Effective Resume Writing for Veterans: Tips and Templates

Effective Resume Writing for Veterans: Tips and Templates

Transitioning from military to civilian life brings its own set of challenges, not least of
which is entering the civilian job market. For many veterans, one of the first steps in this journey is crafting a resume that speaks to their unique skills and experiences. At
Veterans Guardian, we understand the importance of this process and are committed
to providing veterans with the resources and support they need to succeed. In this blog post, we’ll share actionable tips and templates for veteran resume writing, focusing on how to translate military experience into civilian terms, highlight relevant skills, and make a strong impression on potential employers.

Understanding the Transition: Military to Civilian Resume

The Challenge of Translation

One of the biggest hurdles veterans face is articulating their military experience in a way that resonates with civilian employers. It’s crucial to demilitarize job titles, duties, and accomplishments to make them understandable and relevant to the civilian job market.

Tips for Writing an Effective Veteran Resume

Highlighting Your Skills

Veterans suffering from chronic pain may be eligible for disability benefits through the
VA. Veterans Guardian can assist in navigating the VA benefits system to ensure
veterans receive the support and compensation they are entitled to.

Identify Transferable Skills: Start by listing the skills you’ve acquired during
your service, such as leadership, project management, teamwork, and technical
skills. These are highly valued in the civilian workforce.

•  Use Action Words: Employ action verbs to describe your responsibilities and
  achievements. Words like “led,” “coordinated,” “managed,” and “implemented”
  showcase your initiative and impact.
• Focus on Achievements, Not Just Duties: Highlight your accomplishments
  rather than just listing your duties. Quantify your achievements with numbers and
  facts when possible, such as “Led a team of 10 in completing a project 3 weeks ahead of schedule.”

Translating Military Jargon

• Demilitarize Your Experience: Translate military ranks, positions, and jargon
  into civilian terms. For example, instead of “Platoon Leader,” you might say “Team Leader responsible for 40 personnel.”
• Use a Skills Translator: Tools like the O*NET OnLine Military Crosswalk can
  help translate military occupations to civilian jobs that require similar skills.

Tailoring Your Resume

• Customize for the Job: Tailor your resume for each job application. Highlight
  the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job description.
•  Include a Professional Summary: Start with a brief summary that outlines your
  background, key skills, and what you’re looking for in a job. This is your elevator
  pitch to potential employers.

Formatting and Structure

•  Keep It Professional: Use a clean, professional format. Stick to standard fonts
  and avoid excessive graphics or colors.
•  Use Bullet Points: Make your resume easy to read by organizing information in
  bullet points rather than paragraphs.
•  Limit to Two Pages: Keep your resume concise. Aim for one page, but use two
  pages if necessary to include all relevant information.

Templates and Resources

Linked below are a handful of sites and resources that can help get you started with
transitioning your military resume to a civilian resume.

• VA Educational and Career Counseling
•  Military-to-Civilian Resume Examples and Templates for 2024
•  Hiring Our Heroes Resume Engine
•  How to Write a Civilian Resume

Conclusion

Writing a resume as a veteran entering the civilian job market can feel daunting, but it’s an opportunity to showcase the unique skills and experiences you bring to the table. By focusing on transferable skills, demilitarizing your experience, and tailoring your resume to each job, you can create a compelling document that opens doors to new career opportunities.