Ari Weinstein ⋅ New Windsor, NY Ari M. Weinstein ⋅ 24 years experience

On any resume hiring managers (like me) are interested in reading a "PAR" story - Problem, Action Result. 1) What was the problem (mission)? 2) What actions did you take? 3) What was the result? If you can describe deployments or stories from your deployments in those terms, it gets my interest.

As an example one veteran I know used his Iraq deployment on his resume after we met to discuss his experience. He listed a mission to get supplies to a destination. The problem was the danger from enemies on the road. The action he took was to organize a convoy with forward scouting, and the result was completing the mission successfully.

George Wilhelmsen ⋅ Rochelle, IL Sargent & Lundy ⋅ 38 years experience

I agree with the other advisor's answers. The key is to do both with your resume. I'd suggest working with the advisors on ACP to tune your resume.

There is one more thing I'd like to suggest - adjust your resume to the position you seek. Your military experience has prepared you with hundreds of situations and experiences. Take a few moments to take stock of those situations, and when applying for a job, look for those that would lend themselves to show you are ready for the position you seek.

For example, if you want to be a mechanic, and you worked in that area in the military, use those experiences to highlight your skills.

Now supplement that - say you want to be a mechanic First Line Supervisor (Shop Supervisor, Shop Foreman, Shop Manager) - use less "mechanic" (e.g., I have the skills to do the work), and more of the "Shop Supervisor" (e.g., here is where I used my skills to manage a shop."

Think about it. You have the skills. Think about where you showed initiative, solved a problem, cleared a major obstacle or hurdle - those are the nuggets that get your resume noticed.

Thank you for your service. I hope this helps you and provides you with some insights.

George Wilhelmsen

Gregory Howard ⋅ Brownsburg, IN Scale Computing ⋅ 4 years experience

Be sure to translate military terminology to cilivan terms as well. Depending on the job employers aren't going to understand what a "fire section cheif" is. They will understand what a "Front line supervisor" or " Mid-Level manager" is. I know many in leadership positions are responsible for high value items. In example " As the manager (NCOIC) in charge of the communication shop (s6) I was responsible for 1.4 million dollars worth of equipment". I would stress the biggest thing is translating your skills and experience into cilivan terms.