By Linda Grandes
While a background in military services isn’t exactly something usual in the civil recruitment ecosystem, it does provide you with a broad spectrum of benefits that can help your resume shine.
We’re going to look into how you should use your career in the military as a way to increase your chances of being hired. If you’re not sure how to translate the knowledge and skills acquired in the military — this is for you.
1. Emphasize on integrity
Integrity is an essential value that many employers seek in a candidate. And although it might not be an immediate professional skill, it sets apart a good worker and an amazing one.
One way of using your military background is to present it as a reason for the employer to trust you. It’s like the opposite of having a criminal offense on your record. It implies that you can build a meaningful professional relationship with your colleagues, employers, and customers.
2. Show that you’re an efficient communicator
While you may not find that this is a very valuable professional skill, any employer appreciates when a worker can handle delivering information efficiently and in an eloquent manner.
A career in the military has most certainly taught you to speak straight to the point, which when combined with eloquence, provides for a good speaker. Furthermore, that also implies that you know how to give orders in a detailed and well-structured manner.
3. The military is about cooperation
A career in the military has trained you to be a team player. It is very often the case that companies work on projects in teams and departments, which are designed to have their members blend talents and collaborate on tasks.
Stress how cooperative and team-oriented you are. Show that you are dedicated to the task whatever it is and you won’t leave your teammates behind when a deadline is creeping on your team.
4. You can work under pressure
When employers are talking about the ability to work under pressure, they’re mostly referring to dealing with problems that you haven’t caused and are out of your control. It implies being ready for anything that happens within your professional life, rain or shine. Does that ring a bell?
Throughout training and during your career in the military, you’ve learned to confront problems and unfavorable conditions head-first. Mentioning this in your resume will suggest that you don’t react to stressful situations and you’re level-headed in conflictual situations.
5. Problem-solving is a valuable asset
The military is an environment that teaches us to locate, identify and solve problems in high-stress situations. As a person with a military background, you’ve had your fair share of unexpected and outright harsh conditions where you have to tackle imminent danger cold-bloodedly.
Carrie McCoy, Editor at Studicus.com says: “Mentioning this in your resume will signal your employer that you can be trusted in situations where critical thinking is central. It’s also a good idea to mention some impressive situations where you’ve made solved complex problems when that was absolutely imperative.”
6. Military attitude
To actually stand out in a large pile of resumes it to use action-oriented language, something that is very specific to the military. When working on your resume, never be the “object” of the circumstances, but rather be their initiator. Use more active voice. Craft a resume that will have many impressive, punchy statements that contain strong verbs that convey action and intention. (We suggest this perfect resume equation!) Where you are and who you are is the result of your decisions and actions. Not the other way around.
7. But it’s not all about the military
It’s essential to show that although you have a rich background, you’re not carrying the military luggage on you at all times. In the resume, mention that you’re an easy-going person, communicative, and polite.
It’s safe to say that a background in the military is by no means a conviction, it’s a source of sought-after skills and abilities that employers appreciate.
Linda Grandes is a full-time blogger at Studyton.com and a true expert in writing. She is interested in a variety of topics starting from education and ending at modern art. That`s why the idea of her blog cannot be narrowed to one topic as well. Linda also has vast experience in editing texts and knows all the angles of academic and professional writing thanks to her productive cooperation with WoWGrade.com. Linda is a passionate traveler and she is eager to learn new things and meet new people.
