By Chris Davison, Veteran Recruitment Program Manager

Transitioning from military service to a civilian career is an exciting new chapter, but crafting a resume that resonates with civilian recruiters can feel like a daunting task. The skills and experiences you've gained in the military are invaluable and translating them into civilian terms can be the key to landing your next role.

Those harnessing military experience are always in demand at BAE Systems. With insights from Chris Davison, United States Navy veteran and veteran recruitment program manager, this guide will help you turn your military achievements into a resource that opens doors.

Three members of BAE Systems military hiring team at 2025 Sea, Air, and Space.

Left to right: Chris, Kayla, and Chad, all part of our dedicated military hiring team connecting with talent at the 2025 Sea Air Space Exposition in Maryland.

From tailoring your resume to the job to highlighting leadership skills, here's how to make your military experience shine.

Tip 1: Discuss Your Career Goals with Trusted People

Before you start applying for jobs and crafting your resume, take the time to have honest conversations with trusted people in your life.

Ask yourself and discuss with them whether you want to pursue a career that’s like your military role or if you’re ready to try something completely new. These discussions can help you define your career goals and open your mind to opportunities you might not have considered.

Use resources like our military skills translator to find roles that align with your career aspirations.

Tip 2: Tailor Your Resume for Every Role

Each job application you submit should have a targeted resume that reflects the specific requirements of the position. Civilian hiring managers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to review resumes, which often scan for keywords from the job description.

What to do:

Use Keywords: Highlight terms from the job posting (e.g., "project management," "operations planning," "leadership development").
Choose the Right Format: Save your resume as a PDF or Word document to ensure compatibility with ATS.
Speak Their Language: Avoid copying and pasting your military title verbatim; instead, align your experience with terms a civilian hiring manager will recognize. For example, instead of "Platoon Sergeant," you might say "Team Operations Manager."

Remember, resumes aren’t one-size-fits-all. Tailor your document each time to show you’re the best fit for the job.

Tip 3: Use Data to Showcase Your Achievements

Quantifying your accomplishments with facts and figures makes your contributions easily measurable and more impactful. Numbers provide specificity and demonstrate the tangible results you’ve delivered.

Examples:

Instead of saying "Managed a team," try "Managed a team of 27 personnel, ensuring the timely completion of organizational objectives."
Highlight budget responsibilities, such as, "Oversaw a $2.2 million annual budget, ensuring compliance and cost efficiency."
Include performance metrics like, "Achieved a 99% satisfaction rate during annual safety audits" or "Improved operational efficiency by 18% over a 12-month period."

By emphasizing measurable results, you show employers not just what you did, but the concrete value you brought to your team and organization. Looking for a place to start? Use your annual review to find achievements to highlight.

Tip 4: Highlight Leadership and Transferable Skills

Veterans bring unparalleled leadership experience and a toolkit of skills that are invaluable to civilian workplaces. The key is connecting those skills to common business needs.

Examples of transferable skills:

Problem Solving: Share examples where you resolved complex issues under pressure or implemented creative solutions.
Responsibility: Highlight your ability to take ownership of large-scale projects, personnel, or budgets.
Communication: Military leaders are expert communicators. Show that you’ve led team meetings, shared briefings, or coordinated across diverse stakeholders.
Adaptability: Employers value candidates who can respond quickly to changing situations, particularly in today’s fast-paced business landscape.

Example phrasing:

"Led cross-functional teams to achieve mission objectives under strict timelines."
"Resolved operational challenges in high-stakes environments by effectively collaborating across departments."
"Successfully trained and mentored 15 team members, driving a 20% improvement in performance evaluations over a 6-month period."

Articulating these transferable skills helps hiring managers see the value your military background brings to their organization.

Tip 5: List Relevant Certifications

Certifications make you stand out to recruiters while demonstrating your professional qualifications. Don’t overlook certifications you’ve earned during your military service or after, as these showcase expertise and continued learning.

Examples of valuable certifications:

Project Management Professional (PMP)
Six Sigma (Green Belt or Black Belt)
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
CompTIA Security+
Leadership and Management Certification from respected organizations

If the role you’re applying for mentions a specific license or certification, make sure to highlight it prominently on your resume.

Tip 6: Ditch the Jargon

Your military experience is impressive, but civilian recruiters might not understand the specific terminology or acronyms used in the armed forces. Simplify your language and focus on clear, relatable terms.

What to avoid:

Overly technical or military-specific terms (e.g., MOS, NCOIC, METT-TC).
Acronyms that aren’t immediately recognizable to civilians.

What to focus on instead:

Translate titles and responsibilities into terms that emphasize transferable skills. For example, "Leading petty officer" could become "Team Lead/Supervisor," and "mission planning" could become "Strategic Planning."
Phrase accomplishments clearly and concisely so recruiters can easily connect your experience to the job they’re hiring for.

Example:

Military jargon: "Implemented METT-TC during tactical operations to assess situational needs."

Simplified for civilians: "Analyzed operational needs and adjusted strategies to align with organizational goals, improving mission success rates by 15%."

Tip 7: Focus on Formatting

The structure of your resume is just as important as its content. Think of your resume as prime real estate; every word should add value. A polished, well-organized resume makes a lasting impression.

Highlight key skills and certifications prominently at the top of the page to catch the recruiter’s eye.
Use a chronological format to showcase your career progression and total years of experience.
Keep it concise—one page is ideal, two at most.
Never go lower than a 10-point font, format in black ink, and use bolded words, headings and subheadings to help guide your reader’s eyes.

Tip 8: Know What to Include (and Exclude)

What to Include:

Contact information: Include a professional email address, phone number and the general area of where you live such as the city and state.
Professional Summary: Begin with a concise overview of your expertise that includes tangible examples.
Security Clearance: If applicable, mention your clearance level prominently in the top third of your resume.
Education: List your academic background if applicable.
Availability Date: Specify when you’re ready to start to help employers align timelines.

What to Exclude:

Hobbies: Leave out personal interests that don’t relate to the role.
Awards: Only include accolades if they’re directly relevant to the job or industry.
References: Provide them only when requested.
Associations or Affiliations: Mention these only if they’re tied to the role, like an engineering association for an engineering position.

By tailoring your resume content, you focus attention on what matters most to civilian hiring managers while maintaining a polished, professional profile.

Tip 9: Use Military Resources

Tap into resources tailored for veterans like:

Transition Assistance Program (TAP): Offers workshops and resume-building tools.
Hire Heroes USA: Provides free resume reviews and career coaching.
American Corporate Partners (ACP): Connects veterans with mentors for guidance.

These resources are designed to help you translate your military experience into terms that civilian recruiters will appreciate. Make the most of these opportunities!

Tip 10: Be Professional and Prepared

Use a professional email address and ensure your voicemail greeting is polished. Small details like this leave a strong impression on recruiters.

By translating your military experience into civilian-friendly language and focusing on your unique value, you’ll position yourself as a strong candidate for your next role.

Join our team

Looking to continue the mission at BAE Systems? Let’s connect.

Visit our military and veterans page to contact our dedicated military hiring team, use our military skills translator, learn about our transitional programs, see featured opportunities, fill out our military career interest form and more.

See our how to apply page for more information on our application process and gain additional insight on interviewing best practices.