Gonzalo's Story

Gonzalo gave more than 20 years to the Army and reached Sergeant Major (E-9), the top of the enlisted ranks. Then he carried that leadership into federal service as a program manager, earning around $168,000 a year running complex government programs.

Then the government cuts hit. His federal role was on the chopping block, and he made the call to retire.

After two decades in uniform and years more in government, he was facing a job search he never planned for. But he did not go chasing it.

Before he left, he built and tailored his resume on Best Military Resume, then posted it where employers could find it.

They found him. A company came across his resume online and asked him to interview for a Program Manager role. He was hired pretty much on the spot, without ever submitting an application. The new role pays $210,000 a year, well above his federal salary.

That is the whole point of a resume that speaks the civilian language. Gonzalo did not have to knock on doors. The resume did the knocking for him. He is now settled in the private sector as a program manager, and was able to retire on his own terms shortly after.