HMForces.co.uk

Careers >> Browse Articles >> CV Centre

Out of Uniform: CV Tips for Making the Transition

You’re leaving the service and are faced with the daunting task of developing your CV.

No doubt your military or naval career is studded with accomplishments, but even the most decorated veteran needs to work out how to make the transition to a civilian position. Follow these tips to draft a high-impact CV that shows how your military experience is transferable to a civilian job.

Define Your Civilian Job Objective

You can’t effectively market yourself for a civilian job if you don’t have a clearly defined goal. Because so many service people have diverse backgrounds, they often make the mistake of creating CVs that are too general to be effective. Before writing your CV, do some soul searching, research occupations and pinpoint a specific career path. If you’re having trouble with this step, tap into your local Resettlement Centre or solicit the help of a career coach. If you’re torn between two or more potential goals, set up different CVs.

Create a CV That Speaks to Employers’ Needs

Now that your objective is defined, you’re ready to create a winning CV. Consider a CV’s purpose: To answer the employer’s question, “What can this person do for me?”

A good way to start thinking about employers’ needs is to research your target job. Search for jobs, scour company web sites and read as many job postings as possible. What types of skills and experiences are employers seeking? What aspects of your background are most relevant?

Any information that does not relate to your goal should be eliminated or deemphasised, and this includes any unrelated military awards, training and distinctions. For example, that medal you won for rifle marksmanship doesn’t belong on a civilian CV. This is often the hardest step for ex-military or naval personnel, which is why it’s so common to see military CVs span five pages or more. As you decide which information to include, ask yourself, “Will a potential employer care about this experience?” Only include information that will help you land an interview.

You may bring a list of those distinctions to the interview, ready to discuss them – and even mention in a cover letter that, if the employer wishes, you’ll be happy to discuss your military commendations in detail. Later, if you discover during a job interview that the person across the table also has a military background, a separate sheet listing military or naval achievements can be an influential leave-behind.

Assume No Knowledge of the Navy or Military

Demilitarise your job titles, duties, accomplishments, training and awards to appeal to civilian hiring managers. Employers with no exposure to the military don’t understand the terminology and acronyms, so translate these into civilianese. Show your CV to several non-military friends and ask them to point out terms they don’t understand. Refer to job postings for help substituting civilian keywords for naval or military terms.

Showcase Your Accomplishments

Your military career has offered you excellent opportunities for training, practical experience and advancement. Tout your accomplishments so the average civilian understands the importance of your achievements and the measurable outcomes.

Here’s an example of a demilitarised accomplishment statement:

Increased employee retention rate by 16 percent by focusing on training, team building and recognition programs. Earned reputation as one of the most progressive and innovative IT organisations in the Army’s communications and IT community.

Here’s an example of incorporating a military or naval award so employers understand its value:

Received Army Achievement Medal for completing 400+ medical evaluations and developing patient database using MS Access. The database improved reporting functions and tracked patient demographics, records, medication, appointments and status.

Flaunt Your Military or Naval Background

You might have heard you need to develop a functional CV format to mask or downplay your military experience, but the opposite is true. Your experience is an asset and should be marketed as such. Many employers realise the value of bringing veterans on board. Attributes honed in service include dedication, leadership, teamwork, positive work ethic and cross-functional skills. If you fear a potential employer won’t realise the significance of your experience, make sure your CV clearly communicates the value you bring to the table.

A naval or military background can be invaluable proof that you possess qualities like discipline, self-motivation and learning ability. By running your job search according to civilian rules, you show that in your attitude, professionalism and readiness to work, you are already making the transition to a civilian career.

If You Were in Active Combat, Leave out the Details

Defending your country and its interests is among the most admirable of pursuits, but the sad truth is actual references to the horrors of combat leave many employers squeamish. While you might have worked in a short-range air defence engagement zone, this experience might not relate to your future goal. Tone down or remove references to the battlefield.

Test-Drive Your CV

For some veterans, developing a CV that works in the civilian world is an ongoing process. After you’ve polished your CV, start your distribution and keep track of your CV’s response rate. Solicit feedback and listen carefully to suggestions for improving your CV. Continue modifying the document until it successfully generates job interviews.

Join the discussion! Discuss CVs and other career-related issues.