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Translation tips for the TRANSITION SPECIALIST and GENERALIST
Ensure the recruiter/hiring manager can easily understand the information in your resume. Use plain English, not military jargon. Consult the DoD dictionary of military terms or militarywords.com. Try an MOS Translator, like MOS Crosswalk, but be careful to select an accurate MOS.
A Career Switcher is someone who wants to begin an entirely new career field. An example would be a Military Police Officer who wants to be a data analyst or web designer. The work done in the military is often not a direct match with the new career so the career switcher will need to do additional work to identify extra duties assigned to find transferrable skills related to the new career field. Concerns for the career switcher include what additional skills do they need to demonstrate, where could they gain those skills, and do they need additional certifications or education.
Translation tips for the CAREER SWITCHER
The most effective way for a career switcher to build a resume is to complete a Gap Analysis form so that they can understand WHAT they are missing. Build a Master Skills Inventory and a Transferable Skills Inventory, a thorough inventory of duties and skills from each job. Maybe, as a Military Police Officer, you were also the computer technician or you were assigned the duty of pulling and analyzing data for reports to make projections for needed resources.
Remember: the Career Switcher may need to return to school, obtain additional certifications, or assess other options for reaching their career goal. It’s not always as simple as tweaking the resume.
An Undecided or Multi-Track candidate type doesn’t know what he or she wants to do or needs to work in another career field while finishing education or training. Maybe they were not ready to get out of the military or didn’t plan the transition well. Maybe they have multiple, competing goals that affect what they have to do right now in order to balance their commitments. (continued next page)