Military Resume

Military Resume Get your military resume in shape for a civilian job searchThis is how to effectively communicate your skill set to employers. Youre leaving the service and are faced with the daunting task of developing your resume. Your military career isfilled with accomplishments, but even the most decorated veteran needs to figure out how to effectively communicate and sell thosesuccesses in civilian terms. Follow ansicht tips to draft a high-impact resume that shows how your military experience is transferable to a civilian job.Define your civilian job objectiveYou cant effectively market yourself for a civilian job if you dont have a clearly defined goal. Because so many service people have diverse hintergrunds, they often make the mistake of creating resumes that are too general to be effective. Before writing your resume, do some soul searching, research occupations and pinpoint a specific career path. If youre having trouble with this step, tap into your local transition office or solicit the help of a career coach. If youre torn between two or more potential goals, set up different resumes.Create a resume that speaks to employers needsNow that your objective is defined, youre ready to create a winning resume. Consider a resumes purpose To answer the employers question, What can this person do for me?A great way to start thinking about employers needs is to research your target job. Search for jobs on Monster, scour company websites, and read as many job postings as possible. What types of skills and experiences are employers seeking? What aspects of your background are most relevant?Any information that does not relate to your goal should be eliminated or de-emphasized, and this includes any unrelated military awards, training and distinctions. For example, that medal you won for rifle marksmanship doesnt belong on a civilian resume. This is often the hardest step for ex-military personnel, which is why its so common to see their resumes span five pages or more.As you decide which information to include, ask yourself, Will a potential employer care about this experience? Include only the information that will help you land an interview.Assume no knowledge of the militaryDemilitarize your job titles, duties, accomplishments, training, and awards to appeal to civilian hiring managers. Employers with no expokoranvers to the military dont understand the terminology and acronyms, so translate these into civilianese.Show your resume to several nonmilitary friends and ask them to point out terms they dont understand. Refer to job postings and Military.coms skills translator for help substituting civilian keywords for military terms.Showcase your accomplishmentsYour military career has offered you excellent opportunities for training, practical experience and advancement. Tout these accomplishments on your resume so the average civilian understands the importance of your achievements and the measurable outcomes.Heres an ex ample of a demilitarized accomplishment bewertungIncreased employee retention rate by 16 percent by focusing on training, team building, and recognition programs. Earned reputation as one of the most progressive and innovative IT organizations in the Armys communications and IT community.Heres an example of incorporating a military award so employers understand its valueReceived Army Achievement Medal for completing 400+ medical evaluations and developing patient database using MS Access. Database improved reporting functions and tracked patient demographics, records, medication, appointments, and status.Flaunt your military backgroundYou might have heard you need to develop a functional resume to mask or downplay your military experience, but the opposite is true. Your military experience is an asset and should be marketed as such. Many employers realize the value of bringing veterans on board.Attributes honed in the military include dedication, leadership, teamwork, positive work ethic, and cross-functional skills. If you fear a potential employer wont realize the significance of your military experience, make sure your resume clearly communicates the value you bring to the table.If you were in active combat, leave out the detailsDefending your country and its interests is among the most admirable pursuits, but the sad truth is actual references to the horrors of combat leave many employers squeamish. While you might have worked in a short-range air defense engagement zone, this experience might not relate to your future goal. Tone down or remove references to the battlefield.Test-drive your resumeDeveloping a resume that works in the civilian world is an ongoing process, and youll want tocontinue modifying it until it successfully generates job interviews. Could you use some help?Get a free resume evaluation today from the experts atMonsters Resume Writing Service. Youll get detailed feedback in two business days, including a review ofyour resumes appearanc e and content, and a prediction of a recruiters first impression. Monsters experts can show you how you can properly take advantage of your military background to get hired in the civilian workplace. You have incredibly desirable skills that deserve recognition.