| you’re separating from the military after years | | | | points of your job or skills, a good rule of thumb is to |
| of service, it can be daunting to look for a civilian job. | | | | avoid using more than one line to do so. Leave out |
| Sure, you’ve got experience that most other | | | | why you did something (ie: a personnel shortage |
| job seekers don’t. (Has any other applicant | | | | prompted you to volunteer) or details that would only |
| jumped out of an airplane in the middle of the night? I | | | | matter to the military (ie: the make or model of |
| don’t think so.) But the question is, how do you | | | | aircraft). For greater effectiveness, keep it simple: |
| get potential employers to look past | | | | “My retention program resulted in a 20% |
| “military” and see how your incredible | | | | increase in re-signings.” |
| experiences will benefit their company? | | | | • Learn a new language. The military has its |
| It’s not such a difficult task, but it does require | | | | own language and terminology that people on the |
| more finesse than the typical job seeker has to put | | | | outside don’t necessarily understand. And since |
| into a resume. There are several mistakes that many | | | | the point of a resume is to clearly communicate your |
| former military personnel make when writing a resume | | | | skills and strengths, you need to research the |
| designed for civilian jobs. Fortunately, the tips below will | | | | non-military way to phrase your skills. Also, never use |
| help you understand what potential employers are | | | | acronyms or abbreviations. Make your resume as |
| looking for and how to design your resume to meet | | | | easy to understand as possible. |
| those needs. | | | | • Include relevant courses and programs |
| • Play up the discipline factor. What’s | | | | you’ve completed. Remember those IT or |
| the first thing that comes to mind when most civilians | | | | management classes the military made you take? |
| think of military service? Discipline, a strong work ethic, | | | | Those are very transferable into the private sector. |
| or perhaps loyalty. And what characteristics are | | | | Employers won’t care that the military paid for |
| employers looking for today? Discipline, a strong work | | | | them; they care about the knowledge you gained. So |
| ethic, and loyalty. One of the biggest complaints that | | | | list all of the classes you completed that are relevant |
| employers have today is that employees job hop | | | | to the job you’re applying for. |
| frequently and don’t have the work ethic that | | | | • Take advantage of your documented |
| they did 20 years ago. This is one area where your | | | | evaluations. In the military, you receive constant |
| military experience will work to your advantage, so | | | | evaluations of how you’re doing in your |
| highlight your work ethic and ability to self-start. | | | | job—unlike most civilians. You’ve got |
| • Stick to the point. As the commercial says, | | | | proof that you met or exceeded expectations, so |
| you probably did more before 9 a.m. than most people | | | | don’t forget to include that data. Use more than |
| do all day, but don’t put it all in your resume. | | | | words, though. Highlight the numbers and percentages |
| Outline your military jobs and the transferable skills | | | | that prove your point: how many personnel you |
| applicable to the job you’re applying for. If you | | | | supervised or how much you slashed a budget. |
| worked in communications, for example, and are now | | | | • Separate your skills from your achievements. |
| searching for a communication job outside the military, | | | | You undoubtedly have many of both as a result of |
| focus on how you developed a new information | | | | your military career. For a more readable resume, |
| system. The honors you received for shooting | | | | don’t try to include both in the same section, or |
| accuracy isn’t going to interest them. | | | | it will become too wordy. Hiring managers want |
| • Don’t deluge with details. Similar to the | | | | easy-to-digest information bullets, so give it to them. |
| tip above, when you’re describing the finer | | | | |