How to Write a Military Resume for a Civilian Job?

I'm planning on transitioning from the military to a civilian job after I graduate high school. How do I highlight my military experience on my resume? Any tips on translating those skills for a civilian job application?

Converting military skills, achievements and training into civilian language for a resume can be a challenge. Here are some steps to help you through the process.

1.Start with a strong professional summary: This will be your resume's introduction and should quickly present to recruiters what qualifications and skills you bring to the table. Rather than adopting military jargon, use civilian terms. For example, instead of saying "Squadron Commander," you might say, "Managed a team of 50 individuals in achieving operational objectives."

2. Focus on transferable skills: Identify skills learned during your military service that can relate to civilian positions. For example, leadership, discipline, strategic planning, and crisis management are all job skills highly regarded in the civilian world.

3. Use plain language: Avoid using military acronyms or jargon that civilians may not understand. It's essential that your resume makes sense to hiring managers who likely do not have a military background.

4. Challenge-action-result (CAR) approach: Use this model to present your experience. 'Challenge' would be the situation or problem encountered, 'Action' refers to the strategies used to tackle this challenge, and 'Result' is the positive outcome from that. This way, you can demonstrate process thinking and results-oriented attitude, skills that are highly valued in any job.

5. Quantify achievements where possible: If you generated any measurable results during your military service, make sure to include them in your resume. For example, "Decreased equipment losses by 30% through inventory control improvement" or "Trained 20+ recruits in physical conditioning and military protocol."

6. Education and training: Highlight any courses or training completed in the military that may be relevant to the civilian position you're applying for.

7. Get professional help if needed: Translating military experiences to civilian terms might be tough. If you find it difficult, consider seeking help from a professional resume writer who is familiar with this kind of work.

Remember to tailor your resume to each job application, focusing on the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the role. Also, don't forget to include a cover letter. It provides another avenue to explain your military experience in a narrative format that complements your resume. Good luck!