I recently referenced a quote by Economist Richard Baldwin, which essentially stated, that you won’t lose your job to AI, but you might lose it to someone who knows how to use it. Since hearing this quote, I cannot stop thinking about how I can help others take advantage of AI. The military, especially veterans, can streamline the transition process, and certain tasks, by taking advantage of tools like AI tools, OpenAI, and others. Realizing that more and more of the younger generations are adopting these tools into their daily life could change your perspective on using these tools to your advantage, and how they can save you time and energy.
Before we transition out of the military, Service Members are taught how to use very specific styles of writing, mostly known as the military writing style. The transition to other styles like AP, especially for those who don’t pursue college during their service, can be a difficult undertaking. To help that transition, I recommend exploring the above-mentioned tools to see how AI can assist.
7 Ways AI Can Enhance Your Resume
One way that Veterans can use AI, is to improve their resumes by leveraging its ability to generate well-structured, concise, and impactful content. Here are some ways veterans can utilize AI tools for resume enhancement:
1. Translate Military Skills into Civilian Terms
Veterans often face challenges translating military skills and job titles into terms that civilian employers understand. AI tools can help convert military jargon into language that resonates with civilian hiring managers.
Example: Describe your military leadership role, and ask AI tools to provide a civilian equivalent. A position like “Squad Leader” could be translated into “Team Leader responsible for supervising, training, and managing teams in high-stress environments.”
2. Highlight Transferable Skills
Veterans possess many soft and technical skills, such as leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. AI tools can help identify and expand upon these skills to match job descriptions.
Example: Provide a job description and ask AI tools to identify which skills from your military experience are relevant to the position.
3. Structure and Formatting Guidance
AI tools can offer templates or suggestions for structuring your resume, ensuring that it follows standard resume formats while emphasizing your strengths.
Example: Ask AI tools for a resume format suitable for a logistics professional transitioning from the military to the civilian sector.
4. Bullet Point Refinement
Veterans can provide AI tools with details of their roles and responsibilities, and it can help turn them into polished, action-oriented bullet points.
Example: “I was in charge of managing the inventory for my unit” can be transformed into “Led inventory management for a unit of 100 personnel, ensuring the accurate tracking and deployment of equipment valued at $X million.”
5. Tailoring for Specific Job Applications
AI tools can help veterans tailor their resumes to specific job openings by analyzing the job posting and offering suggestions for emphasizing relevant experience.
Example: Provide a job listing and your resume, and ask AI tools to recommend specific changes or additions to make your resume align with the job requirements.
6. Grammar and Clarity Checks
Veterans can run their resumes through AI tools for proofreading, ensuring it is free of typos, grammatical errors, and awkward phrasing.
7. Crafting a Strong Summary Statement
A powerful summary statement at the top of a resume can set the tone for the entire document. AI tools can help veterans craft a compelling summary that highlights their strengths and aspirations in a clear and concise way.
Veterans can make their resumes more compelling and aligned with the expectations of civilian employers. AI is not a monster or a job thief. It’s is a tool, and learning new tools early in their development gives someone a large advantage over the general public. Now is the time to learn; now is the time to understand.
