8 Ways to Get Your MilSpouse Resume Noticed

By Grace Carter
Guest Blogger

Writing a well-written resume that will get the right attention is hard enough, but it can be even more uncomfortable for a Military Spouse. When many Military Spouses are ready to go back to work, their resumes aren’t always ready due to years of deployments and solo-parenting.

A resume is a representation of not just your previous work experience but also your skills and knowledge. Unless you are applying for a job where you have experience within the industry, format the resume to play to your strengths. Here are tips on how to do this and get your resume noticed.

1. Quantify

Make sure you include metrics for what you did. Maybe you have experience managing a certain number of people, maybe you have secured grants or increased profits by a certain margin. Whatever your figures are, adding them to your resume will make your resume stand out from that huge pile in HR. If you have a short amount of work experience, show the importance of the high-quality skills and talent you provided, rather than the small quantity of time you spent doing it.

2. Volunteer

Maybe you haven’t have a job for a long time, but volunteering can sometimes be as or more impressive. Relevant roles don’t always rely on a salary. There is a multitude of skills and experience you can pick up from volunteering. In fact, the time you spend and work you do as a volunteer can look much better than unemployment gaps. So focus on what you’ve learned from these volunteering roles, such as leadership techniques, communication skills, IT skills, or knowledge of another language.

3. Keep a Relevant LinkedIn Profile

Keep a running list of past and present clients, whether it’s freelance, full-time or volunteer work. You can also include recommendations from previous employers and colleagues. All of these items need to be properly inserted into a resume, but it can helpful to have a space where you can keep a list and pull from it when you need to.

4. Stay Up to Date on Your Area of Expertise

Even if you can’t work in your field at the moment, there are still ways to participate in your chosen industry. Perhaps you could start your own blog or write online articles about a subject you are knowledgeable. Try volunteering or joining a professional group. “Make sure you show your future employers that you are still staying relevant even if you don’t have the opportunity to work. It will also show employers you’re not scared to work hard and to have initiative,” says Lucy West, a resume editor at Academized.

5. Write a Good Cover Letter

Unless the job application specified not to submit a cover letter, it’s considered vital when applying for a job. A high-quality resume can often be ignored if it doesn’t come with a matching high-quality cover letter that allows you to introduce yourself, highlight your relevant skills and show why an employer should consider hiring you.

6. Make the Most Out of Your Experience

It’s so easy to get hung up on all the skills and experience we don’t have. If you have holes in your employment or have worked random jobs for a short period, don’t let that stop you from moving forward. You can highlight the relevant job experience you do have by putting the most relevant information first. Your resume doesn’t have to be chronological.

7. Use Resume Guidance Tools

Make sure you’re writing the best resume and cover letter possible. This may be easier said than done, so don’t be afraid to get some help from sources such as:

State of Writing and My Writing Way: Great grammar guides to get that perfect resume.
The Huffington Post cites tools that can proofread your resume for you, giving you the most professional document in its Write My Paper
Cite It In: Will add any references to your resume or cover letter.
Simple Grad and Lets Go and Learn: These tools provide tips with writing blogs, perfecting your resume and career advice.

8. Research Pro-Military Organizations

A quick Google search will allow you to see an extensive list of businesses that value the expertise a Military Spouse can bring to the role. Companies such as Goodwill, Amazon, and U.S. Bank are among the companies that have made a pledge to hire Military Spouses.

Although each installation works in a different way, many Military bases offer career advice, job listings and resume help. Their supportive and free advice can be vital for helping Military Spouses get back into work.

Finding a job is daunting at the best times but this can be enhanced for a Military Spouse. With the right assistance, endurance, and preparation, you will be sure to find the perfect role for you. Don’t let Military Life’s hindrances get in the way of your career.