The military is a great way to get life and job experience; however, things don’t always translate in the civilian world. A Veteran resume may miss out on some opportunities simply for wording things incorrectly. Thankfully, with a few easy tips, you can stand out like the top applicant you are when entering the civilian workforce. Suggested read: How to Motivate Yourself to Workout When Depressed – Tips for Vets

Use a Veteran Resume Builder

One of the first things you’ll want to consider is to simply use an online tool to create your Veteran resume. While there are many options available, Resume Engine through the Hiring Our Heroes program from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a trusted tool. Online, you’ll find the tools you need along with up-to-date tips and tricks geared towards helping Vets get the upper hand in the civilian job market. Additionally, you’ll find Veteran resume examples and leads for jobs with more than 5,000 employers who partner with the program.

What Are Recruiters Looking for in a Veteran Resume?

Here are some top things employers or recruiters will look for in your resumes:

1. Are you using the correct keywords in your resume?
2. Do you have a college degree or comparable work experience?
3. Do you have the necessary certifications or skills?
4. Does your resume show career progression?
5. Outstanding job references?
6. Do you have a searchable online presence? A.k.a. a complete LinkedIn profile?

As long as you said yes to most of these, your chances at landing that dream job are a damn good bet.

Highlight Your Veteran Resume But Use Civilian Terms

Military experience resumes require translation into civilian language to ensure civilian readers and computers understand what you’re saying. For example, you’ll want to replace military jargon with civilian terms. So, while you were the Officer in Charge, it’s better to talk about how you “managed” a group of people, as it translates better outside of the military. Proudly include military titles and ranks, when it makes sense, such as working in private security or law enforcement, but you’ll still want to be sure you are providing civilian translations. Organize your work experience section with separate subheadings for military positions, detailing responsibilities and duties using bullet points and civilian terminology. Focus on highlighting experiences that demonstrate relevant skills for the desired role you are applying for will help you better communicate your value to an organization.

Be Specific About Your Accomplishments

Veterans should proudly showcase their military accomplishments on their resumes but need to be specific about what they did while serving. Incorporating these achievements into your work experience section using clear and understandable language can help paint a picture of how you served and what you can do for the company you’re applying to. A Veteran resume needs to quantify accomplishments with numbers whenever possible, such as "reduced training time by 25%" or "managed a team of 15 people." Specific details provide clarity and context. Additionally, include details about relevant higher education, specialized training, and certifications you’ve earned. Translate specialized military training into civilian terms and research civilian equivalents if necessary. By adding relevant certifications to your resume and online profiles, you can highlight your qualifications and prove competency in your industry. If you notice that you are missing certifications, consider taking online courses to bolster your Veteran resume by closing skill gaps and upgrading current skills to better stand out. Related read: 5% of Army Jobs to Be Cut, However, Soldiers Still Needed

Veteran-Proof Tips Will Make Your Resume Irresistible to Recruiters

If you had/have a resume, but it has not been updated in years, you’re going to need to reevaluate it. The longer you’re out of service the less important your service becomes in the eyes of the civilian sector. Which means you need a new avenue of approach. These tips and tricks could ease your way into it. Give them a look whether you use them or not. As all Veterans know, it doesn’t hurt to have artillery support available when you already have an airstrike in your back pocket. Bite the bullet, shoot the whiskey, embrace the suck, and drive-on.

1. Include Relevant Training or Education

One of the “perks” of being in the military was getting a basically free ride to college. Hope you took advantage of that while you were stuck at your first dead end job out of the military. Any additional training/education or recent work history takes priority. This one makes more sense when you think about it. You’re applying for a new or higher position and your discharge was over three years ago. Employers care far more about the recent you than the older you. Veterans know that a ton can change in three months, let alone three years. Therefore, while your service is on your resume, make sure it takes a back seat if at all possible. A diploma or certification post-service has more weight than anything on a DD-214. Especially with how quickly technology and anything sciences related changes now.

2. Showing Career Progression or Length of Time Worked

Employers will sooner get an interview scheduled with someone who’s worked retail or was a desk jockey then a entry-level manager for years recently, over someone with their military service years prior and nothing else. Consecutive actions, such as working for the same place/position for longer and less gaps without work or education/training in a resume will do wonders. So while it sucked to work at the first job you landed right out of the service, it still showed you were contributing. That you were a dedicated tax paying member of society. That you acquired new “skills” between being in the service and now. Employers will dump a lot of money into getting you trained up and contributing to their pockets. Unlike the military who PCSed you every 1-3 years, they won’t feel comfortable hiring someone who has ping-ponged around job after job every 6 months.

3. You Still Should Mention Your Service

That hasn’t changed. You should/need to still mention it, but it’s now the icing and not the cake itself. The time to talk about your service is during the interview. Try having it as a backup to give you an edge over your competition. Sometimes, you mentioning your service can make you look like a complete bada**. Other interviews, employers will be afraid you’re going to have a breakdown and kill everyone. Be on your toes. Mention it in your resume, but don’t try to highlight “you the veteran or ex-military” over “you the professional.” It’s a sick game, but we all have to play.

Remember the Fundamentals

If you look at military Veteran resume examples, you’ll note that there are many similarities when it comes to style and professionalism. This is no accident. You’ll need to tailor your experiences to the civilian workforce; however, it’s also important to use best practices when writing your resume regardless of your experience or industry. Proofread your resume meticulously to catch typos, spelling errors, and grammar mistakes before submitting job applications. This demonstrates attention to detail and professionalism. Be sure to seek feedback from non-military contacts to ensure clarity for civilian readers. This is a recurring theme for a reason and you can never proofread too much. Keep your resume clear, concise, and focused on relevant details to make it easy to read. Depending on your industry, you may also want to include relevant work samples. Highlight achievements and use keywords from job descriptions to demonstrate alignment with employer needs and improve your chances of passing software used to vet applicants. A Veteran resume is often misunderstood but it doesn’t have to be. Following these simple tips can help you in your job search to make a successful transition into the civilian workforce. Read next: 5 Proven Strategies for Rebuilding Military Family Bonds After Service Updated 3/22/2024