Writing a Military Veteran Resume

Introduction

Transitioning from military life to civilian life can be challenging, especially when it comes to writing a resume. Military service provides veterans with unique skills and experiences that are highly valued in the civilian workforce. However, many veterans struggle to translate their military experience into language that civilian employers can understand. In this article, we will discuss some tips and strategies for writing a military veteran resume that highlights your skills and experience and maximizes your chances of landing a job.

Highlighting Your Military Experience

Military experience is invaluable in the civilian workforce, but it can be difficult to communicate that value to potential employers. Here are some tips for highlighting your military experience on your resume:

• Use civilian-friendly language. Avoid military jargon and acronyms that may be unfamiliar to civilian employers. Instead, use language that is easy to understand and clearly communicates your experience and skills.
• Focus on your achievements. Your military experience has likely provided you with a wealth of accomplishments that can be applied to civilian jobs. Highlight your achievements and quantify your impact, using numbers and statistics where possible.
• Emphasize your leadership skills. Military service requires leadership at all levels, from commanding officers to lower-ranking enlisted personnel. Emphasize your leadership skills, including your ability to lead teams, manage resources, and make decisions under pressure.
• Include any additional training or certifications you received during your military service. Many military specialties require extensive training and certification in areas that are highly valued in the civilian workforce, such as logistics, engineering, and healthcare.

Skills and Qualifications

When writing your resume, it is important to make sure that your skills and qualifications match the requirements of the job you are applying for. Here are some tips for highlighting your skills and qualifications:

• Create a skills section. This section should be near the top of your resume and should list your most relevant skills and qualifications. Use bullet points to make this section easy to scan.
• Mention specific skills in your experience section. When describing your military experience, mention specific skills that you used or developed, such as communication, problem-solving, or technical skills.
• Translate your military experience into civilian terms. For example, if you were a tank mechanic in the military, you could describe your experience as "performing routine maintenance and repairs on heavy equipment."
• Tailor your resume to the job description. Use keywords from the job description in your resume to demonstrate that you have the skills and qualifications required for the job.

Conclusion

Writing a military veteran resume can be challenging, but by highlighting your military experience, emphasizing your skills and qualifications, and tailoring your resume to the job description, you can create a resume that stands out to potential employers. Remember, your military experience has given you valuable skills and experiences that are highly valued in the civilian workforce, and with the right approach, you can land the job you want.