Tips for Transitioning from Military Duty to Civilian Life

How to List Military Service on Resume – Showcase your military experience effectively with our comprehensive guide. Learn how to translate your skills, training, and achievements into a civilian resume, making you a strong candidate for any job.

Updating Your CV

For many veterans, transitioning from military duty to civilian life may be a challenging job. Although military duty requires strict discipline and devotion, adjusting to civilian life may be difficult. It might seem like beginning again for people who are re-entering the employment.

One of the most important aspects of this change is updating your CV. This will need the transformation of your military experience into a potent tool that showcases your important abilities and experiences. You can find meaningful job outside of the military if you take the appropriate attitude.

We have put up a detailed guide to assist you with this process, which includes first-hand guidance from a military veteran who has successfully transitioned into civilian life. In addition, you will discover useful suggestions and tools to assist you in creating an excellent military skills CV.

Underemployment

Before we get into the specifics of military experience, talents, and resumes, we must address a major issue: underemployment. This is a common issue among veterans transferring to private-sector jobs.

Tips for CV Writing

• Begin with a compelling summary statement that emphasizes your talents, experience, and objectives.
• Highlight your transferrable talents and achievements. Leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and communication abilities are examples.
• Employ straightforward English and avoid military jargon or acronyms that civilian employers may not understand.
• Emphasize any applicable credentials, training, or education that you have obtained throughout your military service.
• Customize your CV to the position you’re looking for, emphasizing the skills and experiences that are most relevant.
• Instead of a chronological structure that focuses on your employment history, consider employing a functional resume format that showcases your talents and experiences.

You may develop an attractive military skills CV using these strategies and tools to help you transition to a rewarding civilian employment.

Transitioning from Military Duty to Civilian Life

The Advantage of Military Experience

Remember that your military experience is an advantage that you may use to get the proper career outside of the service if you take the correct approach. Underemployment is a common problem among veterans who are not employed in places that allow them to fully use their talents and abilities.

According to LinkedIn’s Veteran Opportunity Report, despite a decline in veteran unemployment over the last decade, veterans are still 15.6% more likely to be underemployed than nonveterans. This is often because it might be difficult for veterans to properly convert their military talents into a civilian situation. To overcome this obstacle, veterans must use a civilian résumé to communicate the tale of their military experience.

Transferrable Military Talents

Every military career is different, but all transitioning service members develop significant skills that may be applied to civilian work and daily life. Jeff Stock, a Program Manager at Upwork and a former member of the United States Marine Corps, knows this personally. He observes that many veterans are confused about how their military levels and obligations transfer to civilian life.

One of the major challenges is that hiring managers may be unfamiliar with military titles and the obligations that come with them. To combat this, veterans must identify and promote their transferrable military talents on their résumé. Some of these abilities might include:

• Leadership: Military service often necessitates the development of leadership abilities, which are highly appreciated in the civilian market.
• Teamwork: Since veterans have worked in a variety of teams, they are effective team players.
• Problem-solving: Since military service necessitates rapid thinking and problem-solving, veterans are excellent issue solvers.
• Communication: Effective communication, both verbal and written, is required in the military, as it is in the civilian sector.
• Technical skills: Military service sometimes include specialized technological training, which may be useful in certain civilian positions.

By highlighting these transferrable skills on their résumé, veterans can better communicate the value of their military experience to potential employers and increase their chances of finding a rewarding civilian career.

Positioning Yourself for Success in the Civilian Market

Emphasizing Transferrable Talents on Your CV

Veterans may position themselves for success in the civilian market by identifying and emphasizing transferrable talents on their CV. It’s important to remember that veterans have a wide range of useful abilities to contribute, and with the correct attitude, they may find gratifying and meaningful job outside of the service.

Veterans have the issue of adequately communicating their military abilities on a résumé in a manner that resonates with civilian hiring managers. Jeff Stock, a former member of the United States Marine Corps and current Product Manager at Upwork, saw this personally when he discovered that just citing his military rank during interviews was insufficient.

Instead, he had to convey his military experience in a framework that made sense in the commercial sector by stressing his civilian job function and duties. Veterans must learn how to contextualize their responsibilities, abilities, and experience in the civilian environment. Stock teaches soldiers to believe in themselves and learn how to portray their experiences in a civilian context.

Veterans should not underestimate the value of their military talents and experience in the civilian economy. Veterans must identify and exhibit their military talents and expertise on a civilian résumé in order to develop a successful career outside of the military.

Tips for Demilitarizing Your Resume

Veterans should develop a list of their military skills and experiences before creating a CV. This will assist them in identifying their transferrable talents and determining how to best highlight them on their CV. Here are some pointers to assist veterans in demilitarizing their resume:

• Use civilian English: To make your experience more accessible to civilian employers, use civilian English rather than military jargon.
• Emphasize transferrable talents and achievements: Rather than military titles and duties, emphasize your transferrable talents and achievements.
• Utilize bullet points: Utilize bullet points to emphasize particular successes and achievements.
• Customize your resume: Customize your resume to the job you’re looking for, highlighting the most relevant abilities and experiences.

By following these tips, veterans can better communicate their military experience and talents in a way that resonates with civilian employers, increasing their chances of finding a rewarding and fulfilling career outside of the military.

Transitioning to a Satisfying Profession Outside the Military

Using a Functional Resume Format

Instead of a chronological structure that focuses on your employment history, consider employing a functional resume format that promotes your talents and experiences. Veterans may effectively transition to a satisfying profession outside the military by following these suggestions and presenting their military talents and experience in a manner that resonates with civilian employers.

Incorporating Technical and Soft Skills on a Military Skills CV

It is critical to incorporate both technical and soft skills developed during military service while constructing a military skills CV. To begin, veterans should write a list of all their jobs, responsibilities, and achievements while serving in the military. It is not required to interpret military language at this time; instead, the emphasis should be on capturing everything.

This step, though, may be difficult for many veterans. Online tools for transitioning veterans may assist guarantee that nothing is overlooked. Veterans may receive a Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) document, which outlines military jobs in civilian terms and can be used to create a military experience CV. The Military Crosswalk Search tool on O*NET Online is another useful tool for deciphering military resumes. Veterans may use this tool to look for civilian counterparts of military occupational classifications (MOC) or job titles, and vice versa.

It’s important to remember that military skills resumes tend to be more technical than civilian resumes. Civilian positions and projects, on the other hand, often need a mix of hard (technical) and soft (interpersonal) talents. Veterans should keep track of key soft skills such as leadership, punctuality, and collaboration. It is critical not to get too focused on technical skills. Here are some pointers to assist veterans assess their technical and soft skills:

• Create a detailed account: Create a detailed account of all jobs, responsibilities, and achievements while serving in the military.
• Utilize online resources: Utilize online resources such as VMET papers and the Military Crosswalk Search tool to find transferable talents and their civilian counterparts.

By incorporating both technical and soft skills and utilizing online resources, veterans can develop a compelling military skills CV that highlights their unique talents and experiences and effectively communicates their value to potential employers in the civilian market.

Developing a Convincing Military Skills CV

Identifying Transferable Hard and Soft Skills

Veterans may develop a convincing military skills CV that highlights both their technical and soft abilities by following these recommendations and using internet resources. This will aid in their smooth transition to rewarding civilian professions.

It is critical to identify both hard and soft abilities that may be transferred from a military function to a civilian employment when producing a military skills CV. Depending on the veteran’s military function, hard skills may include technology and software abilities, project management, budgeting, language, and management. Veterans should create a detailed list of all their hard abilities.

Veterans should emphasize soft skills on their resumes in addition to hard abilities. Former U.S. Marine Corps soldier and current Upwork Product Manager Jeff Stock advises veterans to see part of their basic military training as a benefit. Veterans should not get fixated on the intricacies of their speciality, but rather find the more general military abilities they have learned, which are applicable in a wide range of career circumstances.

Characteristics that service members may take for granted, such as timeliness and good communication, are highly prized in the business sector. Most veterans do not consider or consider emphasizing these abilities because they do not believe they are important or valuable. Therefore, it is critical to broaden the concept of what is valued beyond the job title.

Here are some pointers to assist veterans in identifying transferrable hard and soft skills:

• Compile a detailed inventory: Compile a detailed inventory of all technical (hard) abilities gained while serving in the military.
• Recognize soft abilities: Recognize soft abilities that are highly appreciated in the business world, such as leadership, collaboration, timeliness, and communication.

By identifying both hard and soft skills, veterans can create a comprehensive military skills CV that showcases their unique talents and experiences and effectively communicates their value to potential employers in the civilian market.

Additional Pointers for a Compelling Military Skills CV

In addition to identifying transferable hard and soft skills, here are some additional pointers for creating a compelling military skills CV:

• Recognize technical as well as soft abilities: Recognize technical as well as soft abilities such as leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving.
• Utilize bullet points: Utilize bullet points to emphasize particular successes and achievements.
• Customize your resume: Customize your resume to the job you’re looking for, emphasizing your most relevant skills and experiences.

Tips for Veterans: Creating a Military Skills CV for a Civilian Career

For many veterans, transitioning from military duty to civilian life may be a challenging job. Although military duty requires strict discipline and devotion, adjusting to civilian life may be difficult. It might seem like beginning again for people who are re-entering the employment. One of the most important aspects of this change is updating your CV.

This will need the transformation of your military experience into a potent tool that showcases your important abilities and experiences. You can find meaningful job outside of the military if you take the appropriate attitude. We have put up a detailed guide to assist you with this process, which includes first-hand guidance from a military veteran who has successfully transitioned into civilian life. In addition, you will discover useful suggestions and tools to assist you in creating an excellent military skills CV.

Underemployment among Veterans

Before we get into the specifics of military experience, talents, and resumes, we must address a major issue: underemployment. This is a common issue among veterans transferring to private-sector jobs. Here are some pointers to help you properly convey your military experience on your resume:

• Begin with a compelling summary statement that emphasizes your talents, experience, and objectives.
• Highlight your transferrable talents and achievements. Leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and communication abilities are examples.
• Employ straightforward English and avoid military jargon or acronyms that civilian employers may not understand.
• Emphasize any applicable credentials, training, or education that you have obtained throughout your military service.
• Customize your CV to the position you’re looking for, emphasizing the skills and experiences that are most relevant.
• Instead of a chronological structure that focuses on your employment history, consider employing a functional resume format that showcases your talents and experiences.

Veterans may position themselves for success in the civilian market by identifying and emphasizing transferrable talents on their CV. It’s important to remember that veterans have a wide range of useful abilities to contribute, and with the correct attitude, they may find gratifying and meaningful job outside of the service.

Identifying Transferrable Skills

Veterans must learn how to contextualize their responsibilities, abilities, and experience in the civilian environment. Stock teaches soldiers to believe in themselves and learn how to portray their experiences in a civilian context. Veterans should not underestimate the value of their military talents and experience in the civilian economy. Veterans must identify and exhibit their military talents and expertise on a civilian résumé in order to develop a successful career outside of the military.

Veterans should develop a list of their military skills and experiences before creating a CV. This will assist them in identifying their transferrable talents and determining how to best highlight them on their CV. Here are some pointers to assist veterans in demilitarizing their resume:

• To make your experience more accessible to civilian employers, use civilian English rather than military jargon.
• Rather than military titles and duties, emphasize your transferrable talents and achievements.
• Utilize bullet points to emphasize particular successes and achievements.
• Customize your resume to the job you’re looking for, highlighting the most relevant abilities and experiences.

Hard and Soft Skills

It is critical to incorporate both technical and soft skills developed during military service while constructing a military skills CV

Tips for Creating a Military Skills CV

For many veterans, transitioning from military duty to civilian life may be a challenging job. Although military duty requires strict discipline and devotion, adjusting to civilian life may be difficult. It might seem like beginning again for people who are re-entering the employment.

One of the most important aspects of this change is updating your CV. This will need the transformation of your military experience into a potent tool that showcases your important abilities and experiences. You can find meaningful job outside of the military if you take the appropriate attitude. We have put up a detailed guide to assist you with this process, which includes first-hand guidance from a military veteran who has successfully transitioned into civilian life.

In addition, you will discover useful suggestions and tools to assist you in creating an excellent military skills CV.

Underemployment Among Veterans

Before we get into the specifics of military experience, talents, and resumes, we must address a major issue: underemployment. This is a common issue among veterans transferring to private-sector jobs.

According to LinkedIn’s Veteran Opportunity Report, despite a decline in veteran unemployment over the last decade, veterans are still 15.6% more likely to be underemployed than nonveterans. This is often because it might be difficult for veterans to properly convert their military talents into a civilian situation.

To overcome this obstacle, veterans must use a civilian résumé to communicate the tale of their military experience. Every military career is different, but all transitioning service members develop significant skills that may be applied to civilian work and daily life. Jeff Stock, a Program Manager at Upwork and a former member of the United States Marine Corps, knows this personally. He observes that many veterans are confused about how their military levels and obligations transfer to civilian life.

Identifying and Emphasizing Transferable Military Skills

One of the major challenges is that hiring managers may be unfamiliar with military titles and the obligations that come with them. To combat this, veterans must identify and promote their transferrable military talents on their résumé. Some of these abilities might include:

• Leadership: Military service often necessitates the development of leadership abilities, which are highly appreciated in the civilian market.
• Teamwork: Since veterans have worked in a variety of teams, they are effective team players.
• Problem-solving: Since military service necessitates rapid thinking and problem-solving, veterans are excellent issue solvers.
• Communication: Effective communication, both verbal and written, is required in the military, as it is in the civilian sector.
• Technical skills: Military service sometimes include specialized technological training, which may be useful in certain civilian positions.

Veterans may position themselves for success in the civilian market by identifying and emphasizing transferrable talents on their CV. It’s important to remember that veterans have a wide range of useful abilities to contribute, and with the correct attitude, they may find gratifying and meaningful job outside of the service.

Translating Military Jargon into Civilian Language

Presenting military experience on a résumé may be difficult when transferring from military duty to civilian life. Since military experience resumes vary greatly from civilian resumes, the purpose is to offer professional experience in an easy-to-understand format for civilians. Veterans must demilitarize their resumes by converting military jargon

Presenting Your Military Experience on Your CV and Upwork Profile

You have important skills and experiences as a veteran that are extremely applicable in the civilian employment market. Here are some suggestions for presenting your military background on your CV and Upwork profile.

Translating Military Jargon to Civilian English

Military jargon should be translated into civilian English. You must convert military jargon and acronyms into civilian English in order for civilians to understand your CV. Examine job descriptions on Upwork, LinkedIn, and other job boards for keywords and phrases that prospective clients use. Utilize comparable terminology to describe your professional experience, and if feasible, substitute military jargon with civilian ones.

Emphasizing Your Military Experience

Emphasize your military experience. Your military experience is valuable, so don’t be shy about include it on your résumé. Separately include your military roles, including your rank, firm or organization, and dates of employment. Utilize bullet points to outline your employment tasks and duties, and emphasize military experiences in which you employed the abilities necessary for the position you are presently applying for. You can also add a “Military Veteran” status and flag to your profile by using Upwork’s Military Veteran status option.

Calculating Your Achievements

On your CV, emphasize your military achievements. Put them under each individual position subsection in the work experience section. Use metrics such as numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts to quantify your successes as much as feasible. This can assist prospective customers in comprehending the significance of your work and the value you can offer to their initiatives.

Tips for Transitioning from Military to Civilian Careers

Demilitarizing Your Resume

While transferring from the military to a civilian career, it is critical to construct a resume that shows your experience and skills in a manner that prospective employers can understand. Demilitarizing your CV is an important step since it allows the typical civilian to comprehend your professional expertise. This may be accomplished by replacing military language with civilian terminology and deleting military acronyms.

But, don’t conceal your military history entirely; instead, be proud of it and showcase it in your résumé. Moreover, quantifying your achievements using figures and producing an appealing resume summary are critical actions to consider. A resume summary should be 2-3 words lengthy and filled with precise data relevant to the position for which you are seeking. Pay attention to your profile title and summary as a freelancer on Upwork.

• Identify and identify both your technical (hard) and soft capabilities, as well as your ability to convert military language into civilian jargon.
• Use civilian lingo and distinct subheadings for each role to highlight your military background.
• Specific facts and figures should be used to quantify your successes.
• Create an interesting resume summary that is tailored to the position you are looking for.

Highlighting Your Transferrable Skills

Highlight your transferrable abilities. In your CV, stress your soft abilities in addition to your hard ones. Civilian employers place a great importance on soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, leadership, collaboration, time management, and devotion. Reframe your military experience and training as important assets that highlight your soft abilities. Make your CV unique for each job application.

Create a unique CV for each job application, emphasizing the abilities and experiences most relevant to the job criteria. Utilize terms and phrases from the job description to demonstrate that you have the necessary abilities and experience. Remember to use civilian language and highlight transferrable talents.

Tips for Creating a Strong Resume and Upwork Profile as a Veteran

Demilitarize Your Resume

While transferring from the military to a civilian career, it is critical to construct a resume that shows your experience and skills in a manner that prospective employers can understand. Demilitarizing your CV is an important step since it allows the typical civilian to comprehend your professional expertise. This may be accomplished by replacing military language with civilian terminology and deleting military acronyms.

But, don’t conceal your military history entirely; instead, be proud of it and showcase it in your résumé. Moreover, quantifying your achievements using figures and producing an appealing resume summary are critical actions to consider. A resume summary should be 2-3 words lengthy and filled with precise data relevant to the position for which you are seeking. Pay attention to your profile title and summary as a freelancer on Upwork.

Include Education, Training, and Certifications

It’s critical to include information about your education, training, and certifications on your CV or Upwork profile. This information completes your profile and provides prospective customers with a complete picture of your credentials. Regardless of your major, provide information about your degree, course of study, and school. Try to adapt any specific military training related to your job role into civilian terminology.

This can assist prospective customers in understanding how your training and qualifications are related to their requirements. Use bullet points to structure the information when listing your education and training. Begin with your most advanced degree or certification and work your way down. Include any applicable certificates, such as Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), in your resume (CISSP).

Remember to use plain, straightforward language. Avoid employing military jargon or technical phrases that your civilian consumers may not understand. Instead, utilize simple language to describe your talents and credentials.

Highlight Transferrable Skills

Highlight your transferrable abilities. In your CV, stress your soft abilities in addition to your hard ones. Civilian employers place a great importance on soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, leadership, collaboration, time management, and devotion. Reframe your military experience and training as important assets that highlight your soft abilities. Make your CV unique for each job application.

Create a unique CV for each job application, emphasizing the abilities and experiences most relevant to the job criteria. Utilize terms and phrases from the job description to demonstrate that you have the necessary abilities and experience. Remember to use civilian language and highlight transferrable talents.

Explore Available Resources

According to research, many war veterans are successful freelancers because of their particular abilities and expertise. There are a variety of options available to you when you move from military to civilian job. The CareerScope online assessment tool is one such resource that might assist you in determining the ideal civilian career route for you. Moreover, the DoD Skillbridge program offers training and development opportunities to help you learn new skills and fill knowledge gaps.

Tips for Using Military Experience in Your CV and Upwork Profile

Demilitarizing Your Resume

While transferring from the military to a civilian career, it is critical to construct a resume that shows your experience and skills in a manner that prospective employers can understand. Demilitarizing your CV is an important step since it allows the typical civilian to comprehend your professional expertise. This may be accomplished by replacing military language with civilian terminology and deleting military acronyms.

But, don’t conceal your military history entirely; instead, be proud of it and showcase it in your résumé. Moreover, quantifying your achievements using figures and producing an appealing resume summary are critical actions to consider. A resume summary should be 2-3 words lengthy and filled with precise data relevant to the position for which you are seeking.

Highlighting Your Education, Training, and Certifications

It’s critical to include information about your education, training, and certifications on your CV or Upwork profile. This information completes your profile and provides prospective customers with a complete picture of your credentials. Regardless of your major, provide information about your degree, course of study, and school. Try to adapt any specific military training related to your job role into civilian terminology.

This can assist prospective customers in understanding how your training and qualifications are related to their requirements. Use bullet points to structure the information when listing your education and training. Begin with your most advanced degree or certification and work your way down. Include any applicable certificates, such as Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), in your resume (CISSP).

Remember to use plain, straightforward language. Avoid employing military jargon or technical phrases that your civilian consumers may not understand. Instead, utilize simple language to describe your talents and credentials.

Emphasizing Your Transferrable Skills

On your CV, stress your soft abilities in addition to your hard ones. Civilian employers place a great importance on soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, leadership, collaboration, time management, and devotion. Reframe your military experience and training as important assets that highlight your soft abilities.

Make your CV unique for each job application by creating a unique CV for each job application, emphasizing the abilities and experiences most relevant to the job criteria. Utilize terms and phrases from the job description to demonstrate that you have the necessary abilities and experience. Remember to use civilian language and highlight transferrable talents.

Building a Strong Upwork Profile

Pay attention to your Upwork profile title and summary to attract prospective customers. Try taking online classes to improve your existing abilities and learn new ones, which will make you a more competitive candidate. Remember to enhance your Upwork profile by using relevant, appealing headers that highlight your skills.

The Benefits of Freelancing for Veterans

If you want to work as a freelancer, you may use your military experience to your advantage. Freelancing provides a variety of alternatives

Tips for Veterans Transitioning to Civilian Careers

Highlight Your Transferable Skills

• Identify transferable abilities from your military career, such as technology and software skills, project management, budgeting, language skills, and management.
• Identify soft talents that can be transferred from your military experience, such as communication, problem solving, leadership, collaboration, time management, performance under pressure, global views, and devotion.

Making Your Resume Less Militaristic

• Demilitarize your résumé by translating military jargon into civilian language.
• Use separate subheadings to identify your military positions, such as rank/position, firm or organization, and dates of work.
• Utilize civilian language, and wherever feasible, replace military jargon with civilian ones in your CV. Subordinates should be referred to as employees or coworkers.
• Remove military acronyms and replace them with ordinary phraseology.

Improving Your Upwork Profile

• Make your title and profile summary more appealing to prospective customers.
• Include information about your education, training, and certifications in your profile.
• Use bullet points to structure your education and training section, beginning with your most advanced degree or certification and working your way down.
• Avoid using military jargon or technical phrases that your civilian clients may not understand. Instead, use plain, straightforward language.
• Consider taking online classes to improve your existing abilities and learn new ones.

Exploring Freelancing as a Career Option

Freelancing provides a variety of alternatives for a better work-life balance, more flexibility, and the freedom to pick your tasks. These are some of the most compelling reasons for many veterans to consider a freelancing job. Moreover, freelancing may be a successful and fulfilling career option that allows you to control your professional and financial destiny. By embracing the possibility of freelancing, you may explore a variety of alternatives outside of typical military or private sector work.

Working with customers on Upwork or other freelancing platforms, or marketing your skills directly to prospective clients, freelancing may provide a road to success and satisfaction. You can shift to freelancing and develop a flourishing freelance career if you have the correct mentality, skills, and approach.

FAQ

Q: What factors should I take into account while converting my military talents to civilian work skills?

A: You should emphasize both technical and soft talents earned while serving in the military. Make a list of your jobs, responsibilities, and successes rather than interpreting military language at first.

Q: How can I make my resume less militaristic?

A: Demilitarize your résumé by translating military jargon into civilian language. Separate subheadings should be used to identify your military positions, such as rank/position, firm or organization, and dates of work. Utilize civilian language, and wherever feasible, replace military jargon with civilian ones in your CV. Subordinates should be referred to as employees or coworkers. Remove military acronyms and replace them with ordinary phraseology.

Q: What factors should I take into account while converting my military talents to civilian work skills?

A: You should emphasize both technical and soft talents earned while serving in the military. Make a list of your jobs, responsibilities, and successes rather than interpreting military language at first.