How to Highlight Military Veteran Experience on a Job Resume?

As a junior interested in joining the military, I'm curious about how veterans effectively showcase their service on their job resumes. What should be emphasized to make their skills stand out to potential employers?

When it comes to highlighting military veteran experience on a job resume, language is key. It's important to translate your military experience into civilian language that showcases your skills and appeals to prospective employers. Now, here's a breakdown of how you can effectively showcase your skills:

1. Summary Statement: Kick your resume off with a strong summary statement highlighting your service. Mention your military rank and the number of years you’ve served. This is also a great place to highlight any notable achievements during your service.

2. Translate Military Job Title/Duties: Civilian employers may not understand the military jargon, so make sure to translate your military job titles, skills, and duties into civilian terms. For example, if you've led a team of soldiers on a mission, this could translate into roles involving team leadership or project management.

3. Skill Highpoint: Highlight hard and soft skills you've learned in the military that are transferable to civilian jobs. This could include leadership, problem-solving, strategic thinking, or technical skills like understanding and operating certain equipment.

4. Accomplishments: Don't be shy in showcasing your accomplishments during your service. If you've received any commendations, led successful missions, or implemented processes that increased efficiency, definitely add these to your resume. Aim to quantify these achievements wherever possible.

5. Training and Certifications: Include any military training programs you've participated in, especially if they are relevant to the job you're applying for. If these trainings resulted in any certifications, be sure to highlight them.

Lastly, when you write your resume's job descriptions, focus on the impact of what you did. Instead of simply outlining your military duties, aim to describe how your role contributed to larger objectives or missions.

Of course, every situation is unique. But highlighting your skills in a manner that is easily understood by a civilian audience can demonstrate your value as an employee beyond the military.