If your time in the military is coming to an end, you may be worrying about the transition back to civilian life. One of the biggest things to get in order is a civilian job. Your military makes you a great fit for leadership opportunities in the corporate world, as long as you know how to frame them correctly. Here are a few tips for including your military experience in your resume.
Avoid military jargon
Titles like Battery Commander, Auxiliary Officer, Equipment Operator, and Assistant G-3 Training Officer sound impressive to others who’ve spent time in the military. But, civilians who have spent no time in the military have little frame of reference to what those titles mean. While in an interview you would be able to explain what these terms mean, recruiters may not select you for an interview if they don’t understand your experience. You want to explain the duties of these titles with the civilian application of your military skills on your resume.
Provide a full picture of your military experience
During your time in the military, you likely worked in a variety of positions that have taught you valuable corporate skills. Include your interpersonal skills gained from coordinating with teammates, subordinates and commanders. Share how you were able to unite these different groups. Whether you were a unit commander or noncommissioned officer, you gained leadership experience throughout your service.
Leave out irrelevant certifications
Throughout your military training, you may have received certifications in a variety of different areas (e.g. Property Book Officer or Command Fitness Leader), with some being more relevant than others. If you received electrical engineering training and are applying for a job as an electrician, that is relevant experience to include. However, weapons training, while important in the military, is not as applicable in say a customer service position. Leave these types of training off of your resume to make room for more relevant experience and training.
Quantify your accomplishments
Numbers don’t lie. When framing your military accomplishments, be sure to put metrics behind them, which make them more understandable to others. Include percentages, money saved or handled and time optimized when describing your accomplishments whenever possible; for example, “Managed the workload of 15 personnel in aircraft maintenance, resulting in a 33% decrease in repairs.” Not every achievement will be able to be quantified. In that case, include some context for the achievement that emphasizes the impact you made.
How to Add Military Experience to your Resume
