4 Key Elements of Your Resume to Find Your Post Military Job
Transitioning to civilian life can be challenging for many veterans. It requires adjusting to the new reality and finding a civilian job.
The key here is to translate your military experience and accomplishments into those that can be helpful in a civilian workplace. Though the employment rates for veterans are getting higher, it is still hard sometimes.
The most important factor is in tailoring a good resume as it is the first impression it makes on an HR specialist. Based on the resume, you will or will not be invited to an interview.
That’s why the first impression should be excellent. Here is a list of key elements to pay attention to in a post-military resume.
Translate the Terminology
Writing a resume is not something we actually learn to do in high-school or college. It should follow the structure and highlight the most important skills and previous positions. It takes as much care and time to tailor a CV than to create a great essay the way specialists at EssayPro do!
When it comes to military experience, there are lots of terms and abbreviations that say nothing to a civilian. The secret here is to translate them the right way.
For example, use “supervisor” instead of “non-commissioned officer” or “operation goals” instead of “combat mission.”
It is essential for two reasons. First of all, it makes the resume understandable for someone who doesn’t have a military background. Secondly, it translates your position and skills into a civilian job.
Some services help to translate terms and abbreviations from the army life
Highlight Your Experiences
There are two common styles of resume, the chronological order or skills-based. The first one is to put all job occupations in chronological order starting with the most recent. After each position, one should list responsibilities and specific competencies.
Skill-based resumes name the skills and experiences and after that mention positions held. You can choose any type you like; the point is to highlight the most relevant skills to the job you are applying to.
Prepare your Verification of Military Experience and Training. List the skills you have like foreign languages, computer engineering, or mechanics experience. All of them are helpful in the civilian workforce.
Among your other skills, you can list leadership, discipline, and work ethic. If you’ve been in charge of others, state the number of people and their responsibilities.
Also, list all your main achievements, like optimizing the budget, conducting training, cross-department management or communication, etc. Any experience that can be useful in a civilian job should be mentioned in a resume.
Tailor a Resume for a Position
Many companies are willing to hire veterans. Yet, the basic and all-in-one resume will not be successful. It is essential to tailor it to a specific position.
The reason is simple – different jobs require different skills. There is no need to mention those that do not apply to this position.
Create a draft structure with the most important elements, like work experience, responsibilities, and skills. Also mention education, both civilian and military training. Use this structure to adjust your CV to a specific position you are aiming to.
For example, if you are looking for a job in engineering, highlight your experience in this matter. If you are looking for an HR position, mention your work with people, communication skills, optimizing the workforce, etc.
If you are not sure what positions to go for, there are helpful resources to start from. These are programs that hire veterans, and one can check them out and see what the possibilities are and what is required.
Cover Letter and Final Edits
It is a good idea to include a cover letter with your application. It should have the name of the HR specialist you're sending it to. One should also mention the position and why you're an ideal candidate for the job.
It should not be too long, about half a page, and up to one page.
Another essential part of preparing an application is to get a free resume review and edit it accordingly. Correct all possible grammar or spelling mistakes, make sure that everything is clear.
You might also ask a civilian friend to read it and say whether there is something hard to understand.
Final Words
In preparing an application for a job, it is important to be clear, concise, and straightforward. Mention all your experiences but translate them into civilian language.
Highlight the essential ones for a job. List education and training and show how all of that makes you an excellent candidate for a position.
To set up an employer profile, post veteran jobs and start finding candidates for your company, please visit our Employer Products page to sign up.
Jenine Wing is a professional academic writer at an EssayPro and an expert social media marketer with years of experience. Jenine possesses an MA degree in Marketing. Being an expert in marketing on social media, she keeps up with the most recent industry trends.
