A good CV for veterans needs to be a unique and well-written document that is specific to the job you’re targeting, as well as showing your best qualifications, skills, and accomplishments. Take a look at our CV sample for veterans before you begin to write your own CV and it will give you an idea of what to write and the formatting to use.

This CV sample for veterans is just the type of CV that will get you noticed when it lands on the recruiting manager’s desk. Base your CV on this sample and you’re more likely to be invited to attend interviews, which could lead to securing the job you want. You can also review other CV examples and check out pre-made CV templates for some guidance on how to format your application.

To equip you with all the tools needed to succeed, keep reading as we run through:

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    Sample armed forces veteran CV

    veteran CV example

    Albert Hamilton

    21 Guild Street

    London EC2A 7TA

    07912345678

    Albert.Hamilton@example-example.co.uk

    Professional summary

    Alert team member with track record of executing orders under pressure. Uses critical thinking and communication skills to support intelligent decision-making. Physically fit with sharp reactions, working well in time-critical situations.

    Work history

    June 2016 – June 2020

    The Corps of the Royal Marines – Brighton

    Infantry Squad Leader

    • Directly responsible for training, instructing, and supervising the members of my corps.
    • Key role in planning, coordinating, and executing combat operations, both in training scenarios and out in the field.
    • Instructor in martial arts, involved in training other members of the corps in self-defence.

    October 2013 – May 2016

    The Corps of the Royal Marines – Brighton

    Team Leader

    • Lead a team on land and at sea, in combat, and during peacetime.
    • Responsible for the training, development, and general welfare of those in my team.
    • Decision-making on training and deployment of the team.

    Skills

    • Discipline
    • Physical stamina
    • Emotional resilience
    • Risk assessment and risk management
    • Technology assessment and providing solutions
    • Briefing leadership
    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

    Education

    2010

    Ashford Grammar School

    A-Levels English (B), Maths (B), and Physics (B)

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    Armed forces veteran CV template

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    Choosing the right format for your armed forces veteran CV

    A tidy layout is the key to a winning application, which is why CV formats are essential. These blueprints spotlight your most valuable skills and accomplishments in an easy-to-digest manner, removing the fluff and visual noise. Plus, busy hiring managers and CV-reading software love neatness. It’s much easier to scan through clear headings, defined sections, and professional fonts!

    There are two primary formats to choose from – the reverse-chronological CV and the skills-based CV. The former highlights your work history, starting from your current or most recent role. Alongside full-time employment, you can talk about part-time, temporary, voluntary, or apprenticeship positions. In contrast, the latter focuses on transferable skills like “organisation” and “computer literacy”.

    Which is best for armed forces veterans? Skills-based CVs are only appropriate for candidates who have minimal work experience. As veterans are usually well-versed in the field, they’d benefit from a reverse-chronological CV that dives into their career achievements and responsibilities.

    Above all else, focus on readability. We recommend using a polished font, like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. Generally, it’s a good idea to avoid colours and images because they only confuse CV-scanning software. Lastly, send your armed forces veteran CV as a Word or PDF file unless asked otherwise.

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    How to write a CV for an armed forces veteran

    If you’re at a dead end with your CV, you’re in the right place. Firstly, try not to overthink it – recruiters prefer simple language that gets your skills and experience across concisely. After all, it makes their life easier.

    The below sections will explain how to write a CV that’ll win over the hardest-to-please hiring managers. As well as answering the most common CV writing questions, we’ll cover:

    How to add education to your psychology research assistant CV

    Psychology research assistants require a good standard of education which includes a degree in a related subject. In addition, some employers may require higher qualifications depending on the job role. To highlight your current capabilities, listing your educational history in reverse-chronological order is a simple process.

    Things to include in this section are:

    • School, college, university or training provider
    • Year of qualification
    • Level of qualification, BA (Hons), MA, PhD
    • Subject or course title – you don’t need this for high school courses

    Example education section for a psychology research assistant

    London University | 2008-2009
    MSc Psychological Research Methods

    University of Birmingham | 2004-2008
    BSc (Hons) Psychology

    Bellerbys College, Any College | 1999-2004
    A levels: Biology (A) English (B) Maths (B) Psychology (A)

    How to add contact details to your armed forces veteran CV

    Before tackling the lengthier sections, note your most up-to-date contact details at the top of your CV, preferably in a slightly bolder font. While it might sound obvious, you’d be surprised how many people forget! On top of this, keep your email address work-appropriate – this minute detail is crucial to making a good first impression.

    When outlining your contact details, include:

    • Full name
    • Location
    • Phone number
    • Email address

    Example of contact section for an armed forces veteran CV

    14 The Street,
    Ashford,
    Kent, TN21 4TQ,
    07779 675 461,
    tomanderson12@hotmail.com

    Start your armed forces veteran CV with a personal statement

    Your personal statement is the first thing an employer will read when opening your CV. As such, it must stand out from the crowd. You have three to four short sentences to convincingly describe why you’re the best person for the job, so every word counts.

    Luckily, we can break it down with a simple formula. Sentence one should introduce who you are, including years of experience and career focus. Sentence two dazzles the reader with an irresistible fact or figure. Finally, seal the deal with sentences three to four by reiterating your skills and areas of expertise. Even the grouchiest hiring manager couldn’t resist!

    What do we mean by a fact or figure? The best applicants use tangible results to reassure the employer they can walk the walk. For instance, you might have “trained over 250 reservists with a 98% pass rate” or “organised the logistics of over 2500 military vehicles”.

    Other top tips include:

    • Write in the third person to sound more professional
    • Use positive adjectives like “inspiring”, “passionate”, and “dedicated”
    • Keep information tailored to the job advertisement
    • Stick to the word count and cut out the waffle
    • Double-check for spelling mistakes

    Example of personal statement for an armed forces veteran CV

    An experienced military professional with proven success in responsible and challenging roles. Now seeking a starting position to gain work-related experience outside of the military, with aspirations to progress to a higher level. Has many transferable skills, with a proven track record of exceptional achievement.

    OR

    A talented armed forces professional searching for another military-based role. Able to make effective critical decisions and manage a team in challenging circumstances. Adept at developing and implementing a plan of action. An energetic and committed individual. Now a veteran, having retired after five years of military service.

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    Adding experience section to your armed forces veteran CV

    We advise spending some extra time outlining your strengths, accomplishments, and responsibilities in the employment history section. It’s a treasure chest of information for employers, helping them to better understand your character and work ethic. Additionally, it reveals how long you typically stay in a role – a key consideration for most organisations.

    When discussing your professional background, list:

    • Job title
    • Employment start and end dates
    • Company name
    • Company location
    • List of duties
    • Notable achievements

    Like the personal statement, qualify several responsibilities with a showstopping statistic. For example, you might have “negotiated military equipment contracts” that “saved the department £750,000”. The more factual you can be, the more impressive you’ll sound!

    Additionally, think carefully about the words you use. Swap boring adjectives like “skilled” for unique alternatives, such as “inventive”, “knowledgeable”, and “resourceful”. Plus, lead with rousing action verbs instead of “responsible for” – some of our favourites include “maximised”, “orchestrated”, and “engineered”.

    As a rule, list between three to six responsibilities for each position, providing more detail for relevant roles. Try to cover as many different duties as possible to show the hiring manager the scope of your abilities. If you mention “training new recruits” underneath one job, talk about “field experience” in another.

    Example of work experience for an armed forces veteran CV

    June 2016 – June 2020 | Infantry Squad Leader | The Corps of the Royal Marines, Brighton

    • Directly responsible for training, instructing, and supervising the members of my corps.
    • Key role in planning, coordinating, and executing combat operations, both in training scenarios and out in the field.
    • Instructor in martial arts, involved in training other members of the corps in self-defence.

    October 2013- May 2016 | Team Leader | The Corps of the Royal Marines, Brighton

    • Lead a team on land and at sea, in combat, and during peacetime.
    • Responsible for the training, development, and general welfare of those in my team.
    • Decision-making on training and deployment of the team.

    Skills worth having on your armed forces veteran CV

    If you want to stand out in a sea of impressive applicants, you must round up your most valuable CV skills. These top trump cards reassure employers that you can handle the role’s challenges and hit the ground running. We suggest including up to 12 in total, split evenly between hard and soft skills.

    What are hard and soft skills? Hard skills are technical and picked up on the job or via formal education – think “weapon handling”, “tank driving”, and “fleet management”. Soft skills are transferable and personality based. For example, you might be “disciplined”, “highly organised”, and an “excellent team player”. Both are vital when applying for highly competitive positions.

    Our top advice is to let your character shine through. Although it’s tempting to only include hard skills, employers want to assess whether you’d be a good fit for the team. Most companies prefer friendly candidates who are trainable over highly experienced but negative individuals!

    Stuck for ideas? Here’s some inspiration to get you started:

    Essential skills for an armed forces veteran

    • Risk assessment and risk management
    • Technology assessment and providing solutions
    • Excellent physical fitness
    • Superb mental stamina
    • Ability to work well with others

    Desirable aptitudes to set you apart

    • Trainer and mentor
    • Team leadership skills
    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
    • Able to follow instructions quickly
    • Can stay calm in stressful situations

    Outlining education on an armed forces veteran CV

    Education is the foundation to experience, proving to employers that you possess the fundamental knowledge to succeed in the role. Alongside traditional qualifications, such as GCSEs and A levels, you can mention extracurricular training courses and certificates, such as First Aid or Health and Safety.

    We advise researching your chosen field before sending your application. You might need to update your qualifications if you’re planning a career change. Hoping to re-enter the armed forces? You’ll likely have to undertake additional training to refresh your knowledge. The more prepared you can be, the better!

    When outlining your qualifications, list:

    • Name of school, college, university, or other awarding body
    • Study dates
    • Subject title
    • Qualification level – e.g. GCSE or A level
    • Qualification result

    Example of education for an armed forces veteran CV

    Ashford Grammar School | September 2008 – July 2010
    A-levels in English (B), Maths (B), and Physics (B)

    Ashford High School | September 2003 – September 2008
    9 GCSEs at grades B – C

    Armed forces veteran dos and don’ts

    Do

    • DO tailor the information to the job description

      It’s common for armed forces veterans to rejoin the workforce in various capacities. Some might use their operational skills to become stock controllers, warehouse managers, or procurement specialists. Others might focus on their physical prowess to secure a PT or gym manager position. Ultimately, the possibilities are endless! Just remember to tailor all the information to the job specification.

    • DO focus on transferable skills

      In the same vein, prioritise transferable skills if you lack job-specific knowledge. For instance, if you want to become a teacher, you could emphasise your communication skills and leadership qualities. As an armed forces veteran, you should have razer-sharp problem-solving abilities – this will serve you in a wealth of fast-paced and high-pressure industries.

    Don’t

    • DON’T let your nerves show

      Understandably, it’s nerve-wracking to search for a new job after retiring from the armed forces. However, try to sound confident! Lean on positive adjectives and inspiring action verbs, and remove “mights”, “ifs”, and “maybes”.

    • DON’T send your application without spell-checking

      There are plenty of free spell-checkers you can use to double-check your writing. Additionally, ask a trusted loved one to re-read your application. Sometimes, an extra pair of eyes can pick out errors or repetitiveness.

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    Your armed forces veteran CV questions answered

    How do you put veteran status on a CV?

    You can mention your veteran status in your personal statement to let employers know if you’re currently retired, out of work, or in between roles. If you have any gaps in your employment history, you can explain these in a short introductory cover letter.

    Does military experience help you get a job?

    Absolutely! Military personnel possess a wealth of desirable qualities, such as “discipline”, “endurance”, and “loyalty”. These personality-based soft skills are hard to learn through formal education – you must be born with a predisposition towards them.

    What words describe veterans?

    It can be tricky to describe yourself, even for the most out-there extroverts. We suggest asking friends, family, or former colleagues to help you create a word bank of your most impressive attributes. You can pick from these whenever you’re at a loss for words. Other ideas include:

    • Quick thinking
    • Highly adaptable
    • Proven team players
    • Master problem-solvers
    • Extremely loyal

    What companies hire the most veterans?

    Many organisations are desperate to hire armed forces veterans, thanks to their experience and specialist skills. Some of the key industries include:

    • Government departments
    • Law enforcement and emergency services
    • Transportation, including driving, maintenance, and operations
    • Teaching and education
    • Computer sciences
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    Equip yourself with an excellent armed forces veteran CV

    This CV sample for veterans forms part of our comprehensive collection, which can help you by providing essential information about how to write an effective CV. Jobseekers can benefit from consulting our site’s tools and CV builder for invaluable tips and guidance.

    Start by choosing a CV template that suits the job you’re applying for. Then search that role on our CV builder to find pre-written content tailored to your job of choice. You can also read through more CV examples to better understand what your chosen industry is looking for.

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