Should I include my armed forces / military service details on my CV?

This is a question I have been asked many times and recently by a US veteran.

My advice applies to both UK and US ex service personnel who are looking for a new career outside of the military:“I’m speaking from a UK recruiting perspective, but am sure that it applies on both sides of the pond.
Most definitely include your military service on your CV.
Although some people find “blowing their own trumpet” a bit embarrassing, the fact is that writing a CV is like writing an advert to sell yourself.
This is your one chance to get over the first hurdle and get an interview for that job.
So, like any other part of your experience think of how that military experience fits with the job that you are applying for.

Always tailor your CV to the job description or advert, if you don’t have any specific job details, do your research, ring people up and ask for advice and information.
Don’t hold back on making the effort at this stage, it may well pay off later.
Once you have the shopping list of the hirer for their perfect candidate for the role, you can set about writing your CV, providing all the evidence to say why you are the right person for the job.

Back to the military career.. think about the elements of your military service that particularly fit this role, and then describe this experience in the same or similar terms that the hirer is using.
If you have particularly strong evidence which matches the job, get this in an opening sentence on your CV.

Don’t be afraid to get your sales pitch for yourself in early!

You might be cringing at the thought of selling yourself, but you have to make your CV better than your competition.
I expect during your military career you were encouraged to think of yourself as the best and to always have a competitive edge, well now is the time to bring out that training! Think of the job or person description as the hirers shopping list and then try to tick all their boxes with your experience, military or otherwise. Make your CV clear and easy to read, avoid generalisations and get in specifics.

Good Luck and for more information on CV writing please visit my website under the Help and Advice section. http://www.girafferecruitment.co.uk”