FeelItInMyPlums

Sales Account Executive

How do you disclose military history on a sales resume? What is beneficial, what is not?

Asking for a friend (I have no military experience). He is a combat vet, who spent 10 years doing warehouse deliveries post army life. I got him a BDR role at my last company, and now it's time for him to move on (we're targeting a renewals job for him).

Curious if any veterans or hiring mangers out there have advice or input on how much he should point to his military background on his intro paragraph and in general during the interview process.

Appreciate you war room!

How would you position your military experience?

Attached poll

Veteran Combat Veteran Disabled Combat Veteran Do not mention

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

👥 Hiring

23 comments

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TheNegotiator

Arsonist

VP of Sales

Put down veteran imo. One in a billion companies will look down on and not want to hire a veteran who served, and fuck em.

The rest may not give him credit for it, but many will. So it can’t hurt.

Other than that, if he IS disabled, definitely leave that out. They can make an unbiased decision based on his resume and their impression of him.

Good for you Plums, hope this fine gent finds the role he’s looking for

FeelItInMyPlums

Valued Contributor

Sales Account Executive

His disabilities are blown out knees and hearing issues (he was a rear gunner, walking backwards for years with a 100lb+ backpack apparently isn't good for the knees). Definitely affected him while he was working in the warehouse, but you don't need knees to cold call!

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

Wait, why is my name in here? lmao

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

VP of Sales

Wtf… I swear I thought this was your post. I take it back. Go do something nice for someone else Coups (paddy doesn’t count)

@FeelItInMyPlums I’m transferring my goodwill to you.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

I'm always on your mind, I get it. It's a common affliction.

I'll do something nice for myself today. Hendricks martini, prob. Thanks for the permission.

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

VP of Sales

Hah, I am not one of your Simps I’m sorry to report, but you have enough so it’s no great loss.

Great thinking. I just placed my skip order and put a bottle of scotch in the freezer. I think 1:45 is late enough on a Friday. I also spent $4K getting new blinds put in, and another 4 paying the scum of the earth. Idk if that counts as nice but it’s done.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

It's ok, I'll let u retain your pride even if I see through your lies like your windows without the new blinds.

I'm sending emails til 2 my time, then it's so over for my work ethic this week.

FattySnacks

Politicker

Senior Account Executive

Marine Corps Vet here.

I would have him tailor his military experience to the AM role first of all. But assuming you’ve already done that I would make sure his veteran status is on there.

I certainly wouldn’t put disabled vet or combat vet, but veteran will suffice. I can’t say how many times I’ve had SaaS companies tell me they love to hire veterans.

I’ve never had anyone outright tell me it was a negative, and I certainly wouldn’t want to work anywhere that has a negative stigma about us anyway.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

Thank you for your service!

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Absolutely mention this. Also thank your friend for their service.

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

I'd definitely mention it!

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Absolutely mention it, and try and relate how the experience translates to his strengths now.

I'm had pressed to think of a job more stressful, with higher stakes. Obviously this individual is cool/calm under fire and can handle pressure and adversity.

As @TheNegotiator mentioned, in the off, OFF chance someone looks down on that, then they don't deserve him. Or as he so saliently put, 'fuck em'.

CaneWolf

Politicker

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

Yeah, companies REALLY want to show they're supporting the troops. Also, veterans are waaaaay less likely to whine and instead figure shit out.

Put that on there.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

Yup, definitely mention it as "veteran." Most companies love hiring veterans as long as they can demonstrate they qualify for the role.

Don't mention anything about disabilities unless he's specifically being asked if he requires accommodations by HR.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Veteran is one way to account for several years with no other job history.

It's also a way to tie relevant experience to a desired job - so have him tailor the qualities he showed while serving to the job he wants.

HarryCaray

Notable Contributor

HMFIC

Just put down veteran. Most civilians think we're all out there eatin snakes and shit anyway, don't really know or care to know much more than we wore the uniform.

FeelItInMyPlums

Valued Contributor

Sales Account Executive

He went with Combat veteran. He got the job. The hiring manager was an ex army guy so they got along great.

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

I would do something along the lines talking about how his time in the military taught him about hard work, work ethic, dedication, etc. and how that translates to sales. I've never been in the military, but I can see that being somewhat relevant. And if I was interviewing someone that thought would definitely cross my mind.

SADNESSLieutenant

Politicker

Officer of ♥️

Relate the experience to grit, determination, integrity, alertness, and doing whatever it takes/being a savage

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Is he a disabled combat vet? I don't know if I would put "disabled" in there, but he should definitely list his military service.
I have nearly always seen it listed as another job on a resume. He should list it as a job with bulleted Accomplishments, put it in the Resume Summary section, if he has any military-provided Education he should add it in there, etc. Its as much a part of his career as any other job.

Point him toward this site - https://www.zippia.com/advice/military-experience-resume/

Boutdamtime

Politicker

Client Executive

I know a guy, not me, who’s a disabled combat vet in sales and he always tells vets to NEVER mention it. You can put veteran active campaign medal and that keeps you on the “protected” list. Personally I would never tell anyone anything they can use as judgement against you in the hiring process.

I used to be a hiring manager and hired a few vets and they usually worked out great.

Boutdamtime

Politicker

Client Executive

Also I want to add: you only list disabled combat veteran when you are a VAR bidding on government contracts. Lol

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

I have not served in the military but I did have 2 friends that served in the marines. Both write Veteran on their resume for all intensive purposes. One wrote down his tours as well.

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FeelItInMyPlums

How do you disclose military history on a sales resume? What is beneficial, what is not?

How would you position your military experience?

23 comments

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