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Combat to Community: How to De-Militarize Your Resume

Last Updated May 12, 2021

Man writing a resume in an office.

Leaving military service for a job in the civilian world may present many challenges for veterans. One of these hurdles is preparing a resume that clearly translates their experience in the military to careers in the corporate world.

The good news for veterans is that many of the skills picked up during their time in service – like critical thinking, team building and leadership – are typically aligned with skill qualifications valued by civilian employers.

Crafting a new resume is critical to making the leap from the military to the civilian world. It’s an issue individuals may address as they go through the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), which is a training program that most servicemembers are now required to take as they exit the military. This article discusses aspects of the resume and ways to make it stand out from the competition.

Gather Your Information

The first step is to put together a list of all the skills learned during your time in service. It’s important to think of skills attained, not positions held. The specific duties that come with a military title may be lost on civilian recruiters. While you will likely need to name the position held, think of the skills learned in that position when writing the job description. These include skills in areas such as information technology, mechanical work or engineering. 

The Department of Defense offers help in this area through the Verification of Military Experience and Training document. This document gathers all reported demographic, training, and experience records in one place and also helps describe military occupations in civilian terms.

It’s important to also mention intangible skills on the resume, such as discipline, leadership experience and work ethic. Employers value soft skills as much or more than technical skills, according to LinkedIn. That’s because technical skills can be taught, but it’s harder to teach someone how to be a leader, work well on a team or develop a work ethic.

Don’t Use Jargon

As you write descriptions of what you did in the military, avoid the acronyms used in the military, most of which may not be understood by a civilian hiring manager. For example, use Non-Commissioned Officer, not NCO. It may also be helpful to refrain from using the technical terms for equipment – using “tank” or “helicopter” will do. If the hiring manager wants specifics, they will ask.

Tailor the Resume To The Job

It’s important not to create one resume and then use it for every job. As pointed out by Military.com, you should rework your resume to highlight the skills desired in specific jobs. They also list differences between civilian resumes and federal resumes that are important to keep in mind. They include:

  • Keep descriptions short, with the skills listed. There’s no need for long paragraphs on each job.
  • Listing accomplishments and awards is not necessary, but if you do so, list them at the bottom of the resume
  • Civilian resumes are best if kept to one page

Also, remember that civilian resumes typically follow a chronological format, starting with the most current position at the top and then working backward through time as the reader goes down the page. This helps hiring managers see how your skillsets and responsibilities have grown over time.

Converting Military Jobs to Civilian World

The key is to look at this issue through the eyes of a civilian recruiter. They may not understand what a military position means or any of the associated jargon. Make it a simple process for them to follow along and recognize applicable skills that can be used in a civilian job.

For example, rather than supplying all the information about the munitions tracking software you used, write that you have expertise in running an inventory-tracking system. If you held a position such as sharpshooter, you might translate that to the civilian world by listing the associated skills you learned, including attention to detail and working under pressure.

Military positions typically require critical thinking skills and the ability to make decisions without supervision under deadline pressure.

View military experience as “added value,” not the specific duties. Presented correctly, military experience can be seen as an asset to employers.

Other Resources and Examples

Here are some resources that may help you create a strong resume:

You may also consider applying the principles of Lean Six Sigma when drafting your resume. Lean Six Sigma is a process improvement methodology that emphasizes cutting waste and focusing on the essentials. Combining waste-fighting measures with data-driven techniques, Lean Six Sigma can help individuals and organizations address critical business problems and increase production and efficiency. Having a Lean Six Sigma mindset when writing a resume may help you cut out unneeded words or formatting, help you focus on listing the most pertinent details why you’re the right person for the job, and tailor each resume to show how your skills match the desired job.

Information provided as to the availability and eligibility for military or veteran education assistance programs is for general informational use only. Please check with your Education Services Officer or local Department of Veterans Affairs for eligibility, benefit amount and application processes specific to your situation.

VA Benefit Eligibility: Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Web Enabled Approval Management System (WEAMS) to view which programs of study or courses are currently certified. Benefit certification depends upon your VA determined eligibility, enrollment status and certified program of study.

For additional resources and information, or to contact a member of our team, visit Villanova’s Office of Veterans and Military Service Members page here.

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