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How to Make Your Military Resume Civilian Ready

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

As a service member preparing for a military-to-civilian transition, there are steps you can take to make your military resume civilian ready. Prepare to more effectively reach prospective employers and broaden your post-service opportunities by making a few simple adjustments to your resume.

Since most civilian employers don't know how to apply military skills to civilian work, you will need to do it for them. Bridge the military and non-military gap by translating your experience and personal qualities to language that they can understand.



Follow these steps to make your resume ready for the civilian workplace:

1. Change the Tone - Oftentimes, military resumes are too lengthy, too broadly focused, and packed with military jargon and terminology. Since all of those acronyms only serve to emphasize that you are coming from a very different background, it's best to strike them out and replace them with clear job descriptions that are more easily understood.

2. Include a Summary and Objective - While the majority of job seekers choose to begin their resume with either a career summary (what you have to offer) or an objective statement (what you want), applicants leaving the military may want to include both. Write your summary based on the job you are looking for and state the objective that you wish to transition your relevant military skills to that position.

3. Eliminate Unnecessary Information - Omit information that is not pertinent to your goal, such as long lists of unrelated military awards and training. For example, the medal you received for rifle marksmanship doesn't belong on a civilian resume. However, you may want to bring a list of those distinctions to the job interview and include in your cover letter that if the employer wishes, you will be glad to discuss your military commendations.

4. Simplify the Text - Include a short paragraph describing positions you have held with a bullet-point list of accomplishments, worded in a way that the average civilian can comprehend the importance and measurable outcomes of these achievements. For each one you cite, ask yourself, "Why might this employer care about this experience?"

As you begin to make the transition to a civilian career, a military background is invaluable testimony that you have the qualities desirable to prospective employers, such as discipline, self-motivation, and the ability to learn. Show prospective employers that you are the ideal candidate with a resume that speaks for both your military and civilian career skills.

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