Shifting from military to civilian life can be difficult, especially for veterans who have been in the military for most of their lives. These are two entirely different worlds, and experiencing the different cultural environments firsthand can be quite jarring. Some even end up believing that the skills they’re good at do not apply to the civilian setting. That is far from the truth!
Building a military-to-civilian resume requires a significant amount of focus, time, and effort, though. However, with perseverance and due diligence, you can make that transition smoother and quicker. If you need help, booking a professional resume writing service might be your best bet. A professional military resume writer with a trained eye and years of experience can help you highlight your strengths and achievements in a way that resonates with civilian employers.
What Is the Difference Between a Military and Civilian Resume?
Switching from a military to a civilian career involves more than just converting military terms into everyday language. The structure and content of military resumes are quite different from those of civilian resumes.
Here are the key differences between military and civilian resumes:
● Length. Military resumes are often comprehensive, including extensive details such as units, locations, ranks, branches served, duties, awards, and achievements, which can make them quite lengthy. Civilian resumes, on the other hand, are usually one to two pages, focusing solely on job-relevant qualifications.
● Skills. Military resumes emphasize your specific job duties and responsibilities within the armed forces. Civilian resumes focus on the skills relevant to the job you’re applying for, highlighting your achievements rather than listing all your abilities.
● Terminology. The military uses specific jargon and acronyms with a dedicated Department of Defense dictionary. Military resumes might include these terms, but civilian resumes should use standard professional language that’s easily understood by all employers.
● Formatting. Military resumes are generally more uniform and structured. Civilian resumes, however, allow for more flexibility and creativity in terms of format and layout, though both should maintain a professional presentation and ideally be ATS compliant.
How to Write a Military-To-Civilian Resume
The good news is that even if you’ve never worked in a modern workplace before, the values that you hold dear in the military—such as loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage—are also held in high esteem in whatever setting.
It’s all just a matter of perspective, and you can make an employer see things from your point of view with a well-crafted military transition resume.
With this in mind, below are some tips to help you get your military transition resume to fit a civilian career.
Define Your Career Goal as a Civilian
You won’t be able to market yourself effectively if your goal is not clearly defined. Fortunately, your military-to-civilian resume gives you a chance to do so.
Before you start drafting your resume, take some time to reflect on what you want to achieve in your civilian career. Consider your interests, strengths, and the skills you’ve acquired during your military service. Think about the type of work environment you thrive in and the kind of roles that align with your long-term goals.
Defining your career goals will help you tailor your military transition resume to highlight the most relevant experiences and skills. It will also guide you in crafting a clear and compelling objective statement, ensuring that potential employers understand your aspirations and how you can contribute to their organization.
Collect Your Documents and Assets
It helps to prepare oneself for a civilian career long before being discharged, but if you already are, there are still plenty of immediate steps you can take to make yourself more marketable.
- Begin by organizing documents concerning your educational and training background. This includes diplomas, transcripts, and certificates from any military or civilian courses you’ve completed.
- Be sure to have copies of your Report of Separation (DD Form 214) and Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) to verify your military service, training, and experience.
- Likewise, obtain transcripts of any completed military training or coursework that detail your accomplishments, such as a Sailor-Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART), award narratives, certificates, and evaluation reports.
- If you have a Top Security Clearance or other security clearances, make sure to highlight them. Most employers highly value these clearances as they save time and money on background checks and demonstrate accountability and responsibility.
Choose A Resume Style
Select the right resume format to effectively present your military experience and skills. Here are three common resume styles to consider:
Chronological Resume: Emphasizes Employment History
- Lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job.
- Includes detailed descriptions of your duties and achievements for each role.
Functional Resume: Focuses on Skills
- Highlights your skills and competencies rather than your job history.
- Organizes skills and accomplishments into specific categories of expertise, minimizing attention to gaps in employment.
Combination Resume: Blends Skills and Work History
- Showcases the skills you’ve developed across various positions but still follows a job history format.
- The main resume section highlights your key skills, followed by a brief employment history.
In addition to choosing the right resume format, consider utilizing a cover letter writing service to enhance your job application. A well-crafted cover letter can complement your resume and help you stand out to potential employers.
Build and Personalize Your Resume
● Personal Information. Place your details at the top of your military transition resume. Include your name, address, phone number, and email. Leave out other personal information like marital status, height, weight, and religious affiliation.
● Career Goal. Right after personal information, state your career goal. Normally, an objective would be redundant on a regular civilian resume; however, when it comes to a military transition application, 1-2 sentences about your professional goal would not hurt.
● Professional Experience. List military roles in order, focusing on responsibilities and achievements relevant to civilian jobs. Include military training pertinent to your desired job and any civilian education that complements it. If you can share any measurable accomplishments – add them.
● Skills. Note technical skills that are easily transferable to civilian jobs, such as computer expertise, mechanical skills, and engineering abilities. Soft skills that are attractive to employers, such as leadership, discipline, and a strong work ethic, should be gently mentioned in the cover letter; don’t list them on your resume.
● Other Recognitions. Highlight certifications recognized in civilian sectors. If applicable, add volunteer work to show credibility and demonstrate character. Consider structuring it as you would your professional experience.
Utilize Networking and Mentorship
One of the most overlooked — yet most powerful — tools for transitioning veterans is networking and mentorship. While the military promotes a culture of structure and rank-defined pathways, the civilian job market often relies on relationships, referrals, and informal connections. Building a strong professional network can ease your entry into the private sector and uncover opportunities that may not be advertised publicly.
Start by updating your LinkedIn to reflect your new civilian career goals. Join LinkedIn groups geared toward veterans, such as Veterans Employment Network or Military to Civilian Career Transition, which share jobs, resume tips, and useful resources.
Beyond online networking, seek out mentorship opportunities from programs like American Corporate Partners (ACP). They pair transitioning service members with experienced professionals in your target industry. This insight can be invaluable. Veterati offers on-demand mentorship from volunteers who are eager to support veterans with career coaching, resume advice, and job search strategies.
Mentors can help you translate your military experience into civilian terms, offer honest feedback, and open doors through their own networks.
Remember: networking is not about asking for a job. While actively networking, you will be building relationships and learning from those who’ve walked the road before you. Your service has already built a foundation of discipline, leadership, and adaptability. Networking and mentorship will help you channel those strengths into the career you want and deserve. Don’t wait for the opportunity to come knocking — start making connections now, and let others help you open the right doors.
Consider Federal Jobs
Many veterans naturally gravitate toward federal employment due to the familiarity with government structure and benefits, but it’s critical to understand how to tailor your application depending on your target employer. Federal and private sector job applications require very different types of resumes. Choosing the right format and content can make or break your chances, especially when applying through automated systems or rigid agency protocols.
Here’s how federal resumes differ from private sector resumes and what you should keep in mind:
- Federal resumes are typically 3–5 pages long and must include detailed information such as job titles, GS levels, employment history (with hours per week), supervisor contact info, and detailed responsibilities. Don't fret over active verbs or fitting everything into two pages like you would with a private sector resume.
- These types of roles will require a KSA (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) statement. They help demonstrate how your experience meets the core competencies of the position. Skipping these is not advisable and can limit your options. Private resumes emphasize specific accomplishments supported by measurable results and do not require formal essays.
- Federal resumes should be in a clear chronological format; there is no room for a functional format when applying for government jobs.
Additional Tips to Keep in Mind
Avoid Military Jargon
Refrain from using military terms in your transition resume. Replace military-specific terms and acronyms with civilian equivalents. For example, “squad leader” can be “team leader” or “project manager” based on the context.
What difference did you make, and how can you describe those accomplishments in a way that a civilian can understand? This can be done in one of two ways: by ‘demilitarizing’ your accomplishment statement or by describing a military award in a way that civilians can understand it.
Below are examples of each:
● A ‘demilitarized’ accomplishment statement:
Averted risks by conducting an in-depth audit and focusing on team building as well as individual training. Set up programs that helped my team become one of the winningest in the Army’s IT and communications population.
● Military award with a description in layman’s terms:
Received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for performing high-quality technical and military instruction using a wide variety of tools and techniques, including training exercises, PowerPoint presentations, seminars, and talks.
Leave Out Details of Actual Combat
Your defense of your country is something that you should be proud of, but any information on your resume that pertains to violence can make hiring managers a little uneasy. Limit any reference to the battlefield, if not eliminate them.
Proofread and Revise
A military transition resume doesn’t necessarily have to be a one-off process. Create a rough draft, tweak it, and show it to employers or recruiters that you may know. Such feedback would be invaluable in polishing your resume.
Ask for feedback and listen to advice on how you can improve your resume. It can also help you reach out and show your resume to your fellow veterans who have made a successful transition. They may be willing to guide or coach you on what you can do to make your resume more effective. For expert assistance, consider using a resume review service to ensure you correct the mistakes and let your resume stand out.
Conclusion
Pursuing a civilian career after years of military service can take an emotional toll. You are not just going through a professional transition. And it's perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or even isolated. Keep in mind that you are not alone in this - others have walked this path and were successful.
Here are the resources you can explore:
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers mental health support and counselling services.
- Give an Hour - a non-profit that aims to provide individualized mental health assistance.
- Wounded Warrior Project - veteran-focused therapy and peer support.
Let's face it: The military-to-civil transition is more than a career move. It's a major change in one's identity and lifestyle. Do keep in mind, though, that the skills and discipline that you have developed during your service are highly in demand.
The key is to translate those experiences into language and formats that resonate with civilian recruiters. There are tools, communities, and professional services like Resumeble here to support you every step of the way - from choosing the right resume format to impactfully telling your career story.
Whether you're targeting the private sector, government jobs, or choosing an entrepreneurial avenue, it all starts with a well-written resume that bridges the gap between service and civilian careers.
Need help making your military background stand out? Contact us today for a personalized, professionally written resume that opens doors in the civilian workforce.