There is a method to the madness of integrating into the civilian workforce. Once you decide what field or profession you want to pursue, you’ll need to update your resume and tailor it to each job for which you’re applying. Remember, your resume usually creates an employer’s first impression, so here are a few things to keep in mind as you create your resume.
Tip 1: Clearly Communicate Your Skills And Experience. When giving a description of your accomplishments, use direct, active verbs. Such words as managed, designed, sold, saved and developed are just a few examples. It’s also important to use facts and measurable results wherever possible (e.g., “Helped the company realize a 30% savings in 2004 through a newly developed employee accountability policy.â€)
Tip 2: Keep Your Paragraphs Short (No Longer Than Six or Seven Lines). Doing so will give your resume a more organized appearance and will make it easier to read. Also, avoid wordiness and irrelevant information such as how long you played the drums in your high school marching band; unless, of course, you’re looking to embark on a career in the music industry!
Tip 3: Proofread Your Work. It’s crucial that you use correct spelling and grammar on your resume. So be sure to use spell check on your computer and have someone proof read your resume before you start putting it out there.
Tip 4: Be Upfront about Your Work History. Don’t worry about trying to cover up every gap in your employment. If you worked somewhere for three months doing something unrelated to the position to which you’re applying, you don’t necessarily need to include that in your resume. However, you must be prepared to clearly explain any gaps that you may have when you interview.
For the full ‘Transitioning Out of the Military’ article by Richard Piske, visit http://usmilitary.about.com/od/lifeafterthemilitary/a/transitionout.htm.
