HR Pulse: From Service to Success: Tips on How to Transfer Your Military Skills to a Civilian Career

For many transitioning veterans, navigating the civilian job market can be daunting. “How can I best showcase the experience and qualifications I’ve gained in service?”, “What skills should I include on my resume?”, “What are employers looking for in my application?” are some of the many questions asked.

As veterans you have valuable skills that you can highlight to future employers, skills that can help you get the job you deserve. Although it can be challenging at times to sit down and summarize transferable skills gained during military service and align them to the job you are looking for; by highlighting and tailoring your job application you will demonstrate the value your experience will bring to the position and the organization.

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Preparing your application

Here are some useful tips from CAE USA ’s veteran recruitment team on how to build a resume that not only identifies the technical skills and expertise you have gained in service but also how to include those soft skills that demonstrate how you can work independently and as part of a team.

1. Review the requirements of the position and the qualifications the employer is seeking in the candidate.
2. Tailor your resume to the job you are applying for. Customize your resume for each job application by emphasizing the skills and experiences that are most relevant.
3. Identify the transferable skills from your military experience that are applicable to the civilian job you're applying for, these can include, technical skills, strategy, communication, leadership and managing resources, teamwork, problem-solving and critical decision-making, and flexibility.
4. Emphasize your appetite for continuous learning and professional growth, by including your education, training, and certifications. This will help bridge the gap between your military and civilian career.
5. Gather your history including relevant volunteer experience and awards.
6. Utilize online tools, such as the Dictionary of Occupational Titles to convert military skills into civilian occupations.
7. Demilitarize your resume and lose the jargon.? Transfer everything into civilian terms.
8. Write an engaging summary and customize your summary to the job you’re applying for. Keep it to two to three sentences long.
9. Leave off unnecessary details. Things like travel and minor certificates/awards.
10. Check spelling and accuracy before sending.

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Preparing for your interview

Here are some useful guidelines to help you prepare for your interview

1. Research the employer, visit the employer's website, and learn as much as you can about the company. Knowing a company’s mission and culture will help you align and communicate your transferable skills during the interview.
2. Research civilian interview questions and practice your responses to both technical and soft-skill questions.
3. Prepare to relate your military expertise and emphasize skills and experience.? Communicate how it would be of value to the position you are interviewing for.
4. Prepare to speak about leadership experience. Military experience often includes significant leadership roles. Emphasize leadership skills such as decision-making, training, mentoring, and managing resources. As a leader, highlight how many members within your team you supervised. Express the way you communicated with different departments successfully.
5. Prepare and tailor questions to demonstrate your genuine interest in the company and the position.? In addition to asking about the position you are applying for, ask questions surrounding company culture, development opportunities and benefits.
6. Follow the employer’s social media channels, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook to gain knowledge about current programs and activities.
7. Following the interview send an email to the recruiter thanking them and reminding them of your interest in the position.

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At CAE USA, we are proud to welcome transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses and to help them discover a company that prioritizes personal and professional growth.? With over 1,000 veteran employees from all services working at CAE USA we recognize the valuable skillset our veteran employees bring, and we strive to match their depth of military experience and expertise with a dynamic and enriching civilian work environment.

Learn more about CAE USA and hear firsthand about life at CAE from some of our veteran employees.

If there are topics you’d like to see discussed or you have questions for our recruiters, please contact Michael Garcia and Nick Byrd .