Transitioning from military enlistment to a civilian career? Writing a resume that translates your military skills for a civilian employer is a necessary first step before you start applying to new opportunities. You'll need to highlight your experience and show how your skills align with civilian roles.
Your Contact Information
Place your contact info at the top: name, phone, email, and city/state. Use a simple email like firstname.lastname@gmail.com
A Strong Summary
Your resume summary should be a 3-4 sentence overview that highlights your skills and experience. Include years of service experience, leadership experience, and technical skills. For example, Machinist Mate in the United States Navy with over ten years experience in leadership and logistics. Skilled in project management and process improvement.
Translate Military Terms
Avoid military jargon—use civilian equivalents. You can use your military titles, for example, Chief Petty Officer; however, you need to describe in your paragraph and bullet points what you did using civilizing terms. You were not a Project Manager in the military, but you did manage projects. The two do not translate equivocally.
Choose A Format
Pick a resume format that suits your experience:
- Chronological: Best for steady work history.
- Functional: Focuses on skills, this is useful if there are employment gaps.
- Combination: Highlights both skills and experience.
We Prefer a Chronological Format
List your military experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent billet. Include your position, location, command, dates, and then the key accomplishments for each billet. (We can provide sample resumes if you need them)
Quantify your accomplishments
Make sure you quantify your accomplishments, for example don't just list the number of people you led. Include how you improved efficiency, and how you did it. For example: Led a team of twenty direct reports. Improved efficiency by 25% by finding and implementing project management software to create tasks, track progress, and set deadlines.
Transferable Skills
- Technical skills: Software, equipment, or systems knowledge.
- Soft skills: Leadership, communication, and teamwork.
- Hard skills: Project management, data analysis, logistics.
Keep It Simple
Use a clean layout with standard fonts (Arial, Times New Roman). Stick to 11-12 point size and avoid graphics or flashy designs.
Skills outside your Military Service
Include:
- Volunteer experience (if it relates to the position): Shows community involvement.
- Relevant training: Military training that aligns with civilian roles.
- Security clearance: If you have one, mention it!
Cover Letter
If it's requested, you'll need to explain your interest in the role and how your military skills apply. It's a chance to address gaps or highlight unique experiences before an interview.
Review and Get Feedback
Proofread your resume carefully. Make sure when you open it in Word, you don't see the red lines (misspelled words) or blue lines (grammar errors), and you have tracked changes turned off. Ask for feedback from someone who understands both military and civilian workplaces. There are many options out there for resume writing assistance. A simple Google search will reveal many options.