AARP Hearing Center
Shutterstock
For veterans, looking for a civilian job can feel like stepping into a foreign country. The language, culture and hierarchy are often completely different when transitioning from the military to the private sector.
The good news is that you already have the skills employers want. The challenge is communicating those skills in a way that makes sense to civilians. Here’s how to translate your experience, tap into resources and use your network to land the job you deserve.
1. Demilitarize the language. While the veterans unemployment rate has remained low — holding steady at 3.1 percent in August 2025 (even as the national rate climbed) — many veterans struggle to find work that matches their skills. One-third of veterans are in jobs that don’t match their education or experience, nearly 16 percent more than their civilian counterparts, according to a LinkedIn report. This often stems from difficulty translating military skills into civilian terms, employer bias and a lack of civilian professional networks.
Of course, you should still list your title and rank in your résumé. But assume recruiters aren’t veterans and steer clear of acronyms and other military-specific terms.
Fortunately, there are several tools to help align your military role with civilian positions. Some online places to get started include Career One’s Stop Civilian-to-Military Occupation Translator and My Next Move: Find Careers Like Your Military Job.
2. Focus on skills. Describe the skills gained from your role in the military, not just the assigned responsibilities. For example, a member of the infantry who patrolled a base and engaged in combat must demonstrate how that experience is relevant to a nonmilitary environment. “Don’t say you patrolled. Say you created a safe working environment for 300 people,” says Terry Howell, senior director of strategic alliances at Military.com, a website loaded with information about how veterans can find jobs.
“Don’t say you shot at people. Talk about working under pressure and constantly assessing situations,” says Howell, who served in the Coast Guard for 20 years.
3. Brag a little. Boast about your individual accomplishments. Bragging isn’t encouraged in the team-focused military. And while civilian companies definitely value individuals who work productively with others, employers are considering whether they should hire you. Emphasize your specific contributions to the team’s success.
4. Keep it short. Limit your résumé to two pages or less. Many civilians don’t understand how the military operates (and may even have negative stereotypes about veterans). But your résumé is not the place to provide a detailed explanation of military practices and procedures. Stick to your experience, check the document for spelling and grammar and tailor each résumé to the specific position you are seeking.
5. Use all your options. Your status as a veteran gives you access to personalized career guidance. Every branch of the military offers transition training through the Transition Assistance Program, or TAP. The federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Labor (DOL) offer tools to ease the road to a civilian career, as do many private employers:
More From AARP
Part-Time Holiday Jobs for People 50-Plus
Flexible schedules and employee discounts make these jobs great fits for older adults
Ready for a Career Change at 50?
Expert advice for a fresh start
AARP Job Center Empowers Veterans & Spouses
Free resources to jump-start a civilian career path