- \n
- Choose a career path.<\/li>\n
- Eliminate military jargon.<\/li>\n
- Be clear about your accomplishments.<\/li>\n
- Sell yourself.<\/li>\n
- Keep your resume to a maximum of 2 pages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This article will give you all the resources and information that you need to create a great civilian resume for your job search. However, if you would just like to dive right into creating your\u00a0resume with a\u00a0template, we have provided\u00a0one\u00a0for you here:<\/p>\n
![\"Military](\"https:\/\/fmp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/minify\/uploads\/files\/images\/359ace9542e825ca26ce2b935e67b9f4.png\")
<\/span><\/p>\n\u2b06\u00a0Download Military to Civilian Resume Template in Word<\/strong><\/a>\u2b06<\/p>\n
For those who would like more information about writing your military transition resume, keep reading!<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>How to Write a Military to Civilian Resume<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
Whether you\u00a0want\u00a0to work in the public sector or work in the private sector, the advice that we have for you will prove to be pivotal.<\/p>\n
1. Choose Your Career Path<\/strong><\/h3>\n
You can start planning ahead long before you retire from active military duty.<\/p>\n
Communicating with recruiters and companies will get your foot in the door, which will give you a headstart on others.<\/p>\n
You can use the time prior to retirement to determine exactly what and where fits you best.<\/p>\n
By the time you are pulling your civilian resume together, having a narrower focus on your career path will help you select the skills to highlight.<\/p>\n
You should tailor your resume to each individual job posting, but if you choose a specific career path, fewer modifications will be needed to be made to this first draft.<\/p>\n
It initially seems a bit counterintuitive to think that ruling out some options increases your chances of securing a job, but it does. It helps you focus your energy in the direction you should go, instead of spreading yourself thin.<\/p>\n
If you need some assistance,\u00a0CareerOneStop<\/a> provides a Veterans Job Matcher where you can enter your MOS code and see civilian jobs that are similar to your military occupation. The results show salary information, education requirements, career outlook, and a link to find jobs.<\/p>\n
2. Understand That Recruiters May Not Understand Military Jargon<\/strong><\/h3>\n
You are going to have to spell out your military experience on your civilian resume. And you are going to have to do so in a universally understandable way.<\/p>\n
There is a lot of gratitude for your service, but that does not mean that the average person is particularly informed about the ins and outs of military life.<\/p>\n
A military resume is very difficult to understand if the reader is not familiar with military language.<\/p>\n
Terms that might be impressive and useful to those who understand them might go right over the head of a hiring manager.<\/p>\n
As an example, you might list your previous role as \u201cSergeant Major.\u201d What if the hiring manager has no idea what responsibilities are held in such a position? You are better off saying \u201cSenior Advisor.\u201d That\u2019s clear and understandable to all recruiters.<\/p>\n
That was a simple example. Imagine outlining an achievement that you reached with a certain team. You\u2019d need to get that thesaurus out real quick. Otherwise, you risk your resume getting placed to the side, no matter how good a fit you are. Because the hiring manager is not going to take out a thesaurus.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t let your aptitude be negatively influenced by something like that.<\/p>\n
Consequently, spell it out. And remember that humility very much has its place, but not here.<\/p>\n
3. Translate Your Military Experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n
As was alluded to above, the solution is to put all the jargon from your previous profession into layman\u2019s terms.<\/p>\n
This applies across the board whenever anyone is changing paths.<\/p>\n
But it is especially difficult for military professionals transitioning into the civilian world. Why? Because the verbiage is so unique in the military. It is nothing like the corporate world!<\/p>\n
There are\u00a0even expert military to civilian resume writers<\/a> who specialize in translating military terms to civilian. But don’t worry, we’ll teach you what you need to know!<\/p>\n
Words like \u201cSergeant\u201d, \u201cOfficer\u201d, \u201cMajor\u201d, \u201cSubordinate\u201d, \u201cUnit\u201d, \u201cReconnaissance\u201d and so on may be rather self-explanatory to you.<\/p>\n
But the hiring manager even having to pause for one second to process any information puts you at a disadvantage.<\/p>\n
You have the tools at your disposal to turn these words into those that can be easily understood.<\/p>\n
You have to assume that the resumes that yours is up against are clear.<\/p>\n
The company that you are applying to may indeed be missing out on a fantastic candidate by not considering you, but that is part of this process.<\/p>\n
Even if the hiring manager does understand the jargon, it can still be a turn-off. They may think that your abilities do not extend beyond the military.<\/p>\n
The issue of jargon is completely in your hands. See the section below<\/a> for military to civilian resume translators.<\/p>\n
\nTop Tip: <\/strong>Once you think that you have cut all the jargon out of your resume, you can test it! Show your resume to friends and family, it won\u2019t take long for someone to spot a detail that they don\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n
\n4. Choose the Best\u00a0Resume Format\u00a0for You<\/strong><\/h3>\n
With several resume formats to choose from, it is anything but just going with a random format. There will be one that fits your experience and skills best,\u00a0so use that one!<\/p>\n
- \n
- Chronological Resume Format<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The chronological resume format is the one that is the most used at present.<\/p>\n
It provides an extensive look at your work experience, in reverse chronological order.<\/p>\n
If you have a lot of experience in the field that you are applying to, then this may be the format for you.<\/p>\n
Because this format strongly expresses work experience, this is not the best fit for many veterans.<\/p>\n
If your military experience and training don\u2019t match your new career goals, then this format will actually highlight your inexperience.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Functional Resume Format<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Do you feel that using the chronological format would expose your inexperience?<\/p>\n
Instead, you may go with the functional resume format. This is the second most frequently used resume format.<\/p>\n
Emphasis is placed here on the skills that you possess, rather than your work experience.<\/p>\n
You specify your skills and qualifications that are most relevant to the job that you are applying to.<\/p>\n
Instead of exposing your inexperience, you highlight exactly what skills you bring to the table.<\/p>\n
This is ideal for a lot of veterans who have lots of skills that they can offer, but little experience.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Combination Resume Format<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The combination resume format is also referred to as the hybrid format.<\/p>\n
Maybe you do have a bit of experience but would still like the focus to be on your skills. A third option is that you prepare a combination resume.<\/p>\n
It is as the name suggests. You combine a chronological resume with a functional resume.<\/p>\n
You talk about your skills first and foremost, but employment experience is also covered.<\/p>\n
It can be difficult to find the right balance between skills and experience in such a short document.<\/p>\n
But if you get it right, it can be the best of both worlds.<\/p>\n
(For more information about these resume formats, as well as samples of what they might look like, take a look at The 5 Best Resume Formats<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n
5. Keep it Simple<\/strong><\/h3>\n
It goes without saying that you want your resume to yield positive results.<\/p>\n
But imagine if the document was 4 pages long with loads of extraneous information?<\/p>\n
It wouldn\u2019t do you any favors.<\/p>\n
Instead, keep it short. Two\u00a0pages long is a maximum, but nothing is wrong with keeping it to 1 page.<\/p>\n
Carrying on about every little achievement that you have may be tempting.<\/p>\n
But focus more on big ones. Quality beats quantity every time.<\/p>\n
What about your skills?<\/p>\n
Again, keep it simple. You don\u2019t want a potential employer\u00a0to read a long list of boring skills, with few of them actually transferring over into the work environment.<\/p>\n
Highlight only relevant skills that will help show that they need you.<\/p>\n
Also, format your resume to be an attractive read.<\/p>\n
From the font to font size, to margins, to white space, to colors and so on, there is a lot that needs to be planned out well.<\/p>\n
(Read our article 9 Best Fonts for a Resume<\/a> for full guidance on your resume formatting.)<\/em><\/p>\n
6. Tailor Your Resume to the Job You Are Applying To<\/strong><\/h3>\n
So you have loads of skills. Which ones do you put on your resume?<\/p>\n
When talking about your skills, do your best to highlight applicable skills to that specific job.<\/p>\n
In military service, you will have gained or polished many skills: from communication to observation, from leadership to teamwork, and from risk management to critical thinking. The list goes on.<\/p>\n
You can tailor your skills and qualifications to line up with the job you are applying for.<\/p>\n
Applying to become an accountant? Being organized and fantastic with numbers is a great start.<\/p>\n
Applying to start training to become a nurse? Highlight your communication, empathy and observation skills.<\/p>\n
Applying to become a laborer? Address developments in the military that you were involved in. Highlight your relevant strengths. And that includes strength.<\/p>\n
Show that you know the needs for where you are applying and that you meet that need.<\/p>\n
Learn precisely what they are looking for, and then state that you possess these qualities.<\/p>\n
Remember that if you have any special, uncommon skills, those are definitely worth mentioning as they will help make you stand out.<\/p>\n
\nTop Tip: <\/strong>The job description of the position you are applying for is like a cheat sheet to help you tailor your resume. Use keywords from the job posting to outline your skills for the job.<\/p>\n
\n7. Make Your Resume Easy To Scan<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Your resume should be easily\u00a0scannable by\u00a0both\u00a0Applicant Tracking Systems<\/a> and<\/em> hiring managers. If a recruiter spends 6 seconds on your resume before making a decision, you’ll want your information to be organized and found easily.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Have clear sections and headings<\/strong>.\u00a0 You do not want your resume to blur into one big wall of text. The ATS\u00a0and hiring managers won\u2019t find that to be enticing. An ATS will scan your resume for keywords within your headings so your information needs to be easy to find.<\/li>\n
- Check for spelling and accuracy<\/strong>. A stray “0” that isn\u2019t meant to be in a number can change the entire tone. You want to ensure that you mean everything that you say. Also, getting rid of typos is just good practice in general. You don’t want the hiring manager’s attention to be on your mistakes.<\/li>\n
- Provide numbers where you can<\/strong>. Adding a number to\u00a0something quantifies the achievement. \u201cA lot\u201d is good and all, but \u201cincreasing by 50%\u201d blows it out of the water. Numbers are easy to see on a resume. As a recruiter is scanning your resume, their eyes will be drawn to your numbers and<\/em> accomplishments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
8. Avoid These Mistakes on\u00a0Your Resume<\/strong><\/h3>\n
For the\u00a0last tip, we will look at some final things that you need to avoid while creating your military to civilian resume.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Avoid irrelevant information. <\/strong>You don\u2019t need to mention your religion, height, weight, marital status or favorite flavor of ice cream. It is not relevant, so it wastes space.<\/li>\n
- Avoid limiting your skills.<\/strong> You have narrowed down your options and determined the best skills to include on your resume. Don\u2019t state them with limitations. You aren\u2019t a good analyst provided you aren\u2019t distracted, you\u2019re just a good analyst.<\/li>\n
- Avoid discussing conflict.<\/strong> Issues such as PTSD and depression may come to the mind of the recruiter. That may make them more hesitant about considering you.<\/li>\n
- Avoid being blunt.<\/strong> Word choice matters. If you state things too bluntly, you risk looking insensitive or unprofessional. Instead of stating that you “killed the enemy forces,” state that you “accomplished objectives.” Instead of saying \u201chostile environment,\u201d\u00a0say \u201ccomplex environment\u201d (no matter how hostile the environment really was.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Knowing what to leave off your resume is as important as knowing what to include.<\/p>\n
(For more resume writing tips, see\u00a0How To Make a Resume That Gets Past the Bots<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/a>Military Term\u00a0Translators<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
As explained above, the problem phrasing your experience and accomplishments lies in the fact that the words used in the military are not frequently used elsewhere.<\/p>\n
Imagine telling someone the ingredients and guidelines for how to make your family\u2019s famous soup, but doing so verbally in Shakespearean English.<\/p>\n
You wouldn\u2019t expect them to create the same results as if you spoke to them in a way they would understand.<\/p>\n
The average resume only gets looked at for a matter of seconds before the hiring manager decides whether it is worth their time.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re not about to bust ye olde Google out for every sentence you write. Your resume will just get placed to the side.<\/p>\n
But fear not!<\/p>\n
See below for military terms put into civilian lingo.<\/p>\n
Translate\u00a0Military Job Titles<\/strong><\/h3>\n
You want the titles and positions specified on your resume to be clear. That does not mean to lie about the titles. Just phrase it in a way that can be universally understood.<\/p>\n
Instead of saying:<\/p>\n
\u201cNourishment consultant and provider at a center for education.\u201d<\/p>\n
You\u2019d expect someone to say \u201cSchool Cook.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even if you can understand the words, it is faster and easier to just present it to the recipient in the most understandable way possible.<\/p>\n
Below is a table of military job title examples, and what you should say on your resume instead:<\/p>\n
\n
Military Job Titles Translator<\/caption>\n \n\n \n Instead of This:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n
\n Say This:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n 05 & 06<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n CEO or COO<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n 07 and above<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Chairman or Senior Director<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Action Officer<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Analyst<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Chief or Commander<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Director or Senior Manager<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Company Grade Officer<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Operations Manager<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Executive Officer<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Deputy Director or Associate Director<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Field-Grade Officer<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Manager or Executive<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n First Sergeant<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Personnel Supervisor or Manager<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Lieutenant\u00a0 Major<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Division Manager<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Marines, Airmen, Soldiers,\u00a0Sailors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Personnel<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Operations NCO<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Operations Supervisor<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Platoon Sergeant<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Supervisor or Instructor<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Senior NCO<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Coordinator or Supervisor<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Sergeant Major<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Senior Advisor<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Service Members<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Colleagues or Personnel<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Subordinates<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Employees or Coworkers<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Supply Sergeant<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Logistics Manager<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Squad Leader<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Team Leader<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Warrant Officer<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Technical Manager or Specialist<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
See the difference that can be made simply because of your selection of words?<\/p>\n
Be sure to use the same word throughout your cover letter and resume for the same military term so as to not confuse things.<\/p>\n
Translate\u00a0Military Acronyms<\/strong><\/h3>\n
It would be quite the turn-off to be hit with a lot of acronyms that you don\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s like this article telling you that the secret for veterans in a job search is to TPE the NLQD until you successfully reach CE to accomplish NOPE.<\/p>\n
Not descriptive or remotely helpful, is it?<\/p>\n
Not unless you understand it.<\/p>\n
Assume that the hiring manager doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Instead, see what you can say in place of these acronyms:<\/p>\n
- Avoid limiting your skills.<\/strong> You have narrowed down your options and determined the best skills to include on your resume. Don\u2019t state them with limitations. You aren\u2019t a good analyst provided you aren\u2019t distracted, you\u2019re just a good analyst.<\/li>\n
- Check for spelling and accuracy<\/strong>. A stray “0” that isn\u2019t meant to be in a number can change the entire tone. You want to ensure that you mean everything that you say. Also, getting rid of typos is just good practice in general. You don’t want the hiring manager’s attention to be on your mistakes.<\/li>\n
- Have clear sections and headings<\/strong>.\u00a0 You do not want your resume to blur into one big wall of text. The ATS\u00a0and hiring managers won\u2019t find that to be enticing. An ATS will scan your resume for keywords within your headings so your information needs to be easy to find.<\/li>\n
- Combination Resume Format<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Functional Resume Format<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Chronological Resume Format<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n