Military Resume Examples: 5 Best Samples & Why They Work

Are you a military officer looking for a job?

Are you struggling to create a resume that conveys your military skills and experience to potential employers?

You’re not alone. Almost 99 percent of job seekers are unaware of what to list and what to overlook when writing their resumes.

Don worry. We’re here to help! This article will give you five of the best military resume examples.

Whether you’re seeking to join the military as a show of patriotism or because you’ve found a career opportunity, you can reference these examples to write a winning resume.

Military Resume Examples

Writing a military resume takes time, effort, and attention to detail. But with the help of these examples, you can create a resume that will make you stand out from other job seekers

They showcase the type of formatting and presentation recruiters will seek. They also help you understand the phrases you should use to capture the hiring manager’s attention.

Entry-Level Military Resume Example

Creating a resume with limited professional experience means highlighting other areas of your life that will demonstrate your interests and qualifications, such as volunteer roles.

Whether you’re seeking to become an army gunner or an infantry soldier, the template below will assist you in determining what to include in your resume and the formatting to use.

Why This Resume Works

The entry-level military resume works because it highlights the candidate’s volunteer experience relevant to the position they’re applying for. That’s essential because it markets them as someone willing and eager to serve.

The objective is concise and clearly states the candidate’s career goal, giving hiring managers a quick overview of their value as an employee.

The project experiences showcase the candidate’s ability to handle challenging situations and contribute to humanitarian efforts. That’s important because they will likely encounter other difficult situations in their new role.

The skills section presents a well-rounded set of abilities essential for entry-level positions, while the education and licenses sections add to their credibility.

Additionally, the layout is well-organized, making it easy for potential employers to identify candidates’ qualifications and determine if they’re a good fit for the position.

Military to Civilian Resume Example

Making a transition from a military to a civilian setting is quite challenging. Most individuals struggle with building an impressive resume to help them land a well-paying civilian job that interests them.

Because military service requires specific knowledge, choosing the right words is the secret to building a winning resume for a civilian position.

Here’s a good resume example that communicates your value to potential employers:

Why This Resume Works

This military to civilian resume is great because it clearly summarizes the applicant’s career. Rather than using military jargon that recruiters are unfamiliar with, the resume concentrates on how their experiences helped them acquire important skills.

The project experiences demonstrate their ability to manage complex operations and contribute to critical intelligence analysis.

As someone seeking to switch careers, having a list of previous projects makes a positive impression by drawing the hiring manager’s attention to your accomplishments. It shows them you’re a result-driven candidate who cares about the organization’s growth.

The skills section showcases a blend of technical and soft skills, which is valuable in the civilian job market. Furthermore, the education and license sections validate the candidate’s ability to succeed in the position they’re applying for.

Military Veteran Resume Example

Veterans are inactive in military service because they were released for reasons other than dishonesty. A veteran resume permits applicants to secure employment in the civilian job market.

Knowing what you put in your resume may help you highlight qualifications, training, and experiences more applicable to the position you’re seeking. Check out the example below:

Why This Resume Works

The military veteran resume is effective because it’s tailored to the job they’re applying for and emphasizes their transferable skills. That’s essential because hiring managers want individuals with what it takes to perform different tasks and manage any situation.

The objective clearly states the candidate’s career goals, while the work experience section provides concrete examples of their achievements in the field.

The candidate’s ability to take the initiative and solve problems before a crisis occurs markets them as a valuable asset to potential employers.

The project experiences demonstrate their ability to lead teams and contribute to humanitarian efforts. The skills section showcases a balance of leadership, problem-solving, and technical abilities.

Licenses and accreditations are essential to the job application process because they showcase a candidate’s dedication to preserving the industry’s standards and continuous self-improvement.

Air Force Military Resume Example

The duties of an air force military personnel include supporting, training, and commanding fellow officers. However, you need a strong resume to help you get such a position.

Hiring managers want to understand how you’ll use your skills to contribute to the organization’s growth. You need to convince them that hiring you is a win-win situation.

Why This Resume Works

When writing your resume objective, you should tailor it to the specific position you’re applying for and emphasize how you can contribute to the organization’s success.

The resume satisfies that by highlighting the candidate’s dedication to the role. It demonstrates that they understand the position’s demands and are ready to bring their expertise to the table.

The work experience sections demonstrate that the candidate has the necessary skills to complete the job. They’ve held similar roles in the past, so they’re highly likely to excel in the new job.

The project experiences demonstrate their impact on their previous workplaces, making them more attractive to hiring managers. The education and license sections prove their expertise in the aviation field.

Military Police Resume Example

Military police officers’ duties include protecting people and properties in military bases. You must demonstrate to recruiters that you command combat training and physical strength to excel in such a role.

Our military police resume template may help you achieve that:

Why This Resume Works

The military police resume works because it showcases the candidate’s transferable skills that are valuable in law enforcement roles.

The objective expresses the candidate’s desire to contribute to a new organization and highlights their ability to take on challenging positions.

That’s important because your resume’s objective is your first opportunity to make a good impression on potential employers.

The project experiences demonstrate their ability to lead initiatives and contribute to high-profile investigations. That will attract the recruiters’ attention because they want candidates who can work independently and in teams to achieve a common goal.

The education and accreditations sections prove they have the qualifications and knowledge to excel in the position. It also demonstrates the candidate’s preparedness to satisfy the job’s requirements.

Common Skills & Action Verbs To Include on a Military Resume

Most, if not all, recruiters use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan candidates’ resumes and disqualify those who don’t satisfy the position’s requirements.

If yours contains all the relevant keywords, qualifications, and colorful adjectives to get you past the first stage, it still has to impress the hiring managers.

And with so much to review within a short time, your resume must communicate what they’re looking for using the right action verbs.

Common Skills for Military Resumes

• Integrity
• Communication skills
• Teamwork
• Flexibility
• Leadership
• Compliance
• Organization
• Strategic planning
• Customer service
• Detail oriented
• Technical skills
• Emotional intelligence
• Critical thinking skills
• Responsibility
• Project management
• Problem-solving
• Negotiation
• Data analysis
• Public speaking
• Tactics

Common Action Verbs for Military Resumes

• Analyzed
• Administered
• Created
• Conducted
• Coordinated
• Developed
• Delivered
• Diagnosed
• Executed
• Evaluated
• Improved
• Identified
• Led
• Managed
• Oversaw
• Performed
• Provided
• Supported
• Supervised

Tips for Writing a Better Military Resume

Your resume is the first impression of you that hiring managers get. Therefore, it should market you as a valuable asset to the organization because they want to hire the best possible candidate for the position they’re looking to fill.

Here are some practical tips that will help you build a winning military resume and improve your chances of landing the job:

1. Read the Job Description

The job you’re applying for will have unique qualifications they’re seeking in a candidate. Therefore, you emphasize the skills more relevant to the position’s description.

Incorporating the right terms and phrases increases the chances of your resume getting noticed by hiring managers. For instance, if the role requires someone with solid project management skills, ensure you highlight that.

Recruiters are more interested in a candidate’s qualifications because they want a reason to believe you have what it takes to excel in the position you’re applying for.

Connect your accomplishments and the job’s requirements to demonstrate how employers will benefit from hiring you.

2. Be Clear and Concise

Hiring managers receive countless applications for any open position. That means they can’t afford to spend much time looking at one resume.

If you’re clear in describing your past roles, they’ll have an easier time spotting your value, prompting them to take your resume more seriously.

Before submitting your resume, read it at least four times to guarantee no grammar or spelling mistakes. Although there are many grammar tools that you can use, it’s also recommendable to have a family member or a friend go through it.

A third party will review your resume from a recruiter’s perspective, trying to catch any mistakes that can disqualify you.

3. Use the Right Font

Since hiring managers only have a few seconds to review your resume, it should be as readable as possible. Consider using a clean, simple font such as Times New Roman or Arial to give your resume a more professional look.

If you choose a font that’s too small, they’ll struggle to see your writing. If it’s extra-large, the resume will appear longer than it should be.

Furthermore, ensure your resume doesn’t have any extraneous whitespace. Having unnecessary space will only give your resume a sparse appearance.

Hiring managers are unlikely to appreciate that because it distracts their reading. However, eliminating blank spaces makes it easier for employers to concentrate only on the resume’s content.

4. Have a Cover Letter for Your Resume

In 99% of cases, you need to have a cover letter for your resume. Even though hiring managers rarely read them, they require job seekers to submit one.

Having it will largely increase your chances of landing an interview and differentiate you from other applicants with the same resumes and qualifications.

It communicates to potential employers that you’re genuinely interested in the position and are dedicated to going the extra mile to prove your suitability.

You can use the cover letter to detail any relevant achievements to the position you’re applying for that don’t seem to fit in the resume.

Furthermore, if you have a personal referral to the organization, you may include a reference page in the cover letter, gaining an edge over other candidates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions about building a strong military resume.

Similar Resume Types to Reference

Here are other resume examples you should check out:

• Police Officer Resume: Being a police officer is one of the most satisfying career choices. However, you must have an impressive resume to land an interview.
• Security Guard Resume: The job market for security guards is growing rapidly. That means you must understand how to create a good resume, highlighting your best-fit skills and achievements to stand out.
• Firefighter Resume: Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an entry-level firefighter, hiring managers want someone who can comfortably respond to emergencies. A strong resume might help you communicate to employers that you have what it takes to excel in such a position.

Wrapping Up

Writing a strong resume is an important part of your job search process because it communicates your value to potential employers.

Recruiters receive thousands of applications, so you must convince them you’re the best candidate for the position.

Remember to tailor your resume to the specific job posting, emphasizing the skills and experiences that align with the position’s requirements.

That way, you’ll attract the hiring manager’s attention and improve your chances of securing your dream job.

Let us know what you think about our military resume examples in the comments section below.

Also, if you found this article useful, consider sharing it with your military friends looking for a job.