Military to Civilian Resume Sample

1. Translate your background into civilian terms.

Unfortunately, the terms used in the armed forces are not quite straightforward for the average layperson. For hiring managers with little to no familiarity with the military, titles like “Heavy Signal Platoon Leader” and “Expeditionary Signal Battalion” can be unclear and uninformative.

Thus, it’s important to avoid using military codes and jargon. Instead, translate your experiences into more common terms. Consider the following substitutes.

Military to Civilian Terms

Artillery, weapons	→	Equipment, supplies
Battalion, regiment, squad, troop	→	Personnel, staff, team
Commander, sergeant	→	Director, manager, supervisor
Intelligence activities, reconnaissance	→	Data collection and analysis, strategizing
Mission	→	Objective, task
Subordinates	→	Employees

2. Emphasize transferable skills and competencies.

It may not be immediately obvious, but your skills in the armed forces can indeed transfer to a civilian career. For instance, deploying to locations around the world has likely fostered a strong sense of flexibility and intercultural awareness.

Similarly, managing the health, welfare, safety, and morale of soldiers has probably bred skills in personnel management and team-building.

To brainstorm, take a step back and consider your military experiences in the context of civilian life. What are key takeaways you’ve gained as a service member? You can highlight these in your summary of qualifications, which provides hiring managers with an overarching view of what you contribute as a potential employee.

The reality is that not all of your military experiences will easily translate into employer needs, but this doesn’t mean you need to start from square one.

Serving in the military fosters a number of core skills that are valuable in every sphere of life – attention to detail, time management, and task prioritization are just a few of them.

3. Target employer needs.

Part of the challenge of transitioning to civilian life after serving in the armed forces is finding a good job fit. Of course, it’s not necessary to have a complete career trajectory mapped out, but it’s helpful to reflect on jobs you can envision holding outside of the military.

Browse job boards to see what’s available, and identify occupations that may align with roles you held in the military.

Once you’ve identified a target job, do your research on the position’s requirements and consider how your own experiences relate. As with any job, tailoring your resume to an employer’s needs will make you a more appealing candidate. Highlight keywords from job descriptions and incorporate them, where applicable.

Leave out experiences that are irrelevant to your target career. For instance, if you’re looking into IT positions, like our sample candidate, active combat experience is better left unmentioned. However, if you’re exploring careers in law enforcement and security, it would be worth noting experience on the frontline.

4. Consider boosting your education.

Perhaps you’d like to strengthen your military to civilian resume by returning to school first. Thanks to the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, qualifying veterans are eligible for hefty financial aid for college classes or on-the-job training.

Moreover, degree-granting institutions taking part in the Yellow Ribbon Program provide additional support for veterans pursuing higher education. They’re not the only ones; many colleges, universities, and local organizations also offer scholarships up to $10,000 for veterans and their families.

Take advantage of these benefits, as including an online course or certification on your veteran resume can help make you significantly more employable and advance your civilian career further.

5. Make the most of your resources.

It’s not an easy transition moving from the military into civilian life, but know that you’re not alone. Plenty of resources exist to help veterans successfully land civilian employment, including:

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services
• CareerOneStop’s Military to Civilian Occupation Translator
• G.I. Jobs Veterans Employment Center
• White House’s Joining Forces Employment Resources
• Military.com’s Military Skills Translator
• Military.com’s Veteran Job Postings
• O*NET OnLine’s Military Crosswalk Search
• VetNet’s Career Services
• Vets.gov’s Career Services

Transitioning to a civilian career may be intimidating, but it’s far from impossible. Incorporate our writing tips to ease the job search and make a successful transition.

And if you still need help, our free resume builder is a great resource!