5 Top Tips for Joining the Royal Navy

If you’re thinking of joining the Royal Navy, you’ll need to be ready to work hard on your application. Here, we’re going to look at 5 top tips for joining the Royal Navy: all from the experience of ex-Royal Navy serviceman Richard McMunn.

Tip Number 1 – Plan for success and look for ways to continuously improve – Joining the Royal Navy

As I have already stated, I am a big fan of preparation and I urge you to be the same too. Too many people nowadays are not prepared to work hard in order to achieve their goals. They want
things handed to them on a plate. Unfortunately, life isn’t like that. If you really want something then you have to be prepared to put the effort in. If you work hard in the build-up to selection then you will reap the rewards and you will earn yourself a fantastic career.

The Royal Navy will be very good to you as an employer. It will not only take you around the world but, it will pay you for the privilege. How many jobs can you say that about? Not many, that’s for sure. The way to plan for success is to use an action plan and force yourself to work hard each and every day whilst you are going through selection. Write down the areas that you need to improve on and take positive action in order to ensure the improvements are made.

Tip number 2 – Use an action plan and set realistic targets – Joining the Royal Navy

You should use an action plan in order to achieve success. Trust me, it works. Get used to writing down your goals and you will achieve them far easier and faster than if you don’t use one. Your action plan must include the specific areas in which you want to improve on. Depending on the level of improvement you want to make you may need to break your goals down into smaller stepping stones first. For example, if you feel that you are overweight or unfit and you cannot run half a mile, then you should break down your goal into manageable portions.

During week one aim to walk 20 minutes a day, for 4 days at a brisk pace. Then, during the second week increase the walk to 30 minutes a day for 5 days. During the third week try running for half a mile and then walking 30 minutes for 5 days a week. Before you know it, you’ll be jogging. Eventually you’ll be able to reach the 1.5 mile run in the required time.

As part of your action plan you should also set yourself a deadline for achieving your goal. Let’s assume that your Royal Navy Recruiting Test is four weeks away. Design your action
plan so that by the end of the third week you are fully conversant in the use of each of the four testing areas. This will leave you the fourth week to make any final tweaks and adjustments before sitting the real test.

Finally, as with any achievement you make in life you should celebrate your success. Once you have reached each milestone or achieved your goal of joining the Royal Navy then you should
celebrate. I can remember when I finally passed my Royal Navy medical we all went out to celebrate with a family meal. By celebrating your success you will be making achievement contagious. You will want to do it time and time again!

Tip number 3 – Choose the right career – Joining the Royal Navy

During the initial stages of the selection process you will be asked to select a number of career options in order of priority. Make sure you research each career thoroughly before making your choices. Don’t just look at the glamorous images on the pages of the recruitment literature. Carefully read what each job entails. Remember that your Royal Navy career can be a long one. Therefore, you need to aim for the career that is best suited to yourself and your circumstances. By reading all of the recruitment literature you will also be preparing yourself better for the selection process.

Tip number 4 – Practice lots of psychometric test questions – Joining the Royal Navy

During your preparation get good at tackling psychometric test questions. During the selection process for joining the Royal Navy as a Rating you will undertake a Recruiting Test that consists of the following four areas:

• A reasoning test;
• A verbal ability test;
• A numerical test;
• A mechanical reasoning test.

The most effective way to prepare for these tests is to carry out lots of sample test questions over a prolonged period of time. The majority of candidates will cram in their preparation the night before the test. I strongly advise against this. Use your action plan in order to build in plenty of targeted practice time. During the actual Recruiting Test you will have a set amount of time in which to answer the questions. There will be a number of options to choose from. The tests are usually multiple choice in nature. So, if you find that you are running out of time towards the end of the test, take a guess! You have one in five chance of getting it correct. You will not lose any marks for incorrect answers.

Here are some useful tips for helping you to pass the tests:

• In the build up to the test get plenty of good quality sleep. If you are feeling tired and grouchy on the day of your test then you will not perform to your optimum ability.
• On the day before the test and also on the actual day of the test avoid caffeine and/or alcohol. Drink plenty of water so that your concentration levels are at their peak.
• If you have any special needs such as dyslexia or otherwise then be sure to inform the recruiting officer at the AFCO beforehand. They should give you more time during the test.
• If you think you’ve performed poorly on a particular test try to put it behind you. The Recruiting Test is just one part of the entire Royal Navy selection process and you may be able to gain better scores in the other testing areas.
• At the commencement of the test listen very carefully to the instructions and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you are unsure.

Work quickly through each of the test questions. Do not spend too much time on one particular question. Let’s assume that you have 15 minutes in which to answer 30 questions. On average this equates to 30 seconds per question. If you find that you are spending 40 seconds or more on some questions then you are probably taking too long, and you will run out of time before you reach the end of the test. If you are finding a question too difficult then simply leave it and move on to the next question. Be sure to leave a gap on the answer sheet for any questions that you’ve missed.

Tip Number 5 – Be polite and courteous at all times, try your hardest and have the right attitude

Common courtesy and good manners are lacking in society today. You must remember that you are trying to join a disciplined service which requires you to act in a particular manner. When you apply to join the Royal Navy you will be communicating with experienced and professional officers. They are highly trained to pick out those people who they believe are worthwhile investing time and money on. They will be assessing you right from the word go. When you telephone the AFCO, either to make your application or simply to arrange an informal chat I advise that you are polite and courteous at all times. General good manners such as ‘good morning’, ‘please’, and ‘thank you’ are not as commonplace in today’s society as they used to be. Being polite and courteous when communicating with the recruitment staff can help you to create the right impression right from the offset.

During my time in the Fire Service I interviewed scores of people to join the job and it was those people who were polite, respectful and courteous who grabbed my attention. First impressions are very important. So, if you can demonstrate a level of self discipline before you join then this will work in your favour. Going the extra mile to make a good impression will work wonders. It will help you to create a positive rapport with the recruitment officer.

Conclusion – Joining the Royal Navy

The Royal Navy selection process is difficult. If you’re thinking about joining the Royal Navy, you’ll need to prepare for the application form, selection tests, interview, medical, and more. Click the banner below to find out about the Royal Navy preparation workbooks we have available. Continue your preparation today!