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I'm having trouble aligning my skills with my resume

Veteran

Melisa longaker Del Rio , TX

It seems like every job you have to change your resume to match the job. Sometimes this can be hard because my job was a technical job.

6 June 2020 4 replies Resumes & Cover Letters

Answers

Advisor

Sherica Heardvelez, M.A., CFCC, CFJST Lawton , OK

Hi Melissa. Yes, that’s true about tailoring your résumé for each job. If you are thinking about working for the Federal Government—I can help you with revising and tailoring your résumé. Connect with me on here or on LinkedIn.
All the best,

Sherica
http://linkedin.com/in/shericaheardvelez

Advisor

Scott Vedder Orlando , FL

You should "tailor" your résumé to each job application or for each networking opportunity, but you don't have to write a completely new one. Tailoring your résumé is a bit like tailoring your clothes. You don't wake up every morning and manufacture new clothes to wear, right? Periodically you tailor them so they fit just right.

When it comes to adapting a technical job to a civilian career (or to many different civilian career opportunities) think about the parts of your experience and skills you've developed that transcend individual jobs. For instance, as a technical sergeant, I'm assuming you've led teams of people for quite some time. Consider perhaps "bucketing" together your relevant examples of leadership rather than trying to explain in great detail the technical thing you were leading at the time.

Skills like leadership, training, problem solving, translating technical information to non-technical leaders, and more are all part of the value you might be bringing to your next opportunity. Focus on examples that showcase those skills and traits. You'll probably never use the exact same tech you used in the Air Force, but you'll sure use these skills regularly as a civilian.

Advisor

Jerry Welsh Middleville , MI

Melisa,
You are right on the resume part, the resume needs to match the job opening. I would hope you reach out to Kevin Bartlett, PhD, at Southwestern Western Virginia College. Kevin was in my TAP class at Wright Patterson. Even though he held a full professor position at Wright Pat, the university world was not very inviting! I am sure he could give you some pointers. Be sure you narrow your career. If you want a position in Emergency Management, focus on that! Do not mislead them with your multitude of careers. Thanks for your service, God Bless. Hope these articles help, I was a TAP instructor for 5 years and spent a lot of time at AFB bases. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/come-prepared-transition-process-gap-between-civilian-jerry-welsh/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-more-right-jerry-welsh/

Veteran

Steve Adolt Lancaster , PA

Hi Melissa.

It may seem that way. And there are some tactics and strategies you can use to make this process less difficult and even more successful. And after well over 25 years of helping vets do this, I feel I can help.

Rather than provide a litany of possible things that would work, let's get on a call and we can get you pointed in the right direction pretty quickly.

Here's the link to my calendar.

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18166954

Feel free to schedule me at your convenience.

Looking forward to talking with you!

Sincerely,

Steve

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