Rebs is a Business Analyst working in the National Security team at Bluefin in London, and a leading light in our VetNet Employee Resource Group.
'After I left the armed forces, I decided to pursue a career as an independent consultant. However, the pull to come back into the defence sector proved too strong to resist. The transition from the military to a role on ‘civvy street’ isn’t always easy or straightforward, I had my fair share of hurdles to overcome. I think it’s important to keep your options open and explore different roles rather than just settling for the first thing that comes along.
I joined BAE Systems as a business analyst with very little experience of the role, but I’ve had incredible support over the last three years to help me succeed. I actually applied for a project manager role because that's where I thought I'd best fit. But when I got my acceptance letter it explained that the business felt that I would be a good fit for a business analyst role based on the skills and knowledge that I could bring into the company. Last year, I worked towards my Business Analysis Diploma, which was fully funded by the business, and I have a number of other professional certifications that I've completed this year. The business had the confidence to invest in me, which is really reassuring.
VetNet came about because when I joined the company, initially, I had some teething issues coming into the corporate world, and there wasn't much assistance, or any kind of support group that you could call upon. So, I saw a real opportunity to pick something up and run with it and develop it. In a nutshell, VetNet is a safe place where we throw a ‘veteran hug’ around existing veterans and reservists as well as new employees coming into the business, because we appreciate that it can be overwhelming. It’s good to have a place where we all speak the same language and no question is a stupid question. It's something I'm really, really passionate about and I'm so glad that VetNet is going from strength to strength. We now have over 550 members across the business, and it’s growing every month.
Sometimes, in the military, it can feel like a struggle to make progress in your career. But at BAE Systems it's all about stepping forward and saying how you want to develop and where your interests lie. There's always a fear of failure, but I don't think that I've ever felt that from the business. They’ve given me nothing but encouragement and have been really, really supportive.'
Bring your military skills to a new challenge
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