Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

Sea King mk4/7 pilot.

Remain current and competent at a variety of skills and practices to enable deployment at short notice to anywhere in the world.

As a RN Officer, I'm also in charge of a division of Ratings and Non Commissioned Officers.

I also have secondary "admin" duties.

Attend shareholders - the morning brief. If I'm flying, I prepare a pre-flight brief, involving several essential calculations using environmental parameters to work out how various flight limitations are affected.

Once the crew is briefed (including met, air traffic control, technical details and sortie execution), we fly the mission (usually training in the UK) and then have a post-flight debrief including any flight safety factors that might be relevant.

Depending on the sortie, this can be a 5-6 hour evolution, which can often be delayed due to aircraft serviceability or weather and hence take up an entire days work. Otherwise, and if I'm not flying, there are a wide variety of daily tasks.

Much of the time spent non-deployed is taken up trying to stay "current and competent" in order to be prepared for deployment. This can range from flying practices - instrument flying, dust landings, mountain flying, landing on ships, etc to non flying skills - weapons training, technical knowledge on the aircraft, human factors and aviation medicine (with associated annual courses to attend). Safety drills are also routinely practised, including underwater escape training, abandon aircraft drills and liferaft / winching drills.

There is a large element of admin and desk-based work to the job as well. There are many flying rules and regulations that are constantly amended and flight safety initiatives to keep abreast of, and therefore a full inbox! As Divisional Officers, we write bi-annual reports on our men and women in our Division, and provide a pastoral role where necessary.

The operational aspect can be very rewarding. There is a large emphasis in professional development, and a broad range of opportunities to go and do different jobs if you fancy something different.

Other highlights have included arctic flying (and survival) training in Northern Norway, desert flying in California, and a continental transit flying to Italy via the French Riviera!

Maintaining high skill/knowledge levels in a number of different areas as we are examined on a regular basis, coping with a high degree of uncertainty in terms of where you will be month by month and year by year, and spending time away.

High variety of work - flying in different environments and operational theatres around the world, hopefully making a difference.

A degree isn't necessary, but having a maths/physics background has helped me.

Otherwise the skillset is quite specific, although leadership is one of main generic competencies tested at the Admiralty Interview Board.

Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth I believe has various leadership affiliations, and the Officer training is widely regarded in industry.

Once qualified, our flying certification is recognised within the civilian flying authorities, and there is an abridged route to getting full civilian flying licences.

Professional development is emphasised throughout a military career, and there are numerous courses available - leadership courses, Management courses, or more role specific.

Left Sheffield University Summer '05.

Part time work - "Operations Assistant" for KSpace, a property business in Sheffield.

KBR - September 06 - June 07
Mechanical Engineer working on large oil & gas projects.

Joined RN June 2007.

Currently unknown! Potential to remain in the Services and complete my 18 years, alternatively serve a further 4 years.

Options are to remain in cockpit, with further qualifications (eg Qualified Helicopter Instructor) or more broadening job e.g. NATO Battlestaff / MOD main building.

The Forces application is fairly self explanatory. Like most other jobs you will be expected to demonstrate leadership/planning skills and exercises, so get yourself in a position of responsibility asap - eg sports team social sec, planning a road trip with mates, leading a uni project etc. All gives you experience you can talk about and develop from.

Numerical and verbal reasoning can all be practised, as well as Flight Aptitude Testing (numerous online forums).

Have a backup plan! I got a Navy pilot offer whilst already in a decent graduate engineering job, although I was one of the older guys going through.