Résumé writing can be a worrisome endeavor for anyone re-entering the workforce; however, some veterans find it more challenging because they have the added responsibility of translating their military experience into civilian experience. Below is a list of four tips to help Veterans create a top notch resume that highlights their workforce skill set while emphasizing the excellent leadership skills and/or awards they received while serving their country.
1. Make Sure Your Credentials Match the Listed Qualifications of the Position.
One of the biggest factors in getting selected for an interview is to possess the listed qualifications for a position. If a job posting says the ideal candidate has five years’ experience in human resources, then this is a “must” for the hiring manager. If the position requires a candidate to have a bachelor’s degree, then this, too, will be a determining factor as to whether someone gets selected for an interview. In plain terms, both military professionals and civilians alike must have the necessary qualifications to even consider applying for a job position; otherwise, all of the time and effort spent on the resume and cover letter will be in vain.
2. Prove You Have the Required Credentials by Personalizing Your Resume and Using Specific Key Words
One way to show that you have the necessary qualifications for a position is to develop a very specific list of bullet points that highlights your experience and uses the same key words as seen in the job posting. At the beginning of the resume, you should include a section that is called a “Summary of Qualifications,” a “Skills Summary,” or a “Personal Profile.” Here you should dedicate five or six bullets to describing how you have the exact skill set needed for the position. For example, if an employer would like someone to have 5+ years’ customer service experience, you can create a bullet that says,
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8 years’ customer service experience in sales and four years’ additional experience as a military recruiter
If an employer requires that someone have leadership skills, you can create a bullet that says,
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Excellent leadership skills as demonstrated through receipt of the Armed Forces Service Medal (2003) and the Humanitarian Service Medal (2003)
3. Translate Military Jargon to Civilian Terminology
Most hiring managers/recruiters do not understand titles such as First Sergeant or Company Commander. They most likely won’t know what acronyms such as NCO or AAM mean either. When writing of your skills, your military occupation and your responsibilities, be sure to use language that is familiar to the recruiter, and in many cases, mirrors the key words that are mentioned in the job posting. If you have trouble translating your military experience into plain language, you can use the “Military Skills Translator” through TAOnline.com (Careers for the Transitioning Military) or the Veterans Employment Center (VEC), which also has a powerful translator. Another excellent resource is VetNet, a website that provides valuable workshops and tutorials to help transitioning service members create their resumes and LinkedIn profiles and make connections with military friendly companies.
4. Communicate the Skills and Attributes You Developed through Your Service
There is no doubt that you have acquired numerous technical skills and soft skills (i.e., personality traits, attitudes and management abilities) through your service. While it is important to highlight your job qualifications at the beginning of your resume (as mentioned in tip # 2), it is equally important to mention some of the other exceptional skills you’ve gained through your various military roles. Soft skills such as leadership, problem solving, teamwork, dedication and sacrifice can go a long way. Even if these are not presented as “key words” in a job posting, you can still create a section on your resume called “Related Skills,” which can focus on these very important qualities.
Another way to mention these qualities would be to create a section called “Awards.” Here, too, you can list the title of the awards you achieved, provide the year they were received, and give a brief explanation as to why you received the award. In most cases, these awards were given to you because of your outstanding service, which is “proof” of your leadership ability, commitment, loyalty and other exemplary characteristics.
If you are a student veteran at Albertus Magnus College seeking a full or part-time job, don’t hesitate to contact the Albertus Magnus College Office of Career Services at 203-773-6989 or careerservices@albertus.edu. Through a personal appointment, we can help you learn how to create a custom-made resume that uses specific key words to help you get noticed. We also can provide you with a list of local and online resources that are specifically tailored to helping our veterans find employment.