Your career in the military has provided you with all sorts of valuable professional skills. From logistics to cybersecurity to construction to combat, military careers are vast and varied. No matter your role, when it’s time for your military career to end, you need to build a military to civilian resume that shows how your military skills can excel in a professional setting.
Military careers don’t typically require resumes, so if this is your first time learning how to write a resume, we’ve got you covered. With the right tools and guidance, making a persuasive resume is easier than you think!
In this guide, you’ll find:
- A selection of military resume examples.
- Step-by-step instructions on how to write a military resume.
- Military resume samples for every experience level.
- Facts and data about the insurance industry.
- Commonly asked questions about resume writing.
Need more help writing your resume? Building your resume is fast and painless with the help of our professional AI Resume Builder. With a selection of templates and professionally-written text suggestions, our builder can help you make a strong civilian resume in just minutes.
Popular military resumes
A visual aid is the perfect place to start learning what your resume should look like. Let’s see some resume examples for careers that might interest you after leaving the military. Our resume examples library also features more examples for resumes in a variety of fields.
Looking for a different job title? Check out our full library of sample resumes.
Browse other popular samples
How to write a military resume
Any time you make a big career change, you need a strong resume that communicates your experience, skills and competencies. Whether the field is totally new to you or whether your military skills will transfer over neatly, your resume should help you put your best foot forward.
In this section, we’ll look at the five basic parts that most resumes are made of, as well as some optional sections that can spice things up. These parts are:
- A header that contains your contact info.
- A well-written resume profile in the form of a professional summary or resume objective.
- At least one skills section.
- A work experience section that lists and summarizes your jobs in reverse-chronological order.
- An education section that lists your degrees, diplomas and special training.
- Optional resume sections that can help you stand out.
To get started with your military resume, build a resume outline containing the five basic sections to visualize the layout that your resume will use.
Step 1
Research the role
The perfect resume is tailor-made for the position that you’re after. Read the job listing carefully and look for ways in which your skills align with what the employer is looking for. You can learn a lot about what kind of resume your potential employer wants by paying attention to the keywords that they use.
Ensure your resume reflects that you have the qualities and expertise they’re looking for by adding the keywords you identified in the job ad to your resume.
Lots of employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen applications. ATS looks for keywords that you can usually find in the job listing. For a resume that holds up against ATS scrutiny, use these keywords to stand out.
Step 2
Header
Your resume header is where you list your contact information. This section might not seem as important as your experience or skills, but it is crucial.
Imagine landing an interview for your dream job, except your new employer tries to contact you and your email address is misspelled! Be diligent in checking the information that you provide so that when your resume succeeds, you get the call. Here is a list of information that should be included in your header:
- Name
- Phone number
- Professional email address
- City and state
- LinkedIn profile (optional)
Here’s an example of an excellent resume header:
Step 3
Professional summary or resume objective
Your professional summary or resume objective is your first real chance to introduce yourself and dig into your qualifications. No matter which kind of resume profile you choose, this section should be a concise summary of who you are and what you have to offer. Here are the two options:
A professional summary is a great choice for experienced candidates who want to quickly outline their industry experience and the impact of their careers. For military to civilian resumes, this is a good fit for candidates who are transitioning to a civilian career that aligns closely with their military experience. A seasoned military electronics engineer who is transitioning to civilian life and looking for electronics engineering roles would benefit from a professional summary.
A resume objective is for applicants who are just starting out or changing careers. For a military to civilian resume, this is a great fit if your new career path diverges from your military experience. In your resume objective, you can explain your future career goals and transferable skills instead of focusing on experience.
Your resume profile is a great place to briefly discuss any major projects or work accomplishments that you’d like to call out.
Sample professional summary for a military resume:
Highly skilled and dedicated military security analyst with nine years of experience in strategic planning, threat assessment, data analysis and mission-critical decision making. Proven track record of utilizing advanced intelligence systems to conduct high-level security operations and risk management in diverse, high-pressure environments. Seeking opportunity to leverage strong analytical skills, attention to detail and commitment to national security in a similar role within the private sector.
Sample career objective for military resume:
Results-driven professional with four years of experience in the air force, seeking to transition to a project management role in the civilian sector. Strong leadership skills, exceptional problem-solving abilities and a proven track record of managing complex projects under demanding circumstances. Adept at coordinating teams, managing resources and delivering results on time and within budget. Eager to leverage these skills to drive project success in a dynamic and challenging business environment.
Step 4
Skills
Your military career has undoubtedly prepared you for civilian life in ways you might not expect. You’ve developed a range of impressive skills, so your job now is learning how to write a skills section that shows off your abilities.
Step one is learning the difference between hard skills and soft skills. Both are important and should be featured on your military to civilian resume.
Hard skills are concrete technical abilities that you learn through training and experience. If your military career has given you experience in vehicle mechanics, for example, that’s a hard skill. Soft skills are more subtle and rely on character traits and aptitudes. Even if none of your hard skills from your time in the military transfer to your desired career, soft skills like discipline, a strong work ethic and adaptability will benefit you in almost any career path.
Sample military skills for your resume:
- Equipment maintenance
- Operational planning and execution
- Security protocols and procedures
- Logistics and supply chain management
- Risk assessment
- Data analysis
- Discipline
- Accountability
- Collaboration
- Critical thinking
- Verbal and written communication
- Leadership
Step 5
Work experience
The work experience section of your resume is your place to describe your work history. Even if your roles have always been military, this section allows you to explain your responsibilities and describe your accomplishments.
Each entry in your work history section, whether you have several entries or just one, should use bullet points to describe the role and the ways that you contributed to it.
No need to pad out your resume with filler. Repetitive resume cliches don’t interest recruiters or benefit you. Try using action words instead. Use active language to describe your accomplishments so that they are engaging to read.
Sample military work experience entry:
United States Army, Sergeant – Fleet Management
Fort Liberty, NC
May 2019 – July 2024
- Managed a fleet of over 100 military vehicles, ensuring optimum utilization and maintaining excellent condition for mission readiness.
- Developed and implemented preventive maintenance schedules to reduce downtime and extend vehicle life.
- Supervised a team of 20 personnel in daily operations including vehicle inspection, repair and maintenance tasks.
- Conducted regular training sessions on vehicle handling, safety protocols and emergency procedures to enhance team competency and ensure compliance with military regulations.
- Streamlined inventory management processes, resulting in a 15% reduction in unnecessary parts expenditure.
- Coordinated with logistics for efficient and timely delivery of vehicles and parts, ensuring seamless operation.
Step 6
Education
The education section of your resume is where you should list any education or vocational training you’ve received.
A military career generally requires at least a high school diploma, so include that in this section if you don’t have any higher education to add. While a college degree isn’t a typical requirement for a military career, many people choose to pursue a degree or vocational certification in preparation for a civilian career. If this is you, list your degree here!
Even if you haven’t completed a degree, current enrollment in an educational program shows dedication to learning and professional development. Don’t be afraid to include your schooling, even if it’s still a work in progress!
Sample military education entries:
How to include your completed degree:
Associate of Science in Computer Science,
University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ | 2022
How to list a degree that is still in progress:
Associate of Science in Computer Science,
University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
Expected in May 2025
Step 7
Special sections
The five main sections of a resume apply to almost every resume, but that doesn’t mean that every resume is the same. Your career path is unique and your resume should reflect that.
Include special sections to describe parts of your story that don’t fit in the basic sections or that need their own space to shine. Things like volunteer work, certifications, and awards and achievements belong in special sections.
- Certifications: Certifications allow you to show off your expertise and initiative. Here are some that you might list. Just make sure that the ones you choose are relevant to the career you’re seeking.
- Volunteer work: Volunteering demonstrates work ethic and commitment to community-building. If you have done significant volunteer work, include it on your resume.
- Language proficiency: If you know multiple languages, this demonstrates communication skills and cultural awareness. List your language proficiency in its own section to show off these talents.
- Hobbies and interests: Your hobbies and interests are a big part of who you are. No need to include anything that isn’t relevant, but relevant hobbies and interests can be a great way to drive home your soft skills.
Your resume should be brief. Special sections can be an excellent opportunity to make your resume stand out, but be careful to limit your sections to the most relevant information.
Military resume examples by experience level
Your resume must be easy to read. The way it is organized is almost as important as its content.
To help you choose the right layout for your resume, we’ll take a look at the three resume formats that most resumes use. Each one has its own advantages. Here’s an overview of each format:
- A functional resume format is a great choice for less experienced applicants. A functional resume allows you to focus on transferable skills instead of experience. If your military experience is shorter term or less relevant to the career that you’re seeking, a functional resume is a good place to start.
- A combination resume features a mix of skills and experience. For career changers and applicants with some experience, this format provides a balanced option. If you’ve got lots of experience in the military, but the career you’re targeting is a big change, the combination format may offer you the best balance.
- A chronological resume format is the best choice for experienced candidates. If your military career aligns well with your intended civilian career path, the chronological format may be the right fit for you.
You’ll need a template to match the format you choose and organize your information on the page. A simple resume template is a great place to start for most careers, but depending on your chosen industry, you may also benefit from a modern template or professional resume template.
Let’s take a look at these formats in action.
Functional resume format: Entry-level military resume example
What makes this a great military resume sample?
-
It’s organized well
The military resume template that this applicant chose is simple and professional. It draws the reader’s eye to the important information without posing any distractions.
-
Uses the functional format
This candidate’s military experience is somewhat short and doesn’t seem to have a direct connection to his future career plans, so focusing on his skills rather than his experience is a smart move.
-
Uses a career objective
A career objective allows the candidate to introduce his goals without focusing on his career achievements.
Combination resume format: Midcareer military resume example
What makes this a great military resume sample?
-
Balances skills and experience
Thanks to the combination resume format, this military to civilian resume example is able to showcase the achievements of the applicant’s military career alongside her transferable skills.
-
Lets the numbers do the talking
The applicant describes her career achievements in terms of numerical data, which makes her accomplishments feel more concrete.
-
Features lots of transferable soft skills
You may not be able to expect every aspect of your military career to neatly transfer to a civilian career, so it’s smart to place a lot of emphasis on the soft skills that will benefit you in any role. Attention to detail is as beneficial for a lance corporal as it is for a civilian professional.
Chronological resume format: Experienced military resume example
What makes this a great military resume sample?
-
Sticks to the basics
The applicant in this case has extensive experience in the military. Resume templates with more flair might be appropriate for some careers, but in his case they would likely only draw attention away from his impressive list of accomplishments and skills.
-
Lists certifications
Not every career needs certifications, but most careers benefit from them. Because this candidate’s certifications showcase his leadership abilities, he chose to give them their own section.
-
Uses active language
Active verbs like “conducted,” “devised” and “coordinated” give this sample military to civilian resume an extra sense of energy and momentum.
Add a cover letter
If writing isn’t your thing, then writing a cover letter after doing all that work for your resume might seem like too much. Don’t worry, though! Creating a persuasive cover letter is easier than you think.
Your cover letter is your place to explain your career in your own words and describe the reasons why you’re a good fit for the job. It’s also the space to explain why you’re making the transition to civilian life and how you plan to use your military experience to succeed in the role you’re after.
Check out our library of cover letter examples and our guide about how to write a cover letter. These tools will show you exactly what a strong civilian resume should look like and how to format your letter.
If writing a cover letter still seems stressful, give our Cover Letter Builder a try. The Cover Letter Builder’s AI uses your information to build a custom cover letter in just minutes!
Facts about military careers
Beginning a new career after serving in the military may be daunting, but there’s a wealth of opportunities out there that will allow you to apply your military skills:
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment for military veterans was lower (3.9%) in 2005 than for the general public (4.6%).
- Common civilian career paths for military personnel:
- Computer science
- Construction
- Aviation
- Health care
- Law enforcement
- Maintenance
- Manufacturing
- Media
- Many of these career choices are in demand and growing. Computer science careers, for example, are expected to grow by 21% between 2021 and 2031 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Key takeaways for your military resume
-
Study military to civilian resume examples
A useful visual helps you learn. Take a look at some military resume samples to get an idea of how your resume should look.
-
Tailor your resume to the specific role
Read the job description and scan it for keywords. Adding the keyword you find to your resume gives you a leg up against applicant tracking systems (ATS) while also preparing you with a better understanding of the role that you’re after.
-
List your certifications
Professionals from any discipline are more impressive when they’ve gotten certifications. Add what you’ve earned to your resume to show the ways that you’ve specialized your military skills.
-
Emphasize your most relevant skills
Your military skills are more transferable than you might think. Pay attention to the things you’re good at that would be valuable in the job you want. Your leadership skills, discipline and work ethic, for example, might make you a great fit or a management position.
-
Don’t forget your soft skills
Your hard skills are important, but pay close attention to your soft skills too. Things like communication and time management often have as big of an impact on career success as training and technical knowledge.
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Showcase your top achievements
Action verbs give life to your accomplishments and numerical data make your impact real. Use both to highlight the depth and value of your contributions.
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Include additional sections
Your military resume should showcase all of your assets. If you have experience or abilities that don’t fit neatly into the traditional sections of a resume, feel free to include a special section to show them off. Spoken languages, volunteer work or special projects are just a few examples of qualifications that might belong in their own section.
-
Detail your education
Completed and in-progress degrees can both demonstrate your technical knowledge and willingness to learn new things.
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Create a cover letter
A great resume is the first step to the career you want, but a persuasive cover letter helps you go that extra mile. Don’t neglect the opportunity to seal the deal and communicate your qualifications!
Frequently asked questions from job seekers
- How do I list references on a resume?
- How important is font size on a resume?
- How do I prepare for a phone interview?
- What are computer skills and why are they important?
- How do I list technical skills on my resume?
- What questions should I expect to answer in an interview?
- How do I prepare for an interview?
- What are core competencies and how do I list them on a resume?
Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.
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