Speaking from the standpoint of an employer and an employee, service in the military is probably one of the most valuable assets to have in the relevant jobs. One not only learns his skills from perhaps the most hardened professionals but also gets to use them in some of the harshest environments and circumstances. That is a very relevant reason why thanks to SCRA military personnel are given their important due rights, while on duty.
Not to showcase these military skills is probably the most self-handicapping thing you could do if you have served or been trained in the military! That’s why we have assembled a few ways in which you could highlight your training through your resume in the best way possible.
Let us proceed!
Show the Relevancy of Your Military Experience
The fact of the matter is that much of your training in the military can be translated to a number of jobs that you want to apply for. For example, if you have served as a Non-commissioned officer, that is a managerial position right there!
Hence, highlighting how your duty was of management of a particular team could show your relevant experience required for the job.
Furthermore, details such as the duration of a particular training program you had to undergo and what you learned during are going to be much more helpful. After all, it will be more understandable to the employer than just writing down the name of the academy you attended. It will not only rightfully highlight what you have learned, but the employer also will not have to google those military-based terms!
Keep it Precise and Confusion-free
Another important thing with regard to writing a relevant resume is to avoid saturation. Precision in your resume basically means avoidance of elaborate military-termed job titles and detailing every single task you have ever done! What inclusion of these details does is that bloats the resume, making it harder for the employer to read through.
Furthermore, if you have received awards, instead of writing in titles that might confuse the reader, write their descriptions in relevant terms.
Remember, your experience is certainly relevant and useful. However, you have to show how relevant it is by avoiding any terms which might potentially disorient someone, not from the military.
Highlight, not Embellish
One of the worst things an ex-military person could do is hide his training from the employer. One of the other bad things is embellishment. While much of the training in the military, whether it is of management or of aiding or other similar skills, can be applicable to civilian cases, they are still different. The biggest differences are usually regarding significant technical factors or circumstances.
Hence, it is important to show that you understand how to manage teams. However, do not overlook the differences in the management by statements equalizing the management in the military to that in your employer’s teams.
Instead, simply include short and digestible details about the skills you have. Detail only based on what you know, not what you only infer!
Provide a Timeline
While it is necessary to provide the details of your skills, the format of how you acquired them is equally important. If you have gone through military training, provide the employer with the proper timeline. By doing that, you are not only showcasing the variety of skills you have but also your progress in acquiring them. In addition, you are providing it in a way that is very readable.
What more could an employer want in a resume!
Get Feedback from Others
A lot of the time, we do not properly understand how our resume, or any written note, is perceived by others. In the case of a resume, while the stakes are not astronomical, they certainly are significant. So, the perspective could be particularly helpful. Ask your friends, acquaintances, people you trust, to give your resume a read and tell you what they think about it. You could even ask other professionals to go through it.
If they are not in the military, that is even better! You will get to see what your resume looks like to someone from the outside. Remember, you need all the help you can get, so do NOT be shy about this!
Conclusion
As we admitted at the beginning of this article, if you have been through military training, do not keep it to yourself. You have been through some very tough times. Fortunately, toughened individuals are exactly what many employers require in this age of job pressures and competition.
So, type down that resume, go through the tips we’ve discussed, get some feedback from other people, and we assure you, you will be on the right road!