One of the hardest parts of leaving the military is writing a resume.
You know what you did.
But civilian employers may not.
Your MOS matters.
The skills you gained matter even more.
The key is learning how to translate your experience into words civilians understand.
Here are five simple ways to do that.
1. Stop Leading With Your MOS Code
Most employers do not know what your MOS means.
They do not speak military language.
Instead of starting with your MOS title, start with your skills.
Focus on things like:
Leadership
Teamwork
Planning
Safety
Problem solving
These skills apply to many civilian jobs.
They are what employers care about most.
2. Use Simple, Everyday Language
Military terms can confuse hiring managers.
Avoid acronyms and rank-heavy language.
For example, instead of saying:
“Served as NCOIC for logistics platoon”
Say:
“Led daily operations for a team responsible for equipment and supplies”
Clear language helps your resume make sense faster.
3. Describe Your Work Like a Civilian Job
Think about what you did each day.
Not the mission name.
Not the MOS label.
Ask yourself:
Did I supervise people?
Did I train others?
Did I manage equipment or schedules?
Then write it that way.
You were doing real work.
The uniform does not change that.
4. Show Results, Not Just Responsibilities
Employers like results.
Numbers help tell your story.
If you can, include details like:
How many people you led
How much equipment you managed
How often you met deadlines
For example:
“Supervised 12 team members and maintained zero safety incidents”
This shows trust, responsibility, and performance.
5. Match Your Resume to the Job You Want
One resume does not fit every job.
You should adjust it each time.
Read the job posting carefully.
Look for key words.
If the job mentions:
Leadership
Operations
Training
Compliance
Use those same words in your resume.
This helps your resume stand out and pass screening systems.
If you are not using AI or ChatGPT, now is the time to start. Put your military MOS into the system and prompt that you are looking for a job in whatever career field you specify, and ChatGPT can assist you with building a resume that will translate.
Final Thoughts
You are not behind.
You are not starting from zero.
Your military experience already prepared you.
You just need to explain it in a new way.
Translate your skills clearly.
Tell your story with confidence.
And remember—your experience has real value.
If you or someone you know if looking for work after transitioning out or is a veteran looking for work, have them reach out to me directly and I will be happy to assist with resumes reviews and job search.
References
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2023). Translating military skills to civilian employment. https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/veteran-resources/
U.S. Department of Labor. (2024). Military to civilian occupation translator. https://www.onetonline.org/crosswalk/MOC/
Comments
Post a Comment