Transitioning from military to civilian work can be a daunting task, but your resume shouldn’t let you down.
To help you translate your unique skills and experiences into civilian terms, we’ve crafted this veteran resume writing guide.
Check out our veteran resume example below for inspiration on creating a job application that shines.
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Veteran Resume Example
This Veteran resume example demonstrates the ideal format and content for your application.
Its professional layout ensures that recruiters can quickly and efficiently digest the information.
Follow our detailed guide below to craft your own stand out Veteran resume.
Veteran resume structure & format
Resume structure
Crafting a resume that grabs attention requires clear structure.
Ensure your resume features the following:
- Contact details: Essential contact information.
- Resume summary: A snapshot of your skills aimed to catch the recruiter’s eye.
- Core skills: A bullet-point list highlighting skills crucial for Veteran jobs.
- Work experience: A reverse chronological list of your professional roles.
- Education: Your academic and professional training details.
- Additional info: Optional details like extracurricular activities that might appeal to employers.
How to format your Veteran resume
To make a strong impression, your resume format must be both professionally stylish and easy for recruiters to read quickly.
Here are our vital formatting tips to make your resume both appealing and reader-friendly.
- Resume length: Keep your resume concise, aiming for 1 to 2 pages. With recruiters swamped by resumes daily, keeping it brief can help you stand out.
- Font & colour scheme: Use a simple font which is easy to read and avoid elaborate ones which might make reading difficult. Go for black-text-on-white background, but feel free to add a splash of colour in the design to help your resume stand out.
- Page layout: Divide the page into clearly visible sections using bold headings or borders, so that readers can quickly pinpoint the information they want.
- Break text up: Make use of bullet points and short paragraphs to breakup text, simplifying the info for busy recruiters to digest.
- Photos: Photos aren’t necessary in Australia, but if you want, you can include a small headshot at the top.
Quick tip: Achieving a professional look for your resume can be difficult and time-consuming. If you want to create an attractive resume quickly, try our Resume Builder and use one of our eye-catching professional resume templates.
Contact Details
Seeing who you are and how you can be contacted is essential for potential employers, so it’s critical that your contact details section is both clear and accurate.
Include these four crucial elements at the top of your resume, but ensure they don’t take up excessive space:
- Your name and professional title: Choose a title that aligns with your career objectives, such as IT Support Specialist or Video Editor.
- Email address: Use a professional email address (e.g. aaron.davis.work@gmail.com). Avoid using old or informal emails like big.boy.aaron@gmail.com.
- Phone number: Provide your mobile number for easy accessibility. Make sure to double-check that the number is correct.
- Location: Specify the broader area where you are seeking employment, such as Cairns, Perth etc.
Optionally, you may consider adding the following details:
- Webpage links: Include links to professional sites like LinkedIn or your personal portfolio, ensuring they are current and professionally relevant.
- Photograph: While not typically required, a professional photograph may be advantageous in creative fields. If you decide to use one, ensure it is compact on the page, and professional in appearance.
Refrain from adding personal data such as your date of birth, full address, or gender. These are not necessary for recruitment decisions and simply clutter your resume.
Veteran Resume Summary
Your summary is short but powerful paragraph which sits at the top of your resume, providing a sales-pitch on your suitability for the job.
To grab the attention of busy recruiters and get them excited about your resume, use these tips:
- Keep it short: Hiring managers won’t have time to read an essay-sized summary when dealing with hundreds of applications – keep it between 3 to 5 sentences.
- Tailor to target jobs: Fill your summary with as many keywords from the job adverts you are targeting as possible. This will ensure recruiters instantly see your suitability.
- Avoid using cliches: Thinking about calling yourself a “hard working team player who thinks outside the box“? Don’t! These phrases are meaningless and don’t provide employers with the facts they want.
Veteran resume summary example
What to include in your Veteran resume summary
- Summary of your experience: Outline the variety of roles you’ve undertaken and the organisations you’ve been part of to give employers a clear overview of your career experience.
- Relevant skills: Highlight your most valuable skills, focusing on job-specific skills for Veteran jobs.
- Qualifications: Remember to mention any qualifications applicable to Veteran jobs, showcasing your suitability for the role.
- Benefits of hiring you: Employers want to know what value you will bring them, whether it’s increasing their revenue or helping them to complete projects ahead of schedule.
Quick tip: Choose from hundreds of pre-written summaries across all industries, and add one to your resume with one-click in our Resume Builder. All written by recruitment experts and easily tailored to suit your unique skillset and style.
Core skills section
Enhance the impact of your resume by adding a section for core skills.
List your key skills that are highly valued in Veteran jobs in bullet points and keep each item concise – no more than four words – to quickly draw the attention of busy hiring managers.
Skills for your Veteran resume
Project Management – Planning, executing, and finalising projects within strict deadlines and budgets, including acquiring resources and coordinating efforts of team members and third-party contractors.
Weapons Systems Operation – Proficient in the operation and maintenance of a variety of weapons systems, ensuring readiness and compliance with safety protocols.
Logistics Coordination – Managing the distribution and storage of supplies and equipment to ensure availability and efficient use of resources.
Emergency Response – Trained in emergency response procedures, including crisis management and providing first aid in high-pressure situations.
Technical Proficiency – Skilled in the use and maintenance of advanced electronic equipment, computer systems, and software relevant to military operations.
Risk Assessment – Evaluating potential risks in operational plans and implementing strategies to mitigate threats and ensure the safety of personnel.
Navigation – Utilising traditional and electronic navigation tools to accurately determine positions and plot routes in diverse environments.
Physical Training Instruction – Expertise in developing and leading physical training programs to maintain peak physical fitness and combat readiness.
Vehicle Maintenance – Proficient in the routine maintenance and repair of a wide range of military vehicles to ensure operational reliability.
Intelligence Gathering – Experienced in intelligence gathering techniques, including surveillance and reconnaissance, to inform strategic decision-making and mission planning.
Quick tip: Our Resume Builder contains thousands of in-demand skills for every profession that can be added to your resume in seconds – saving you time and greatly improving your chances of landing job interviews and getting hired.
Work experience section
Your work experience section gives you the opportunity to showcase the contributions you can make to potential employers.
List your past jobs starting with the most recent and focus on detailing your last 3-5 years of work.
Structuring your jobs
Help recruiters quickly understand your past job duties by organising them in the following way.
Outline
Introduce each job with a concise 1 to 2 line outline that covers the employer’s business, your role within the structure, and the key goals of your position.
Key responsibilities
List 5-8 bullet points detailing your main responsibilities within the job, highlighting important skills, knowledge and tools that you use.
Keep each point brief and show who you interact with, and how you contribute to the organisation.
Key achievements
Finish each role’s section with 1-3 standout achievements that positively influenced your employer.
Use concrete metrics to illustrate these successes, whether they involve enhancing efficiency, saving costs, or driving project advancements.
Example job for Veteran resume
Outline
Ensure all field units have ammunition, equipment, fuel, and provisions to fulfil their mission objectives, for a branch of the Australian Armed Forces that defends Australia and its interests both at home and abroad.
Key Responsibilities
- Assess the needs of various divisions and allocate resources accordingly by considering assignment needs and priorities.
- Contribute to budget preparation and management for transportation efforts, while enabling cost-efficiency.
- Streamline the movement of personnel, including liaising with relevant teams to ensure secure delivery.
- Handle the procurement and the swift and accurate distribution of supplies.
Quick tip: Create impressive job descriptions easily in our Resume Builder by adding pre-written job phrases for every industry and career stage.
Education section
Include your education near the bottom of your resume.
List your academic qualifications in bullet points, focusing on those most applicable to Veteran positions.
If you possess considerable experience, you can keep this brief, however if you have less experience you should provide detailed insights into how your education has prepared you for the position.
This section can include:
- University degrees
- Industry specific qualifications for Veteran jobs
- Vocational education and training (VET) diplomas
- Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE)
Additional information (optional)
At the very bottom of your resume you can add an additional info section, for anything else that might help you to look more appealing to employers.
This is often used for hobbies and interests, but can also include awards, publications or a list of technical skills.
If you are considering adding anything here, remember to only include things that are related to your work, or things which are very impressive.
Don’t add common pastime hobbies such as watching TV or socialising with friends, as they won’t make any impact.
Although creating a standout Veteran resume is no small feat, following these steps will help you produce a resume that not only draws responses from recruiters but also results in a significant number of interviews.
Remember to thoroughly proofread your resume and adapt it to each specific job to ensure it remains relevant.
Good luck with your job search!