felt differently about it.

The way I saw it, the worst-case scenario was giving it six months. If it didn’t work out, I could always re-apply to the military. Okay, I’d have to return to the forces with a bruised ego… but I could live with that.

What does ‘job security’ actually mean?

Personally, I don’t think the term is descriptive enough. Think about it… even in the military, was job security ever guaranteed? Or could your role be taken away without warning?

The security came from the MOD as an institution. Should your role or trade no longer be required, you’d simply be posted into a new position elsewhere.

In the civilian world, security comes from three things… your skills, your experience, and the strength of the industry/sector you choose. The exciting part? When change happens, you get to decide whether to take it or try something else. In the military, there was no choice!

Why rail stands out

If security is a top priority, look closely at industries that are more resilient to economic ups and downs. Aviation, oil and gas, even automotive…they all rise and fall with unpredictable boom-and-bust cycles.

The rail industry? It keeps on moving.

One of the biggest reasons for this is its link to government. Rail is a public service the country cannot do without. When the global pandemic hit, aviation grounded fleets and oil prices collapsed. Rail? It was bailed out by government to keep services running, because the UK couldn’t function without it.

That’s what resilience looks like. No industry is entirely secure, but rail is towards the top of the list.

Invest in yourself

Alongside choosing the right industry, you should invest in yourself: your skills, your experience and your mindset. This is a great way to mitigate the risks of redundancy or economic downturns.

The more value you bring to a business, the less likely you are to be the one shown the door. And today, there are countless ways to sharpen your edge:

• Formal training (higher education or industry-specific training courses)

• Informal research and development (webinars, lectures, networking)

• Joining an engineering institution (IET, IMechE, etc.)

• Staying current with the political and economic factors affecting your industry.

It might sound like a lot, but fortune favours the hard working. The truth is…you’re probably already doing some of this. Swap a few hours of scrolling on social media for self-development and you’ll be miles ahead of the pack.

Final thought

Job security isn’t handed out. You build it through the industry you choose and the effort you put into yourself. And if you want stability with opportunity, rail is one of the best places to find it.

That’s why I built the Introduction to Rolling Stock course. It’s a flexible e-learning course designed specifically to help HM Forces leavers and career changers break into rail. It gives you the rail-specific knowledge, commercial awareness, and compliance insight employers are looking for, plus practical career support like CV preparation and interview guidance.

I know what it’s like to step out of the gates not knowing what comes next. Rail gave me the career I was looking for, and if you want to do the same, reach out. I’ll help you get there. You’ll find the course, and me, at Online Rail Courses.

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