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Military Transition: Military Resume Tricks Rant

I recently have begun hearing again that some employment counselors are telling transitioning military folks to omit their military service information and/or titles. Instead they suggest one use words like “major international organization vice-president.”  This was a sad trend after the Vietnam war, driven by popular talk that all vets were psychotic. Do you really need a work life equivalent of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?

First, every civilian recruiter, HR person, and hiring manager is going to immediately recognize this trick. It doesn’t work. It can hurt your chances.

Second, do you really want to work for an organization that does not value your military service? Why? There are plenty of organizations that do see the value of military experience where you can be you.

No knowledgeable career counselor will try to get you to obfuscate your military service.

Do your homework and find the right targets. Explain your experience in terms those companies use and understand. Sure, you should keep the military jargon to a minimum and you do not have to use the exact titles of every job and command you were in. But keep it real and show your achievements.

There are plenty of people out there who do want to hire veterans because they appreciate the attributes of most military people. And plenty who will see your experience and achievements and recognize what you could add to their operations.