Does Military Service Look Good on a Resume? ― The Answer

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It is a great honor to have served in the military and your service would have definitely shaped you into who you are now.

Once you are out, you may start looking for non-military jobs in which all require a resume from you.

So, whether you have served in the military for a long time or not, you may be wondering if your military service will be appealing to a recruiter.

 

Does military service look good on a resume?

Military service looks good if details are translated to be appealing, you are applying to military-friendly employers, or if the organization has similar objectives. Military service also shows favorable attributes. It doesn’t look good when there is a stigma or when you are applying to technical jobs.

 

Military service looks good on a resume when the duties and achievements are appealing

Just listing that you served in the military and your duties or accomplishments is not good enough to convince a recruiter that you are a desirable candidate.

However, translating them in a way that corresponds to what an organization values, is appealing to a hiring manager.

If you can convert your duties and achievements to being transferrable for your desired position, then military service would look good on your resume.

 

Military service looks good on a resume if applying to military-friendly employers

In the United States, there are certain companies that mention they are “military friendly”. 

A simple google search of military-friendly employers will display all the options you have to apply to. 

When applying to military-friendly companies, they would understand all the benefits of hiring someone who served in the army.

Therefore, adding military service in this circumstance would definitely be advantageous and might even help you stand out from the competition.

 

Military service looks good on a resume if the organization has similar objectives

If, for example, you are applying for police or firefighting work or an academic position centered on teaching military or combative tactics, then your military service will most certainly give you an upper hand on your resume. 

When an organization has the same objectives, vision or mission as your military service, you should add it to your resume.

 

Military service looks good on a resume because it shows favorable attributes

Any employer would know that serving in the military comes with the development of traits that are favorable in an employee.

There is a huge aspect of leadership, teamwork, dedication, and work ethic that comes with military service.

Those who served would have also polished their communication skills and ability to be both flexible and structured. 

If you are a young applicant, you will also come off as more mature and dependable compared to others your age. 

Lastly, as a military servant, you would have also learned to be focused on objectives, a very important factor in any workplace. 

All these attributes are highly favorable and adding military service to your resume will demonstrate that you possess them.

 

Military service doesn’t look good on a resume because of the stigma

Certain employers might still be hesitant about hiring veterans because of the stigma around military service.

PTSD, violence, etc., are some aspects that unfortunately dismiss the capabilities of someone who served.

If you research the company and have a feeling that they might not want to hire someone who served in the military, then it’s best to keep your military service off your resume.

Unless you have nothing else to mention as work experience, then you would have to add it either way.

You never know, you might still be selected.

 

Military service doesn’t look good on a resume if applying to technical jobs

The favorable attributes mentioned previously are more soft skills than hard skills required for technical jobs.

So, unless you have also practiced technical skills while serving in the military, it would be better to leave out your service because it would be irrelevant to the job.

 

How to list military service on your resume

When listing military service, translate all military jargon, add achievements or awards that will impress a recruiter, avoid adding combative aspects of your service, tailor according to the job description, and finally, ask a civilian to proofread your resume.

 

Translate all military terminology 

All military terminology has to be converted to standard organizational language and all acronyms have to be written in full form when adding military service to your resume.

Instead of mission, write project or assignment.

Squads or platoons would be teams or units.

It is important to make sure what you are writing can be understood by a recruiter who might be unfamiliar with military wording.

 

Highlight achievements and awards valued by organizations

Instead of emphasizing the combative aspects of your service, mention any awards or recognition that an organization would find favorable.

For example, if you received an award for Good Conduct, add it to your resume.

If you led and trained a team that outperformed set targets, mention that.

Add any achievements that would satisfy the requirements of the job description.

Try to also add numbers when talking about your achievements. 

Whether it’s headcount or percentage increases or decreases, it puts your impact into perspective more clearly.

 

Ask someone who is non-military to proofread

Once you finish adding your military service to your resume, ask someone you know who did not serve to go through it.

They might spot something you overlooked and pinpoint what is wrong with your resume.

 

Military service on a resume: Example

 

Professional Summary

Recognized and success-driven leader with 4 years of effective performance target implementation and maintenance. Proficient at organizing and leading diverse staff in dynamic environments. Dedicated to establishing beneficial and long-term partnerships and maintaining compliance in all operations. 

 

Work Experience

 

United Stated Army | 2014 – 2018

• Led a team of 35, set and monitored performance targets, settled disputes, and directed training sessions.
• Strengthened unit response by aligning training session with correct unit needs and exceeded quota by 45%

• On-boarded 15 candidates quarterly by building solid relationships with colleges, high school and local leaders.

• Ensured the physical, mental and academic compliance of new and existing candidates.

• Recipient of 2 Good Conduct awards.