Military to Corporate Jobs: Navigating the Shift

I'm planning to leave the military for a corporate job. Any tips on how to adjust my resume and interview method to showcase my leadership and organizational skills from the military?

Absolutely, leveraging those invaluable skills you've gained in the military can certainly be beneficial in the corporate world. Let's discuss some strategies:

Firstly, your resume! Your military experience, while unique and valuable, isn't always understood by civilian employers. Therefore, it's important to translate that military jargon into civilian terms. Instead of ranks, try to use universal job titles such as "manager" or "team leader". Highlight any pertinent military achievements using easily understandable keywords.

Focus on transferrable skills. Your leadership, discipline, teamwork, and ability to work under pressure are all qualities deemed desirable by employers in all sectors. For each role you had in the military, list the skills you developed that most closely align with those in the civilian job you're aiming for.

For instance, if you led a team, tie that into the leadership, project management, and strategic planning skills that corporate jobs may require. If you were involved in logistics, highlight your strategic planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Moving on to interviews, a similar approach is necessary. Make sure to discuss your experiences in a way that directly relates to the corporate role you're applying for. Use the language from the job description to help guide you.

One area where you can truly shine in an interview is by revealing your soft skills like adaptability, resilience, and ability to perform under pressure. These, along with practical skills such as team management, communication, and problem-solving, transition well to the corporate world.

Lastly, one common area former military personnel often struggle with in interviews is self-promotion. In the military, there is often a focus on collective achievement rather than individual accomplishment. However, in an interview, ensuring you take credit for your accomplishments will help establish your personal value to potential employers.

The transition from military to corporate is definitely a significant shift, but your experiences have prepared you with a unique set of transferable skills that are valuable in any setting. Be confident in your abilities and good luck with your move into the corporate world!