The Official Web Site of the State of South Carolina

There are many resources available to military personnel to ensure they are ready to enter the workforce. Below are several tools to assist you as you make this transition. Before you start your process, contact your local representative and create an online account to search for jobs and connect with military-friendly employers, at no cost to you.

Resume

There are many different ways that you can write a resume depending on your work history. Below are the four types of resumes and for whom they are recommended. You can find a sample of these resumes starting on page 80 of the U.S. Department of Labor Employment Manual. You can use these templates as a guide and fill in your information and then contact your local representative for any additional help or if you have any questions.

Types of Resumes
Style Advantages Disadvantages Best Used By

Chronological
  • Widely used format
  • Logical Flow, easy to read
  • Showcases growth in skills and responsibility
  • Easiest to prepare
  • Emphasizes gaps in employment
  • Not suitable if you have no work history
  • Highlights frequent job changes
  • Emphasizes lack of related experience and career changes
  • Individuals with steady work record
Functional
  • Emphasizes skills rather than employment
  • Organizes a variety of experiences (paid and unpaid work, other activities)
  • Disguises gaps in work record or a series of short-term jobs
  • Viewed with suspicion by employers due to lack of information about specific employers and dates
  • Individuals who have developed skills from non-work experience and who may be changing careers
  • Individuals with no previous employment
  • Individuals with gaps in employment
  • Frequent job changers
Combination
  • Highlights most relevant skills and accomplishments
  • De-emphasizes employment history in less relevant jobs
  • Combines skills developed in a variety of jobs or other activities
  • Minimizes drawbacks such as employment gaps and absence of directly related experience
  • Confusing if not well organized
  • De-emphasizes job tasks, responsibilities
  • Requires more effort and creativity to prepare
  • Career changers or those in transition
  • Individuals reentering the job market after some absence
  • Individuals who have grown in skills and responsibility
  • Individuals pursuing the same or similar work as they have had in the past
Targeted
  • Can be any of the three resume formats
  • Easy to simply identify the position and company in the objective statement
  • Impresses a business person
  • Can limit your exposure to other opportunities
  • Has to be developed for each job for which you are applying
  • Candidates who have done their research
  • Candidates who know the job they want to pursue
  • Candidates who have identified companies to pursue

If you are having trouble translating your Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), you can use O*NET Online/My Next Move for Veterans to find occupations, certifications and licenses related to your MOS.


OPE Intake Form

Before you meet with your local representative you should complete the OPE Case Management Intake Form. You will save time and be better prepared to start the job search process.


Interview Attire Checklist

Don’t disqualify yourself from a potential job as soon you walk through the door. Follow the OPE-Interview-Attire and dress for success. This can be helpful not only for the interview, but also if you attend a job fair or hiring event.


Interview Practice Questions

Review common OPE-Interview-Practice-Questions so that you have your questions ready. Have a parent, spouse, friend or local representative go through these questions with you to practice before the big day.


Search for a job

Now that you have all of the tools you need to get a job, create an online account, at no cost to you, to begin your search.