Critical Retirement Step – Adapting Your CV to a Résumé
Throughout my career, I updated my academic curriculum vitae (CV) monthly. As a result, I thought it would be in good shape for transition, but I was wrong. Almost no one wanted to see my 40 page CV, and I needed a résumé.
My CV
Here is the CV I currently have and what I started with before getting all sorts of help condensing it down to a 2 page résumé:
During my job exploration so far, there were only two entities that were OK with my full CV, academic institutions and the VA. Other than that, every one else wanted a résumé that was only a few pages long.
Creating My Résumé
Initially, I just condensed my 40 page CV down to 2 pages, but that was not a polished résumé and I needed help. Similar to my LinkedIn profile update, many resources exist to help you create your résumé.
VetJobs
VetJobs gave me some detailed résumé and LinkedIn profile feedback, which you can read here:
They also partner with Hiring Our Heroes for an online résumé engine that I thought was cool.
Finally, they gave me a clean Applicant Tracking System (ATS) compliant résumé template that I liked and used:
ATS is the computer system that employers use to receive, organize, and screen résumés. If you have an overly complicated résumé format with photos, graphics, and other unnecessary things, it may impair the ATS screening of your résumé. It seems that when it comes to résumé format, simpler is better.
VetJobs regularly offers free virtual résumé sessions, which can be seen here.
Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
I’ve spoken about MOAA before as I’m a lifetime member. They provided me free résumé feedback as well. To quote them, “Please don’t be concerned by all the comments—that is pretty standard for an initial draft.” Here was their feedback on my 2 page condensed CV:
Any MOAA members can send their résumés to transition@moaa.org. If you’re not a member, here is the membership link (basic membership is free):
COMMIT Foundation and Mr. Scott Vedder
The COMMIT Foundation helps transitioning veterans and they were able to get me a free hour with a resume/hiring coach who has literally written the book on resumes, Mr. Scott Vedder.
I talked to him for an hour and learned:
- Remove military jargon and titles. If I say I’m a “Captain”, civilians will think I drive a ship or fly a plane. Military titles are no longer my brand. I am a Veteran now, not a Navy Captain.
- Make sure everything on the résumé is true. For example, I shouldn’t say I’m the “CEO of US Naval Hospital Guam” because I’m not. Maybe I say I’m the “Senior Executive Leader” instead of “MTF Director” or “Commanding Officer”, both of which are military titles civilians won’t understand.
- All bulleted accomplishments should be unique to me. I shouldn’t have generic descriptions of my roles, but specific accomplishments that are mine. In other words, everything I list as an achievement during my time as XO of Portsmouth or CO of Guam should be unique to me. It should not be something my predecessors or successors could say too.
Here are a few links and tools that he said I could share:
- My web site is www.ScottVedder.com and I’ve got a trove of resources on it including:
- A PDF of My Top 5 Veteran Résumé Tips
- Another PDF with My Top 5 Veteran Interview Tips
- A page of veteran resources others have found helpful
- On LinkedIn I’ve got a few articles including:
- My “Smart 5th Grader Test” to ensure examples will always be understood by civilians or anyone in a different field
- Some great tips on networking including the approach we discussed to reach out to those with common backgrounds
- My books specifically for veterans, reservists, and MilSpouses include:
- Signs of a Great Résumé: Veterans Edition, and
- Signs of a Great Interview: Veterans Edition
- Side note: If you apply for federal agencies, be sure to follow the new USAJOBS résumé guidelines (including the 2-page limit) in compliance with the Merit Hiring Plan. I found this article from American Public University pretty insightful too and I agree with most of its points.
My Updated Résumé
While still a work in progress, if you want to see what my resume looks like after all of this, here it is:
Medical Corps Collateral and Position Opportunities
Collateral Opportunities (Click here for more information)
– EMDP2 Interviewers, Applications, Reviewers, and Mentors (No deadline)
– Medical Corps Community Working Group Lead and Members (No deadline)
– Contributors to Military Medical Communities – monthly briefings to potential military medical students (No deadline)
– Interviewers for HPSP Applicants (No deadline)
Position Applications (Click here for more information)
– Ophthalmology Residency Program Director, National Capital Consortium – Report by 15 May 2026 (Application due 28 Jan 2026)
- Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program Director, National Capital Consortium – Report by 1 July 2026 (Application due 6 Feb 2026)
Course Announcement – Interagency Institute for Federal Health Leaders
Course Information:
Who: Senior Medical Corps Officers O-6 or senior O-5
When: April 27 – May 8, 2026
Where: Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC
Course Description: The purpose of the Institute is to provide an opportunity for the seasoned, practicing federal health professional to examine some of the current issues in health care policy and management and to explore their potential impact on the federal health care system. The design of the course assumes a high level of conceptual knowledge and leadership ability on the part of the participants. Given the intelligence and sophistication of these selected executives, the faculty maximizes the learning experience by presenting materials resulting from research and experience, as well as examples and case studies from the contemporary national health policy decision-making process. Faculty members seek involvement and interaction by the participants to stimulate understanding and communication across traditional agency boundaries.
Additional details and objectives can be found here: INTERAGENCY INSTITUTE FOR FEDERAL HEALTH LEADERS
Application Instructions:
Deadline: Monday, 16 February, 2026 at 1600 EST
Send the following to the Medical Corps Career Planner, CDR Marshall Hoffman:
– A current CV, biography, and why you would like to attend the course.
Upcoming MedTalks
The Corps Chief Office is continuing our new educational initiative, MedTalks, designed to provide valuable professional development insights to the community.
Mark Your Calendars! – Upcoming Episodes:
Friday, 30 Jan 26, 1300-1400 ET / 1000-1100 PT
Episode #2 – Enterprise-Wide Privileging with BUMED Chief Medical Officer, CAPT Justin Lafreniere
Call for Questions – Please send ahead any Enterprise-Wide Privileges questions you have to CDR Orlando Cabrera, CDR Marshall Hoffman, and CDR Craig Thomas by 1200 EST on Thursday, 29 Jan
Wednesday, 25 Feb 26, 1000-1130 ET / 0700-0830 PT
Episode #3 – Special Pays with BUMED’s Special Pays Program Manager, Mr. Marin
Call for Questions – Please send ahead any Special Pays questions you have to CDR Orlando Cabrera, CDR Marshall Hoffman, and CDR Craig Thomas by 1200 EST on Thursday, 29 Jan
Recordings will be available here on our MedTalks page
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Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 