In this guide
Career changes and transitions
Leaving the armed forces: finding civilian work and translating your service
How to use official transition support, translate military roles and terms into civilian language, and plan a job search around your discharge date.
Use the official transition support first
Both the UK and the US run official programmes for people leaving the forces. They are the authoritative source on what you are entitled to and when.
- In the UK, the Career Transition Partnership is the official resettlement service for the Armed Forces. The support available depends on your length of service; for example, its Core Resettlement Programme is for people who have served more than six years and can start two years before discharge.
- In the US, the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program supports service members leaving active duty, and the Department of Veterans Affairs offers career and employment services for veterans.
- Charities such as the Forces Employment Charity in the UK also offer employment support to service leavers and veterans.
Translate roles and responsibilities, not ranks
Civilian recruiters rarely know what a rank or trade involves. Describe the responsibility instead: how many people you led, what you were accountable for, the value of equipment or resources you managed, and the standards you worked to.
| Service phrasing | Civilian phrasing |
|---|---|
| Section commander | Led and trained a team of eight in high-pressure conditions |
| Responsible for the troop's vehicles | Managed maintenance schedules and safety checks for a fleet of vehicles |
| Ran the stores | Controlled inventory, ordering and audit records for equipment |
| Planned exercises | Planned and coordinated multi-day operations with logistics, timings and contingencies |
Before and after: removing the acronyms
Illustrative example
A logistics bullet for a civilian supply chain role
Before
Ran the unit's G4 cell during a six-month deployment.
After
Coordinated supplies, transport and equipment for a team of around a hundred people over six months, keeping stock levels stable despite changing locations.
The figures should be ones you can explain. If you are unsure of an exact number, say 'around' and be ready to describe how you know.
Plan the search around your discharge date
A transition timeline to adapt
- Find out your resettlement or transition entitlements and the dates they start.
- Decide which two or three civilian roles or sectors to target.
- Check whether any civilian licence, certification or registration is needed for them.
- Rewrite your resume in civilian language and test it on someone outside the forces.
- Start applying early enough that start dates line up with your discharge.
- Prepare to explain security clearance status accurately if a role asks about it.
Interviews: show how you work, not just what you did
Civilian interviewers often ask behavioural questions about teamwork, pressure and change. Your service will give you strong examples; explain the situation briefly for someone without military background, focus on your own actions, and describe the outcome plainly.
Common questions
Should I list every course I took in service?
List the qualifications a civilian employer would recognise or that match the role. Group the rest briefly, or leave them out, so the relevant ones stand out.
How do I explain why I am leaving?
Briefly and positively: you have completed your service and want to use particular skills in a civilian setting. Employers rarely need more than that.
Sources
- Career Transition Partnership: official resettlement serviceMinistry of Defence (GOV.UK) · UK · checked 3 October 2026
- Forces Employment CharityForces Employment Charity · UK · checked 3 October 2026
- DoD Transition Assistance ProgramUS Department of Defense · US · checked 3 October 2026
- VA careers and employmentUS Department of Veterans Affairs · US · checked 3 October 2026
Put it into practice
Guidance by career stageDrafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.