Jobs for Ex-Prison Officers

We dive into some of the best jobs for ex-prison officers. Many people in this career decide that eventually, they would like a change, or to move to a slightly less demanding environment.

If you have worked as a prison officer, you may well find that you have a lot of transferable skills that come in handy in a variety of workplaces.

Skills of Prison Officers

The skills you have probably already gained in your career and working life are bound to be useful in your job search.

Prison officers tend to have attributes including:

• Having good problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to work under pressure
• Working as part of a team in a high-stress environment
• Managing people and behaviour

All of these are essential in many jobs, so if you have worked as a prison officer, don’t worry – your experience is likely to be an advantage.

Popular Jobs for Ex-Prison Officers

There are so many roles that you may find to be suitable, and don’t forget that you can always retrain. If you don’t want to work in a similar environment, that’s fine, too.

Popular jobs for ex-prison officers include:

• Private security. You may be able to use your considerable skillset in a security environment outside of a prison. Jobs in security can be varied, from working at events and festivals to patrolling an industrial site.
• HR executive. You have probably gained considerable people skills,  so you may be well-suited to a role in HR.
• Youth worker. Jobs working with young people can make use of the skills you’ve learned in your prison officer career, and often don’t require too substantial retraining unless it is a specialist role such as social work.
• Police officer/special constable. Jobs in the police force are similar to those of a prison officer, and many people who have worked as prison officers successfully move into this career.
• Personal or fitness trainer. Jobs in health and fitness can be an excellent way to channel your skills into a more relaxed role.

Of course, these common careers come up time and time again for ex-security officers looking for new jobs, but they are not the only option. There is no point in limiting yourself, and the options for a career change later in life now are fantastic, meaning that many people find their calling in their 40s or beyond. It isn’t too late to chase what you are passionate about.

Finding Jobs for Ex-Prison Officers in the UK

There are so many routes to finding jobs for ex-prison officers. You may have a good idea of what you want to do and just need help with the application process, or perhaps you will find that it’s time for a complete career change. Jobs that suit your skills don’t always jump out at you, but one just might prove to be your dream job.

Check our jobs board for regularly-posted positions, and companies open to the prospect of working with those changing careers.