Total VeteranVeteran CV Mistakes: 10 Errors Official Guidance Warns Against, With Fixes
Ten fixable errors named in official UK and US guidance, each with what the guidance says and a worked before and after example you can adapt.
- CTP guidance says keep military service on the CV and explain it in plain language.
- CTP sets a two-page limit; USAJOBS has made two pages mandatory since 27 September 2025.
- The National Careers Service says leave out age, date of birth, marital status and nationality.
- Write one or two achievement statements per year in a job, each with a measurable result.
- Tailor every application to the advert; keep a master CV and cut a two-page version each time.
The CV mistakes veterans make most often, according to official guidance in the UK and US, are: removing military service altogether, leaving jargon unexplained, listing duties instead of results, running past two pages, adding personal details employers should not see, and sending one generic CV to every job. The sources are the Career Transition Partnership's published CV guidance, the National Careers Service, Military OneSource and the US Office of Personnel Management. Each mistake below comes with what the guidance says and an example fix.
The mistakes at a glance
| Mistake | What official guidance says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deleting military experience to look civilian | Keep it: transferable skills are valued, provided they are explained | CTP and NEBOSH |
| Unexplained jargon and acronyms | Explain military terms in plain language; remove acronyms | CTP; Military OneSource |
| Duties instead of achievements | One or two achievements for every year in a job, each with a result (CAR); quantify | CTP; Military OneSource |
| More than two pages | No more than two pages (CTP); one or two pages (Military OneSource); two pages mandatory on USAJOBS | CTP; Military OneSource; OPM |
| Unnecessary personal details | Leave out age, date of birth, marital status and nationality (UK); marital status, height and weight, religion and salary (US) | National Careers Service; Military OneSource |
| Referees' contact details on the CV | Write "references available on request" instead | National Careers Service |
| One CV for every application | Tailor to each job, using the advert and company research | CTP; National Careers Service; Military OneSource |
| Cluttered layout and graphics | Clear layout, bullet points, spacing, common business font | CTP; National Careers Service |
| Over-detailed job headings | Keep headings simple: HM Forces, job title, years | CTP |
| Skipping the proofread | Ask someone else to check spelling and grammar; read it backwards for typos | National Careers Service; Military OneSource |
1. Removing military service
Some leavers strip out their service to appear more civilian. The CTP guidance warns against this because employers value the transferable skills behind it. The fix is translation. Keep the service on the CV, and describe it in terms of what you managed, delivered and improved.
2. Jargon the reader cannot decode
The CTP guidance notes that civilian employers are often unfamiliar with military terms. Military OneSource gives a specific example: replace "officer in charge" with "managed". Read your CV as a stranger would and replace every rank, unit name, operation name and acronym. Examples written for this guide:
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| 2IC of a Rifle Coy on Op [name] | Deputy manager of a 100-person team on a six-month overseas deployment |
| Div O, Weapons Engineering Dept, Type 23 | Department manager for a 30-person engineering team on a frigate |
| NCOIC, S-4 shop | Supervisor of a 6-person logistics office |
| SQEP for HAZMAT handling | Qualified to supervise the handling and storage of hazardous materials |
Quest Online's published equivalents are a useful reference: Section Commander to team leader or supervisor, Quartermaster to logistics or supply chain manager, NCO to mid-level management.
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3. Listing duties instead of results
Duty lists are easy to write because they come straight from a job specification. Duty statements tell the reader what the post required. They do not say how well you did it. The CTP guidance asks for one or two achievement statements for every year in a job, each with a result, using CAR (Challenge, Action, Result). The National Careers Service recommends the STAR method for work history entries, usually two to three lines each. Military OneSource adds: quantify, using budgets managed or time saved.
Example rewrites, written for this guide:
| Duty statement | Achievement statement |
|---|---|
| Responsible for the training of junior ranks. | Designed and ran a 6-week training package for 24 new team members; first-time pass rate on qualification rose from 70% to 92%. |
| In charge of the unit vehicle fleet. | Managed maintenance and availability of a 40-vehicle fleet; cut average repair turnaround from 9 days to 5 by introducing a weekly parts forecast. |
| Ran the stores account. | Accountable for a 2,000-item inventory; closed an annual audit with zero discrepancies. |
Use your own figures. If you cannot verify a number, describe the scale in words.
4. Too long
The CTP guidance sets a limit of two pages covering roughly the last ten years. Military OneSource advises one to two pages. On USAJOBS, two pages is now a hard rule: since 27 September 2025, a resume longer than two pages makes the application ineligible unless a compliant version is also submitted. Earlier career detail can move to a single line ("Earlier roles: HM Forces, 2006 to 2014, engineering technician").
5. Personal details that do not belong
The National Careers Service says a UK CV should not include your age, date of birth, marital status or nationality. Military OneSource lists marital status, height and weight, religious affiliation and salary (unless requested) for US resumes. Service number, home unit address and family details also add nothing for a civilian employer. Keep contact details simple: name, phone, email and a LinkedIn link.
6. Referees on the page
The National Careers Service advises against putting someone else's contact details on your CV. Write "references available on request" and give the details when asked, after checking with your referee. A former commanding officer or line manager who has agreed in advance is a strong choice.
7. One generic CV
CTP, the National Careers Service and Military OneSource all say to tailor. CTP suggests matching content to each vacancy and checking the CV against the advert with a word-cloud tool such as TagCrowd. A practical method: keep a master CV with every achievement, then build a two-page version for each application using the six to eight achievements most relevant to that advert.
8. Layout that gets in the way
CTP advises a common business font, bullet points, brief sentences, adequate spacing, and no graphics. It also notes that most applications are submitted electronically, so the CV must be "internet friendly". The National Careers Service suggests Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri at size 11 or larger and a consistent style throughout. Our guide to applicant tracking systems explains what software does with your file.
9. Over-detailed headings
CTP recommends job headings of HM Forces, job title and years only, without excessive location detail. A clean heading reads: HM Forces (Royal Air Force), Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor, 2017 to 2026. Put the detail in the bullets beneath.
10. Skipping the final check
The National Careers Service recommends asking someone else to read your CV for spelling and grammar. Military OneSource suggests reading it backwards to catch typos. Ask a civilian reader to mark every term they do not understand at the same time.
UK CV and US resume: key differences
| Point | UK CV | US resume |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Two pages maximum (CTP) | One to two pages (Military OneSource); two pages maximum for USAJOBS |
| Personal details to omit | Age, date of birth, marital status, nationality | Marital status, height and weight, religion, salary unless requested |
| Structure for examples | CAR (CTP) or STAR (National Careers Service) | Quantified accomplishments (Military OneSource) |
| Record to draw on | Appraisal reports, course certificates, resettlement paperwork | VMET (Verification of Military Experience and Training) |
| Free review | Career Transition Partnership adviser; Forces Employment Charity adviser (0121 262 3058) | TAP Employment Workshop; Military OneSource transition consultation |
For the tools that help you translate each role, see our guide to military CV translation tools.
What to do this week
- Highlight every acronym, rank and unit name on your CV and replace each one.
- Rewrite your five strongest duty statements as achievements with a number or result.
- Remove age, date of birth, marital status, nationality and referee contact details.
- Cut the CV to two pages and simplify job headings to HM Forces, job title and years.
- Ask a civilian to proofread it and mark every term they do not understand.
Questions people ask
What are the most common military CV mistakes?
Should I include my military service on my CV?
How many pages should a veteran CV be?
Should I put my date of birth on a UK CV?
- NEBOSH, "Writing a CV as a Service Leaver with Career Transition Partnership". https://nebosh.org.uk/our-news-and-events/our-news/writing-a-cv-as-a-service-leaver-with-career-transition
- National Careers Service, "CV sections" (accessed October 2026). https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/cv-sections
- National Careers Service, "The STAR method" (accessed October 2026). https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/interview-advice/the-star-method
- Military OneSource, "How to Write a Resume" (accessed October 2026). https://militaryonesource.mil/education-employment/for-service-members/how-to-write-a-resume
- US Office of Personnel Management, "Agency Guidance on the Two-Page Limit on Resume Length" (2025). https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/merit-hiring-plan-resources/agency-guidance-on-the-two-page-limit-on-resume-length
- GOV.UK, "Career Transition Partnership" guidance (accessed October 2026). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/career-transition-partnership
- Quest Online, "Translating your military service into a standout CV" (accessed October 2026). https://www.questonline.co.uk/cv-writing
- Forces Employment Charity, homepage and services (accessed October 2026). https://www.forcesemployment.org.uk/
- US Department of Labor, VETS, "Transition Assistance Program" (accessed October 2026). https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/tap
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