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18 G.I. JOBS | OCTOBER 2017 | GIJOBS.COM The"GOOD" Résumé Lists are easy to read! order is from most important to least important - perfect! better! Just yo ur name, please. Avoid Acronyms! 6. NO JOB- HOPPERS HERE Most military personnel have multiple jobs and multiple duty stations during their career. The list gets even longer if schools and training are included. Listing every job on your résumé may make you look like a job hopper. Combine similar experiences without paying strict attention to the timeline. Perhaps the easiest way is to use an all-inclusive timeline statement at the beginning of your experience section. For example, the phrase "Machinist's Mate, U.S. Navy (1998- 2004)" is the first line in the "experience" section, followed by an outline of the actual assignments during that time frame. 7. THE "M" WORD Guess which word appears the most often on the typical military performance evaluation or fitness report? "Manage" and all of its forms: management, manager, manages, managing, managed. Not surprisingly, the same is true with résumés written by separating military personnel. It is a wonderful word, because it says so much. But for that same reason, it also says too little. What do you really mean when you use that word? Be careful – civilians do not use it with the same frequency or generality that you do. When writing your résumé, force yourself to say what you really mean. Perhaps words like control, coordinate, lead or supervise would be more descriptive. If you have to use it, then use it with a modifier (financial management, logistics management or personnel management). In the corporate sector, you are technically not a manager unless you have both people working directly for you and profit and loss responsibility for your unit. 8. MOVE YOUR RANK OR RATING BUT DON'T HIDE IT You are seeking a civilian job. It is time to start thinking and looking like a civilian. You may think of yourself as "MM3 Michael S. Ortiz, USN," but do not open with that statement. On your résumé, you are now just plain Michael S. "Mike" Ortiz. Why? Many civilians have a negative stereotype regarding military personnel when it comes to formality and rank structure. Beginning your résumé with your rank or rating will just reinforce that perception. On the other hand, there is much about your military experience that works in your favor. Don't remove all things military. Going to this extreme is a mistake. There are hundreds of civilian employers that want to hire you because of that military experience. 9. TRAINING AND EDUCATION: FRONT AND CENTER One of the reasons so many civilian companies like to hire military personnel is the built-in training and education. Many service members have college degrees, and those who do not will often have a significant amount of technical or specialty training courtesy of Uncle Sam. Whether or not this training and education is directly relevant to the civilian sector, companies like to hire educated people. Put this information on your résumé where they can easily find it. Remember the Eight Second Test! 10. MAKE YOURSELF EASY TO FIND Your résumé must include your contact information. Assuming the résumé does its job, a potential employer will contact you to obtain further information and set up an interview. When it comes to finding you, many military personnel are at a disadvantage. Where are you stationed? CONUS? Overseas? Deployed? On a ship? Under the ocean? Not allowed to say? Unless the answer is CONUS, you are probably at either a geographic or a time zone disadvantage. If you are permitted to do so, make sure your cell phone number, work phone number and email address are on your résumé. If not, perhaps there is a reliable person with access to your personal phone number and/or email account who can act as a relay for you. The"BAD" Résumé Too much manage Grammar and spelling can make or break your résumé when competing for a position. Spell Check, Spell Check, Spell Check RÉSUMÉ TIP