Skills you don’t realise you have: from military life to civilian employment

Those experiences can also build skills that veterans and their families carry with them long after service.

Many of these skills don’t appear as formal qualifications or job titles. Instead, they are developed through years of navigating military service, family life and changing circumstances.

Because these skills are often part of everyday military life, veterans and their families may not always recognise how valuable they can be in civilian employment.

Skills built through military service

Australian Defence Force (ADF) members develop a broad range of professional and personal skills throughout their service. While these skills have been developed in a military environment, many are highly valued by civilian employers.

• Leadership and decision-making

  Military service involves leading people, making decisions in challenging circumstances and taking responsibility for outcomes. These skills are valued across a wide range of civilian roles, from frontline supervision through to senior leadership positions.

• Teamwork and communication

  Success in the ADF depends on people working together towards a common goal. This builds strong communication, collaboration and relationship-management skills that transfer readily to civilian workplaces.

• Adaptability and resilience

  Military careers involve changing roles, locations, priorities and environments. Over time, this develops the ability to adapt, manage uncertainty and remain focused when circumstances change.

• Planning and coordination

  Whether coordinating people, resources, logistics or operations, military service develops strong planning, organisational and problem-solving skills. These capabilities are valuable in many civilian industries and professions.

• Managing complex situations

  Military environments can be fast-paced and unpredictable. Military service develops the ability to assess situations, prioritise competing demands and respond effectively when challenges arise.  

Skills built through military family life

Military partners and families also develop skills that are often overlooked but highly relevant in civilian employment.

• Adaptability and organisation

  Frequent relocations, school changes, deployments and changing family circumstances require flexibility, planning and coordination. These experiences build strong organisational and problem-solving skills, adaptability and the ability to manage competing priorities – skills that are valuable across a wide range of workplaces.

• Building connections and supporting others

  Military families develop strong support networks and become skilled at connecting with new communities, often through volunteer and community activities. This can strengthen communication, relationship-building and community engagement skills.

• Resilience and emotional awareness

  Periods of separation, uncertainty and transition build resilience, empathy and the ability to support others through change. These qualities are valuable in both professional and personal settings.  

Why recognising these skills matters

Many veterans and families underestimate the value of the skills they have developed through military life.

Recognising these skills can help build confidence, broaden career options and identify opportunities that may be a good fit.

Many employers value skills such as leadership, communication, adaptability, problem-solving, and the ability to work effectively in changing environments. These are the same skills developed through both military service and military family life.

The challenge is recognising these skills in the first place and knowing how to describe them in a way that civilian employers understand. Reflecting on what you have done, the challenges you have overcome and the outcomes you achieved can help translate military service and military family life experience into skills and capabilities that employers value.

Employment support and resources

A range of organisations provide support for veterans and their families to identify skills, explore career pathways and transition into civilian employment:

• Australian Government and state government veteran employment programs – Including initiatives such as the APS Veteran Employment Program and veteran employment pathways offered by state and territory governments. Veterans can explore opportunities available in their state or territory through veteran employment and public sector employment websites.
• RSL Employment Program – Provides employment services, career support, and job matching for current and ex-serving ADF members and their partners. 
• Soldier On – Delivers employment, education, and career development support for veterans and their families, with a focus on long-term workforce participation.  
• WithYouWithMe – Supports skills assessment, training, and pathways into civilian employment, particularly in digital and technology-focused roles. 
• Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation – Provides information about military superannuation, retirement planning and transition considerations to help veterans make informed financial decisions as they move from military to civilian employment.

Recognising your strengths

Skills developed through military service and military family life are often more transferable than they first appear.

Taking the time to recognise and articulate these skills can help veterans and their families better understand the value of their experience, identify new opportunities, and approach civilian employment with greater confidence.