Retirees – Write a Highly Targeted Executive Resume

Employment Guide: Retirees – Write a Highly Targeted Executive Resume

As a military retiree, one big part of finding your civilian job is writing a good resume. It is important to note that resume writing has changed over the years. What you may remember from before joining the military could be very different. While resumes are still a very important part of finding a job, it’s important that you are able to write a resume for these modern times. 

Writing a highly targeted executive resume

• You are going to want a highly targeted executive resume. You will want the resume you submit to fit the specific job requirements of each position. Your resume should highlight the skills and experiences you have, including your jobs and skills from the military, that correspond to the exact position you are going for.

• You will also need to use relevant keywords for the industry you are going into. Companies will and do screen resumes and you would want your resume to be caught in these searches.

• Start your resume with a summary. This will be a quick view of who you are professionally, the skills you have, and what you can offer a company. 

Military to civilian resume

• You will need to highlight your achievements instead of just listing your previous job responsibilities. Show potential companies what sets you apart from others. Let them know what you can offer them if they decide to hire you.

• Avoid action words such as “helped” or “solved” and instead use relevant keywords and phrases. Many recruiters and employers use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) which means the keywords you use are very important. You want to use the right ones so your resume will be recognized instead of passed aside.

• Your resume format is important. Use bullet points, columns, and lines. Your resume should be one to two pages, and no longer than that.

• Include your military experience but make sure it’s in a language civilians will understand. Use a military skills translator. You want your potential civilian employer to know what you are talking about.

• You want to keep some of your personal information off the resume. Don’t include your full address, your age, or your salary. That information isn’t needed on a resume and can give too much away.

• Use the chronological resume format. Start with your most recent employment and go back after that. You should stick to the last 10-15 years of your work history. Your education would go after the employment section.

• Include your LinkedIn profile on the resume. If you haven’t set one up, do so. LinkedIn can be a big asset when it comes to finding a job. The app is a great way to highlight your skills and accomplishments and you can easily network with others in your industry. 

Resources to help with writing your resume

On Career Recon, we have a vast list of Recruiting & Staffing Profiles where many of the companies offer resume help. Here are three of them who do:

• JobPaths – this company has a nationwide candidate database that grows by the 1000s every month. They offer a resume generator.
• Military-Civilian – this company’s mission is to connect quality job-seeking military candidates and their spouses with civilian employers to fill open positions worldwide. They offer information on resume building, and what you should include on a federal resume. 
• Purepost – this company is a veteran-owned B corporation that enables instant matching of talents to careers. They offer the Purepost Passport System, which will convert your military experience into common-sense business terms to help you with your resume.