Writing a Military to Civilian Resume for the First Time

If you are a person with military experience and are looking to transition into civilian life slowly, it can seem challenging at first. It may even seem like you have just come back from a battle only to embark on your next one. However, it doesn’t have to be challenging at all. Several aspects of being military personnel can prove your dedication, focus, leadership skills, and teamwork to your potential employers. It is vital that you showcase your military experiences in a manner that demonstrates your unique attributes.

Veterans should seek out the best military resume writing services in 2021 to help transform their military resume to a civilian CV, because some of the best military resume writing services can highlight your professional experience, education, skills, and other relevant certifications such as awards or merits to your potential employers attractively. Such military to civilian resume writing services, when used, have proven to be beneficial to many veterans who have come back after serving their nation.

It can be quite tricky for veterans who have just come back to readjust to civilian life. Getting back in the groove and taking natural supplements can help with personnel suffering from PTSD. If you are looking to craft your military to civilian resume for the first time and are unsure where to begin, here are some tips to get you started.

1. Summarize your accomplishments:

Starting your resume with a sentence that summarizes who you are and what you have achieved so far is an excellent way to gain your potential employers’ attention. You may wish to translate your achievements and skills shortly and concisely. The sentence should also show your hiring manager why you would be a good fit for their company.

2. Read the job description carefully:

Every employer is looking for a different set of skills from their applicants. Make sure you understand the core of what the hiring manager is looking for and tailor your application around their needs. Reading is not only one of the best ways for veterans to keep their minds sharp, but it also helps them craft a resume that can appeal to the hiring managers. It is best to add relevant skills and knowledge that can help you stand out.

3. Use reverse chronological order:

In the reverse chronological order of listing out your work experiences, your recent job experiences come first. This is a great way for your employers to see where you worked last and the tasks you had to undergo while working in the said company. As a veteran, your time in the military will be the first thing they see in your application, which can excellently summarize the candidate.

4. Include a separate skills section:

It is best to allot a separate section for skills such that the employer can quickly skim through your application and find the relevant skills. As military personnel, you may use technical terms, but it is best to use civilian words to describe your skills. Non-military people don’t generally understand military job titles and duties, so you may want to translate that to civilian language as well. There are many transferable skills, such as problem-solving and working together in a team that can highlight your application.

5. Add your educational background:

It is always a good idea to add your educational background to your CV such that the employer knows of your knowledge level. For instance, if you went to one of the top five colleges for marketing, you may want to include it in your application. You may also wish to add any additional courses that you have undertaken that are relevant to the position you are applying for.

6. Keep it short:

You may be tempted to add multiple pages to your resume, but you do more harm than good in doing so. Most hiring managers are pressed for time and cannot manage the time to scour through pages and pages of an applicant’s CV. It is best to keep the overall CV short such that the potential employer has a good idea of you in a few minutes.

7. Add your achievements:

You don’t want to oversell yourself in your resume, but you don’t’ want to undersell yourself either. It is best to include your personal and professional achievements in the resume such that you showcase your ability to carry out various projects and tasks. If there are certain things you did in the military that you are proud of, such as successfully running a task force or being in charge of recruits, you may wish to add that as well.

8. Don’t lie on your resume:

As with all resumes, there is a fine line of difference between exaggerating and downright lying about your skills and expertise. Sometimes, applicants may add some false advertising of themselves to get selected for the position. However, these lies have a way of catching up, and when found, it will not only damage your reputation but can be a step back in your career.

Conclusion

One’s military experience is an asset, and most companies are happy to hire veterans. By highlighting your skills and knowledge, you may show why you are a good fit for the company you are applying for.