Writing a military to civilian cover letter can be a tough transition. You've served bravely and now you're ready to join the civilian workforce. As you apply for jobs, you realize a compelling cover letter must accompany your resume. It shouldn't rehash your resume but rather highlight a significant accomplishment that you're proud of. Remember to stay true to a conversational tone, steering clear of clichés and keeping it to one engaging page. Let's craft a cover letter that stands out!
- Some inspiration from other professionals' job-winning cover letters;
- The best structure and format for your military to civilian cover letter;
- Insights on how to write about your best achievement to stand out;
- A creative twist on your military to civilian cover letter intro.
Upload your military to civilian resume to Enhancv's AI, which will quickly scan and prepare a job-winning cover letter for you.
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Military to civilian cover letter example
JAMES JONES
Austin, Texas
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Quantifiable Achievements: Mentioning specific results such as "increased security compliance by 25%" and "saving upwards of 15 labor hours per project" provides concrete evidence of the candidate's past success and suggests a capacity for delivering measurable outcomes.
- Relevant Project Experience: Discussing leadership in a critical project at Tech Solutions Inc. that aligns with the prospective role showcases the applicant's relevant experience and demonstrates an ability to handle similar responsibilities in the new position.
- Specialized Skills: Emphasizing the implementation of "cutting-edge solutions," and development of an "automated approach to system updates" underlines the applicant's skill set with current and advanced IT methodologies that are likely required in the role they are applying for.
- Problem-Solving Capability: The mention of creating a "data recovery plan that cut annual data loss incidents by 40%" highlights the candidate's strategic problem-solving skills—a highly valuable trait for any role focused on improving IT systems and infrastructure.
What are the basics of the design or format of your military to civilian cover letter?
To start, here's a reminder for you: the Applicant Tracker System (or software that is used to assess candidate profiles), won't be reading your military to civilian cover letter.
Recruiters enjoy reading military to civilian cover letters with a standardized format that uses:
- the same font as the resume (e.g. modern ones like Raleway or Volkhov are prefered over the clichéd Times New Roman or Arial);
- single spacing to keep the content concise and organized (this is all ready for you in our cover letter templates);
- a one-inch margin to wrap around the text, like in our cover letter builder;
- PDF as a file format, as it allows your design (and visual element) to stay the same.
Finally, we can't go on without mentioning the key sections of your military to civilian cover letter.
In the top one-third, make sure to include a header (with your contact information, name, role, and date), a salutation, and an introduction.
Next, follows the heart and soul of your military to civilian cover letter or its body.
End your military to civilian cover letter with a closing paragraph and, if you wish, a signature.
Tight on time? Our free cover letter generator helps you create a cover letter instantly from your resume.
The top sections on a military to civilian cover letter
Header: This should include your contact information, the date, and the employer's contact information, essential for any professional correspondence and to make it easy for the recruiter to reach you.
Opening Greeting: Address the hiring manager by name if possible; this demonstrates attention to detail and a personalized approach, which is important in transitioning from a military environment where hierarchy and decorum are valued.
Introduction: Briefly mention your military background and the specific role you're interested in; this sets the context and shows the recruiter that your skills are targeted to the job.
Body: This section should articulate the transferable skills you gained in the military, such as leadership, project management, or technical expertise, and how these will benefit the civilian role you are applying for.
Closing and Signature: Conclude with a strong closing statement expressing your enthusiasm for the opportunity to bring your military experience to a civilian context, thank them for considering your application, and include a professional sign-off.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Leadership Experience: Having held positions of responsibility in the military often translates into strong leadership skills, which are highly valued in civilian roles requiring team management, project coordination, or personnel development.
- Adaptability: Military personnel are trained to adapt to rapidly changing environments and situations, a trait that is very beneficial for civilian roles that operate in dynamic or unpredictable markets or require flexibility with job functions.
- Security Clearance: Certain civilian jobs, especially in government agencies or defense contractors, require security clearance which many military personnel already possess, saving time and resources for the employer.
- Teamwork: Emphasis on collaboration within military units fosters exceptional teamwork skills, which are essential in most civilian jobs requiring coordination with colleagues and cross-functional integration.
- Discipline and Work Ethic: The military instills a strong sense of discipline and work ethic, which translates to reliability and diligence in civilian job roles, ensuring tasks are completed efficiently and to a high standard.
- Crisis Management: Experience in high-pressure and crisis situations is common in military careers, equipping veterans with the ability to remain calm under pressure, make critical decisions, and solve problems effectively in civilian roles that may have emergency or time-sensitive scenarios.
What matters most when tailoring your military to civilian cover letter salutation
Your military to civilian cover letter greeting should feel welcoming to recruiters.
Use their first name (e.g. "Dear Marshall" or "Dear Sara"), if you've previously been in touch with the hiring manager and are on a more friendly basis.
If this is the first time you're contacting the recruiters, start your military to civilian cover letter with:
- their last name (e.g. "Dear Ms. Ali" or "Dear Mr. Stevens") - look up who's the hiring manager for the role on social media or the company website;
- generalized greeting (e.g. "Dear HR Team") - just don't use "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Team,
- Dear [Department Name] Manager,
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear Recruiter,
The military to civilian cover letter introduction: focusing on your unique value, with a creative twist
You are not the only one wondering how to start your military to civilian cover letter. Those first two sentences introduce your profile and should be memorable.
No pressure.
When beginning your military to civilian cover letter, immediately point out the unique value of working with you. In other words, what you promise to bring to the role by using your past track record of success.
Start your military to civilian cover letter with a creative twist by telling a joke or stating something relatable. Select this type of introduction only if it aligns with the company culture.
Structuring your military to civilian cover letter body to add more value
You've hinted at your value as a professional (this may be your passion for the job or interest in the company) in your introduction.
Next, it's time to pan out the body or middle of your military to civilian cover letter.
When creating your resume, you've probably gone over the advert a million times to select the most relevant skills.
Well, it's time to repeat this activity. Or just copy and paste your previous list of job-crucial requirements.
Then, select one of your past accomplishments, which is relevant and would impress hiring managers.
Write between three and six paragraphs to focus on the value your professional achievement would bring to your potential, new organization.
Tell a story around your success that ultimately shows off your real value as a professional.
Ending your military to civilian cover letter: a closing paragraph with a promise
If you're thinking of finishing your military to civilian cover letter with a "Sincerely yours" or "Thanks for the consideration," you need to read on.
End the final paragraph of your military to civilian cover letter with a twist:
- a promise - of how you'd grow as a professional, part of the company, or improve organizational metrics;
- a call to action - prompt interviewers with some follow-up actions if they are interested in your profile.
A personalized ending would surely help you to stand out by being a memorable candidate.
Keep this in mind when writing your zero experience military to civilian cover letter
Even though you may not have any professional experience, your military to civilian cover letter should focus on your value.
As a candidate for the particular role, what sort of skills do you bring about? Perhaps you're an apt leader and communicator, or have the ability to analyze situations from different perspectives.
Select one key achievement from your life, outside work, and narrate a story that sells your abilities in the best light.
If you really can't think of any relevant success, you could also paint the picture of how you see your professional future developing in the next five years, as part of the company.
Key takeaways
Creating your military to civilian cover letter should be a personalized experience for the role and the recruiter, where you:
- Format your cover letter using the same ATS-friendly font (e.g. Railway) as you did for your resume;
- Greet recruiters, using their name, and follow up with two sentences to introduce yourself, your interest in the role, and to stand out;
- Map out one key success from your career (or life) that has taught you job-crucial skills;
- Substitute your lack of experience with an achievement from your internships, degrees, or volunteering gigs;
- End with a promise for your potential or your availability for an interview.
