At MVP, we’re here to help you transition from military to civilian life as seamlessly as possible. One of the biggest challenges for Veterans is crafting a compelling resume. The differences between military and civilian jobs are vast, so it makes sense that a military resume’s format and style would differ from that of a civilian resume.
The more you understand what kind of resume civilian employers are looking for the better chance you have of landing your dream job. In this blog, we’ve put together a list of the most common challenges veterans face when crafting a resume. We’ve also included a few tips and resources for putting together a strong, professional resume.
Translating your Military Experience into Civilian Terms
First, let’s outline a common scenario. You’ve finished writing your resume and you’re ready to send it off or upload it. Before you press enter, ask yourself the following questions: Have I overloaded my resume with military acronyms and lingo? Will a hiring manager for a civilian role be able to understand the words I use?
As a Veteran, you’re equipped with an impressive range of knowledge, skills and experiences. However, these attributes must be communicated in a way that a recruiter with no military ties can appreciate. At most, a hiring manager will take 30 seconds to read your resume and decide if you’re qualified. If they see a military term they cannot understand, they will likely move on to the next candidate.
One great resource for overcoming this challenge is this guide from the Veteran and Military Transition Center. It contains a list of military terms and their civilian equivalents. Instead of saying “commander” or “commanding officer,” for instance, you can substitute “supervisor,” “leader” or “chief operations officer.”
We suggest going over your resume and highlighting every military term or acronym. Then go to the thesaurus, look up the word and substitute the civilian expression. It’s tedious at first, but once you get the hang of it your resume will be ready to go!
Use a Professional Summary Right Below the Header
Your resume should begin with your title, years of experience and three to four specializations that line up with the position you’re applying for. The purpose of this summary is to signal quickly to the hiring manager that you’re qualified for the role.
This summary is also important because of the applicant tracking system (ATS) – a piece of software that helps hiring managers organize the incoming deluge of resumes and scan them for keywords to see if you’re qualified for the role. By including the relevant keywords from the job description, you’re guaranteed to get past the ATS and in front of the hiring manager.
To learn more about crafting a compelling summary and laying out your resume, check out our guide to writing a strong resume using the “Above the Fold” method here.
Putting your Resume into Civilian Format
Congratulations – your resume has gotten past the ATS and is being looked over! But your resume must still pull some weight before you land the job. Just as military and civilian terms differ, so do the formats for military and civilian resumes.
Military veterans have often had many different jobs throughout their service. Because military resumes are skill-based, you typically list your most relevant jobs and leadership experiences first.
However, a civilian resume follows a chronological order, beginning with your most recent position and moving backward. Civilian employers want to see the development of your abilities and how they’ve led to your most important accomplishments.
There are a few alternatives to the reverse chronological format. If you’ve got a few gaps in your job history, for instance, then use a functional resume with your skills and accomplishments listed first. Only do this format if you’re sure that your skills and accomplishments directly qualify you for the role. Otherwise, stick to reverse chronology.
You also have the option of the combination format. This type of resume includes your relevant skills first, but in the context of the particular job you worked in. A combination resume has the benefit of putting your skills first, but with the added benefit of a job history.
Conclusion
Once you’ve chosen a format, converted all your military lingo into civilian terms and put together a professional summary, you’re ready to upload your resume. Should you have any questions or doubts about your resume, contact the Veteran representative at your local career center. This person should be able to review your resume free of charge. After you’ve gotten a pair of second eyes to look your resume over, just upload it to MVP, sit back and relax.