Resume Tips for Veterans: Translating Military Skills into Civilian Speak

Making the leap from military service to a civilian career can be both rewarding and challenging. One common roadblock veterans face is how to present their military experience in a way that resonates with civilian employers. While your service has given you invaluable skills—leadership, discipline, teamwork and problem-solving—these qualities need to be framed in terms that hiring managers understand. Here’s how to effectively translate your military background into civilian-friendly language on your resume.

1. Eliminate Military Jargon

Military acronyms and titles can be confusing outside of the armed forces. Replace terms like “MOS 13F” or “NCOIC” with clear, plain language. For example, instead of “Served as NCOIC of battalion-level logistics,” say, “Supervised a logistics team managing supply chain operations for over 300 personnel.” This makes your role and impact easy to understand for someone unfamiliar with military terminology.

2. Translate Skills into Civilian Competencies

Many military skills directly apply to civilian jobs. Leadership, operations planning, crisis management, cybersecurity and logistics are just a few areas where your experience is relevant.

Use familiar job terms like:

• Project Management
• Team Leadership
• Risk Assessment
• Technical Support
• Process Improvement

Describe your responsibilities in ways that match common civilian job requirements. For example, if you led a unit, explain it as managing and mentoring a team in high-pressure environments.

3. Quantify Your Achievements

Numbers help demonstrate the impact of your work. Whenever possible, include metrics. For instance:

• “Managed equipment valued at over $2 million with zero loss.”
• “Trained 120 personnel, improving unit readiness by 25%.”

Quantifying your accomplishments makes them more compelling to employers.

4. Use a Hybrid Resume Format

Veterans often have broad experience across multiple roles. A hybrid resume format—which combines a summary of skills with a chronological job history—allows you to highlight key competencies up front, while still showing your career progression. Consider adding civilian job equivalents in parentheses (e.g., Squad Leader (Team Supervisor)).

5. Use Available Resources

Don’t go it alone. Many organizations offer free resume and job search help for veterans, including Hire Heroes USA, American Corporate Partners (ACP) and local VA career centers. These resources can help translate your experience and tailor your resume for specific roles.

Final Thought

Your military service is a strong foundation for a successful civilian career. By translating your experience into clear, relevant terms, you’ll make it easier for employers to recognize your value—and take the next step with confidence.

Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and clarity, readers should be aware that some content may have been generated or enhanced by AI tools.