Resume Writing for Veterans: Decoding the Resume Challenge
Your military service has built a rock-solid foundation of skills, a commitment to excellence, and resilience in the toughest situations. It’s time to make this work to your advantage on the civilian job market – and it all starts with your resume.
From Military Jargon to Career Power
The key to a great resume lies in translation. Here’s how to go from the terminology you know to language civilian employers crave:
- Jargon vs. Plain Talk: A military term like “MOS” or “NCO” means nothing to the average hiring manager. Use the full title (“Military Occupational Specialty”) or a civilian equivalent that conveys the same idea.
- Focus on Outcomes, Not Tasks: Did you manage logistics? Don’t stop there. Show the results! A statement like “Led a team to ensure 98% on-time delivery of mission-critical resources” packs a punch.
- Your Superpower: Transferable Skills. It’s all about adaptability. Military service instills leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, and discipline – qualities every employer needs. Highlight these!
How to translate the experience?
These resources make the military-to-civilian transition smoother:
- O*NET OnLine: (https://www.onetonline.org/) Enter your MOS code to find matching civilian job titles and the skills they require.
- Military.com Skills Translator: (https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/skills-translator) A user-friendly tool to bridge the vocabulary gap.
- [Your Branch]-Specific Translator Tools: Search online for guides tailored to Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, etc. These get even more niche.
The Right Resume Structure For Vets
There’s no one-size-fits-all, but two layouts tend to work great:
- Chronological: This follows the traditional career path format. List roles in reverse date order, emphasizing duties and results. It’s great if your history aligns with your target job.
- Skills-Based: Puts the focus on what you can do rather than just what you’ve done. Emphasize areas like leadership, problem-solving, technical skills. This is excellent for career changers.
The Combo Resume
You can blend these to showcase skills while outlining your work timeline. Use this if you have relevant experience but want to make transferable skills pop.
Veterans – Don’t Skip These Resume Essentials
- The Power of Numbers: “Improved efficiency by 25%” paints a more compelling picture than just “improved efficiency.”
- Keyword Match Game: Tailor your resume for EACH job you apply for. Mimic the language used in the job description.
- Typos: Your Mortal Enemy: Attention to detail was ingrained in you– apply that to your resume! Errors signal sloppiness.
Your Veteran Resume Arsenal – Tools and Support
Crafting a killer veteran-to-civilian resume is critical, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Let’s dive into the wealth of specialized help available, guiding you toward that perfect civilian job!
Don’t Navigate the Job Hunt Alone
- Tap into Your Veteran Network: Your military brothers and sisters who’ve made the transition are gold mines of support and advice. Connect through veteran job boards or organizations specific to your branch.
- Department of Labor, Veteran Services: Your tax dollars at work! DOL helps with resume prep, job fairs, and veteran-focused programs. Find your local office here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets.
- Non-profits Geared Toward Vets: Groups like Hiring Our Heroes (https://www.hiringourheroes.org/) offer resume reviews without any charges, mock interviews, and career coaching by professionals who understand your journey.
Extra Ammo for Your Veteran Resume
- Don’t Sell Yourself Short: Your resume might lack traditional corporate job titles, but it doesn’t lack accomplishment. Take credit for training new recruits, managing operations, or handling stressful situations – translate these into leadership and adaptability.
- Volunteer Work Counts: Volunteering shows initiative and can add skills to your resume. Tutoring, coaching youth sports, or community cleanup all demonstrate teamwork and commitment outside of uniform.
- Education/Certifications Matter: Did you complete courses or earn certifications during your service? Those enhance your expertise – list them! Even partially finished degrees signal a thirst for knowledge.
Beyond the Paper:
- Networking is Gold: Job fairs, industry events, even LinkedIn connections can lead to surprising opportunities.
- Informational Interviews: Reach out to people in your target field for informal chats to get real-world job insights.
- Practice Your Elevator Pitch: Be ready to confidently summarize your skills and what you offer within 30 seconds!
A Word of Encouragement for Veterans
The civilian work world isn’t always intuitive for veterans. You might stumble, or get frustrated. It’s normal! However, don’t underestimate your abilities:
- Your Discipline Sets You Apart: Employers crave the focus and tenacity the military cultivates. Show them yours.
- Advocacy is Key: Ask for help! Organizations and programs exist specifically to get you hired. Use them with pride.
- Confidence Without Cockiness. Project yourself as the leader you are – clear, calm, and ready to make an impact.
A Final Salute
Your service provided incredible experiences and invaluable strengths. Translate these well in your resume, access the network of support around you, and don’t settle. The civilian career you deserve is within reach! Let’s get you that job.
FAQs
- “Do I list awards and medals?” Absolutely! But briefly, emphasizing prestige and skills, not just shiny titles.
- “How do I explain service-related gaps?” Be straightforward! Say “Military service” with dates.
- “Can I include my security clearance?” If it’s relevant to the job and is still active, then YES– it is a huge advantage.