How to Compare a Civilian Resume and a Military Resume
The objective of military and civilian resumes is much the same--to demonstrate experience and skills relevant to the job the applicant seeks. However, the style, language and emphases of military and civilian resumes often differ.
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Format
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Military resumes employ a strict chronological format clearly illustrating progression of responsibility and rank. Civilian resumes tend to be structured functionally, customized to favorably accentuate acquired skills and achievement relevant to a particular employment opportunity.
Content
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A military resume may include details of combat experience and awards that recognize combat-specific skills. In a resume directed to a civilian employer, an applicant with military experience should to leave out details about combat experience, which may make civilian employers uneasy. Instead, such an applicant should emphasize accomplishments related to management, leadership and efficiency.
Terminology
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Military resumes may include military specific jargon, but many civilian employers don't have a military background. For this reason, civilian job applicants with military experience need to translate their service into terms understandable and relevant to the civilian workplace.
Conversion Tool
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To help translate military job terms for a civilian resume, the U.S. Department of Labor provides an online tool, Crosswalk. It automatically converts military occupation codes, or MOCs, into equivalent civilian job titles, describing in civilian terms all the tasks, skills, knowledge and activities associated with those jobs.
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