Five "Lies" Every Veteran Should Tell on Their Resume

Why Your Military Resume Isn't Getting Callbacks—And How to Fix It

By Brian Nichols, VP of Recruiting Operations & U.S. Navy Veteran

Let's be real for a second: your military resume isn't working, and it's not your fault.

You're not underqualified. You're undersold.

After years of working with transitioning veterans and hiring managers across dozens of industries, I've seen this pattern repeat itself thousands of times. Highly capable veterans that have led teams under pressure, managed million-dollar budgets, and solved impossible problems—get passed over for civilian jobs they could do in their sleep.

Why? Because civilian hiring managers don't speak "military." And when they can't understand your resume in the first 10 seconds, they move on to the next candidate.

So stop making them decode your value. Translate it.

The Hard Truth About Military-to-Civilian Resumes

Here's what nobody tells you during your transition class: the civilian job market doesn't reward accuracy, it rewards clarity.

When you write "Platoon Sergeant" on your resume, you know exactly what that means. You managed personnel, logistics, training, and operations under high-stress conditions. But to a civilian hiring manager? It might as well be written in a foreign language.

That's why I'm going to share five "lies" every transitioning veteran should tell on their resume. I'm using quotes because these aren't actually lies, they're smart translations of your real experience into language the civilian world understands.

Lie #1: Your Job Title

What You Put: Platoon Sergeant

What You Should Put: Operations Manager

Here's the reality: you were an operations manager. You coordinated resources, managed teams, executed complex projects, and reported to senior leadership. The only difference is the uniform you wore while doing it.

Other examples:

• Squad Leader → Team Leader or Project Coordinator

• Company Commander → Department Director

• Supply Sergeant → Logistics Coordinator or Inventory Manager

• Intelligence Analyst → Data Analyst or Strategic Intelligence Specialist

Don't think of this as lying. Think of it as giving your experience a fighting chance.

Lie #2: Your Company Name

What You Put: USMC

What You Should Put: Department of Defense | Aviation Services (or relevant division)

Most civilians don't realize that "USMC" is one of the largest, most complex organizations in the world. When you add context—"Department of Defense"—you immediately signal legitimacy and scale.

Try these formats:

• U.S. Army → Department of Defense | Tactical Operations

• U.S. Navy → Department of Defense | Naval Operations

• U.S. Air Force → Department of Defense | Aerospace & Defense

This small shift helps hiring managers see your military service as corporate experience, not something completely separate from the business world.

Lie #3: Your Education

What You Put: Took some college classes

What You Should Put: Bachelor's in Progress (Expected 2026)

If you're actively working toward a degree—even if you're only a few credits in—you're "in progress." This isn't misleading; it's accurate. And it keeps your resume from getting filtered out by applicant tracking systems (ATS) that search for education keywords.

Pro tip: Include any military training that translates to civilian certifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) equivalent training

• Leadership development courses

• Technical certifications in IT, mechanics, healthcare, etc.

Many veterans don't realize their military schools are often more rigorous than civilian equivalents. Don't undersell that.

Lie #4: Your Skills

What You Put: Used it a few times

What You Should Put: Proficient in Microsoft Office & Salesforce

Here's the thing: if you used a tool or software successfully in a work environment—even just a handful of times—you're proficient enough for an entry-level or mid-level role.

The corporate world is full of people who learned on the job. You're not claiming to be an expert, just competent. And if you've proven you can learn complex military systems, you can absolutely learn Salesforce or any other business tool.

Common skills veterans underreport:

• MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• CRM platforms (Salesforce, HubSpot)

• Project management software (Asana, Monday.com, MS Project)

• Data analysis tools

• Communication platforms (Slack, Teams, Zoom)

If you've touched it, list it. You'll learn the rest fast.

Lie #5: Your Accomplishments

What You Put: Just doing my job

What You Should Put: Led project execution across cross-functional teams

This one hurts to see because it's where veterans undersell themselves the most. In the military, humility is built into the culture. You don't brag—you just execute the mission.

But in the civilian world, if you don't claim your wins, someone else will claim theirs over you.

Translation examples:

• "Managed supply inventory" → "Optimized logistics operations supporting 150+ personnel, maintaining 99% inventory accuracy"

• "Trained new soldiers" → "Designed and delivered onboarding program for 40+ new team members, improving readiness by 30%"

• "Completed assigned tasks" → "Executed high-priority projects under tight deadlines in fast-paced, high-pressure environments"

You led. You solved problems. You delivered results. Say it.

The Real Truth About "Lying" on Your Resume

Let me be crystal clear: these aren't lies. They're how the game is played.

You're not exaggerating—you're translating. You're not deceiving—you're being understood.

Every single one of these changes reflects the actual scope and impact of your military experience. You're just repackaging it so that the person reading your resume in 30 seconds can see your value.

Because here's what I know after years in recruiting: hiring managers aren't trying to exclude veterans. They just don't know how to evaluate military experience. When you make it easy for them, you win.

Your Next Steps: Rewriting Your Resume the Right Way

If you're ready to stop applying into the void and start getting real callbacks, here's what to do:

1. Audit your current resume: Look for military jargon, vague job titles, and undersold accomplishments

2. Translate every line: Ask yourself: "Would someone outside the military understand this?"

3. Quantify everything you can: Numbers matter. How many people? What budget? What percentage improvement?

4. Use keywords from the job description: ATS software scans for specific terms. Mirror the language in the posting.

5. Get a second set of eyes: Have a civilian (or a veteran who successfully transitioned) review it

And if you need help? That's why Veteran Hiring Solutions is here. We work with veterans every day to translate their experience, optimize their resumes, and land the roles they've earned.

Final Thoughts from One Veteran to Another

I've been where you are. I remember wondering if my service even mattered to employers.

It does. But only if you make them see it.

Your leadership is real. Your problem-solving skills are valuable. Your ability to perform under pressure is exactly what companies need. But none of that matters if your resume doesn't speak their language.

So stop playing by rules that weren't designed for you. Translate your experience. Own your value. And start getting the interviews you deserve.

Need help rewriting your military resume? Visit https://www.veteranhiringsolutions.com/careertools to use our suite of AI career tools built for YOU. 

Have questions or want to share your experience? Drop a comment below.

And if you know a veteran struggling with their job search, share this with them. Sometimes all it takes is one shift in perspective to change everything.