The mistakes, and the fixes
- Leaving acronyms in. Replace them with plain civilian terms.
- Listing duties, not results. Show what improved.
- Using only military titles. Lead with an honest civilian equivalent.
- One resume for every job. Tailor it to each posting.
- Missing keywords. Use the posting's own words wherever they're true for you.
- Running too long. Keep it to one or two pages (federal rules differ).
- Overstating. Never claim awards, clearances or numbers you can't verify.
- Sharing sensitive details. Leave out programs, locations and operations.
- Forgetting training. Tech school, PME and certifications all count.
- A mismatched LinkedIn. Recruiters check both. Fix your profile.
One fix, start to finish
Military version
NCOIC, Munitions Storage; resp for 2,000+ line items IAW AFMAN.
Civilian version
Inventory Supervisor: Led a 6-person team managing more than 2,000 munitions line items with full accountability and zero safety incidents.
Use only numbers that are yours. See more on pages like 2W0X1 Munitions Systems or 1C1X1 Air Traffic Control.
Common questions
Is a functional resume a good idea for veterans?
Most recruiters prefer a reverse-chronological or hybrid format that shows where and when you did each thing. A hybrid can open with a short skills summary.