As summer draws to a close, many organisations begin to feel the momentum of change in the air. Just as January marks “new year, new goals,” September offers a powerful opportunity to reset, refocus, and revamp your people strategy. If you’re planning ahead for the next fiscal year, delivering on social value, or simply looking to strengthen your teams with resilient, motivated, high-integrity talent, now is the moment.
One of the most under-leveraged talent reservoirs in the UK is the Armed Forces community: veterans, service leavers, reservists, military spouses and families. These individuals bring deep leadership experience, adaptability under pressure, teamwork, strong ethics, discipline, qualities that translate into genuine business advantage.
So how can we help you access this unique talent pool? First of all, lets take it back to the beginning.
About SMJ – Our Story
How did it all begin?
- Founded by Andrew Jackson (Brigadier, Retired), SaluteMyJob emerged out of a pressing need: the often difficult transition ex-military personnel face when entering civilian employment. Andrew recognised a gap, that many organisations were missing out on exceptional talent because skilled veteran candidates were struggling to connect with employers who understood their potential.
- From the start, the mission has been built on collaboration, empathy, and practical, outcomes-driven support. We have worked with government bodies, military charities, private sector firms, and public sector organisations to develop frameworks, pathways, and programmes that make hiring from the Forces community both efficient and mutually beneficial.
- Over the years, SMJ has steadily grown in impact, not only helping veterans into meaningful careers, but also helping employers to see how Armed Forces talent can deliver value: leadership, reliability, adaptability, integrity. Our legacy is built on real change: lives transformed, organisations strengthened, and a growing recognition in the UK that the Armed Forces community is a resource no business should ignore.
The Talent Pool: Why It Matters, Especially Now
At SMJ, our Talent Pool is one of our most powerful tools for connecting those two sides: employer and Forces talent. You can think of it as a curated, ready-to-deploy resource of candidates who:
- Have military background or connection (service leavers, veterans, reservists, spouses)
- Possess transferable skills highly sought by businesses (leadership, decisiveness, teamwork, integrity, resilience)
- Are motivated to apply their experience in new roles in the civil sector.
Given the energy that businesses often bring into September, new budgets, new strategy, new hires, tapping into this Talent Pool now, means you can get ahead: find great people sooner, reduce recruitment risk, ensure hires who align with values as well as skills.
Bespoke Support Packages
We understand that no two organisations are the same. Your culture, requirements, timelines, and constraints all differ. That’s why SMJ offers bespoke recruitment support through our service packages.
What “bespoke” means here:
- Tailored outreach to Forces talent in the sectors you care about.
- Advising on Forces-friendly hiring processes, how job adverts, interviews, onboarding can be adapted to be inclusive of military experience.
- Ongoing support: helping with retention, progression, and getting maximum value from your hires.
- Strategising with you on social value, employer branding, and long-term relationships with the Armed Forces community.
Why September is the Perfect Time
Here’s why we believe September really is the new January — and why it’s especially suitable for opening doors to Forces-talent:
| September Advantage | How It Helps with Armed Forces Recruitment |
| Budget clarity | Many organisations have clearer budgets and headcounts after summer, so hiring plans get greenlit. |
| Strategic reset | Teams refocus after summer, set priorities – and if Forces inclusion is a priority, it’s a good cycle point. |
| Less summer fatigue | Candidates (and employers) often are more mentally ready for hiring conversations after summer lulls. |
| Planning for the year ahead | Bringing in strong, reliable candidates early gives time for training, integration, and getting results. |
A Word from Our Founder
“Employers who harness the skills of the Armed Forces community not only gain exceptional talent but also demonstrate their commitment to social value and inclusivity. September is the perfect time to reset and make Armed Forces-friendly recruitment part of your business strategy.”
— Brigadier (Ret’d) Andrew Jackson
With that in mind, consider how opening up your recruitment to this community isn’t just a feel-good move, it’s a strategic one. You’re accessing leadership, adaptability, and values that are harder to find elsewhere.
What to Do Next
If you’re ready to turn September into a hiring advantage:
- Explore our Talent Pool: Visit our Talent Pool page to see how candidates are profiled and how you can access them.
- Reach out for bespoke support: Let’s talk about what kind of roles you need to fill, what challenges you’ve faced before, and how to tailor your recruitment process.
- Embed Forces-friendly practices: Small changes, in job roles, descriptions, interview panels, onboarding, can make a big difference. Read our blog for more advice.
September is more than just “back to normal”; it’s an opportunity to be proactive, strategic, and inclusive. By partnering with SMJ and accessing the Talent Pool, you’re not just filling vacancies, you’re building resilient, value-driven teams, and helping ensure that service, sacrifice and skill aren’t left behind.
Let’s make the rest of the year count. If you’d like to discuss how we can help your organisation hire from the Armed Forces community, with bespoke support, long-term value, and impact, just get in touch. We’re ready when you are.
