CV writing for veterans. Writing a civilian CV after leaving the Armed Forces can sometimes feel difficult.
Military personnel develop valuable experience in areas such as leadership, teamwork, discipline, communication, planning, and working under pressure. However, civilian employers may not always immediately understand military terminology, job titles, or responsibilities.
CV writing for Veterans. A well-written CV can help translate that experience into clear, relevant language that civilian employers can understand.
For veterans in County Durham and the wider North East, developing a strong civilian CV can be an important step towards finding new employment opportunities.
SMARTT Veterans CIC is a veteran-led organisation based in the North East of England supporting UK veterans and their families. Its support includes employment, education and training, mental health, housing, food poverty initiatives and community activities.
Writing a civilian CV after leaving the Armed Forces can sometimes feel difficult.
Military personnel develop valuable experience in areas such as leadership, teamwork, discipline, communication, planning and working under pressure. However, civilian employers may not always immediately understand military terminology, job titles or responsibilities.
A well-written CV can help translate that experience into clear, relevant language that civilian employers can understand.
For veterans in County Durham and the wider North East, developing a strong civilian CV can be an important step towards finding new employment opportunities.
SMARTT Veterans CIC is a veteran-led organisation based in the North East of England supporting UK veterans and their families. Its support includes employment, education and training, mental health, housing, food poverty initiatives, and community activities.
CV writing for veterans | Why is CV writing important for veterans?
A CV is often the first opportunity to introduce yourself to a potential employer.
For veterans, the challenge is not necessarily a lack of experience. Instead, it can be about explaining military experience in a way that makes sense to a civilian employer.
Military roles can involve responsibilities that are highly transferable to civilian employment, including:
- Leadership
- Team management
- Communication
- Planning
- Organisation
- Problem-solving
- Risk management
- Decision-making
- Time management
- Working under pressure
- Training and mentoring
- Following procedures
The key is to explain these abilities using clear civilian language.
SMARTT Veterans identifies difficulty explaining military experience to civilian employers and qualification gaps among some of the barriers veterans can face during the transition into civilian employment.
1. CV writing for Veteran | Start With a Strong Personal Profile
The first section of your CV should quickly explain who you are, what experience you have and what type of opportunity you are looking for.
Keep it short and focused.
CV writing for Veterans – Example
Experienced and highly organised professional with a background in military service, team leadership, operational planning and working effectively in demanding environments. Strong communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills, with a commitment to developing a successful civilian career in a professional environment.
You can adapt this profile depending on the job you are applying for.
For example, a veteran applying for a security position should emphasise security, responsibility, risk awareness and communication.
A veteran applying for a management role could focus more strongly on leadership, planning, team coordination and decision-making.
2. Translate Military Job Titles
One of the most important parts of writing a civilian CV is making your experience understandable.
A civilian employer may not understand a military rank, appointment or specialist abbreviation.
Instead of relying entirely on military terminology, explain the role using everyday professional language.
For example:
Military wording:
Responsible for leading personnel during operational activities.
Civilian-friendly wording:
Led and coordinated a team, allocated responsibilities, monitored performance and ensured tasks were completed safely and effectively.
The second version gives a civilian employer more information about the actual skills involved.
3. Focus on Transferable Skills
Your military career may have given you skills that are relevant to many civilian industries.
Leadership
Military leadership experience can demonstrate your ability to:
- Lead teams
- Delegate responsibilities
- Make decisions
- Support colleagues
- Manage priorities
- Take responsibility for outcomes
Communication
Communication skills can include:
- Giving clear instructions
- Working with different teams
- Communicating information
- Listening to others
- Managing difficult conversations
- Working with members of the public
Organisation
Military experience may also demonstrate your ability to:
- Plan activities
- Manage deadlines
- Organise resources
- Follow procedures
- Prioritise tasks
Problem-Solving
Employers may value people who can:
- Identify problems
- Assess situations
- Consider available options
- Make decisions
- Implement solutions
4. Show Achievements Instead of Only Listing Responsibilities
A common CV mistake is listing responsibilities without explaining achievements.
Compare these two examples.
Basic:
Managed a team of personnel.
Stronger:
Led and coordinated a team, ensuring responsibilities were clearly allocated and operational tasks were completed safely and efficiently.
Where possible, include measurable information.
For example:
- Number of people managed
- Size of team
- Number of projects completed
- Training delivered
- Equipment managed
- Time saved
- Targets achieved
Specific information can make your experience easier for employers to understand.
5. Remove Unnecessary Military Jargon
CV writing for Veterans. Military abbreviations and terminology may be obvious to another service member but unfamiliar to a civilian employer.
Before submitting your CV, look for:
- Military abbreviations
- Service-specific terminology
- Unexplained ranks
- Internal terminology
- Technical terms that need explanation
Replace them with straightforward language wherever possible.
If a technical term is important, explain it rather than simply removing it.
6. Match Your CV to the Job Description
You do not necessarily need to send exactly the same CV to every employer.
Read the job description carefully and identify the skills the employer is looking for.
For example, if the vacancy asks for:
Leadership + Communication + Teamwork + Organisation
make sure your CV clearly demonstrates those skills.
If the vacancy requires:
Customer Service + Conflict Management + Problem-Solving
highlight relevant experience in those areas.
This makes your CV more relevant to the particular vacancy.
7. Include Your Civilian Qualifications
If you have completed civilian qualifications, make them easy to find.
Your CV can include:
Education & Qualifications
- Qualification name
- Training provider
- Date completed
- Relevant grade or level where appropriate
Veterans may also benefit from additional training when moving into a new civilian career.
SMARTT Veterans currently lists training opportunities covering areas including close protection, spectator safety, first aid, mental health awareness, health and safety, fire safety, risk assessment, manual handling, food safety and customer service. Course availability can change, so current details should be checked directly with SMARTT Veterans.
8. Include Military Training That Is Relevant
Not every training course needs to appear on your CV.
Focus on training that is relevant to the job you are applying for.
For example, depending on the role, you may want to highlight:
- Leadership training
- First aid
- Security training
- Health and safety
- Instructor experience
- Driving qualifications
- Technical training
- Communication training
- Management training
- Specialist vocational training
The goal is to show the employer how your previous training can contribute to the role.
9. CV writing for Veterans. Explain Your Leadership Experience
Leadership is one of the skills many veterans can transfer into civilian employment.
However, simply writing “good leadership skills” is not enough.
Show evidence.
CV writing for veterans | Instead of:
Excellent leadership skills.
CV writing for Veterans
Try:
Experienced in leading teams, allocating responsibilities, coordinating activities and supporting personnel to achieve operational objectives.
This gives the employer an example of what your leadership actually involved.
10. Explain Your Experience Working Under Pressure
Many military roles require individuals to remain organised and make decisions in demanding circumstances.
This can be relevant to civilian roles such as:
- Security
- Management
- Logistics
- Construction
- Transport
- Emergency services
- Customer service
- Operations
- Administration
- Training
CV writing for Veterans – Rather than simply saying:
I work well under pressure.
Explain how you demonstrated it.
Example:
Experienced in managing competing priorities, maintaining attention to detail and making informed decisions while working within demanding operational environments. CV writing for Veterans
11. Include Teamwork and Collaboration
Military service often involves working as part of a team.
Civilian employers also value people who can collaborate effectively.
Your CV could demonstrate experience in:
- Working with different departments
- Supporting colleagues
- Coordinating teams
- Sharing information
- Resolving problems
- Meeting shared objectives
CV writing for Veterans. Example:
CV writing for Veterans. Worked effectively within multidisciplinary teams, communicating clearly with colleagues and coordinating tasks to achieve shared objectives.
12. Don’t Forget Volunteering
Volunteering can strengthen your CV, particularly if you are changing careers or looking to build recent civilian experience.
Volunteer activities can demonstrate:
- Reliability
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Community involvement
- Leadership
- Organisation
- Commitment
SMARTT Veterans provides volunteering opportunities involving event and community support, peer support and mentoring, and skills-based volunteering such as coaching, IT and training delivery.
13. Keep Your CV Clear and Easy to Read
A professional CV should be easy to scan.
Use:
- Clear headings
- Short paragraphs
- Bullet points
- Consistent formatting
- Professional language
- Relevant information
Avoid filling every section with long paragraphs.
CV writing for Veterans. A recruiter may only spend a short amount of time reviewing a CV, so the most important information should be easy to find.
14. CV writing for Veterans | Recommended CV Structure for Veterans
A simple structure could be:
1. Name & Contact Details
Include:
- Full name
- Phone number
- Professional email
- Location
2. Personal Profile
A short summary of your professional background and career objective.
3. Key Skills
List 6–10 relevant skills.
4. Employment History
Start with your most recent experience.
5. Military Experience
Explain your responsibilities and transferable skills in civilian-friendly language.
6. Education & Qualifications
Include relevant qualifications and training.
7. Volunteering
Include relevant voluntary work.
8. Additional Information
Add relevant certifications, licences or other information.
9. References
You can state that references are available when requested if appropriate.
CV writing for Veterans. Example: Turning Military Experience Into Civilian CV Language
Here are some examples that may help.
| Military Experience | Civilian CV Language |
| Led military personnel | Led and coordinated a team |
| Conducted operational planning | Planned and coordinated activities |
| Responsible for equipment | Managed and maintained organisational resources |
| Trained new personnel | Delivered training and supported staff development |
| Worked within a chain of command | Worked effectively within structured organisational environments |
| Conducted risk assessments | Identified risks and implemented appropriate control measures |
| Managed operational tasks | Coordinated multiple tasks and priorities |
| Worked in challenging conditions | Maintained performance in demanding environments |
The exact wording should always reflect what you actually did.
15. CV writing for Veterans | Use Numbers Where They Add Value
Numbers can help employers understand the scale of your experience.
For example:
Managed a team of 12 personnel.
is more informative than:
Managed a team.
Similarly:
Delivered training to more than 50 personnel.
can communicate the scale of your experience more clearly than:
Delivered training.
Only use figures that are accurate.
16.
CV writing for Veterans. Proofread Your CV Before Applying
Before sending your CV, check:
- Spelling
- Grammar
- Dates
- Job titles
- Contact details
- Qualifications
- Formatting
- Phone number
- Email address
Also check that your CV does not contain military abbreviations that a civilian employer may not understand.
Ask someone you trust to read it before you submit an important application.
CV writing for Veterans | How SMARTT Veterans Can Support Your Next Career Step
Finding civilian employment can involve more than writing a CV.
Some veterans may need:
- Career guidance
- Additional qualifications
- Training
- Confidence-building
- Community connection
- Employment support
- Information and signposting
SMARTT Veterans identifies employment support and education and training as key areas of its work. The organisation’s current information highlights support around transferable skills, qualification gaps and the transition into civilian employment. CV writing for Veterans
Its wider support also includes mental health, housing, food poverty and community activities, recognising that employment can sometimes be connected to wider circumstances.
CV writing for Veterans – Final CV Checklist for Veterans
Before submitting your CV, ask yourself:
☑ Is my contact information correct?
☑ Is my personal profile clear?
☑ Have I explained my military experience in civilian language?
☑ Have I highlighted transferable skills?
☑ Have I included relevant qualifications?
☑ Have I removed unnecessary military jargon?
☑ Have I matched my CV to the job description?
☑ Have I included relevant achievements?
☑ Have I checked spelling and grammar?
☑ Is the document easy to read?
☑ Have I included relevant volunteering experience?
☑ Have I asked someone else to review it?
CV writing for Veterans – Start Building Your Civilian Career
Military service can provide valuable experience that can be transferred into many different civilian careers.
The key is to communicate that experience clearly.
A strong CV should help employers understand not only where you have worked, but also what you can do, what you have achieved and how your skills can contribute to their organisation.
If you are a veteran in County Durham and need help exploring employment, training or wider veteran support, SMARTT Veterans CIC provides a local starting point for information, advice, support and community opportunities. CV writing for Veterans
Contact SMARTT Veterans CIC
Address:
Belle View Stadium
Consett AFC
County Durham
DH8 7BF
Phone: 01207 588886
Mobile: 07592 628674
Email: info@smarttveterans.org
