How Would You Write A Resume If All Work Experience Is Military?
December 2, 2009 by career
Filed under Resume Questions
I have a friend who is leaving the army (after 5 years) and wants to enter the police force. How should he write his resume so that it is nice and full? How should it be structured? Is there any place he can find examples of resumes like this? He is an E-5, if that helps.
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He needs to write about his expereince, any projects he was in charge of (and their success rates), talk about his managment experience (# of people that reported to him) , What classes did he take that continued his education either with college or during his time in the service. What his goals are. Making it nice and full may only hide the good stuff. So one page is good enough if that is all he can fill. He will want to do a job search and pick out all of the “key” words and work them into his resume. For example:
Special Security
Sniper trained
Black belt in Karate
Management background
things like that……go on line and find some good examples. But the “key” words are what will get his resume pulled in with on line submittals.
I think he should put on his resume.all of he military training, schools he attend en also his civilian schooling, all of his awards,and what his work or MOS, was.I think the web or the education center could help him. it worth a try.
As you leave the military there is manditory ACAP, which is the Army Career Alumni Program, as as E-5 he should know about this…
While in ACAP there are classes on resume writing. Spending time in the military and recieving an honorable discharge at the rank of SGT can be enough and no other justification will be needed to become a police officer. If his job was in someway related to police work it could be helpful to include his duties in the resume.
January 2003 to present- United States Army. Graduated from Us Army Signal School, Ft Ord, Ca. Graduated from US Army Satellite Communications School, Ft Smith, AR, Presently assigned to 333rd Signal Company , Ft Lewis,WA. as high frequency radio instructor and paltoon sgt. .”.
Ft Lewis “Soldier of the Month” June 2007.
Served 15 months in Iraq. Present grade , SGT E-5.”
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Tell as much as possible in as little space as possible. Time in the military,schools , awards, and present grade.
Good luck.
Below is a part of mine. The format does not come out right on this site however the substance is there. Most important in a resume, NO TYPOS.
Also, he should note on his resume that “transfers to different jobs and duty locations are a routine part of military service.” I put this at the bottom of my work experience. (See below)
If this is not noted, civilian employers may mistake a lot of jobs in the military as “job hopping. ”
______________________________________…
December 1979 – November 1987
U.S. Army Military Police Officer – Performed duties as a military police officer on active duty and in the United States Army Reserve. Duties performed included law enforcement (traffic enforcement to murder investigations), physical security of special weapons site, and command of a Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) enclosure. Led and trained up to 250 personnel.
* Transfer to various locations and job assignments are a routine part of military service
Well he could write about his leadership experiences. I believe there is many online service about writing resumes and, the Army helps with job finding after your tour of duty