Jumping from the Public to Private Sector

It is becoming more obvious by the day that members of our armed services and emergency services are looking for alternative career options. Many would have commenced their service with the belief that they were starting a 'job for life', however this has rapidly changed over the last few years. 

I have never written a post for LinkedIn like this, especially as I don't like putting what it seems like never ending essays on that bore people, however if this post gives just one person the boost and confidence to get themselves out of a rut that they think they are in, it will be worth it. 

Having mentored and coached (words selected by those I have supported) a number of service personnel I have educated them to believe that they do have 'transferable skills' that can lead them to good prospects in the private sector. The battle is often that recruiters who only have the private sector background can not interpret these skills into how they can be used to fill the posts they have. Service members that are job hunting, do you relate to this?

I asked one person that I have recently supported from jumping sectors to explain their story and I hope this will inspire others who don't think there are other options out there. In his words, here is the story of Matthew Hollick.

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My name is Mathew Hollick and I am the new Site Manager at Paternoster Square in London. I spent 17 years in the police service, specialising in firearms incidents. During my service I dealt with risk assessment, health and safety, and had to make decisions in high pressure situations. As a police sergeant I had a broad understanding of operational and strategic commands and learnt the importance of clear instruction and discipline within teams. Aside to the cut and thrust of policing, I volunteered to become the force employee equality champion. This included reviewing processes and writing new policies, ensuring all staff were seen as individuals and that they were supported and developed.

I have always been the sort of person to say If you want something, go get it.

I became involved in the mentoring of “direct entry” managers from private businesses. (Managers with different skills and no police experience). The austerity measures and this insight into transferable skills, led me to decide upon a career change, transferring my knowledge and skills from police management to corporate management in private sector.

I knew some staff who worked for Axis and who all spoke highly of the vision of the company and the way it treated its employees. I was put in touch with the Recruitment Manager from Axis (Neil Minter) and had a lengthy discussion about my transferable skill set and subsequent interview. I was invited to a recruitment event at the head office and met a number of account managers. I was asked about my skills and how they could benefit the business and how I could motivate a team and inspire them.

As luck would have it, the same week Axis were seeking a new Security Manager for their contract at Paternoster Square. (1 million sq. ft. of award winning commercial estate and multinational blue chip occupiers such as London Stock Exchange, Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch). I was interviewed by the client, (Broadgate Estates) and offered the position of Site Manager, in charge of the security.

I was accompanied to the square on day one by the account management team, who introduced me to my team. I met with the client and senior Axis management and discussed the expectations and intricacies of the particular site. What struck me straight away was the high level of professionalism and dedication from all on the site. There is a real sense of belonging and one team ethos.

I have ensured that the employees have felt valued and that minor issues which had gone unchecked under the previous security company have been resolved. I have been supported fantastically by Axis senior management and through their reassurances and my leadership, have been able to demonstrate a professional and employee focused vision to the team. I have already been able to utilise previous skills in conflict management, negotiations and operational planning and have started partnership working with stakeholders on the square to ensure improved service delivery. Through networking and partnerships I am sure there will be increased opportunities to use the skills I have brought from the police.

As the end of the first month approaches, I have ensured improved reporting functions for the KPIs and have linked in to the other service providers on site, improving levels of service excellence for all Square users. I have produced a newsletter to assist in engaging with all staff and am working towards next month’s compliance audits and internal inspections. I have also been developing ways to impart my learnt knowledge through mentoring and talent development.

Matthew Hollick

Security Manager

Paternoster Square

Axis Security Services

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