PDF Summary:Signs of a Great Résumé, by Scott Vedder

Crafting an effective résumé takes more than just listing your work history—it's about presenting your professional self in a compelling, quantifiable way. In Signs of a Great Résumé, Scott Vedder provides practical guidance on optimizing your résumé with strategic formatting, achievement-oriented descriptions, and focused qualifications summaries.

The author also offers specialized advice for transitioning military personnel and their families, helping them translate their unique experiences into language that resonates with civilian employers. Whether you're seeking your next career move or restarting your professional journey, this guide equips you with the tools to produce a standout résumé.

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Emphasize all special recognitions or outstanding awards that you have received.

Highlight any awards, recognitions, or special achievements you have received for your performance. This provides solid evidence that others have acknowledged and valued your accomplishments. Detail your particular achievements and describe the attributes of the accolade that led to your acknowledgment.

Practical Tips

• Create a 'brag sheet' to track your accomplishments in real-time. Keep a running document or digital note where you jot down any achievement, no matter how small, as soon as it happens. This can include positive feedback from clients, successful project completions, or any time you've gone the extra mile. When it's time to update your resume, you'll have a rich source of accomplishments to draw from, ensuring you don't forget any details that could make you stand out.
• Use a resume-building app that features an 'accomplishment generator' tool. Look for modern resume-building software that prompts you to input basic information about your job experiences and then helps you transform those into quantifiable achievements. For example, if you input that you managed a team, the tool could suggest ways to quantify that experience, like the number of team members, the percentage increase in productivity, or the revenue impact of your projects.
• Start a peer-review swap for resume feedback focused on achievements. Partner with a friend or colleague and agree to review each other's resumes with a specific focus on highlighting and improving the presentation of accomplishments. This fresh perspective can help you identify achievements you might have overlooked and suggest creative ways to quantify and present them that you hadn't considered.

Converting military background into language that is readily comprehensible to civilian recruitment personnel.

This section tackles the distinct challenges that veterans face when they strive to translate their military experience into language that civilian employers can understand. Vedder provides practical advice for showcasing your military achievements in a way that captures the attention of potential employers.

Place emphasis on your armed forces experience in the opening Summary of Qualifications on your resume.

Scott Vedder emphasizes the importance of giving your military experience a position of prominence at the beginning of your résumé, ideally in the Summary of Qualifications section, which is typically the first area recruiters review. Highlighting your military background in your curriculum vitae may increase your appeal to companies that give precedence to hiring veterans.

Make certain that your curriculum vitae accurately portrays any military association you have, whether you are a former service member, currently transitioning, a reserve member, or have family ties to someone in the armed forces.

Concisely and clearly express the fundamental elements of your military background. My extensive background in managing projects and guiding teams has been greatly enriched by a decade of commitment, including a period of dedicated military service in the United States Marine Corps.

Articulate how your military experience has prepared you for a successful civilian career.

Express succinctly how your time in the military has endowed you with skills and qualities that are advantageous for positions beyond military service. My military background has instilled in me a strong work ethic, a commitment to excellence, and a proven ability to guide and motivate a group.

Convey the skills and duties you've gained from military service in terms that are clear and simple to comprehend.

Vedder highlights the importance of avoiding jargon and acronyms related to the military in your resume. Individuals responsible for hiring in non-military organizations might not possess the same understanding of military terminology as your comrades in arms do. Express your responsibilities and duties using language that is straightforward and comprehensible.

Ensure your CV does not contain jargon specific to the armed forces, which could perplex recruiters unfamiliar with such terminology.

Articulate the essential elements of your role using language that is universally understood. For example, instead of saying "Responsible for conducting PMCS on all assigned vehicles," express it by saying "Oversaw the upkeep and servicing of a fleet of 10 vehicles, ensuring their constant availability."

Focus on translating your specific accomplishments and achievements into civilian terms

Showcase your achievements and substantiate your professional history with quantifiable proof instead of just cataloging your duties, by applying the strategies described in "Signs of a Great Résumé." Articulate the tangible results of your professional expertise and skills in a manner that resonates with civilian employers. For example, instead of simply saying "Served as a platoon leader," specify your leadership of thirty military personnel and the accomplishment of maintaining an impeccable record throughout a dozen missions.

Emphasize the wide-ranging leadership, teamwork, and individual skills honed through military service.

Employers greatly value the personal qualities and interpersonal abilities often cultivated through military service. Ensure that your résumé consistently highlights these qualities.

Show that you embody the key characteristics of a "P.A.T.R.I.O.T.," such as upholding values, showing accountability, capacity for learning, displaying respect, taking initiative, being on time, and excelling in teamwork settings.

Scott Vedder highlights the essential attributes that make veterans particularly appealing as job candidates in the civilian workforce through the use of the acronym "P.A.T.R.I.O.T." Individuals frequently develop a robust foundation of discipline and ethical behavior through their military service. Accountability underscores your dependability in fulfilling obligations and ensuring deadlines are met. Trainability reflects your capacity for acquiring new competencies and adjusting to evolving surroundings. Your capacity for treating others with courtesy and maintaining a professional demeanor is underscored by the term "Respect." Demonstrating initiative illustrates your capacity to identify potential opportunities and independently resolve issues. Your reliability and timely attendance are emphasized by your consistent punctuality. Showcasing your ability to work well with others and dedication to shared goals highlights your value as a team-oriented participant.

Demonstrate that having these attributes makes you a highly desirable candidate for positions beyond military service.

In your resume, provide concrete examples of moments when you embodied the P.A.T.R.I.O.T. qualities while serving in the military and make clear their importance to prospective civilian employers. I effectively guided a dozen soldiers on a demanding mission, showcasing robust abilities in communication, problem-solving, and making decisions even when under considerable pressure.

Practical Tips

• Create a military-to-civilian skills translator tool online for veterans to input their military roles and receive a list of equivalent civilian job skills and terms. This tool would use a database of military job codes and descriptions to generate civilian-friendly language that can be directly used in resumes and job applications.
• Develop a resume-building workshop specifically for veterans, focusing on storytelling techniques that help them narrate their military experience in a way that resonates with civilian employers. The workshop would include exercises in identifying transferable skills, practicing elevator pitches, and peer-to-peer resume reviews to ensure clarity and impact.
• Launch a mentorship program pairing veterans with civilian professionals in their desired industry. The mentors would provide guidance on industry norms, feedback on resumes, and help veterans understand how to present their military experience in ways that align with civilian job requirements. This program would facilitate networking opportunities and offer real-world insights into transitioning into the civilian workforce.

Providing support to service members and their relatives as they navigate common challenges.

The section acknowledges the unique challenges faced by individuals transitioning from military to civilian careers and their loved ones, providing specialized advice to help them overcome these challenges.

Explain any gaps or intervals where you were not employed in your professional history.

Vedder recognizes that individuals with military backgrounds, particularly those married to service members, may have gaps or inconsistencies in their employment records due to the need to manage household duties alongside military commitments. He advises structuring your résumé to highlight your abilities rather than focusing on the chronological order of your employment history.

Choose a résumé format that highlights your skills and achievements instead of strictly following a chronological order of your work experience.

A functional résumé focuses on your achievements and skills instead of arranging your work experience chronologically. This can be particularly useful for veterans whose military experience doesn't directly translate to civilian roles, or for military spouses who have gaps in their employment history. Your core competencies and the application of these talents across different positions are emphasized in a skills-based résumé. This allows you to emphasize your transferable skills and downplay any employment gaps.

Ensure your resume effectively communicates that any employment gaps are due to your dedication to family responsibilities associated with military service.

In the qualifications section of your resume, it's essential to actively mention any periods where you were assisting a family member serving in the armed forces, which may have led to intervals of unemployment. My background in administrative duties is solid, as demonstrated by my consistent achievements across different settings, such as overseeing home moves and assisting with my partner's military relocations. Employers will undoubtedly value your dedication, flexibility, and steadfastness.

Emphasize the skills and understanding gained from roles occupied by individuals belonging to military families.

Vedder encourages military spouses to showcase the valuable skills and experiences gained through managing a military family and participating in support programs and volunteer work. It's crucial to highlight the skills acquired from volunteer experiences and articulate them in terms that are readily comprehensible to civilian hiring managers.

Demonstrate your involvement in initiatives that support military families and your dedication to volunteer efforts.

Military spouses often play a crucial role in supporting volunteer organizations and the wider base community, with a particular emphasis on programs designed to maintain family preparedness and offer support. These activities can demonstrate leadership, communication, organization, and event planning skills. Detail your unpaid roles with the same thoroughness you would apply to any paid position on your curriculum vitae. Evaluate the effectiveness of your contributions by applying the concepts presented in Scott Vedder's "Signs of a Great Résumé," which is akin to specifying your career accomplishments.

Managing a home in a defense forces environment has honed abilities that are transferable to a multitude of contexts.

Managing a military family often involves adapting to frequent moves, comprehending complex systems, and accommodating constantly changing circumstances. These opportunities can foster essential abilities including financial management, coordination of logistics, analytical thinking, interpersonal communication, and awareness of cultural nuances. Reflect on your past roles to understand how they've equipped you for roles outside of the military, and make certain that your résumé accentuates these relevant skills. Oversaw the management of household finances, which encompassed budgeting, bill paying, and tax preparation, all while adapting to frequent relocations across various states and nations.

Other Perspectives

• While emphasizing skills over chronological work history can be beneficial, some employers may still prefer or require a traditional chronological résumé and may view functional résumés with skepticism.
• Highlighting skills and achievements is important, but failing to provide context for employment gaps may still raise questions for potential employers.
• The assumption that all skills gained in a military environment are transferable to civilian roles may not hold true in every case; some skills may not be as relevant or valued in certain industries.
• Not all volunteer work or experiences managing a military household may be seen as equivalent to professional experience by all employers.
• The effectiveness of communicating dedication to family responsibilities can vary depending on the industry and the company culture; some may not view this as positively as others.
• Military spouses may face biases or assumptions about their availability and commitment to a job, which could counteract the positive framing of their skills and experiences.
• The advice provided may not be one-size-fits-all; individual circumstances can greatly affect the applicability and effectiveness of these strategies.

Veterans can access further guidance and assistance.

This section provides additional guidance to support veterans as they pursue job opportunities and work on improving their skills and knowledge.

Ensure you understand the entitlements and protections afforded to you by USERRA due to your status as a veteran or reservist.

Vedder emphasizes the importance of understanding the rights and benefits that are afforded to veterans and reservists by the legislation known as the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. This law protects individual freedoms by preventing employment discrimination based on military duties and guarantees that individuals will be reemployed in their civilian roles after their military service or deployment ends.

Learn how to convey upcoming commitments to military service to prospective employers clearly.

It's crucial to keep open communication about upcoming military commitments when engaging with potential hiring managers. Vedder provides guidance on how to clearly describe your duties and demonstrate their relevance to the job requirements. He recommends discussing these responsibilities during the interview when appropriate, instead of incorporating them into your resume. He also advises giving employers a one-month notice about upcoming service commitments, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Defense Department.

Take advantage of programs offered by government and nonprofit entities that provide job search assistance to veterans.

Numerous programs established by government bodies and nonprofits are available to support veterans during their transition to civilian job roles. These initiatives provide support including assistance with crafting résumés, preparing for interviews, organizing job fairs, and facilitating opportunities to network. Utilize these resources to gain crucial guidance and support throughout your employment hunt.

Seek out chances to enhance your abilities and qualifications.

Engaging in additional learning and enhancing your abilities after serving in the military can make you more appealing and expand your opportunities within the civilian employment sector. Several programs are available to assist veterans in pursuing further learning opportunities.

Utilize programs like the G.I. Bill to broaden your opportunities for education and training.

Scott Vedder highlights initiatives designed to enhance the skills and credentials of military veterans. The law, commonly referred to as the G.I. Bill, provides financial assistance for educational and job training programs. The assistance from Credentialing Opportunities On-Line for the Army, the Navy's counterpart, and the educational offerings from the Community College for the Air Force is instrumental in identifying civilian qualifications like licenses, certifications, and academic degrees that align with the expertise and understanding acquired throughout military service. These programs aim to translate your military-specific skills into credentials that are valued by employers in the civilian sector, thus bridging the gap between your military experience and the requirements of civilian job roles.

Explore methods to emphasize any additional certifications or licenses you've acquired.

In your curriculum vitae, make sure to list any additional academic achievements, certificates, or professional credentials. Highlight your latest academic accomplishments, certifications, or qualifications, along with your military background, to demonstrate your commitment to ongoing professional development and learning. Utilize the concepts presented in "Signs of a Great Résumé" to convey and quantify your achievements and skills in a way that goes beyond the language specific to the military.

Other Perspectives

• Understanding USERRA is important, but it can be complex and may require legal assistance, which can be a barrier for some veterans.
• Clear communication with potential employers about military commitments is crucial, but it may also inadvertently lead to discrimination despite the protections of USERRA.
• Government and nonprofit job search assistance programs are valuable, but they may not be tailored to individual needs or may be underfunded and oversubscribed.
• Enhancing abilities and qualifications is beneficial, but it can be challenging for veterans to find programs that accurately translate military experience to civilian skills.
• Utilizing the G.I. Bill is advantageous, but navigating the bureaucracy to access benefits can be frustrating and time-consuming.
• Emphasizing additional certifications or licenses is useful, but it may not fully compensate for a lack of direct civilian job experience in the eyes of some employers.