# One-Page Civilian Resume Build

Builds a clean one to two page civilian resume from your military service record and background notes. Use it when you are starting from scratch and need a complete resume structure before tailoring to specific jobs.

## Prompt

## Context
You are helping [YOUR NAME], a [BRANCH OF SERVICE] veteran who served [YEARS OF SERVICE] years and separated at the rank of [RANK AND RATE OR MOS], build a civilian resume. Their most recent duty position: [MOST RECENT DUTY POSITION AND UNIT]. Key accomplishments and responsibilities from their service: [SERVICE BACKGROUND AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS]. Education and certifications held: [EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS]. Target civilian field or job family: [TARGET CIVILIAN FIELD].

## Task
Build a complete civilian resume with the following sections:
1. Contact header: name, phone, email, LinkedIn URL if provided, city and state only (no street address).
2. Professional summary: three to four sentences. Lead with what [YOUR NAME] does well and where they are headed, not just where they have been. Translate military background into civilian language.
3. Core competencies or skills: six to ten short skill phrases drawn from [SERVICE BACKGROUND AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS] and [TARGET CIVILIAN FIELD].
4. Work experience: one entry per duty position or unit provided in [SERVICE BACKGROUND AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS]. For each, write three to five bullets. Use civilian language throughout. Quantify where [SERVICE BACKGROUND AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS] provides numbers. Do not invent metrics.
5. Education: from [EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS].
6. Certifications and training: from [EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS].

Format for one to two pages. No tables, no text boxes, no columns. Plain text hierarchy with clear section headers.

## Standards
- Every bullet must describe something [YOUR NAME] actually did, based on [SERVICE BACKGROUND AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS]. Do not invent duties, units, accomplishments, or outcomes.
- Translate all military-specific acronyms and job titles into plain language a civilian hiring manager can understand. Spell out any acronym the first time it appears.
- Do not invent metrics. If no number is provided, describe the scope or result without a fabricated figure.
- Do not claim certifications, clearances, or credentials not listed in [EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS].
- This resume is a starting point. It must be tailored to each specific job posting before submitting.
- This prompt does not guarantee an interview or a hire. It produces a draft to be refined.
- If [SERVICE BACKGROUND AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS] is too thin to build a complete resume, ask what additional detail is available before drafting.

## Variables

- YOUR NAME
- BRANCH OF SERVICE
- YEARS OF SERVICE
- RANK AND RATE OR MOS
- MOST RECENT DUTY POSITION AND UNIT
- SERVICE BACKGROUND AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
- TARGET CIVILIAN FIELD

## Input checklist

- [ ] Write out your key duties and accomplishments for each position before running this prompt. Bullet points or rough notes are fine. Specific input produces specific output.
- [ ] Include any numbers you remember: team sizes, equipment values, budgets managed, throughput volumes, or geographic scope. Only include figures you are confident are accurate.
- [ ] List all education, training courses, and certifications including military schools, PME (professional military education), and civilian credentials.
- [ ] Remove your Social Security number, date of birth, and any other personally identifying information before pasting any records. Never paste classified or operationally sensitive details into an AI tool.
- [ ] Note your target civilian field so the summary and skills section point in a clear direction.
- [ ] After drafting, have a Transition Assistance Program (TAP) counselor or a veteran peer review the resume before submitting to employers.

## Verification checklist

- [ ] Read every bullet. Confirm each one describes something you actually did. Remove anything the AI added that is not from your input.
- [ ] Check every metric. If a number appears in the resume and you did not provide it, remove it or replace it with an accurate figure.
- [ ] Read the professional summary. Confirm it does not claim a target title or level of experience you do not yet have.
- [ ] Check that every military acronym is either spelled out or replaced with plain civilian language. Ask a civilian friend to flag anything confusing.
- [ ] Confirm no certifications, clearances, or credentials appear that are not listed in what you provided.
- [ ] Confirm the resume does not include your SSN, date of birth, or home address. City and state only.
- [ ] Verify the resume is one to two pages when pasted into your word processor. Cut filler before cutting substance.

## Sample output

Sample output. Generated by AI from sample inputs:

MARCUS HALE
San Antonio, TX | 210-555-0142 | marcus.hale@email.com | linkedin.com/in/marcushale

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Logistics professional with 10 years of experience managing supply chains, equipment accountability, and transportation operations in high-pressure environments. Skilled at leading small teams, solving distribution problems under time constraints, and maintaining accurate records across large inventories. Pursuing warehouse operations and supply chain management roles in the San Antonio area.

CORE COMPETENCIES
Inventory management | Supply chain coordination | Team leadership | Records accountability | Forklift operations | Transportation planning | Standard operating procedures | Training and mentoring

WORK EXPERIENCE

Logistics Supervisor
U.S. Army, Fort Sam Houston, TX | 2019 to 2024
- Supervised a team of 12 supply specialists responsible for receiving, storing, and issuing more than $4.2 million in equipment and repair parts.
- Managed daily transportation coordination for a unit of 280 personnel, scheduling vehicle dispatch and tracking accountability of 34 wheeled vehicles.
- Reduced inventory discrepancy rate from 8% to under 2% over 18 months by implementing a weekly cycle-count process.
- Trained and evaluated 14 junior logistics personnel on supply system procedures, resulting in three promotions within the team.
- Prepared and submitted monthly logistics reports to senior leadership, with zero errors flagged during two annual inspections.

Supply Specialist
U.S. Army, Fort Bliss, TX | 2014 to 2019
- Processed an average of 60 supply requests per week using automated logistics software, maintaining a fill rate above 94%.
- Served as the primary accountable officer for a secondary property book valued at $1.1 million.
- Coordinated shipping and receiving for unit deployments, ensuring all equipment was properly documented and on-hand at destination.

EDUCATION
Associate of Applied Science, Business Management
Central Texas College, 2022

CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING
Forklift Operator Certification, 2020
Unit Supply Specialist Course (92A AIT), 2014
Warehouse Management Systems (self-study, Coursera), 2023

## Customization notes

Adjust the target field in your input and the prompt will shift the summary and skills section to match. If you have more than two or three duty positions, consolidate shorter or less relevant assignments into a single entry to stay within two pages. Veterans separating from longer careers may need a two-page format from the start. SkillBridge participants can add their internship as the most recent entry once it begins.

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From The Military Transition & SkillBridge Library at vetslearn.com/libraries/transition