Why it's critical to put your resume into the demilitarized zone
Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 03:30PM It’s important for civilian employers to understand that your years in the service have prepared you well to perform a variety of duties in the civilian world. However, if a prospective employer does not have a military background, it may be difficult for them to wade through a series of titles and acronyms they don’t understand. That could mean that your resume isn't reviewed as thoroughly as it should be. It’s important to simplify and translate your experience and skill sets into civilian terminology.
Put your resume through the "Aunt Jane" test. If she (or another civilian of your choosing) reads your resume and can’t understand what you did in the service, then your duties should be spelled out more clearly. Spell out any acronyms the first time.
Example: Spearheaded organizational support maintenance program for 24 Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance System (NBCRS) vehicles valued at $60 million.
It wouldn't hurt to ask one or more non-veteran friends or family members for their perspective on your resume. Do they understand everything you did without needing more clarification?
Stand out with the right font
Use a typestyle (font) that is clean, conservative and easy to read. Times New Roman is the least-preferred font of professional resume writers, as it is so over-used. Choose a font that is between 9 and 12 points. Use spacing, as well as bold, italics, underlining and CAPITALIZATION to highlight certain information.
Some popular font types to consider include:
Tahoma Arial Verdana Century Gothic Lucida Sans