Translating military jobs to civilian roles?

I've heard that translating military experience to civilian job skills can be tricky. Any advice on how to best showcase military roles on a resume to make them applicable to civilian jobs?

Certainly, it can be challenging initially to translate military roles into civilian job skills, but with a bit of strategy, the transition can be smoother. Here's a step-by-step guide to aid you:

1. Understand Civilian Job Requirements: Start by researching the civilian jobs that interest you and familiarizing yourself with the desired skills and qualifications outlined in job descriptions. This will give you insight into what prospective employers are looking for.

2. Review Your Military Experience: Take a close look at your military service and the responsibilities you held. Identify skills such as leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork, as these are highly valued in the civilian job market.

3. Translate Your Military Language: Task descriptions in the military often have their own language, which may be unfamiliar to civilian employers. Try translating these into more universally understood terminology. For example, "supervising a team" can replace "commanding a unit," or "inventory control" might replace "logistics management."

4. Targeted Resume: Tailor your resume for each job you apply for. Highlight the most relevant skills and experiences from your military service that closely align with the job posting.

5. Quantify Achievements: Use measurable outcomes to demonstrate your effectiveness in your military roles. For instance, did you reduce costs? Improve efficiency? These concrete achievements are persuasive to potential employers.

6. Transferable Skills: Include transferable skills you developed while in the military. These could include adaptability, stress management, attention to detail, and resilience, among others.

7. Utilize Professional Services: Don't hesitate to use the resources available to veteran job seekers - there are many services designed to help veterans transition to civilian jobs. They can provide resume writing tips tailored to your situation.

Remember, your military experience brings a wealth of skills that are valuable in the civilian job market. It's all about showcasing them effectively on your resume. Good luck with the job search!