How to add military experience to resume?

How to Add Military Experience to Resume: A Comprehensive Guide

Transitioning from the military to a civilian career can be challenging, but incorporating your valuable military experience onto your resume is a great starting point. Here, we’ll guide you on how to add military experience to your resume and highlight the most significant aspects.

Why Include Military Experience on Your Resume?

Including your military experience on your resume can give you a competitive edge over other job seekers, especially in industries with strong military connections, such as:

• Government contracting
• Defense manufacturing
• Public safety and security
• Healthcare (VA hospitals and clinics)
• Transportation and logistics ( military- contractor relationships)

Military experience also demonstrates skills, training, and personal qualities that can be transferred to the civilian workforce, such as:

• Leadership and team management
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Communication and public speaking
• Adaptability and resilience
• Time management and organizational skills

How to Add Military Experience to Your Resume

Before we dive into the steps, let’s highlight some essential considerations:

• Tailor your resume to the civilian job market
• Highlight transferable skills and accomplishments
• Emphasize your adaptability and versatility
• Be concise and clear in your descriptions
• Include relevant keywords from the job posting

Now, follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify Transferable Skills and Accomplishments

Identify the skills and accomplishments from your military experience that align with the civilian job market. This might include:

• Leadership and management experiences
• Training and teaching experiences
• Technical skills (e.g., communication systems, mechanical skills)
• Emergency response and first aid experiences
• Customer service and relations experiences
• Administrative and logistical support experiences

Example: As a Lieutenant in the Marine Corps, you might have:

• Managed a team of 20 personnel in a logistical support unit
• Conducted training and mentoring for new recruits
• Maintained and operated communication equipment
• Participated in humanitarian missions

Step 2: Convert Military Terms to Civilian Lingo

To make your experience more understandable to civilian recruiters, translate military-specific terminology into plain language. Use a civilian-friendly thesaurus to help with this process. For instance:

• Instead of saying "deployed," use "travelled extensively for operations"
• Instead of saying "tactical operations," use "planning and executing team missions"

Step 3: Use Keywords from the Job Posting

Analyze the job posting for relevant keywords and incorporate them into your resume. This will help your resume pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) and catch the eye of hiring managers. For example, if a job posting mentions "problem-solving," highlight your experiences in your resume.

Example:

Logistics Specialist
• Solved logistical challenges during operational deployments
• Coordinated supply chain management for multinational teams
• Demonstrated expertise in [software tools or specific logistical skills]

Step 4: Quantify Your Accomplishments

Include specific numbers and statistics to demonstrate the impact of your work. This shows hiring managers that you can deliver results.

Example:

• Successfully implemented a logistics training program, resulting in 25% reduction in deployment time
• Supervised a team of 5 personnel, with zero accidents or injuries under my supervision
• Participated in 100% of mandatory training programs, consistently earning top honors

Step 5: Use Relevant Section Headers and Formats

Use a clear and concise format for your military experience section, with bolded headings to highlight important information. Break up the section into clear categories, such as:

• Assignments: List each position, duty station, and dates
• Key Responsibilities: Describe major job duties
• Achievements: Highlight specific accomplishments and recognition
• Skills: List relevant skills and qualifications

Example:

Logistics Specialist, United States Marine Corps
Assignments:
• Logistician, Operations Platoon (2015-2018)
• Operations Officer, Expeditionary Combat Command (2018-2020)
Key Responsibilities:
• Planned and executed logistics operations
• Supervised teams of 10-20 personnel
• Coordinated supply chain management
Achievements:
• Recipient of the Excellence in Logistics award (2018)
• Logistics Officer of the Quarter (2019)
Skills:
• Expertise in SAP, Logsoft, and MS Office
• Certified in Basic and Advanced Life Support
• Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese

By following these steps and using the formats outlined above, you can effectively incorporate your military experience onto your resume and highlight the valuable skills and achievements you’ve acquired during your service.