Although networking is key to finding opportunities and getting your foot in the door with employers, you still need a solid résumé to be taken seriously as a candidate. Submitting a generic résumé just won’t cut it. 

MOAA recommends tailoring your résumé to your target industry or sector, then focusing even further to match each vacancy announcement. Where do you get this information? Through networking with talent acquisition professionals, hiring managers, and veterans already in civilian careers at your desired companies, and by carefully reviewing the vacancy announcements for the professional requirements, knowledge, skills and abilities, and keywords.

[RELATED: More Resume Guidance From MOAA] 

To save time and effort, MOAA recommends creating a master résumé that can be 10, 15, even 20 pages long. When you apply for a specific position, edit the master document down to the standard two-page résumé most private sector companies and organizations prefer.

Building the Big Picture 

Before you put pen to paper, think about the transferable skills employers want. Give examples of how you have used such skills in previous roles, and how that experience provides added value for you to bring to a role with a prospective employer. A few examples:

• Leadership skills
• Teamwork skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Adaptability/flexibility skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Organizational skills
• Analytical skills

To craft a strong résumé, you’ll need to identify how employing these skills created real results for your previous organization, or your customers, or your unit, or your budget goals, etc. This isn’t an all-inclusive list, but as you consider your professional experience, how have you … 

• Saved time?
• Increased productivity?
• Enhanced efficiency?
• Identified problems others did not see?
• Solved specific problems?
• Built relationships?
• Accomplished more with scarce resources?
• Prepared original papers and reports?

Finding answers to these questions (and others) will provide a wealth of professional highlights to pull from as you begin the next part of the process – turning a master résumé into a streamlined tool that will land your next job.

[RELATED: Do You Still Need a Cover Letter?]

Making the Cuts 

Be clear and concise when trimming down your master résumé – think of it as selecting your trees to stand out in a forest of information.

First, use your summary paragraph to whet the employer’s appetite by focusing on exactly what they need for their specific position. Think of this as your opening argument as to why they should select you over other potentially equally qualified candidates for an interview opportunity.

Next, hit them hard in your professional experience section by articulating how you would perform in that position based upon your previous results, outcomes, and accomplishments. Make the connection: Show them how your past successes will translate to your new role and responsibilities.

Bringing it Together

Effective résumé writing can be a long and tedious process. But the more you focus now on a strong master résumé, the more time you free up for networking, interviewing prep, and the part of the job search process when you begin applying for positions with a targeted résumé product.  

Need more help? Find all of MOAA's online résumé resources at this link, and bookmark our events page for upcoming in-person and virtual offerings designed to support all aspects of your job search.