Build a Civilian-Ready Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide for Military-Connected Students

Transitioning from military service or navigating a new career path as a veteran, spouse, or military-connected student? Your resume is one of your most powerful tools. At the Diller Center for Veterans at GGU, we’re here to help you translate your unique experience into a resume that gets noticed.

Start with a Primary Resume

Before you tailor a resume for any job, build a Primary Resume. This comprehensive version includes everything—every duty station, job, project, award, and volunteer role. Length doesn’t matter here—it’s for your eyes only. When it’s time to apply, you’ll pull relevant pieces from this document to match each opportunity.

What to Include on Your Resume

  • Keep it clean and professional. Include:

    • Your full name (slightly larger font)

    • Email address and phone number

    • City and state (no full mailing address)

    • LinkedIn profile link (only if complete!)

  • Place this at the top or bottom, depending on what you want to emphasize.

    • School name (Golden Gate University, for example)

    • Full program name

    • Graduation month and year

  • Craft 2–4 tailored sentences that reflect:

    • Who you are

    • What you’re good at

    • What value you bring

    Pro tip: Use keywords from the job description.

    Example:
    Detail-oriented accounting professional with 5+ years of experience in financial reporting and budget management. Skilled in streamlining processes and ensuring compliance with GAAP. Seeking to contribute strong analytical and problem-solving skills to a dynamic finance team.

  • Use custom section headings like “Leadership Experience,” “Project Management Experience,” or “Military Operations.” Group your content based on relevance, not just job title.

    For each experience block, include:

    • Organization name

    • Location and dates

    • Position title

    • 2–5 bullet points (accomplishment-focused!)

  • Each bullet point should use this format:

    Action Verb + What You Did + Why It Mattered

    Example:
    Streamlined monthly reconciliation processes for over 20 client accounts to reduce reporting time by 30% and improve financial accuracy.

    Quantify your results whenever possible. Think: percentages, timelines, money saved, or people impacted.

    Need some Action Word examples? Click here to download our word bank.

  • Use this space for hard skills only—like:

    • Software

    • Certifications

    • Languages

    • Tools and systems

    Avoid “team player” or “good communicator”—show those traits in your bullet points instead.

  • Highlight group projects, capstone experiences, or research from your program—especially if you're light on paid experience. Treat these like jobs:

    • Name the project or course

    • Role: Student

    • Bullet points describing tools, skills, or real-world outcomes

  • No two roles are the same—neither should your resume be. For every new job:

    • Use keywords from the job posting

    • Reorder bullets to prioritize relevant skills

    • Emphasize impact, not just duties

  • Keep it sleek, readable, and Applicant Tracking System (ATS)-friendly:

    • Create your resume in Word, but save it as a PDF with your first and last name

    • Use simple fonts like Calibri or Arial, 10–11 pt

    • Margins: 0.5" or "Narrow"

    • 1–2 pages max; make page one count

Want to see an example resume?

Show Example

Ready to Get Feedback?

Upload your draft for a personalized resume review or book a Zoom session with a Diller Center Career Coach.


Let’s make your experience shine on paper—and open doors.