During a typical military career, servicemembers perform many duties that cannot easily be converted into a civilian context on paper.
For instance, infantry soldiers clean their weapons, go on road marches and perform combat missions.
How does one translate those types of skills and experiences into a civilian resume?
For starters, research resume writing companies and choose one with experience in creating a military to civilian resume. In many cases, companies that provide resume services have a military retiree or veterans on staff.
Secondly, be sure the completed resume accurately depicts one's military experience. When a potential employer begins to ask you questions, you need to be able to discuss your work experience.
For example, if you were an noncommissioned officer in charge for a unit, you may have skills equivalent to that of an assistant to a business executive or a human resources position. If you worked as an officer in charge, you performed duties of a manager or business executive.
Also, talk to veterans who have already created a resume and found a civilian job. They may have helpful hints to share with you.
Finally, make sure that you list everything you can recall about each position you held. You may have valuable job skills that employers are seeking, but if you eliminate the job or experience you may be determined unqualified for a job for which you were actually qualified for.
Military personnel can receive military to civilian resume assistance free of charge through the military while transitioning out. However, below is a list of some local and online services if you would like to create your resume outside of your branch of service.
Powerful Resumes Plus
3625 Perkins Lane SW, Suite 12, Lakewood
Resumes by Ed Bagley
4109 Bridgeport Way West Suit D, Tacoma
Barbara DeClerck
3404 Alder St., SW, JBLM-McChord Field
www.Resumewriters.com
Resumewriters.com gives military personnel a 15 percent discount on all military to civilian transition services. Resume packages range in price from $169 for a resume to $259 for a resume, cover letter, electronic resume and a post-interview follow-up letter. These packages include a resume in 72 hours and a consultation with a resume writer.
www.careerperfect.com
This resume service prepares military to civilian resumes that include comprehensive resumes and cover letters at a discount for military personnel.Their services range from $200 to $250. They also create bios that cost $180 without a resume, and $130 with a resume order.
www.dreamresume.com
Dream Resumes offers one-on-one personalized services with a resume writer with a three-day turn around for completion. Cost for the military to civilian resume is about $200, and cover letters are $50. They also include a resume distribution service that submits the resume to more than 80 top job listing sites for $70. As added extras, they will create a post-interview thank you letter and a referral contact letter for $13.
www.theresumeclinic.com
This company will prepare resumes that include a guarantee. The resume packages range in price from $229 to $259 and include everything from a resume and resume clinic interview form to a cover letter, thank you letter and reference page.