Interview Questions – ‘Did you enjoy your time in the Forces?’

For Service-leavers who haven’t got recent interview experience, the prospect can seem daunting. Here, we dissect another of the more common but no less difficult interview questions so that you can show your best side to interviewers and land your next post-Services role.

‘Did you enjoy your time in the Forces?’

Looks like an icebreaker
It might be – but it probably isn’t. In fact, it’s usually sensible to assume that any question in an interview is being asked with a specific motive.

The interviewer is not here to have a chat or make a friend. The term ‘interview’ is literal. The interviewer wants to see what’s inside your head. Stay alert!

Experience
You may have little experience of the working world. The interviewer is rephrasing the question to help you express yourself and reveal more of your character through reflecting on your most recent experience. 

If you had been in civilian work for longer, the interviewer would be able to ask you about your professional achievements and so on – and if you were a civvy new to the world of work, they’d ask you about school or university.

Preferences
Even though your reflections and anecdotes are likely to be about the Forces – and not something the interviewer is likely to be very familiar with, it’s a way for them to assess your preferences and character. They’ll be monitoring what your answer tells them about your view of your role in the Armed Forces. For instance, will you front-up with the camaraderie and laughs, or the seriousness of strategy, or the learning journey of your Army trade?

Tailor your answer
If you are going for a job that requires concentration and seriousness – highlight your experience and skills regarding analysis and attention to detail. If you are going for a job that requires forming quick relationships, such as in sales, highlight the bonhomie aspect of Forces culture; though add in that while you play hard, you also work hard, etc.

If you’re going for a job that requires application of skills, then reflect on how you acquired your Army trade skills and improved and developed them over time. 

Fitting in
The interviewer also wants to know if you’re going to fit in with the rest of the team. Since you don’t know what those people are like, you should answer honestly (as always) as well as in a pleasant and professional manner.

A new chapter
There’s nothing wrong with saying that you enjoyed your time in the Armed Forces or how well it suited you but make sure that you don’t accidentally convince them that it’s the only life for you. 

Your job in the interview is to suggest that, sure you enjoyed your time in the Forces, but that you’re now ready to roll your sleeves up for a new challenge – and that this is it!