Complete Transition Guide from Military to Civilian Resume

Making the switch from military service to a civilian career can feel like a big leap, but a strong military transition resume can help bridge the gap. Veterans have a lot to offer with their unique skills, experiences, and approaches to work. It’s important, though, to translate military terms into language that civilian employers understand.

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 yours 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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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 position, but still follows a job history format.

● The main 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.

4. 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 same you would your professional experience.

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 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 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.