Explaining Military Jobs on a Resume?

For those who have had military jobs, how do you effectively explain your role and skills on a resume when transitioning to civilian work? I'm curious about how to make that experience clear and relevant to employers.

Good question! Many skills and experiences gained in military roles are indeed transferable to civilian jobs, but making those connections clear can sometimes be a challenge. Here are a few tips:

1. Use civilian language: This is crucial. Avoid military lingo and try to translate your role, rank, and duties into civilian job terms—especially when they directly relate to the job you're applying for. Example, you might have been an "Infantry Fire Team Leader," but that could be translated to "Shift Supervisor" or "Team Leader" in the civilian world.

2. Highlight Leadership & Teamwork Skills: The military is an organization where leadership, teamwork, discipline, and adaptability is heavily emphasized. These skills are highly sought after in many civilian job roles, so be sure to highlight them.

3. Quantify achievements: Be specific about your contributions. For example, if you supervised a team of five soldiers or reduced process times by 20%, state this as it equips potential employers with a measurable understanding of what you accomplished.

4. Emphasize Problem-Solving & Adaptability: Military roles often require quick-thinking and adaptability in high-pressure situations. Detail instances where you applied these skills, as these are valuable across multiple job sectors.

5. Transferable Skills: Look closely at the job posting for the civilian job you are applying to and make a list of skills required. Compare this with your military experience and match where you can. Highlight these skills and give examples of your experience with them in your resume.

Remember that the most important thing is to highlight the key skills and experiences that align with the job you're applying for. The art is in translating your military experience into terms that a civilian hiring manager will understand and appreciate.