A career in the military is a unique experience. There is learning and people that cannot be found anywhere else. Upon the time for service retirement, it is the opportunity to share that experience with others.

There are different ways this experience can be displayed and shared with others. One of the best ways is through employment. Businesses will look for certain skills when hiring, but military backgrounds can give them the required skills and the knowledge learned from barracks, routines, places stationed, fellow officers, and more.

Each resume needs to be written to fit the individual job description. Keep a listing of all the professional experiences and education acquired in the military. Take the list and add those that fit the job description to the resume. Here are some soft skills to highlight based on your career.

Multiculturalism and Diversity

This learning from different people in different countries, languages beliefs, and backgrounds leads to better flexibility, communication, and thought styles. The broader background allows awareness and openness concerning others without prejudices. It also ignites creativity, innovation, thoughts, and inclusion from diversity.

Professionalism

In the military, you have been in the realm of being punctual, productive with others, workload management, and different types of communication. These communications are both non-verbal and professional. This shows that you have the experience of working responsibly and ethically with integrity and learning from mistakes.

Leadership

This will raise the insight of an organization. Military experience gives coaching skills to help them help others with inspiring others to their potential and more. Highlight that you have experience in seeing the bigger picture and pointing out our opportunity for others and the business.  

Communication

Being able to talk with others effectively is essential in the business atmosphere. The higher the ranking of the position you are applying for, the more important the communication is. Critical information and goal-oriented writing need to have proper communication to have the best results. Military services give you communication experience on how to approach teammates, higher-ranking officers, and subordinates.

Flexibility

In the business world being ready for the unexpected is common. What is planned and what happens is not always the case. The military trains you to adjust and flourish, sometimes in unknown areas. This is a great trait for businesses when they encounter the unknown.

Teamwork

Working together with new people, on a new project, or just in a new setting is a learning experience. Teamwork brings a different level of skills, education, and training together. An advantage of having military services is developing teamwork skills that help to know when to take the lead and when to sit back and watch.  

Integrity

Make sure to list it on all job applications. It has the meanings of hardworking, trustworthiness, and selflessness. If there is a security clearance necessary for the position some may modify or even override the requirement if there is an honorable moral code listed.

Planning Skills

The ability to change the plans on a whim is a skill that is obtained from the military and is greatly needed in business settings. Moving forward without a plan is even better when it comes to tight schedules or deadlines. The unknown and unforeseen happen, businesses know this and look for those that can deal with the suddenness. 

Problem Solving

In the service, there are more types of unknown problems encountered. It can be anything from weather, peers, subordinates, to shortages. These do occasionally happen in civilization and military experienced personnel will have seen these before and know different outcomes.

Technical Skills

Some positions are directly related to the time in the military. If mechanics on military vehicles was one of the specialties, look for employment in the vehicle industry and highlight your skills. There are others such as financial, telecommunication, and health care that are highly military areas that have civilian job opportunities.