Overall Reviews at Royal Navy
5.0
Lead Operator |
Remote | Jun 16, 2015
Rewarding and fulfilling
really motivating, varied and stretching.
Joined as a youngster, and left a man.
A very supportive rnvironment, requiring lots of self discipline.
Prosculture, comradeship
ConsMonths away from home, Risk
3.0
Not a family friendly job
After serving for 5 and a half years I can say that when I was 19 the job was good, travelling and making lots of friends, as i have gotten older i am now wanting to have a family oriented life which this job does not suit.
ProsSea pay
ConsAlways away
5.0
Principle Warfare Officer (Above Water Warfare) |
Navy, VA | Mar 11, 2020
Work Hard, Fight Hard, Play Hard
Really hardworking but rewarding across a vast swathe of experience areas. Opportunities to grow professionally and personally and to be promoted for what you bring to the organisation. It's a challenging life for families but the support network and contacts available to them is amazing. It's not an easy life but it's interesting, rewarding and very much worth it - even if you only do it for a few years.
5.0
Great for single man
Hard ,wet and dangerous but an exciting job with no boredom.
5.0
Best job in the World
Every day was different, its not really a job its a calling or an adventure. I learned everything that's worth knowing about life, engineering and people. Management - none finer. Co workers - the best of the best.
The hardest part of the job was leaving it to move onto something different.
ProsTraining, the lifestyle
ConsNavy Food
5.0
Aeronautical Engineer |
Remote | Sep 26, 2013
a brilliant military service.
everyday varied and there was a different job everday. I learnt a trade and it set me up for life. my co workers were briiliant and you could trust your life with them
3.0
Engineering Technician |
Clyde, OH | Mar 22, 2020
Great Skill Building and Work Security
Working for the Royal Navy has many benefits and a strong sense of team building and job security. You make strong friendships and get a chance to see the world and experience things you never thought you could. That being said, cons include a weak work-life balance.
5.0
public servant
reasonable employer, work life balance leaves a lot to be desired but we accept that when we join up.
Serving on board submarines was both challenging and rewarding in equal measure.
Prostravel, decent pay, advancement.
3.0
Engineering Technician |
Clyde, OH | Mar 10, 2015
Good Employer
Typical day at work is watch keeping 12 hour shift
The job was hard but rewarding and enjoyable.
Management was water tight, everyone knew what they were doing and that gave you a sense of pride and confidence.
Everyone was there to help each other. I suppose the hardest part of the job was saying goodbye to the wife and kids.
The most enjoyable part of the job was although it was fairly busy at times there was always a lull once all the work was completed and you could relax.
ProsI learned peaple skills, gained confidence and a work ettic where I give 100%
ConsNo cons. Im ready to move on and offer my experiances to other employer's.
4.0
Specialist |
Remote | Feb 12, 2019
Great job for the young and single!
If you have no family commitments and love to travel then the Royal Navy is a great life.
The salary is competitive, you will get to travel a lot, make new friends, play sports and complete adventure training. The social life in the forces is second to none in my opinion.
However, the job is a big commitment and will take up A LOT of your time. If you have a family, especially young children, then you must accept that you will not see them a lot. Do not enter into the service lightly as you must serve at least four years. If I had no family commitments I would not be leaving.
ProsGood salary and travel
ConsLong hours, extended periods away from family are certain
4.0
Marine Engineer |
Shore | Jan 25, 2020
Great comrades
Spent the last two years waiting to be fully ranked up. Left the service as a result of a dead mans shoes mentality.
Other than that I’d do it all again just for the friends I made.
ProsGreat cameraderie
ConsDifficult to get promoted even with the qualifications.
1.0
Sailed on christmas day
Not a job for anyone looking for a life at home with kids and wife, spent 70% of your life woring at sea! spent 4 years in the navy and 2 and a half of fhem years was spent working
3.0
Rewarding yet stressful
Fast paced and stressful, with opportunity to progress through competitive annual promotion rounds.
Diverisity in roles with regular changes in assignment, enabling personnel to broaden their experience in a wide range of roles.
ProsTravel the world
ConsLong separation from family and friends
3.0
A single man’s career if ever there was one
I left after only serving a few months during phase 2 training after realising I had more to live for than potentially getting paid incredibly well for spending months away at sea and so I never even got that far. That said, if you’re cut out for it the Royal Navy can be a very rewarding and well paid career, particularly in the submarine service and within engineering roles. It comes with the sacrifice of spending years away from home and living on base. If you live up North weekend leave is out of the question and schedules for ships and submarines are only getting more and more unpredictable meaning it’s difficult to plan your life. Most people are sticking to do their 4 years required service then abandoning ship with all their money and qualifications.
Whilst I’d recommend it to younger people in their late teens and early 20s (I’m 21), if you don’t like living a life away from home, have a family/partner, realise there’s more to life than money and you’re idea of fun is something other than drinking yourself into a coma every night - look elsewhere. The Navy also has a toxic attitude that permeates though the ranks and rates (although I was lucky that no one tried to talk me out of leaving) that you’re a quitter if you leave and you’ll only be miserable and never find a good career in the civilian world. That’s utter rubbish.
ProsVery well paid roles within engineering roles and the submarine service, world-class civilian recognised qualifications, rapid career progression if you’re switched on
ConsNo work/life balance, lots of time spent away from home, weekend leave isn’t viable if you’re from the North, occasionally toxic management, frequently aren’t reimbursed for travel costs
4.0
Lead Technician |
Plymouth | Feb 24, 2020
Love the job
The best thing about being in the Royal Navy is the people you meet long the way, guaranteed to make friends for life. The only downside is being away from friends and family for mon
4.0
Rewarding but difficult
A lot of sea time involved but a lot of time off with your oppos, plenty of nights out and runs ashore, the sea time can be very difficult but when you get home it’s worth it, the officers can be very difficult to work with at times and there is plenty of jobs on the boat that you hate doing, but overall very rewarding
3.0
Marine Technician |
Faslane | Oct 27, 2014
Challenging and Engaging way of life
A typical day ashore involved maintenance and taking stores.
A typical 'day' at sea involves watch-keeping for shifts of 3-4 hours between 3 watch-keepers. Involves running water purification/reclamation plant, pumping bilge and water tanks, cleaning and rounds.
Nothing compares to the banter in the navy.
ProsJob security, Discipline
ConsLong Hours, Little time off
5.0
Very professional, highly trained.
Very professional, hard working, highly trained. A very much 'get things done'/proactive culture.
It can be long days but the reward is good pay,training and good camaraderie.
3.0
Poor high level management
The job provides a decent wage but not the career it used to be. The people making the decisions pay no regard to thoughts and feelings of those on the frontline. You spend up to five months away with no contact from the external world unless its navy command. Modern commodities such as live television and social media are not capable of being used when on deployment on a submarine. The most enjoyable thing would be the people you work with and the hardest part is not knowing what you are returning from sea to as you are not told about bad news whilst away.
ProsGood People
ConsNot being able to speak to your loved ones for months at a time
4.0
Sheet Metal Mechanic |
Yeovilton | Jan 11, 2018
22 Years of Job Security
I joined the Royal Navy way back in 1996 to gain permanent and secure employment, and to see the world. I have been incredibly fortunate to have experienced all of those thing, plus make some life-long friend/brothers along the way. On the whole I had a fantastic time (not everyday, but most) and I would recommend it to anyone that isn't afraid of putting in hard work for some excellent rewards.
ProsJob security, global travel, camaraderie, health * pensions benefits.
ConsWork-Life balance can become disrupted, it's certainly not for everyone.
