Crafting a resume can be a daunting task in itself, but creating one when you have to translate your military skills into their civilian equivalent can be even more difficult. When you are a spouse trying to put everything together for the (ex) service member it becomes complex, especially when you know very little about their day to day responsibilities, as in my case. This is by no means all-inclusive and does not cover every variable associated with each branch of service. I am simply relaying what has worked for us, with the examples presented geared toward the US Navy. Hopefully this series will give you some tips to help in creating an attractive resume and also some that are military specific, including job boards and resources for transitioning military.

Some ratings translate well into civilian jobs. For example, a GSM (Gas Turbine Systems Mechanic) or a GSE (Gas Turbine Systems Electrician) can find many opportunities using those search terms. Some power plant employers even specify that they prefer applicants who are prior or transitioning military in the GS rating. more…