“We make war that we may live in peace.”
—Aristotle
Why am I discussing your resume in a book about basic training? Easy, because once you graduate you will be a thousand fold more interesting to employers. If two identical job applicants apply for the same job, one with military experience and one without, the one with military experience wins hands down 99% of the time (all other qualifications being equal). Just by graduating from basic training you have achieved life skills that a small percentage of the population has accomplished.
Now let’s consider this scenario, if two identical job applicants apply for the same job, and both have military experience but only one has read this book, which applicant will win? Correct! Because you are reading this book, you can capitalize on your military experience by communicating to potential employers your new skill set.
There are many sentences you can put on your resume that will highlight your military skills. Conversely there are many skills you should not put on your resume. Common sense should tell you if you’re applying for an accounting position that the medal you won for marksmanship will have little value. However, if you’re applying for a nursing position, it would be a good idea to mention the combat medic training you completed at basic training.
There are thousands of jobs available and many skill sets you learn at basic training. The key is to write down all the skill sets you learned at basic training and match them the best you can with the job you’re applying for.
You can incorporate these skill sets you learned at basic training and translate them into keywords and incorporate them in strategic places in your resume. Some of the keywords you can use on your resume include:
There is one sentence that works great on a resume that applies to any recruit who has graduated basic training. I personally use the following sentence on my resume:
Experience in organizing complex situations during critical periods of change and pressure.
That’s good stuff isn’t it! I have been using that on my resume for over a decade and during every interview, I always get asked about that sentence. It is important you capitalize on the answer when asked to explain that sentence. Have a couple stories ready and be prepared to answer the question “Explain what that sentence means please.” The stories you should tell should be brief and outline a time in basic training where you were under pressure, taking direction from someone who was impatient (your Drill Sergeant) and needed to solve a task. Believe me, when you complete basic training, having a relatable story to discuss won’t be an issue, just be sure to know which stories you are going to discuss so you don’t get caught trying to find the right words.
The following example is a sentence that would fit well in the summary format at the top of your resume, incorporated with sentences about specific work experience you have acquired at other jobs. Here is an example of a sentence you can use in a resume if you have a military specific section:
Military responsibilities required a high level of coordination, communication, and structured training.
Both the examples I outlined above would also be well presented on a cover letter.
The Interview Process
Assume the interviewer knows nothing about the military. Avoid using common acronyms and terms that might seem second nature to you at the time. Most people who haven’t served in the military don’t know what an MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) is. So if you are discussing your experience as a 74 Delta, their eyes will glaze over and they will lose interest. Instead of describing yourself as an NBC specialist, describe yourself as a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Operations specialist.
The reason employers love to see applicants with military experience is because a standard civilian workday is only 8 hours long. A standard military workday in basic training is 18 hours long. Employers understand you have been through a rigorous environment and learned valuable life skills along the way. During the interview, if you’re asked if you can work late, come in early, or take on some overtime, give a little chuckle and state that a standard day at basic training was 18 hours.
I teach an online class at Basic Training University called How to Get a Great Job After Boot Camp. To learn more about this subject in detail, go to: Ultimatebasictraining.com/basic-traininguniversity