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For Transitioning Veterans

Career Resources

Everything you need to navigate the military-to-civilian transition. Guides, tools, and honest advice from a team that has been through it.

Military Resume TipsSalary NegotiationClearance JobsInterview PrepMOS TranslationCareer PlanningMilitary Resume TipsSalary NegotiationClearance JobsInterview PrepMOS TranslationCareer Planning

Getting Started

The Transition Playbook

Transitioning from military to civilian is a process, not an event. Here's a structured approach to the key decisions you'll need to make.

Phase 1

Define Your Target

Before updating your resume, clarify what you actually want — not just what you're qualified for.

→What industry excites you?
→What size company fits your culture?
→Geographic preferences and constraints
→Minimum acceptable compensation

Phase 2

Translate Your Experience

Military titles and acronyms are invisible to civilian employers. Your experience needs translation, not just listing.

→Convert MOS/AFSC to civilian job titles
→Quantify your impact with dollar values and team sizes
→Remove acronyms and military jargon
→Lead with accomplishments, not duties

Phase 3

Build Your Network

Most civilian jobs are filled through connections before they're ever posted. Start building relationships now.

→LinkedIn — update your profile immediately
→Reach out to veterans already in your target industry
→Attend veteran-focused hiring events
→Contact LockLeed — we have direct employer relationships

Phase 4

Interview Preparation

Civilian interviews are different from military performance reviews. Structure your answers differently.

→Practice STAR format for behavioral questions
→Research companies before every interview
→Prepare your "why are you leaving the military" answer
→Know your numbers — salary expectations

Phase 5

Evaluate Offers

The base salary is just the starting point. Evaluate total compensation and culture fit.

→Total compensation: salary + bonus + equity + benefits
→Career trajectory: where does this role lead?
→Culture fit: does the mission matter to you?
→Negotiate — it's expected and respected

Phase 6

Set Up for Success

The first 90 days in a civilian role are critical. Be intentional about your integration.

→Learn the unwritten rules quickly
→Build relationships before you need them
→Communicate your military background proactively
→Find a mentor inside the organization

Resume Guidance

Writing a Military-to-Civilian Resume

Your military resume is invisible to civilian employers. Here's how to translate it into something that gets you interviews.

❌ WHAT NOT TO DO

"Served as S4 NCOIC responsible for property accountability of $14M in equipment" — no civilian will understand S4, NCOIC, or why $14M matters

"Completed numerous training courses and certifications including PLDC, BNCOC, and ALC" — meaningless to civilian HR

"Responsible for the welfare and training of 22 Soldiers" — "Soldiers" signals military; the word choice matters

"Successfully completed two combat deployments to OIF/OEF" — deployment history isn't a job skill unless you translate it

Listing your military rank prominently without context — rank alone means nothing to a civilian hiring manager

✓ WHAT TO DO INSTEAD

"Led inventory control and logistics operations for $14M in capital equipment across 3 facilities — zero losses in 4-year period" — translated and quantified

"Completed progressive leadership training equivalent to a Supervision and Management Certificate program" — translated

"Managed the professional development, performance reviews, and day-to-day operations of a 22-person team" — civilian language

"Led a 12-person team deployed to high-risk international operations — managed safety, logistics, and mission execution under pressure for 18 months"

Use your rank to contextualize scope: "As a mid-level manager (equivalent to Staff Sergeant/Lieutenant) responsible for..."

MOS Translation Guide

Your MOS Maps to These Civilian Roles

Every military job translates to civilian careers. Here are the most common military occupational specialties and the civilian roles they map to most directly.

11B / 0311

Infantry / Rifleman

Operations Supervisor, Plant Security, Law Enforcement, Field Operations Manager

25U / 25B

Signal Support / IT Specialist

Network Administrator, IT Support, Systems Administrator, Telecommunications

35F / 0231

Intelligence Analyst

Data Analyst, Research Analyst, Security Analyst, Business Intelligence

68W / HM

Combat Medic / Corpsman

Healthcare Administrator, EMT, Pharmaceutical Sales, Medical Device

88M / 3531

Motor Transport Operator

Logistics Coordinator, Fleet Manager, Supply Chain, Transportation Operations

92A / 3043

Automated Logistical Specialist

Inventory Manager, Supply Chain Analyst, Warehouse Operations, Procurement

25A / 0602

Signal Officer

IT Manager, Network Engineer, Telecommunications Director, CTO

79S / Career Counselor

Career Counselor / Retention NCO

HR Manager, Talent Acquisition, Recruiter, Training & Development

51C / 1102

Contracting NCO

Contract Specialist, Procurement Manager, Acquisitions, Vendor Management

91 Series / 2100

Maintenance / Ordnance

Maintenance Manager, Facilities Engineer, Equipment Technician, MRO Supervisor

This is a partial list. Every MOS has civilian equivalents — contact LockLeed and we'll translate your specific background for you.

External Resources

Helpful Links & Tools

Trusted external resources for transitioning veterans. We don't endorse any specific organization but have found these consistently valuable.

Benefits & Transition

VA eBenefits & VA.gov

Official source for all VA benefits, healthcare, education (GI Bill), and disability claims. Start here before anything else.

Career Transition

DoD Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

Mandatory pre-separation program. The most useful parts: career exploration, resume workshops, and industry days.

Job Search

USAJobs.gov

Official federal government job listings. Veterans' preference applies here — use it. Sort by "open to the public" and filter for Veterans' preference.

Networking

LinkedIn — Military Veteran Groups

Search "military veterans" in LinkedIn Groups. Active communities for every branch and specialty. Where most civilian networking starts.

Salary Research

Glassdoor / Levels.fyi / Payscale

Research civilian compensation before you negotiate. Know the market range for your target role before any offer conversation.

Education

MyCAA / GI Bill / SkillBridge

MyCAA for military spouses. GI Bill for degrees. SkillBridge for internships during your last 180 days of service — highly underused.

Get Started

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