Let’s get something straight right out of the gate. Your resume is not an NCOER. It’s not an OER. It’s not your brag sheet. It’s not your award citation.
And if you treat it like any of those… you’re already losing.
I’m going to be blunt here, because that’s what you need. Most transitioning service members absolutely butcher their resumes. Not because they aren’t capable. Not because they lack experience. But because they approach the resume like they’re still in uniform.
And the civilian world does not read your paperwork the way the military does. Not even close.
A long time ago, when I was working at Morgan Stanley, one of my bosses gave me a piece of advice that has stuck with me ever since: “You have about 10 seconds to get my attention before I move on.”
Ten seconds. That’s not a metaphor. That’s not exaggeration. That’s reality.
And here’s the part that should hit you hard: You’re not competing against one or two people. You’re competing against dozens… sometimes hundreds.
And now? You’re not even getting those 10 seconds from a human at first. You’re getting scanned by a bot. An algorithm. A filter that has zero appreciation for your deployments, your tabs, your sacrifices, or your rank. It’s looking for relevance. Keywords. Clarity. Alignment.
If your resume doesn’t hit those marks immediately… it doesn’t matter how good you actually are. You’re out.
Most veterans go wrong by trying to tell your whole story. You list everything you’ve ever done. Every role. Every responsibility. Every training event. You turn your resume into a historical record. That’s not what this is.
Your resume is a marketing document. Its only job is to answer one question: “Why should I care about this person for THIS role?”
Not your last role. Not your military career as a whole. THIS role. If your resume doesn’t clearly answer that question within seconds… it fails.
Tip 1: Make Your Summary Actually Matter: Let’s talk about the most abused section of any resume: The “Summary” or “About Me.” Most of them are garbage. You’ve seen them: “Highly motivated and results-driven professional with a proven track record of leadership and success…”
That says nothing. It’s fluff. It’s generic. It’s forgettable. And worst of all… it’s exactly what everyone else is saying.
Here’s the truth: Your summary should be tailored for every job you apply to. Every single one. Yes, that takes time. Good. It should. Because if you’re blasting out the same resume to 50 companies, you’re not being strategic… you’re being lazy. And lazy gets filtered out.
A strong summary does three things immediately: Aligns you to the role. Translates your experience into civilian value. Shows impact, not just participation
For example, instead of: “Former Special Forces Operations Manager with leadership experience…”
Try something like: “Project-focused operations leader with 10+ years managing high-risk, time-sensitive initiatives across global environments, specializing in cross-functional coordination, risk mitigation, and mission execution under uncertainty.”
Now we’re talking. Now you’re relevant.
Tip 2: Stop Copy-Pasting Your Evaluations: I can spot it instantly. Bullet points lifted straight from NCOERs and OERs. “Led a team of highly trained professionals to accomplish mission objectives in dynamic environments…” That might sound good in uniform. In the civilian world? It’s vague. It’s overused. It’s meaningless without context.
Here’s what hiring managers want to see: What did you actually do? What was the result? Why did it matter?
This is where numbers matter. This is where outcomes matter. Instead of: “Managed personnel and resources in support of operations…” Try: “Led a 12-person team managing $4.2M in equipment across 6 concurrent operations, achieving 100% mission completion with zero loss of assets.”
Now you’ve got attention. Now you’ve created clarity. Now you’ve demonstrated value.
Tip #: Your Training Matters More Than You Think: I hear this all the time: “Should I really include Airborne School?” “Does HAZMAT even matter?” “Do civilian employers care about military training?” Yes. They do.
But only if you present it correctly. Your military schools are not just badges of honor. They are proof of: Discipline. Technical capability. Risk tolerance. Specialized skill sets.
The mistake people make is listing them without context. “Airborne School” Okay… and? Instead, think about what it represents. Even though you think Airborne school was lame and should have been 3 days instead of three weeks… (I said what I said)… to many people looking over your resume they may find it fascinating and want to talk about it with you. (FYI: that’s rarely a bad thing.)
Same thing with HAZMAT. Same thing with any technical course. Don’t assume civilians understand what it is. Be prepared to explain it in their language.
Tip 4: Your LinkedIn Is Not Optional: If your resume doesn’t have your LinkedIn profile on it… you’re missing an opportunity. Period. And not just any LinkedIn. A good LinkedIn.
That means: A professional photo. A clear headline. Current and updated experience. Consistent messaging with your resume. (Also, unless you are looking for government work, it doesn’t mean current security clearance, and you should never auto-translate what you think your rank equates to as far as titles.)
Because here’s what happens: You get through the initial screen. A hiring manager is interested. What’s the first thing they do?
They look you up. If your LinkedIn is empty, outdated, or inconsistent… you just created doubt. And doubt kills momentum. Your resume and LinkedIn should reinforce each other. Not contradict each other.
Tip 5: Keywords Are Not Optional Anymore: Welcome to the reality of modern hiring. Before a human ever sees your resume… a system probably does. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan resumes for keywords tied to the job description. If your resume doesn’t contain those keywords? You don’t get seen. It’s that simple.
This is not about gaming the system. It’s about alignment. Read the job description carefully. Identify: Key skills. Required tools. Core responsibilities.
And make sure your resume reflects those exact terms… when applicable. If the job says “project management”… and your resume says “mission coordination”… you will get filtered out (even though they’re essentially the same thing.)
Translate your language. Match theirs.
Tip 6: Less Is More… But Only If It’s Better: There’s this weird myth out there that your resume needs to be one page. Not necessarily. It needs to be effective. If you can do that on one page… great. If it takes two… fine.
But here’s the catch: Every line needs to earn its place. No filler. No fluff. No wasted space. If it doesn’t add value… cut it. If it doesn’t support the role… remove it. If it doesn’t make you more relevant… It’s hurting you.
Tip 7: Stop Hiding Behind Military Language: This one is hard. Because your identity is tied to it. I get that. But here’s the reality: Most civilians don’t understand military terminology. They have no idea what a Chief Warrant Officer is. They seem to think that Master Sergeants are ‘better’ than Sergeants Major, but they know that Captains are officers!
They’re not going to Google it. If your resume is filled with acronyms, unit designations, and jargon… you’re creating friction. And friction leads to rejection.
Instead of: “Served as Team Sergeant in 5th SFG(A)…” Try: “Senior team leader responsible for training, mentoring, and operational execution of a 12-person specialized unit in high-risk environments.”
You’re not losing your identity. You’re translating it. If you spent five minutes on your resume… it shows. And not in a good way.
A strong resume takes thought, iteration, refinement, and feedback. You should be adjusting it constantly. Tweaking language. Improving clarity. Aligning to new roles.
Because this document? It’s your first impression. And you rarely get a second shot at that.
Here’s a shift that will change everything for you: Stop thinking about what you did. Start thinking about the value you created. Anyone can list tasks. Few people articulate impact. Instead of: “Conducted training for personnel…”Try: “Designed and delivered training programs that increased team readiness by 30% and reduced operational errors by 15%.”
Now you’re not just someone who did something. You’re someone who made things better.
I’ll bring this full circle. In the military, we used to ask: “You know what right looks like… is that it?” Deep down, you already know. You know when your resume is rushed. You know when it’s generic. You know when it doesn’t truly represent your capability.
And you also know what it would take to fix it. More effort. More thought. More intentionality.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about professionalism. Your resume is the bridge between where you are… and where you want to go next. Treat it like it matters. Because it does. More than most people are willing to admit.
