If you’ve served in the military, you’ve likely acquired a wide array of valuable skills. These competencies can be extremely beneficial as you transition into civilian life, but it’s essential to understand which of these abilities are transferable to the workplace. When crafting your CV, it’s crucial to focus on skills like leadership, teamwork, adaptability, and clear communication — all of which are highly sought after by civilian employers.

In this article, we’ll explore the top military skills you should include on your CV, offering you insights into how to effectively showcase these abilities and successfully navigate your transition from military service to civilian employment.

Transferable Military Skills for Civilian Jobs

Your time in the military has undoubtedly provided you with many skills that are valuable in civilian job settings. It’s important, however, to be selective about which skills you highlight. Instead of listing every skill you gained during your service, focus on the ones that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for, such as leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication.

Certifications and Specialist Training

During your military service, you likely earned specialized qualifications and certifications that are not only valuable but also respected by civilian employers. These certifications demonstrate your dedication to high standards and your ability to perform complex tasks under pressure.

Consider including any of the following:

• First Aid Training: Certifications like CPR or emergency medical training highlight your ability to respond calmly and responsibly in crisis situations.
• Languages: If you’ve learned foreign languages during your service, be sure to mention them, as language skills are highly sought after in many industries.
• Technical Certifications: If you have experience with specialized equipment, whether in mechanics, technology, or communications, list these skills to demonstrate your technical proficiency.

Technical and Mechanical Expertise

Military service often involves working with advanced equipment and technology. These technical skills are highly transferable to many civilian roles. Here are some areas where military training can be directly applied:

• Equipment Management: Experience handling military hardware like aircraft, vehicles, or weapon systems shows technical aptitude that is highly valued in industries like engineering, logistics, and maintenance.
• Operational Systems: Familiarity with radar, sonar, and other operational systems can be beneficial for roles in security, surveillance, and technical operations.
• Software and Programming Knowledge: If you’ve worked with specialized software or programming tools during your service, make sure to highlight these skills as they are applicable in various tech-related fields.

Soft Skills to Highlight

Soft skills like leadership, discipline, and problem-solving are often the most valued by civilian employers. These skills can set you apart from other candidates and prove that you are capable of succeeding in dynamic, high-pressure environments. According to research by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), veterans excel in areas like work ethic, teamwork, and leadership, which makes them highly attractive to employers.

Here’s how to effectively present these skills on your CV:

Discipline and Work Ethic

The military instills a strong sense of discipline and commitment to excellence, which is appreciated by employers in every industry. Employers want individuals who can meet deadlines, stay organized, and work efficiently even under pressure.

Example:

• Managed a supply chain for over 1,200 personnel during a deployment, ensuring a 98% on-time delivery rate under demanding conditions.

Strategic Planning

Military roles often require careful planning and foresight to avoid obstacles and ensure success. This ability to plan and anticipate challenges is easily transferable to fields like project management and logistics.

Example:

• Developed strategic training schedules for a team of 50+ personnel, improving overall operational efficiency and ensuring readiness for complex missions.

Leadership and Team Management

Leadership is a core component of military service. Whether you’re leading small teams or large groups, the experience gained in military leadership roles is incredibly valuable in the civilian workforce.

Example:

• Led a team of 30+ personnel, overseeing their training, welfare, and readiness for critical operations, while maintaining high morale and discipline.

Problem-Solving

The ability to assess situations, identify issues, and act quickly is a key skill developed in the military. In civilian roles, this problem-solving ability is invaluable, especially in high-stakes or fast-paced environments.

Example:

• Directed a team of 12 during a communications blackout, successfully implementing contingency plans to ensure mission success.

How to Incorporate Military Skills on Your CV

When translating your military experience onto your CV, it’s important to present your skills in a way that’s relevant to civilian roles. Depending on the type of CV format you choose, here are some options for listing your military experience:

• Chronological CV: In this format, list your military service under your work experience section. For each role, include specific accomplishments and skills that are transferable to the job you’re applying for.
• Skills-Based CV: For a more targeted approach, focus on your skills in a separate section. Group similar abilities together, such as “Leadership & Team Management” or “Crisis Decision-Making,” and provide examples of how you demonstrated those skills in the military.

Remember to translate any military-specific terminology into language that is easily understood by civilian employers. For example, instead of using a term like “Platoon Commander,” describe the role as “Team Leader overseeing 30+ staff in high-pressure situations.”

Tailoring Your CV for the Job You Want

Every job you apply for will require a slightly different approach. Tailor your CV to highlight the skills and experiences that align with the job description. If you’re applying for a technical role, emphasize your mechanical knowledge and familiarity with technical equipment. For leadership positions, focus on your ability to manage teams and make strategic decisions.

If you’re unsure how to format your military-to-civilian CV, tools like a CV builder can help guide you through each section, offering templates designed specifically for veterans transitioning into civilian careers.

Skills-Based CV for Veterans

A skills-based CV is a great way to highlight your capabilities without focusing on job titles that may not directly translate to civilian roles. This format emphasizes your abilities and provides clear examples of how you’ve applied those skills in the military.

For example:

• Logistics Coordination: Managed critical supply distribution across challenging terrains, meeting tight deadlines consistently.
• Leadership & Team Management: Led a team of 25 personnel on overseas operations, maintaining high operational efficiency and morale in high-pressure environments.

This format works well for roles in emergency services, security, project management, and operations, where skills like leadership, decision-making, and adaptability are essential.

Final Thoughts

When transitioning from military service to civilian employment, your military skills are invaluable. By strategically showcasing your abilities on your CV, you can demonstrate to employers that you have the skills, experience, and work ethic to excel in any role. Tailor your CV to highlight your strengths, and remember to translate military terminology into civilian language for the best results.