From Soldier to Software Developer: Adrian Montague’s Journey

Adrian Montague joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) in 2020 and commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). During his military career, he served with 8 Field Company (Para) in Colchester before becoming a Platoon Commander in Lyneham.

Before joining the British Army, Adrian studied Mechanical Engineering at university. Although he enjoyed his time in the REME, he aspired to switch professions to design solutions using his engineering skills as a software developer. He began studying Python in the evenings and on weekends and worked with DT Squad during his resettlement. Unfortunately, no full-time positions were available when Adrian finished his service.

In this podcast, Adrian shares the disappointment of his initial plan not working out and his resilience and determination to secure a job as a software developer. He revised his CV nearly eight times, used feedback from unsuccessful interviews to improve his confidence, learned to sell himself better, and translated his military experience into case studies that prospective employers could understand. He also continued to build his portfolio and skills by participating in and winning Inversity challenges and taking part in hackathons.

Fast forward, and Adrian had two job offers on the table from BT and Smart DCS IT. In this podcast, he discusses his decision to join the smaller, agile company, Smart DCS IT, and why he chose it over BT.

Adrian now has his feet well under the desk in his new role as a software developer with Smart DCS IT and has recently completed his AWS Cloud Practitioner course.

Want to follow in Adrian’s footsteps? Get in touch with TechVets, and our team will guide you on the correct pathway to becoming a software developer via www.techvets.co