Military Resume - Practical Advice for Military Veterans

Military Resume - Practical Advice for Military VeteransMilitary Resume - Practical Advice for Military VeteransPractical Resume Advice for Military VeteransSwitching careers takes courage. And veterans know a thing or two about courage.But when military personnel finish serving their country and look to re-enter civilian life, they need more than just strong nerves to make the transition to a new career. Finding a job demands practical strategies.For veterans, the struggle is often aligning the skills and experiences theyve gained in the military with the types of jobs that exist outside the military. On top of that, long-serving veterans dont have a lot of experience with resume making.Not to worry. This post is all about helping those that have served in the armed forces create resumes as they landlandseek out civilian positions.We love bringing insights from job recruiters into the products and resources we offer. So, after talking with recruiters about their experiences hiring v eterans, weve focused this post on the following areasThe ideal resume format for veteransImportant resume sections for veteransHow veterans can emphasize specific skillsWhat veterans should avoid on their resumesKeep in mind that there are plenty of other considerations when making a resume. So be aya to also see our guide on how to build a resume in 2019.Best resume format for military veteransThere are three different resume formats that are typically used for resumes. For veterans, the fruchtwein suitable choice is what is called a functional or skills-based resume format.Why this? Well the logic behind the functional format is that it gives greater attention to the skills a person has developed. This stands in contrast to the reverse chronological resume format, which offers more space for a person to outline a long employment history in order to demonstrate career progression.Many veterans have spent much of their working life in the military, so their employment history is re ally one employer even if they have progressed through different roles or ranks.That being the case, listing all the positions and responsibilities over a military career often isnt the best strategy for persuading recruiters in the public or private sector.This is because recruiters often arent familiar with the types of work military personnel undertake, and therefore may not see the applicability of military experience.To avoid this problem, veterans should focus less on describing their former roles/responsibilities, and instead focus on highlighting the skills they have gained that are directly relevant to the position they are seeking.Sample of a Military to Civilian ResumeStart Building Your ResumeImportant resume sections for military veteransSince veterans should embrace the functional, skills-based resume format, the most critical resume section for them is the Key Skills section. This section should come right after the resume summary and should contain the bulk of the c ontent of the resume.The skills section is where you will get descriptive about those skills that are most relevant to the position for which you are applying (more on this below). But you can also have an Additional Skills section that provides a shorter list of the skills you possess, without getting into a more extended description for each listed item.You should still have a Work Experience and Education section on your resume, but ansicht dont have to be very descriptive.Also, its quite common for veterans to have a list of accomplishments, certifications, and courses completed, which may be valuable in recruiters eyes depending on the prospective position. You can include sections for these elements on your resume, and a good resume builder will make it easy to do just that.How to emphasize skills on a resume for military veteransIn terms of the skills to emphasize, its critical that ex-military personnel take a close look at the position requirements to see which skills the o rganization values most. Then, based on these needs, veterans can tailor the skills section of their resume to demonstrate that they have these skills. This is something that recruiters absolutely want to see on a resume.Keep in mind that with a skills-based resume, it is not enough to just state that you have a specific skill. You need to provide some proof, preferably with an example of how you have applied that skill in your military career. Heres an example of how someone who served in the armed forces might include Leadership on his/her resume.Leadership Served as (insert ranking) where I directly led and oversaw a team of (insert of people) officers responsible for telecommunications support for military operations in (insert place) taking place over (insert time period).Note that this example tries to provide as many specifics as possible. Make this your goal when describing your skill set.Not sure of what types of skills can go on a resume? Youd be surprised at the array of hard and soft skills you can include. Take a look at some of the best skills to add to a resume.Some of the most common skills for veterans to highlight in their job applications include leadership, attention to detail, teamwork, problem-solving, planning, communication, and many more. But again, the key is to focus on those skills that seem most relevant to the role you are after.What military veterans should avoid when writing a resumeHere are just a few elements that veterans need to be cautious about when creating their resumes, as well as a few useful counter-strategies.Avoid military jargon Assume that the person who reads your resume has almost no knowledge of military terms, including acronyms or commonly-used code names. Find ways to describe jargon with everyday language.Do not include irrelevant skills Your resume is a strategic document meant to persuade your reader (a recruiter) that you are qualified to do a job. So, even if you are proud of certain skills, if they have little relevance to the role, dont give them too much emphasis.Resist the urge to include an Objective including a statement of objective on a resume has gone out of style. In the past, it was used particularly by career-switchers to explain why they wanted jobs in new fields. This may seem applicable to veterans looking for work outside the military, but there are better ways to address this topic for example, in your cover letter.Regarding the last point, veterans should see job applications as a total package that includes both a cover letter and resume. Your cover letter will give you ample space to expand on your motivations for applying for a civilian-based job and how the skills and experiences gained while serving can be transferred to a new career.Rest assured, many recruiters already see tremendous value in the skill sets that veterans can bring to their own teams and workplaces. Your mission is to show them why you are the right person for the job. Follow the advic e provided above, and youll be well on your way.And dont forget the importance of how your resume looks. Take advantage of a resume builder to give your resume visual appeal that recruiters cant ignore.