If you’ve served in the military, you’ve likely developed a range of valuable skills. The problem is that not all of them are transferable to civilian jobs. That’s why, when writing your CV, it’s important to focus on the abilities employers look for, like leadership, teamwork, adaptability, and clear communication.
To help you out, our team has compiled this handy guide to the top military skills that you can put on your CV. By following these tips, we have no doubt that you’ll see great success in finding a job after military service and adapting to a civilian work environment!
You can also use our AI CV builder, which can help you identify and add the skills that are most relevant to the jobs you’re targeting.
Transferable skills from military to civilian life
An ex-military CV can highlight your ability to learn quickly, work effectively in team-based environments, and communicate clearly — all of which are skills highly valued by civilian employers.
However, it’s important not to list every skill you gained in the army from your time at boot camp to your discharge or retirement.
Instead, it’s crucial to focus on transferable skills. These are the skills you gained during your service time that are valued by companies outside the armed forces, such as leadership and teamwork. With that in mind, let’s take an in-depth look at the top army skills to put on a CV.
Certifications and specialist achievements
Throughout your military career, you likely earned a range of specialist qualifications that remain valuable outside of the armed forces.
These certifications demonstrate your commitment to professional standards and your ability to perform complex tasks under pressure, both of which are qualities that employers look for in civilian roles.
List certifications and specialist training under a dedicated ‘Qualifications’ or ‘Certifications’ section, or weave them into your job descriptions to show how they enhanced your role.
Examples to include:
- First Aid Training: Having first aid, CRP, or emergency certifications can show that you are a responsible person who cares about the well-being of those around you.
- Languages: If you have learned a new language during your time in the military, you should definitely mention it, no matter how niche it may be.
Technological and mechanical knowledge
If you’re not sure how best to transfer your military skills to civilian roles, focus on how your technical expertise improved efficiency, ensured safety, or supported mission-critical outcomes during your service.
These are results-driven points that hiring managers in any industry will understand and appreciate.
In the military, technological knowledge can come from a variety of sources, including:
- Training on the equipment provided by your service branch
- Using and maintaining specialised military hardware like aircrafts or vehicles
- Learning how to operate weapon systems like missiles or artillery guns
- Knowing how to operate equipment like radar and sonar
- Technical writing, software knowledge, and familiarity with programming tools
Top military soft skills for your CV
Soft skills like leadership, discipline, and problem-solving are highly sought after in the civilian job market and can help set you apart from other candidates.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 68% of HR professionals believe veterans outperform civilian employees in work ethic, 61% in teamwork, and 58% in leadership. These qualities are critical in civilian environments and will make you an asset to any organisation.
Below, you can find some of the top soft skills that you’ll have developed throughout your military service and how to position them effectively when tailoring your military to civilian CV.
Discipline and work ethic
A strong sense of discipline and a committed work ethic are hallmarks of military service. Employers in any sector value individuals who consistently meet deadlines, stay organised under pressure, and maintain a high standard in their work.
Discuss how you maintained strict operational schedules while managing multiple high-priority tasks in fast-paced environments.
Example
Managed a supply chain operation supporting 1,200+ personnel during overseas deployment, achieving 98% on-time delivery rate under high-pressure conditions.
Strategic planning
Military roles often involve long-term operational planning and the ability to anticipate potential challenges before they arise. This skill is highly transferable to fields like project management, logistics, and operations.
Explain how you developed strategic training plans, coordinated complex operations, or implemented contingency procedures.
Example
Created strategic training schedules for 50+ personnel, ensuring readiness for high-pressure scenarios while improving overall operational efficiency.
Leadership and team management
Leadership is a central component of military life, whether managing small teams or coordinating large groups during high-pressure operations.
Civilian employers value candidates who can inspire, motivate, and manage others effectively. Mention instances where you led teams, delegated responsibilities, or managed performance.
Example
Oversaw the training, development, and welfare of 30+ team members, ensuring consistent performance, discipline, and readiness for critical missions.
Problem-solving
Problem-solving is one of the most important skills you can carry into civilian roles. The ability to assess a situation, weigh up your options, and act decisively is essential in almost any industry.
Describe instances where you handled unpredictable, high-pressure situations with decisive, fast-thinking solutions that ensured operational success or prevented potential problems.
Example
Led a 12-person unit during a sudden communications blackout in a live training exercise simulating hostile engagement.
Ex-military CV: How to list army skills and experience
As you can see from the CV examples above, there are many types of army skills you can put on a CV that are applicable to a variety of sectors and industries in the civilian world.
When it comes to where and how to list your military service experience in your CV, you have a few different options depending on the CV format you choose:
- In the skills section of a chronological CV
- In the main section of a skills-based CV
Whichever format you choose, don’t forget to translate any military-specific terminology into civilian-friendly language. For example, instead of saying “Platoon Commander”, say “Team Leader overseeing 30+ staff in high-pressure environments.”
This will make your experience far more accessible and relevant to employers who are unfamiliar with military ranks, structures, and responsibilities.
You should also always tailor your CV to the job you’re applying for. For leadership roles, highlight people management, decision-making, and operational oversight. For technical roles, focus on equipment handling, project coordination, and problem-solving.
If you need help identifying where to place these skills or how to phrase them, our CV builder offers a range of military-to-civilian templates that you can use and will guide you through each section with tailored phrasing and layout suggestions based on the job you’re applying for.
Skills-based military to civilian CV
A skills-based CV is structured to emphasise your abilities and competencies rather than a chronological list of job roles.
This format can be particularly beneficial for ex-military personnel, especially when transitioning to civilian careers where your job titles might not directly align with commercial sector roles.
In this type of CV, your skills take centre stage. You’d typically start with a ‘Key Skills’ section that groups your most valuable skills under relevant headings, such as Leadership & team management, Crisis decision-making, or Operational planning.
And beneath each heading, you’d provide brief examples of how you demonstrated these skills during your time in the military.
For example:
- Logistics coordination: Managed the safe transportation and distribution of critical supplies across challenging terrains while consistently meeting tight deadlines.
- Leadership & team management: Led a team of 25 personnel on overseas operations while maintaining high morale and operational efficiency in high-pressure situations.
This format works well for ex-military personnel looking to move into sectors like emergency services, security, project management, and operations, where soft skills like decision-making, leadership, and adaptability are highly valued.
If you’re unsure how to go about structuring a skills-based military to civilian CV, you can use our CV builder, which offers a variety of templates designed specifically for this format.
It can also suggest content ideas based on your military background and the type of civilian role you’re applying for as well as convert your service experience into language that resonates with employers.
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