Military Resume Writing
The transition from the military to civilian life can be a daunting one, especially when it comes to the job market. The military gives you so many experiences and skills that it can be difficult to write them all down on one resume, let alone a resume a civilian can understand. This article will help you put together the basics of a military resume and translate what you've done into real-world experiences so people can see exactly how your service can benefit their work center.
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Instructions
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Collect all your performance reports and feedbacks. Don’t forget to get any additional duty job descriptions, if applicable. Sometimes those additional duties are the make-or-break details that show you did more than “just your job” in the military.
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Write out (or copy and paste in a word processor) the top job details you had on a separate piece of paper. The most important descriptions usually involve either a certain amount of people, a certain amount of money, or the value of equipment you were responsible for.
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Translate those military terms into civilian ones. For example, resume readers may not get the full meaning of “Commanded two brigades over three-month tour in Baghdad,” but they would understand “Responsible for managing 2,000 people during three-month overseas military operation.” “NCO of the quarter” can mean “manager of the quarter.” Once you’re done, paste the corrected terminology into the appropriate resume areas.
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Collect all your training certificates and documents from your entire career. You will need these if your resume asks for any education or training you’ve had relative to the job. Don’t forget those non-commissioned officer schools, such as the Air Force's Airman Leadership School. Those count as leadership and management training classes. Remember all those self-aid buddy care courses or CPR classes you had? Those are legitimate medical emergency training courses. Just remember to translate as needed, just as with your job description and accomplishments.
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Proofread your resume and recheck your terminology. Double-check the language you use in your resume versus the company’s job description. If they are looking for people who have “leadership experience in high-stress environments,” list those deployment accomplishments—just remember to “civilianize” them.
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Tips & Warnings
Take your resume to your closest base and ask for the family support center. They usually have people on staff who are experts in transitioning from the military to the civilian work force and can help you find employment.
Consider working for the federal government. The application process is long, but they highly value military service; this can give you an advantage.
