Elisabeth Greenbaum Kasson | Dice | April 8, 2014
If you’re a returning veteran who wants to transition into a technology career, you may already have experience that can translate into a civilian job. Often, the operative word there is “translate,” since much of the work you did while serving doesn’t obviously match the skills employers are looking for. This means you’ll need to take special care in compiling your resume and in planning your approach during interviews. Fortunately, this can be done with some thought. On top of that, as a veteran you offer employers some unique advantages over other candidates. Here’s a rundown of things to think about.
Hone Your Resume
As we said, one key to getting an employer’s attention is to connect the dots between your military experience and their needs. Many veterans stress their military service in ways that don’t resonate with the business community. “Translate all acronyms into civilian-speak,” says Erik Bowitz, a consultant for Resume Genius who’s looked at hundreds of returning veterans’ resumes. “Ninety percent of military resumes I critique include at least one military associated acronym. It’s important to write these out. The reader isn’t knowledgeable about military systems.” Remember that civilians don’t understand military jargon and they’re not going to spend a lot of time trying to.
