Military to GovCon Resume: Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to the most common questions from transitioning service members and federal employees.
How do I translate my military experience for a contractor resume?
Replace the military title with the civilian-equivalent role a contractor would hire for, drop unit designations and acronyms, and rewrite each duty statement as a quantified result. Example: "NCOIC, S-6 shop" becomes "IT Operations Lead: managed 14 technicians supporting 1,200 users and 3 networks." Keep the military title once in parentheses so recruiters can verify it.
Where should I put my security clearance on a GovCon resume?
At the very top, directly under your name and contact info, in the first line a recruiter reads. Contractors screen for clearance before anything else, so it should be visible in five seconds. Do not bury it in a skills list or the last line of page two.
How do I list TS/SCI or Secret clearance correctly?
Use level, status, and investigation timing: "TS/SCI with CI Polygraph | Active | Investigation closed 2023 | Enrolled in Continuous Vetting." For Secret: "Secret | Active | Adjudicated 2022." State the level and whether it is active or inactive. Never list program names, compartments, sponsors, or anything that reveals classified detail.
What should I do with MOS codes and military jargon?
Translate them. A recruiter and an applicant tracking system will not map 25B, 17C, or 3D1X2 to a labor category. Write the civilian role (Network Administrator, Cyber Operations Analyst), keep the code once in parentheses if it helps verification, and spell out any acronym a civilian recruiter would not know.
How long should my military-to-contractor resume be?
Two pages for most transitioning service members and federal employees. One page is fine under about eight years of experience. Three pages is acceptable only for senior program or technical leaders with a long cleared history. Lead with clearance and a summary, then cut anything that does not map to the target role.
How do I show the scope of what I did so it maps to a labor category?
State five things: how many people you led, how many users or systems you supported, the dollar value you managed, the tools or standards you used, and the result. Labor categories are defined by years of experience, education, and scope of responsibility, so countable scope is what lets a contracts manager place you in a category.
Can I put my clearance on LinkedIn?
Yes, a public-safe level is fine, such as "TS/SCI" or "Active Secret" in your headline or About section. Do not list agencies, programs, polygraph details, or sponsors. Keep it consistent with your resume.
What if my clearance is inactive or has lapsed?
List it honestly as inactive and give the date your access ended. Contractors can often reinstate a clearance if the break in access is under 24 months and the investigation is still current. Writing "Inactive, eligible for reinstatement" is accurate and recruiter-friendly. Never write "active" if it is not.
Is this a federal resume or a USAJOBS resume?
No. This is a contractor resume: short, keyword-aware, and written for recruiters and applicant tracking systems at defense contractors. It is not an SF-86, a USAJOBS federal resume, or a classified document.
Who is this for?
Active duty, Reserve, and National Guard members preparing to transition, veterans already out, and federal civilian employees moving into Government Contracting. It is built for people whose materials contain MOS or AFSC codes, unit designations, military titles, jargon, or incomplete clearance information.