Transitioning from a military career to a new industry as a civilian can be challenging for many veterans. Reframing your military accomplishments to align with jobs on the open market is often difficult. Create an accomplishment-driven resume that leverages your leadership experience and technical skills to propel your job search forward during this career transition.
Rather than overwhelming the reader with complex military terminology, present your achievements in a way that hiring managers can easily understand. Throughout our military resume builder guide, we’ll provide expert tips to help you translate your military experience into a strong, professional resume.
Most Popular Military-To-Civilian Resumes
Military-To-Civilian Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume focuses on the candidate’s military work relevant to the security field, clearly highlighting how the skills gained will transfer to the civilian workforce. The use of quantifiable results, such as team leadership and high-risk personnel management, helps position the candidate for civilian security roles. Learn more about how to make a resume.
Military-to-Civilian Network Security Analyst Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume is strong because it showcases the candidate’s expertise in cybersecurity and IT, translating military experience into a technical civilian role. The certifications further bolster their qualifications in the cybersecurity space. Check out resume summary examples.
Military-to-Civilian Supply Chain Coordinator Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume highlights the candidate’s significant experience in logistics and supply chain management, demonstrating how their military skills are transferable to civilian roles. The certifications further validate their expertise in supply chain management. Find out how to list your education on a resume.
Military-to-Civilian Mall Security Guard Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume is strong because it clearly showcases leadership, responsibility, and key security-related skills. The candidate’s experience in managing a high-traffic mall and collaborating with law enforcement illustrates their qualifications for a security guard position. Learn how to list relevant coursework on your resume.
Military-to-Civilian Police Officer Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This police officer resume highlights the candidate's leadership and law enforcement experience. The emphasis on key skills such as community engagement and conflict resolution strengthens the candidate's qualifications for a police officer role. Learn about how to list references on your resume.
Military-to-Civilian Security Officer Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume stands out by emphasizing key responsibilities and accomplishments that show the candidate's growth in the security field. Their progression from security guard to loss prevention officer demonstrates an upward trajectory in responsibility, which is valuable for securing higher-level positions. Find out more about customer service skills on resumes.
Military-to-Civilian Security Guard Resume Examples
Why This Resume Works
This resume effectively highlights the candidate's military background and the relevant skills they bring to a civilian security guard role. By detailing specific responsibilities and achievements, the resume conveys readiness to transition into a similar role in civilian security. Learn how to list certifications on your resume.
Military-to-Civilian Law Enforcement Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume demonstrates how the candidate's military police background has provided them with the skills to transition into civilian law enforcement roles. Their involvement in criminal investigations, safety protocols, and collaboration with local law enforcement shows their readiness for civilian law enforcement positions. Learn more about how to list your education on a resume.
Military-to-Civilian Loss Prevention Officer Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
The resume showcases the candidate’s military background in a security setting, with a strong focus on how their skills directly apply to civilian loss prevention roles. Highlighting specific accomplishments, like reducing theft, demonstrates the candidate’s effectiveness in the role. Learn about soft skills for resumes.
Military-to-Civilian Security Supervisor Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume effectively highlights leadership and operational expertise gained in the military and applies them to the civilian security field. The emphasis on team management, risk management, and incident response is vital for security supervisor roles. Learn how to make your resume stand out here.
Military-to-Civilian Security Management Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume successfully emphasizes the candidate’s military security experience and its relevance to high-level civilian security management roles. The candidate’s leadership skills and ability to reduce incidents make them an ideal candidate for security manager positions. Learn how to list your relevant coursework on your resume.
Military-to-Civilian Crisis Management Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume effectively transitions military crisis management experience into civilian roles, showcasing specific examples of leadership, strategic planning, and training. The focus on certifications further strengthens the candidate’s qualifications for crisis management positions. Explore more about resume skills.
Military-to-Civilian IT Specialist Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume highlights the candidate’s extensive military IT experience and how it directly applies to civilian IT roles. It clearly showcases their leadership and technical skills, making them well-suited for positions in system administration and network security. Learn about the best resume formats.
Military-to-Civilian Risk Management Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume highlights the candidate’s transition from military risk management to civilian roles by focusing on specific responsibilities that align with civilian positions. It demonstrates both tactical and strategic expertise in risk mitigation. Learn more about how to list your references on a resume.
Military-to-Civilian Project Manager Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
The resume shows how military experience has directly prepared the candidate for civilian project management roles. By highlighting their leadership, budget management, and cross-functional coordination skills, the resume positions them as an excellent candidate for similar roles. Learn more about resume summaries.
Military-to-Civilian Supply Chain Management Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
The resume emphasizes the candidate’s military supply chain expertise while highlighting civilian-relevant skills such as logistics coordination, inventory management, and process improvement. The use of quantifiable achievements, such as reducing delays by 30%, strengthens the resume’s impact. Learn more about soft skills for resumes.
Military-to-Civilian Customer Service Manager Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume highlights the candidate’s transition from military service into civilian customer service management roles. It showcases their leadership in managing teams, improving customer satisfaction, and implementing training programs. Learn how to list certifications on your resume.
Military-to-Civilian Operations Manager Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume effectively demonstrates how the candidate’s military operations experience translates into civilian operations management roles. It uses concrete examples of cost savings, workflow optimization, and leadership, making it highly relevant to hiring managers. Explore the best font for resumes.
Military-to-Civilian Project Coordinator Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume positions the candidate’s military background in logistics and project coordination as valuable experience for civilian project management roles. The focus on cost control and risk management helps to align their experience with civilian industry needs. Learn more about how to list your education on a resume.
Military-to-Civilian IT Support Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume provides a clear picture of the candidate’s transition from military IT support to civilian IT roles. It emphasizes the technical skills gained and highlights certifications that are critical in the IT support field. Explore how to make a resume.
Military-to-Civilian Business Analyst Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
The resume clearly highlights the candidate’s ability to translate military data analysis experience into a civilian business analyst role. The inclusion of specific achievements, such as the 20% increase in resource utilization, adds measurable value. Learn more about resume skills.
Military-to-Civilian Administrative Assistant Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume positions the candidate’s military administrative experience as valuable for civilian roles by focusing on transferable skills such as document management, communication, and efficiency improvement. The resume also highlights a successful office systems transition that reflects problem-solving and process optimization. Learn more about resume objective examples.
Military-to-Civilian IT Support Technician Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume showcases the candidate’s military IT support experience, translating it into civilian technical roles. The emphasis on system maintenance, troubleshooting, and training aligns the candidate with the technical support requirements of many civilian companies. Explore the best font for resumes.
Military-to-Civilian Retail Manager Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume focuses on the candidate’s leadership in military retail operations and highlights transferable skills like team leadership, customer service, and sales strategy. The use of measurable achievements, like increasing revenue by 18%, makes this resume stand out. Learn how to list references on a resume.
Military-to-Civilian Facilities Manager Resume Example
Why This Resume Works
This resume effectively highlights the candidate’s military background and emphasizes leadership, cost control, and project management skills. The focus on large-scale projects and operational improvements makes this resume compelling for civilian facilities management roles. Learn more about how far back a resume should go.
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Military-to-Civilian Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write a Military-To-Civilian Resume
1. Create a profile by summarizing your military-to-civilian qualifications
Your professional profile should open with your title, years of experience, and three to four specializations to align with the position you’re applying for. This is especially important for military-to-civilian resumes, as you must show hiring managers you have key qualifications the organization is looking for in place of industry experience.
Example 1 - Military Resume Professional Profile
Profile
A Network Security Analyst with over eight years of experience identifying threats and identifying innovative solutions. A proven track record of mitigating cybersecurity threats and providing technical support to military personnel and civilians.
Example 2 - Military Resume Professional Profile
Profile
A Supply Chain Coordinator with 10+ years of military experience, specializing in logistics, fleet management, and procurement. A strong history of overseeing multi-million-dollar supply chains to support military operations.
2. Add a compelling section featuring your military-to-civilian experience
To grab the hiring manager’s attention, you want to create compelling bullet points that showcase your strongest and most relevant accomplishments. It’s important to remember that most readers will be unfamiliar with military terminology, so you’ll need to translate your experience into language that the hiring manager can understand.
You should also quantify your career achievements using hard numbers and metrics. For instance, if you provide logistical support for a military supply chain, you should include a monetary figure to establish a sense of scope. It’s also important to keep your audience in mind when deciding what information to include. For example, mentioning that you were supporting a $38M supply chain may grab the interest of a medium-sized or large organization but could be intimidating if you’re applying to a smaller company.
Example 1 - Military Resume Professional Experience Section
Professional Experience
Cyber Security Officer, Fort Gordon, Augusta, GA
October 2017 – Present
- Triage phones, password resets, and VPN and internet connectivity, identify cyber security threats, and oversee access management to ensure data integrity
- Configure, install, and maintain edge routers, firewalls, laptops, and LAN switches
- Manage a team of 25 civilian and military employees and coordinate the delivery of tactical and technical support to subordinates and superior officers
Example 2 - Military Resume Professional Experience Section
Senior Logistics Officer, Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, NC
September 2016 – October 2017
- Coordinated logistics for multi-million-dollar supply chains supporting domestic and international operations for the Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard
- Oversaw the procurement, transport, and distribution of supplies to troops for military operations, including food, medical supplies, ammunition, and fuel
- Led a team of 10+ army personnel to manage inventory and logistics, assigned responsibilities, evaluated performance, and ensured adherence to army standards
3. Add military-to-civilian education and certifications
Acquiring industry certifications can be a powerful asset during your career change. Many of your skill sets and accomplishments from your time in the military are readily translatable to civilian jobs, but obtaining additional certifications goes a step further in bridging the gap. For instance, even if you have extensive experience in security from your military career, you may want to consider pursuing a cybersecurity or network security certification. This strategy can help bolster your odds of landing the interview.
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Coursera, 2017
- CCNA Security, Cisco, 2016
- CompTIA Security+, CompTIA, 2015
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
Example
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Computer Science
- WIDENER UNIVERSITY, Chester, PA September 2019 – May 2023
4. Include a list of skills and proficiencies related to military-to-civilian experience
It’s important to feature a variety of skills and keywords that match the job description as you craft your military resume. One of the most prominent challenges veterans face during the job search is showing hiring managers that their army experience is translatable to their target industry. Incorporating a strong mix of keywords throughout your resume will ensure compliance with applicant tracking systems (ATS) and show prospective employers that you’re a qualified candidate.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Administration | Analytics |
| Communication | Continuous Improvement |
| Crisis Response | Cross-Functional Leadership |
| Cybersecurity | Database Administration |
| Information Technology (IT) | Logistics |
| Network Security | Operations Management |
| Process Improvement | Project Management |
| Risk Mitigation | Supply Chain Management |
| Technical Support | Team Management |
| Vulnerability Assessment | |
5. Additional military resume builder tips
Before writing your military resume, you’ll want to take some time to identify your target industry. This part is one of the more challenging aspects of the career change process. As you review your military experience and accomplishments, think about how these might translate to a civilian career. Are your skill sets more of a technical nature? Are you better suited for an operations management role? Analyzing job postings before crafting your resume will help you to identify the relevant aspects of your experience and translate them into effective bullet points for the hiring manager. Read our Veteran’s Resume and Job Hunting Guide for more military resume-builder tips.
How to Pick the Best Military-to-Civilian Resume Template
When selecting your military-to-civilian resume template, choose a straightforward and well-organized format. A limited amount of color is acceptable, but it’s better to avoid flashy graphics that may distract the reader. The top-down approach is also recommended in most instances since arranging your sections in a manner that splits the page may make reading difficult. Remember, hiring managers are focused on learning more about your qualifications and professional achievements, so you’ll want your template to support that objective rather than draw attention elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions: Military-to-Civilian Resume Examples and Advice
Why should I use a Military-To-Civilian resume example as a template for my own resume?-
A Military-To-Civilian resume example provides a solid foundation for structuring your own resume. It showcases how to highlight achievements, use quantifiable metrics, and present your experience in an organized manner. You can personalize it by adding your unique qualifications and adjusting sections to better reflect your skills and career history.
What are common action verbs for military resumes?-
It’s easy to find yourself running short on action verbs as you build your military resume. In many instances, you can use only a limited number of verbs to convey your professional achievements accurately. Differentiating your usage of action verbs can enhance the reading experience of your document. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of verbs you can use to keep your content fresh and compelling:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Administered | Analyzed |
| Coordinated | Conducted |
| Created | Diagnosed |
| Delivered | Developed |
| Evaluated | Executed |
| Identified | Improved |
| Led | Managed |
| Oversaw | Performed |
| Provided | Supervised |
| Supported | |
How do you align your military resume with a job description?-
Although many challenges are associated with transitioning from a military career to civilian employment, your experience as a veteran also has several unique advantages. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average employment rate of all veterans was 2.8 in 2022, which was lower than the 3.6 rate for non-veterans.
To effectively market your military experience for civilian jobs, you’ll need to align your resume with the job description carefully. As you craft your bullet points, you want to focus on reframing your military achievements to show why you’re uniquely qualified. This means limiting your usage of complex military terminology and instead highlighting aspects of your army experience that are explicitly relevant to the job you’re pursuing.
What is the best military resume format?-
You’ll often want to use a reverse chronological format for military resumes. This format will feature your most relevant experience at the top of your resume. However, if you feel that your military achievements are readily translatable to the industry you’re pursuing, you may consider placing your education, skills, and certifications towards the top. For instance, if you completed a computer science degree but weren’t employed as an IT officer, it may be beneficial to place relevant technical skills and certifications higher up on the document.
What’s the recommended length for a military resume?-
The recommended length for a military resume is one page, especially for professionals with under 10 years of experience. A two-page resume can work for those with substantial accomplishments or a longer career, but only if it’s concise and highly relevant to the role. Tailoring your resume to the job and highlighting your strongest qualifications are key to success.
Stick to listing work experience from the last 10 to 15 years, as this period is most relevant to employers. Summarize or omit older positions unless they’re crucial for your application. A focused and streamlined resume will help capture the hiring manager’s attention.
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Providing a cover letter can bolster the strength of your application during the military-to-civilian transition. The cover letter offers another opportunity to showcase how your military experience is relevant to your target industry. When building your cover letter, you should mention something about the organization’s reputation or work culture in the middle paragraphs of the document. This strategy will show hiring managers that you’ve researched before applying, which reflects positively on you as a candidate. For more insights, read our military-to-civilian cover letter guide.
