You've served your country proudly and now it's time to move on professionally. More than anything, you want your transition from boots to suits to be a smooth one. You want to land a good job that pays well. The only thing standing in your way? Your so-called resume. Explaining to would-be employers what you did in the military in a way that makes sense to them can be difficult. Often, skills, experiences and accomplishments get lost in translation or in the lack thereof.
This is where the Military Skills Translator comes in, and you must decide what needs to be translated and what doesn't. Related: Search for Veteran Jobs. That is the question to answer before you start drafting your resume.
Will you be sending it to someone within the defense industry? Or will you be targeting employers outside of it? If the answer is yes to the former, then you may not need to spend a great deal of time translating your job titles, descriptions, awards and training into English.
Those within the defense industry usually understand what you are communicating, but not always. Keep in mind that there are a lot of people who work in the industry who have never worn a uniform and may not fully understand what you've accomplished. If you are targeting a job outside of the defense world, then you most certainly need to translate your skills , experiences and accomplishments into the English Language. Lapple wants to switch career gears completely and get a job in business.
To reach that goal, he is currently attending the University of Maryland, University College and working on a degree in Management Studies. In the meantime, he is working on creating a basic master resume that he can tailor to individual job opportunities as they arise.
Lapple understands that he needs to translate specific words in order to make his resume work. Rather than say he was a tank crewmember, he says that he was a heavy equipment operator. To highlight his skills without over emphasizing equipment operation, he puts strong emphasis on leadership. I also use the word "team" instead of platoon or squad," said Lapple.
In my case, I feel like my resume has to show not only practical experience but a degree as well," said Lapple. I want to make it better in order to be competitive," said Gary Heinstrom, a U. Army Specialist who currently serves as a medic with the th Military Police Company based in Germany. Heinstrom is knee deep in the process of transitioning out of the military. He is considering staying in his career field, but he wouldn't rule out getting his foot in the door to federal employment in any field either.
It's overwhelming but it seems necessary at the same time," said Heinstrom. If Heinstrom does indeed try to stay in the medical field, he may find that the level of translation needed for his resume differs from those needed by Lapple.
In some military career fields, such as those in the medical field, there may not be as strong a need to translate some of the skills, abilities and experiences for the civilian counterpart. In or out of uniform, patient care, record-keeping and specific medical procedures and protocol are universally understood with the career field.
Heinstrom says that he is also making it a point to quantify his accomplishments and avoid the use of personal pronouns. Translating the military words on your resume into civilian ones can be challenging. You don't have to do it alone, though.
Visit your transition assistance office or the family services and support center's employment readiness program. On either doorstep, you'll find expert one-on-one counseling assistance or available classes, free of charge. For your own research the following websites offer excellent military-to-civilian translation tools:. You can also get ideas on how to effectively translate your military experiences by looking at the civilian job descriptions or vacancy announcements for the jobs that interest you.
Ready to polish your resume, and connect with employers looking to hire veterans? Sign up for a free Military. Get your resume critiqued by experts, and seen by companies that are seeking veterans like you. Post your resume with Monster. Besides elevating the standard for protein bars, this veteran-owned business wants to do real good for vets and first When veterans start a business that requires a physical location, there are a few surprising things to consider. It can be hard for civilian employers to relate to military experience.
Project RELO is bridging that gap. Get special job alerts, offers and insider tips on making the most of your military experience in the civilian workforce. View more newsletters on our Subscriptions page. See all veteran friendly employers. When you get right down to it, most people don't really understand other people's jobs, but there are a few tricks to keep in Scared off by keyword filters? Don't be! Like any situation, a tactical, informed approach will help you prevail.
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But if you've been in for more than one tour, your life is about to change substantially. Transitioning Now — Retirees Having a successful career in the military is a major accomplishment. And the plus years you've spent in uniform mean you have a highly sought-after skill set in the civilian world. Military Spouse Employment Manual Military spouses are making a go of their dream jobs across a wide range of fields. You can too, by following these critical steps. Resume Advice. Translating Your Military Resume for a Corporate Audience When you get right down to it, most people don't really understand other people's jobs, but there are a few tricks to keep in Resume Tips for Health Care Professionals Health care has undergone significant changes in the past 20 years, and health care organizations are increasingly sensitive