Mark Waudby joined Smiths Detection in 2019 after a 16-year career in the Armed Forces. In this insight we learn about this his move away from the Army and why he chose to join Smiths Detection.
A 365 day notice period sounds like a long time, but when it’s all you’ve got give up a career and start over it seems like it’s gone in the blink of an eye. After giving his years notice Marks initial excitement turned to doubt. He began asking himself questions like “Have I done the right thing?” and “Will I regret leaving?”, however as time went on it became clear to him, he had made the right decision.
Mark joined the army at 19 as an Electronics Engineer for the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and enjoyed a 16-year career there. During this time, he completed six operational tours across the globe. Whilst this meant leaving his family back home, he found comfort with a new one, his comrades that surrounded him. Despite the fact it was a big decision to leave, Mark received a great deal of support from career advisors that helped to guide him into the next phase of his life.
Mark had two conditions for his next role as he started searching. The first, that electronics was the sector he wished to get involved with, and the second was that his chosen company must mirror the strong ethical and moral values he held so close himself. After being contacted by many recruiters Smiths Detection finally came into view.
“When I began researching Smiths Detection it became clear to me that we held shared values and a shared mission of making the world a safer place,” said Mark.
After accepting he began work for Smiths Detection, finding that the community of colleagues and friends he was surrounded by were a global family, much like his experience in the Army. Help and advice were in plentiful supply, allowing Mark’s abilities to flourish.
Mark sees a bright future at the company, with opportunities readily available if you are willing to put in the hard work and dedication. His move to leave the institution he’d known since his teenage years was easier, with his new career offering to continue to work toward a goal of keeping people safe with an ambitious company.
Smiths Detection is a proud employer of those who have served in the armed forces and work with Hire Heroes USA and Armed Forces Covenant (UK) to place people in our organisation according to their skills.