Military to GovCon Resume Guides
Practical answers to the questions transitioning service members and federal employees search for, each with examples you can copy.
How to Translate Military Experience for a Government Contractor Resume
Replace military titles and jargon with civilian-equivalent roles, then quantify scope so a recruiter can map you to a labor category.
How to List Your Security Clearance on a Resume (TS/SCI, Secret, Active vs Inactive)
Put your clearance directly under your name. Include level, active or inactive status, polygraph type if applicable, and investigation or continuous vetting info.
Common Military-to-Contractor Title and Scope Translations
A reference of common MOS, AFSC, and rank-based titles and the civilian GovCon roles they map to.
How Long Should a Military-to-GovCon Resume Be?
Two pages for most transitioning service members. Clearance and summary first, then only experience that maps to the target role.
What GovCon Recruiters Look for in Transitioning Service Members
Recruiters check clearance, then labor category fit, then countable scope, then consistency across resume and LinkedIn.
MOS to Labor Category Mapping: Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps Roles
Map your MOS, AFSC, or rating to the contractor labor category it most closely matches, then prove the fit with years, certifications, and countable scope.
How to Convert NCOER Bullets to a Defense Contractor Resume
NCOER and OER bullets are written for Army promotion boards. A contractor recruiter needs a civilian title, countable scope, and a labor category fit. Rewrite each bullet in four steps.
What Labor Category Am I? A Guide for Defense Contractor Candidates
Your labor category depends on three things: years of relevant experience, education level, and the scope and complexity of your work. Rank and GS grade only point to a likely tier.
GS Grade to Defense Contractor Labor Category: A Conversion Guide
GS grades and labor categories are different frameworks, so they do not convert one-to-one. Use your grade to aim at Junior, Mid, or Senior, then prove the fit with education, years, and scope.
Defense Contractor Resume vs. Federal Resume: Key Differences
A contractor resume is 1 to 2 pages and built for a recruiter's 30-second scan. A USAJOBS federal resume runs 4 to 6 pages and is built to prove every qualification. Switching means cutting, reordering, and quantifying.
DoD 8140 Certifications: What Contractor Cyber & IT Roles Require
What DoD 8140 means for contractor cyber and IT jobs, how it replaced 8570 IAT/IAM levels, and how to tell which certification a posting actually requires.
GS Pay vs Contractor Pay: How to Compare an Offer Honestly
There's no conversion formula. Compare one specific offer to your GS pay plus benefits you'd give up; the worksheet below does it in about 2 minutes.
SkillBridge Into GovCon: Résumé, Timing, and What to Ask
How to use SkillBridge to move into a government-contractor role: tailoring a résumé, timing applications, and confirming train-to-hire before you commit.
How to Land a SkillBridge With a Defense Contractor (Even Without a Posted Opening)
Step-by-step guide to finding a defense contractor SkillBridge, getting command approval, and turning the internship into a GovCon job offer.