Any tips in building a Résumé without military jargon/lingo?

SSG John McCammon — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:33:44 -0500

Just trying to get some different perspective on Résumé building.

Response by SPC Joshua Heath made Feb 3 at 2016 10:42 AM

SPC Joshua Heath — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:42:28 -0500

The best tip I can give you is to speak with a former military member who's working in HR if at all possible. They see resumes all the time and can probably help translate.

Keep in mind that translating things is mostly about focusing on the numbers and active words that are non-jargon, but there is also a lot of jargon in the civilian world as well. Google where you want to work to find key words of use.

Response by SFC Michael Whipple made Feb 3 at 2016 10:51 AM

SFC Michael Whipple — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:51:03 -0500

Do do do, utilize the ACAP on the closest installation. Best thing I've done.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Feb 3 at 2016 10:55 AM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:55:43 -0500

This is a long subject, but here are my top 5 tips:

1) Do not use ANY acronyms, no matter how obvious they are to. For example, you may think "USAREC" is clear enough, but nobody will know what that means. Most people even in the military don't know what that means. Absolutely zero acronyms or jargon. I see you're a mortarman, so avoid even that term. If a random person on the street can't understand it, don't use it on a resume.

2) Convert military positions to civilian position names. For example, "Squad Leader" is really "Team Leader", (there are no squads in civilian life). Or if that sounds like too much of a demotion, try "Department Leader". Do this for all positions which don't have a direct civilian equivalent.

3) Your bullet points should be results, not responsibilities. This is the #1 mistake I see on every single military resume. People will write "Responsible for XYZ dollars/equipment." That was just your job responsibility, but resume bullet points should talk about what you accomplished, not what you were given. It's fine to have 1-2 lines describing your job, but when writing the actual bullet points, don't list things that you had just by the nature of you holding the position, and that anybody else holding the position can say the same thing. Employers care less about your job description (which 100% of people in that role can claim), and more about what you actually excelled at and how you performed.

4) When writing results, focus on the outcomes, not the inputs. For example, I've seen intel people write "Produced over 500 intelligence reports"... well, sorry, producing paperwork is not an accomplishment in the private sector. What did that person accomplish? For example, how about "Generated intelligence analysis that directly contributed to the capture of seven high priority targets." Use quantitative RESULTS as much as possible. If your bullet point doesn't have a "...resulting in..." (or equivalent) and an outcome, it may not be worth listing.

5) Highlight success by listing awards, but don't include an "Awards Section". It is true that hiring managers don't really understand or care about awards, but awards do help highlight when something you did was exceptional. For example, "Awarded Army Commendation Medal for achieving a 25% increase in the unit's recruiting goals." So in short, use awards to highlight your accomplishments, don't just list them as a separate throw-away section, and also, don't neglect them.

Ok, I know I said top 5, but I had to add one more...

6) Avoid language about combat/killing/blowing things up. You're looking for a civilian job, not a security contract job. So avoid "combat patrols" or "engaged in 4 enemy firefights" or "fired mortar missions faster than any other section" type highlights. Focus on the OUTCOMES, and quantify whenever possible. For example, somebody could say "Conducted operations in an area of 300 square miles which resulted in a 25% reduction in violence and a 30% increase in new businesses emerging due to the improved security posture."

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Feb 3 at 2016 10:59 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:59:49 -0500

One of the things I tell transitioning Veterans is that employers really do not care about WHAT you got, but WHY you got it. This is true for a lot of the resume writing process. The other bit of advice I can tell you from my own experience is do exactly what you are doing now; ask questions! Also, do not forget about the soft skills the military taught you. Look at the job postings that interest you and ensure you craft your resume towards those positions. Make it work FOR you rather than you work for it.

Response by SFC Adam Potter made Feb 3 at 2016 12:09 PM

SFC Adam Potter — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 12:09:17 -0500

Here is one tip: Station Commander = Recruiting Office Manager

Most civilian resume screeners will have no idea what a Station Commander is.

Also if you want to have a good shot at an interview, tailor the resume to the job posting. As an example, Here we list our required qualifications for a position, and then perhaps desired qualifications as well. I would recommend printing off the job posting and under each qualification, write in where you had that experience, skill etc. Then on your resume in your work history, when you enter your position that has that experience, ensure you highlight what the job posting is asking for. Same with your cover letter, make sure it highlights how you are qualified to do the job, and why you are great at doing what you do.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Feb 3 at 2016 12:27 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 12:27:02 -0500

Connect on Linked-In with your fellow Vets here. See what they have posted as far as translating their Military Skills into Civilian and see if that will help you.

Response by MSG David Johnson made Feb 3 at 2016 12:59 PM

MSG David Johnson — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 12:59:38 -0500

If you can get your info from ACES, it translate all your military carrer for college credits. I know you want info on your resume, but your ACES transcript translates everything you did in the military into what the civilian equivalent is. You can use that for starters.
You can also go to your local community college and if you talk nice to the Veterans service Office they will help as well.

Hope this helps, also if you have a lot of transferable credits you could be close to a degree. Also, if you're on active duty there is the TAPS Office to help.

I didn't read any other replies so all this may have been covered already.

Good luck.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 3 at 2016 1:04 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:04:20 -0500

"How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

1. Write it how you THINK. Just do it. Don't overthink it. Don't try to translate it. Don't try to convert it. Just make a historical record of what you did in your own words. (Rough Draft Phase)
2. Go through, find any acronyms and spell them out. (Alpha Phase)
3. Go through and look for Jargon & Tradespeak. If a "normal" person, as in the HR person wouldn't understand it, convert it to "Plain English." After you have done this, give it to someone else, preferably non-military and have them do the same.
4. Use terms like Supervisor and Manager. Yes we are Leaders, however we hold Supervisory & Management "Roles" or "Billets." Many of the terms we use mean different things when read by a Civilian. It's like the difference between American English & British English. The "nuances" are what will get you.
5. Define things. If you managed a warehouse, how big was it. What was its value. If you supervised/managed/led people, how many? Provide context (i.e. accomplishments or tasks).

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2016 1:13 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:13:01 -0500

It is also important to not only have a resume ready but to tailor it to the specific job you are applying for. If you are applying for a corrections officer job, focus on control and apprehension, not issuing out tickets on the street.
A resume needs to be on point. You can list all your previous jobs/positions but only elaborate on them if the material pertains to the job at hand. IOW, present the 'so what' to the company you want to work for.
Also, be prepared to back up any credentials. Know your subject matter. I have seen at least 20 applicants over the last year that claim to know X and Y on the resume but are unable to answer basic questions about them.

Response by SFC Adam Potter made Feb 3 at 2016 1:14 PM

SFC Adam Potter — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:14:36 -0500

Hire Heroes USA has Transition Counselors that will assist you in building your resume. I sent in my DD 214, NCOERS, AARTS Transcripts, etc and other resumes I had and they made a great resume for me to use. I would then tailor that resume to specific jobs I was applying for.
You can register for their services at: https://www.hireheroesusa.org/get-registered/

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Response by SFC Justin Scott made Feb 3 at 2016 1:24 PM

SFC Justin Scott — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:24:04 -0500

Have you gone and taken the resume building class on your post? They provide excellent information on this.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Feb 3 at 2016 1:42 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:42:32 -0500

Start by having a good dictionary and thesaurus next to you so that you can check word use and word alternatives. I am also willing to help you, just send me a private message, I have over 20 years as an instructor and teacher; including English writing.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2016 1:52 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:52:07 -0500

Join LinkedIn and build a profile. Then join the LinkedIn group, "Veteran Mentor Network." Post your resume to your LinkedIn profile. Then start a discussion in the Veteran Mentor Network, asking the group to review and comment on your resume. This group has a number of HR types that will be glad to make sure your resume is ready to attract attention.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Feb 3 at 2016 1:56 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:56:41 -0500

I have used a "scale down to scale up" approach in addressing what I did/do in the Army on my resume. By that, I mean I do NOT begin by concerning myself with keywords, buzzwords and phrases that I think company HR or recruiters are looking for. Catchy buzzwords don't mean much if one can't actually convey to others what they did, and if one can't convey what they did, then those catchy buzzwords probably aren't being used correctly anyway.

So instead I begin by figuring out how I would explain my military experience to a child; break it down Barney Style so to speak. Kids need an image in their minds; jargon, acronyms, buzzwords mean even less to them than someone looking at your resume, so that is Square 1.

If you can EFFECTIVELY explain yourself to a child, you should be able to repackage those explanations on your resume, in a way a more sophisticated person would: i.e. the hiring manager. But then again, perhaps the one reviewing your resume is no brighter than a child anyway! ;-)

Response by Lt Col Stephen Petzold made Feb 3 at 2016 2:23 PM

Lt Col Stephen Petzold — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 14:23:41 -0500

If you have had a lot of different jobs while in the military then listing the basic info on all of them can use up a lot of the space on a resume. If that is the case then you might want to look at creating a functional resume rather than a chronological one. With a functional one it is more of listing the skills you have (such as managing people) and then listing some of the things you have done in your military career that support that skill. You can then provide a military biography if they need to see your sequence of jobs.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 3 at 2016 5:21 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:21:33 -0500

Use the little white transition guide book. There are verbs to use on Job Descriptions and accomplishments. Using the STAR format helped, so I was not so focused on translating every little thing from MIL to CIV, I could focus on STAR.

If anyone cracks the code on translating Commander to a CIV equivalent let me know. DOL at SFL TAP recommended COO, which does neither term justice.

Platoons, Companies and Battalions are where we all live...I translated those by relating size, organization and mission. Example divisional sustainment brigade: ...1600 person organization separated into 12 specialized business units that provide munitions, transportation, maintenance, materiel management, supply, movement control, finance, human resources, and fuel to the 26,000 people and XXXX thousand vehicles of the 4th Infantry Division. I know I still have division in there, but it is context and not substance. If they have no idea what an Army Division is, they see 26,000 people and XXXX vehicles.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2016 5:51 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:51:45 -0500

One thing I have seen in the past is the use of family and friends. Write your resume as best you can, then have a friend or family member to read it and provide feedback on what confused them or what they did not understand. This should help you identify anything that may not have translated well for you. However, the ample a advice here of using all the assistance programs the military provides for transitioning soldiers will definitely steer you in the right direction, good luck.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2016 11:11 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 23:11:22 -0500

Check out this link to "Civilian Terms for Military Experience" below. It gives some examples of how to translate military experience into more understandable civilian terms for your resume.
http://www.handsonbanking.org/financial-education/military/civilian-terms-for-military-experience/

Civilian terms for military experience - Hands on Banking

Response by SFC Donald Neal made Feb 4 at 2016 1:26 AM

SFC Donald Neal — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 01:26:18 -0500

Like others have stated, you'll need to boil down the essence of what you accomplished. Instead of responsible for PCCs/PCIs; you can use performed pre-operations checks, took corrective actions and conducted operations while ensuring conformity for policy and procedures. Create a LinkedIn profile too and look at what others are doing.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 8:17 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 08:17:46 -0500

MAJ Weiss detailed a very comprehensive list. I will add, from a private sector point of view...that what is most attractive to hiring entities evaluating a military hire is certifications, and proven examples of accomplishment that mirror (as closely as possible) the position you are applying for. Sad, but true...people are skeptical today; Too many people can justly claim that they have been trained to carry the water, but what we're looking for is how many buckets you carried from point A to point B. Keep in mind that some qualities, such as leadership, initiative and consistency are universal, whether in a combat zone, or on a production line. Finally, unless you are applying for a job requiring combat skills, i.e. tactical LE, contract security, etc...leave the "scary stuff" off the list. The quality assessment out here is inverse of military life...it's all one, big, giant FOB.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 1:25 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 13:25:17 -0500

Your resume writing style should also reflect the type of job you're applying for. If you're applying to jobs in multiple fields, I would create a generic resume 1st then cater them to specific employers!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 4:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 16:24:06 -0500

Contact me and I can help. I was offered the DOL TAP job as I am getting out. It's where they teach writing your resume. [login to see]

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 10:41 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 22:41:24 -0500

VMET can assist with that

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2016 1:27 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 13:27:11 -0500

Are you getting ready to ETS within the next two years? ACAP has classes that address resume' building.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Feb 6 at 2016 1:18 AM

COL Charles Williams — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 01:18:36 -0500

Your resume, if geared for the civilian job marker, not GS or Government Contractor, needs to be in language (civilian lingo) all will understand... SL, PSG, really mean nothing to someone who had never walked in your shoes.

Take me for example... Battalion Commander, Provost Marshal, Director of Emergency Services... or Police Chief or Director of Public Safety...

Response by 1LT A. Uribe made Feb 6 at 2016 8:18 AM

1LT A. Uribe — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 08:18:02 -0500

I would hire a professional resume writer, worked for me and got me a GS-12 position.

Response by SFC James Young made Feb 6 at 2016 4:42 PM

SFC James Young — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 16:42:46 -0500

To reply to the comments referring resources and tools. These are great to give you an idea. Having someone write your resume for you is bad for you. Only you know your skills, and what your accomplishments are. You will sell yourself short of someone writes your resume. ACAP is what you put into it. There is no "A+B=C" formula that will land you a career. There are many factors. What the company is looking for, what the timing is like for the position and yourself, what expectations for both parties are not met. Sometimes you have one shot to make an impression. Your goal is to make one that is so good they remember you. I wasn't hired after my first interview because I wasn't getting out of the Army for a few months. I kept in touch and luckily I walked on the week I got out. This is how LinkedIn plays an important part. Resumes give a preview of your skills. You keep it one to two pages, while your linkedin profile you can tell your entire story. At the same time, you can connect with your interviewer, or prospective manager at the same time. I encourage connecting and working on some pointers for interviews. Resumes are a breeze. The first time I tried to pitch an elevator pitch it was rough. I taught as an instructor on the M2A3 Bradley for a while, and as I got out I was a senior instructor at the NCO Academy. I was also teaching the Army Basic Instructor Course, and small group leaders course. 30 seconds talking about myself was unnatural and I had to rehearse it a lot before getting it down. When you add a LinkedIn profile. Again, like a resume, keep it free from military jargon. Make a good tagine (job description) for the career you are looking to get into. Example: "Experienced Project Manager who is a self starter, secret clearance, available ________." And don't have a picture of you in military uniform. Think of it as sending in a DA photo with you in just a suit and tie rather than uniform....that is exactly what you are doing if you are transitioning and job hunting.

Response by SSG Steven Dowell made Feb 6 at 2016 11:14 PM

SSG Steven Dowell — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 23:14:45 -0500

I don't remember what they call it now but if you go to the ACAP office and they can print you off a packet of transfer words to transfer military jargon into civilian speak.

Response by SGT Jonathon Caldwell made Feb 8 at 2016 9:43 PM

SGT Jonathon Caldwell — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 21:43:54 -0500

Ssg John McCammon, create a Linkedin profile. Once you have a profile, connect/find marylandveternsneedjobs. Yes its all one word. They are a recruiting/resume company based out of the D.C. area and will assist SM's and Veterans with job search and resume writing free of charge. A gentleman by the name of Art is the founder and was a huge help during my transition nearly 2 years ago. You'll need a rough resume built already, however they will have 1 or multiple people critique it and give suggestions for you to fix it. Hope this helps and good luck.

Response by COL Bernie Williford made Feb 9 at 2016 7:07 AM

COL Bernie Williford — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 07:07:21 -0500

I used heroes to hired and they took my awards and evaluations for the last ten years and drafted up a pretty good resume. I still had to tweek it and if course adjust for each job I am applying for to get key word matches. SFL-TAP gives you some basics but Heroes to Hired is free.

Response by PO1 Jeff Miller made Feb 9 at 2016 7:33 AM

PO1 Jeff Miller — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 07:33:36 -0500

John. Go to http://www.onetonline.org. it's a career planning website. There's a specific section for military members and has a listing ofcivilian job titles for the miltary duty/billet

O*NET OnLine

Response by LtCol Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2016 7:34 AM

LtCol Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 07:34:42 -0500

May I suggest having other transitioned military peers review your work and offer suggestions - a second eye/review can always be helpful. I'd be willing to take a lokk if you'd like.

Response by SrA Troy Barber made Feb 9 at 2016 8:22 AM

SrA Troy Barber — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 08:22:19 -0500

Check with your local Community College, maybe take a class, at the veteran center there are several people and programs that can help you with your resume.

Response by SFC Guy Quinn made Feb 9 at 2016 9:24 AM

SFC Guy Quinn — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 09:24:24 -0500

http://www.hireheroesusa.org/

Root around in here and you will find all that is needed to transition. They are awesome on resumes.

Hire Heroes USA | Home

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Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2016 9:32 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 09:32:55 -0500

Focus on your quantifiable and quantifiable attributes. Responsible for X number of people or $XXX of equipment.

Response by Cpl Dr Ronnie Manns made Feb 9 at 2016 10:31 AM

Cpl Dr Ronnie Manns — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 10:31:51 -0500

This is the primary reason I established the Military Occupational Skills Conversion Institute or MOSCI to convert DD-214 entries into civilian jargon and to meet he educational requirements normally expected by employers. http://mannslogistics.wix.com/mosci. But you can search for free websites that will show you, by MOS, like this one http://www.careerinfonet.org.

Response by COL David McClean made Feb 9 at 2016 12:37 PM

COL David McClean — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 12:37:13 -0500

Send me your resume in an editable format. I would be happy to review with track changes as necessary - no charge: [login to see]

Response by SP6 Ron W. made Feb 9 at 2016 12:59 PM

SP6 Ron W. — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 12:59:21 -0500

I read a magazine at the VA yesterday called G.I. Jobs that has good ideas about writing a resume and a list of veteran's friendly schools. Has a Facebook page.

Response by 1stSgt David Welch made Feb 9 at 2016 2:11 PM

1stSgt David Welch — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 14:11:52 -0500

I was a professional headhunter for several years after getting back from Iraq in 05. Resumes and job searching is something I know a thing or two about.

Removing the combat-boots on your resume is critical. Look at the job descriptions of the jobs you feel qualified for based on your experience an use their language. For example, NCOIC, is "Supervisor". SrNCOIC would be "Superintendent" etc. But the big elements are in describing your duties. Numbers talk, "maintained $15M in equipment with 98% effective rate and zero safety incidences." "Supervised a team of 5 individuals expected to perform in austere conditions while minimizing risk while increasing team effectiveness." As a first sergeant my resume reads, "HR Director for organization, ensuring operational capacity of 100 civil engineers and 12 bomb squad technicians."

Response by Vikki Nicometo made Feb 9 at 2016 2:36 PM

Vikki Nicometo — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 14:36:39 -0500

When I was teaching employers about hiring veterans, I had them use O*Net's Military Skills translator to understand military resumes. I think you could use it in reverse as well. It's been a while since I've looked at it, but if you want more info, I'd be happy to blow the dust off and see if I can help you figure it out.

Response by Lt Col Andrea Hlosek made Feb 10 at 2016 8:33 AM

Lt Col Andrea Hlosek — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 08:33:36 -0500

You need to have two resumes, one with jargon and one without . I'm now a contractor and have to fill open jobs. The contract PWS is written in jargon and when we're screening resumes we search for those "jargon" terms. If you don't intend to continue to work in DoD then by all means "civilianize" your resume, but if you do, you'll want a version with the jargon

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2016 9:01 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 09:01:24 -0500

Log onto http://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/jobs and there you will find a "Resume Builder" and more importantly a "Skills Translator" LINK where you enter your MOSC and it'll "convert your military skills to civilian" and from there you can build a strong Civilian Resume that truly states what your skills sets are. Email me at [login to see] and I'll also send you a SAMPLE 30-second commercial that you can customize and prepare for that special interview! Good luck! - Top
- Larry Josephs, Army Career Employment Specialist, Fort Snelling, MN

jobs - eBenefits

Response by SSgt Ray McCaslin made Feb 10 at 2016 9:15 AM

SSgt Ray McCaslin — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 09:15:32 -0500

If we have spent any significant time in the military or any other organization that tends to have it's own language, we adopt a language that we use unconsciously. No matter how hard we try, we will still use jargon that we would assume that all others would understand. My suggestion is to write your initial or draft resume, and not rack your brain trying to avoid jargon or translating it into what you may think would be a layman understanding. Give your draft to a family member or friend who has not worked within your organization. As that person reads your resume, he or she will point out to you, jargon that they don't understand. Translating your jargon to them in a way that they understand what you are trying to say will help you polish your resume so that anyone reading it will know what you are conveying.

Response by CPL Deanna Green (Parkinson) made Feb 10 at 2016 9:52 AM

CPL Deanna Green (Parkinson) — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 09:52:57 -0500

I worked in the civilian world before I enlisted, so it was easier for me to transition. I spent many years in employee development and management after I transitioned out. My advice is to break down job duties simply into bullet points using civilian language. (example: Mid Level Manager or Training Supervisor over 40 employees, facilitate training sessions, gather and distribute training materials, monitor progress, recruit expert demonstrators,mentor employees, etc). This would be acceptable for the Training NCO. Remember all of our skills can transition, it's just using the correct verbiage. Good Luck!

Response by SN C. J. Brown III made Feb 10 at 2016 3:59 PM

SN C. J. Brown III — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 15:59:26 -0500

In our Veterans Career Camp program we show military/veterans how to develop a resume without the military jargon/lingo and use civilian language.

Response by COL Bernie Williford made Feb 12 at 2016 3:33 PM

COL Bernie Williford — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 15:33:45 -0500

Heroes to Hired will assist for free. Another technique is to have your friends that are civilians read your resume and provide feedback on their understanding of what you have there. I chose friends in similar outside positions as I've held in the military and one's that never served. I got great feedback on and continue to get great feedback from them.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Mar 6 at 2016 10:43 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 10:43:17 -0500

Since there has been 61 responses so for, this may have been mentioned. But, you tailor the Resume to the job you are looking for. Best bet is to find someone that can assist you, that has gone through the job searching process, and have them help you translate your skills and accomplishments to civilian speak. A general resume will not get much attention, particularly if it is only understandable by another military person from your branch. As an example, a MOS number means nothing to me since I was Navy, as my NECs wouldn't to an Army experienced employer.

Response by SrA Troy Barber made Mar 10 at 2016 1:26 PM

SrA Troy Barber — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:26:56 -0500

You can also check with a local Community College, I know at CPCC in Charlotte, the Veterans Center for Military, Veterans and Families, have connections that will help you write and set up you Resume' for the civilian world. There are several other organizations that will help also. Start with your local Veterans Service Officer, they can usually send you in the right direction.

Response by SFC Guy Quinn made Mar 17 at 2016 1:05 PM

SFC Guy Quinn — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 13:05:49 -0400

Collect up all your possibles and get a hold of Hire Heroes. They have free Professional Resume Builders that do a very good job.

http://www.hireheroesusa.org/

Hire Heroes USA | Home

Response by Cpl Dr Ronnie Manns made Mar 17 at 2016 2:13 PM

Cpl Dr Ronnie Manns — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:13:42 -0400

My institute, the Military Occupational Skills Conversion Institute or MOSCI will do this for FREE for all veterans as well as make suggestions about the actionable phrasing. http://mannslogistics.wix.com/mosci

mosci

Response by SPC Wendell Handford made Jul 25 at 2019 12:53 AM

SPC Wendell Handford — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 00:53:47 -0400

I found a place for that I am in Las Vegas so where ever you are in your state look for One stop career Center they help veterans building a resume

Response by CWO3 David Brewster made Jul 25 at 2019 8:10 AM

CWO3 David Brewster — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 08:10:12 -0400

I'm a retired Chief Warrant Officer, and often attend recruiting events for my company (Trinity River Authority of Texas). My tip is this, keep it simple. Identify your major duties and responsibilities but describe them in civilian terms (e.g.; Leadership: Responsible for the training and development of over XX(number of personnel) personnel, with XX(number of supervisor that reported directly to you)direct reports. Management: What programs and budgets did you manage, describe your oversight in easy to understand terms (e.g., Effective 2M Manager; supervised self-sufficient repair practices using specialized test equipment and software support. During fiscal year 2004, the 2M program generated in excess of $464,000.00 in repair savings), Personnel Management/ Interaction: Talk about your ability to communicate goals and expectations, and interact with others (e.g., Excellent teacher/trainer; patient, and effective when working with diverse groups, Proven ability to work as a director, manager, team leader, and/ or team member in achieving outstanding results) Good Luck!!