Military Employment Guide: Applying For Jobs

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Resume Help for Veterans

Step-by-Step Guide to Employment for Military and Veterans: Applying For Jobs

Once you have found the right jobs to apply to, tailor your resume and cover letter for each job and position. This is a crucial step if you want the job. Many of your co-applicants won’t take that step. Don’t be one of them.

Tailoring Your Resume

When it comes to tailoring your resume, you first need to think about how you will talk about your military experiences. You don’t want to speak in military terms but you want to make sure your time in the military is represented. You may need to rephrase some terms and make them more “civilian” in the resume.

Use a military translator like you can find at Military.com. This will allow you to translate those skills into what a civilian would be looking for in a job listing. You can also work with a recruiter or staffing agency that helps veterans work on their resumes and cover letters.

You can find our Recruiting & Staffing Profiles page on Career Recon.  Many organizations seeking to place military and veterans will provide these services free.

You will need to customize each resume for each position. Using a general resume is probably not going to cut it. You want to show a future employer you are serious about the position and have the skills and experience for the job. Not every job you have had in the past or every skill you have would be good for every resume.

How do you go about tailoring your resume to a job listing? Go over the job description, and customize your work history and skills around it. Let them see how perfect of a fit you would be for the job. Tailoring your resume shows the potential employer that you are paying attention and are serious about finding the job.

Here are a few places to find examples of a military veteran’s resume:

Tailoring Your Cover Letter

Your cover letter is just as important as your resume. Again, you will want to cross-reference the job description. Check for any specific instructions in the cover letter. Remember, the cover letter is there to clarify your resume, not to be a copy of it. Be personable, using “Dear Hiring Manager” instead of “Dear Sir or Madam.”

Don’t make the cover letter too long. Explain the benefits of hiring you and your passion for the potential job. Since you have served in the military, you will want your cover letter also to demonstrate how your time in the military prepared you for this job. You can also talk about why you are transitioning from the military to the civilian world.

Here are a few places to find examples of a military veteran’s cover letter:

You can read more about resumes and cover letters here:

Submit Your Resume and Cover Letter

Once your resume and cover letter are proofread and ready to go, it’s time to start applying for jobs. Make sure to follow the instructions for your job application and submit them using the method they request.

If you are signing up for a recruiting or staffing company, follow their directions as well. Some want a resume upfront, and others you would submit on the actual job listing. Ensure you know how the company works so you won’t miss out on a good job opportunity.

Keep track of where you have applied for follow-up. Wait a couple of weeks before you do so, giving them time. You can do this by emailing the hiring manager.

 

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