Career Change Resume Examples for 2025 (+Templates & Tips)
You're about to change your career. Learn how to write a career change resume that will get you the dream job.
Tom Gerencer
Career Expert
Military resume examples and tips. Write a civilian resume with military experience. Make your military-to-civilian resume fast, with good and bad examples.
Why is it so hard to write a military to civilian resume? Two reasons: Most of the world doesn’t know what you went through and most military to civilian resume examples target the wrong things.
But with the right translation, your veteran resume can shine like a tactical flashlight.
This guide will show you:
What does a perfect military to civilian resume profile look like? See below—
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Want to devote your life to keeping others safe from harm? Have a look at our guides:
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Michael Keogh
Police Officer
Personal Info
Phone: 423-797-6780
Email: michaelqkeogh@gmail.com
linkedin.com/michaelqkeogh
Summary
Police Officer with 5+ years of experience in USAF Security Forces. Seeking to use proven law enforcement skills to ensure civilian safety & security. As Staff Sergeant, trained 47 team members in security tasks. Slashed administrative costs 15%. Cut disciplinary incidents by 35%.
Experience
Security Forces Staff Sergeant
US Air National Guard
2015–2019
Security Specialist
US Air National Guard
2013–2014
Education
B.A. in Criminal Justice, University of Memphis
2013–2016
USAF Security Forces Tech School
2010–2012
Certificates and Clearances
Courses
Volunteer Work
Additional Activities
Hard Skills: Law Enforcement and Public Safety, Emergency Planning and Response, Security and Surveillance Operations, Conflict Management, Firearms Safety and Handling, Team Development
Soft Skills: Leadership, Collaboration, Communication
Languages: Spanish
A military-to-civilian resume is created by someone who has served in the military and is now seeking employment in the civilian workforce. It's used to highlight the skills and experience you have acquired during your time in the military. It also shows how they can be applied to civilian jobs.
Now, here’s how to write a military to civilian resume:
Use the right resume format to prove you’re no oxygen thief. This is what you should include in the resume:
Expert Hint: Use a resume PDF unless the job description says they’re off limits. PDFs don’t go AWOL in transit. Plus they’re machine-readable nowadays.
The hiring manager is a civilian. She’s wondering, “can this applicant do the job?” Answer fast with a resume objective (aka resume summary).
Include:
Scope out these two military resume examples:
That first of those military resume samples is superior. The measurable accomplishments give it force. The second is too military-focused. Civilians won’t relate to it.
Expert Hint: Don’t write your military resume summary or resume objective first. You’ll get lost. Write it last so you can build it from the best materiel in your resume.
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Here’s the biggest problem with your military to civilian resume. It talks about your military background. Civilian hiring managers don’t know what that means.
Here’s how to add military experience to a resume:
These military resume examples provide reconnaissance:
Job ad wants these skills: (1) leadership (2) security (3) training (4) vendor management.
What gives supremacy to military resume example #1? It’s got measurable achievements that plug into the civilian job.
Translate what you did in the military to the civilian skills the job is looking for.
Need a military skills translator for resume use? Use the one at Military.com. Not sure what jobs your military experience translates to? Try CareerOneStop’s Military to Civilian Occupation Translator.
Never copy skills for a resume from a list online. But, for reference, here are the skills civilian employers value most:
Interpersonal Skills | Persuasion |
Leadership | Dependability |
Collaboration | Judgment |
Problem Solving | Compassion |
Adaptability | Self-Motivation |
Communication | Detail Oriented |
Work Ethic | Listening |
Critical Thinking | Active Learning |
Enthusiasm | Honesty |
Decision Making | Physically Fit |
What about hard skills in a resume for veterans? In the military, you may have picked up skills in engineering, IT, HAZMAT training, cooking, or mechanical work. Maybe you were a driver or instructor.
List those hard skills on your resume, too. But—make sure they fit the requirements shown in the job ad.
Expert Hint: Should you mention combat experience in a military-to-civilian resume? Only for security or law enforcement jobs. Otherwise, it may play to negative stereotypes.
How do you show education on a military to civilian resume? The wrong way only shows your GPA and that you graduated. The right way shows accomplishments that fit the job.
These military resume examples show how:
Let’s say the job calls for skills in law enforcement, emergency response, and efficiency.
Education
B.A. in Criminal Justice, University of Memphis
2013–2016
USAF Security Forces Tech School
2010–2012
That military to civilian resume sample sews it up. It demonstrates civilian skills.
Expert Hint: Should you list your GPA on a veteran resume? Only if it’s high or recent. Otherwise, use the space for something more impressive.
What do all military-to-civilian resumes have in common? They show experience and education. Plus—They blend in like MultiCam.
Your military resume must make employers want to work with you. How? With resume extras that show you’re not just a grunt. See these military to civilian resume examples:
Pretend you’re applying for a police officer job.
The job posting wants skills in HAZMAT, weapons use, leadership, risk assessment, training, conflict resolution, and physical fitness.
Those first military resume samples prove your skills. With some well-chosen additional resume sections your resume ranks up in an instant!
Expert Hint: Send a military resume cover letter. While more than half the hiring managers don’t read cover letters, nearly half insist on them. Here's how to write a cover letter for a job in the military.
How do you show military training on a resume? It’s basic.
First: Do you have lots of more impressive accomplishments? If yes, add basic training on a resume bullet point under “additional activities.” If no, add military training to a resume section called “Basic Training.”
Then put job-fitting achievements in the bullet points. See this military resume example:
Let’s say the job calls for efficiency, motivation, teamwork, and work ethic.
US Army Basic Training
Fort Jackson, South Carolina
2015
That’s military experience translated into civilian experience. The hiring manager knows you’ll fit in perfectly.
Expert Hint: On a military to civilian resume, you can call BCT “Basic Training” or “Boot Camp.” Leave out “combat” to ensure you don’t confuse civilian hiring managers.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Here’s a recap. To write a military to civilian resume:
Got questions on how to write a great resume for military jobs? Not sure how to show military experience on a resume? Leave a comment. We are happy to reply.
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You're about to change your career. Learn how to write a career change resume that will get you the dream job.
Tom Gerencer
Career Expert
Roma Kończak, CPRW
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