Demilitarizing Your Military Resume - CareerAlley.com

Demilitarizing Your Military Resume - CareerAlley.com We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. ** This article originally appeared on the blog **Onlinecareertips.com** By Adrienne Erin Online Career Tips, Contributor You might be a 0311 ground pounder in the United States Marine Corps for eight years. Maybe youre a Navy Corpsman, with more field experience than any hospital internship could have ever provided. Or perhaps youre a Gunnery Sergeant, training new recruits from dawn to, well, dawn. Leaving the military can be as much of a culture shock as enlisting. But dont worry; your military resume will transfer to a civilian career. You just have to learn how to speak civilian. Start Transitioning Theres more to being a civilian than getting a job. Remember how strange or even difficult the transition from civilian to military life was? That same stress can return when you make the transition back to being a civilian. Youll discover many resources for military personnel during this transition period, but the government Transition Assistance Program was specifically created to help ease the transition for military personnel and their families. Make use of these workshops and include your spouse or family. Dont miss out on useful opportunities. These courses will also help you make a connection between your military and civilian life, which will translate to your resume. MOS to Civilian Career Odds are good that its been years or even decades since you applied for a job. The most critical part of finding a job is, of course, your resume. Tailoring your military resume to fit a civilian career is a necessary evil. Most civilians dont understand what your military service really means, so listing that you were a vehicle commander on a light armored vehicle doesnt automatically translate to management experience or able to lead calmly during high stress situations. There are a few basic points to remember while you write your resume: Your military position or title is less important in translation than what your position actually involved. Make sure you put the brunt of your focus on your experience. Dont list dozens of acronyms and awards. Just mention whats appropriate when needed. Keep it simple. Only elaborate when its absolutely necessary. You can also and refer to these common military to civilian translations as needed. Drop the Jargon Youve spent years, possibly decades, using career jargon that only applies to military careers. Not only do you have to learn how your military career translates to a civilian career, but you have to learn how to speak civilian, too. You must also drop the jargon for positions that would place you as a civilian working for the military. Federal positions are sought after not only for the decent pay, but for the familiar atmosphere. But just because youd be working on a base doesnt mean its safe to use jargon. Utilize Free Career Tools There are free career tools available to you that can help with making the transition to a civilian work life. Here are two of the best: com MOS Translator: Use this tool to help you sort out what skills your military career has provided you. It even simplifies terminology for civilian resumes. Veterans Job Bank: This is a national directory that helps connect veterans with companies looking to hire vets. Why bother working for a company that doesnt understand the military when there are so many employers looking for people just like you? Whether youre moving from a military desk job or an infantry position, your military career has provided you with a strong foundation to transition back to life as a civilian. Use the available resources to help consolidate your hard work into a well-deserved civilian position. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ Visit Joeys profile on Pinterest. where job title, keywords or company what jobs by city, state or zip What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to make a resume and cover letter that gets you hired. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search