Civilian Employers are Interested in a Wide Range of Nontechnical Skills

This list of nontechnical skills gained during military service includes related terms that you can use in your cover letter, résumé, and when speaking to potential employers about your skills and experiences. This list is excerpted from the RAND report Essential Nontechnical Skills Service Members Gain During On-the-Job Experience (TL-160/4).

Cognitive

Decisionmaking/decisiveness

Chooses the best solution or option in a timely and decisive manner, even in ambiguous situations and without assistance when appropriate. (related terms: assertive, authoritative, resolving)

Critical thinking

Actively and skillfully conceptualizes, applies, analyzes, synthesizes, and evaluates information to formulate options and to reach a conclusion. Demonstrates mental agility and the ability to reason, anticipate obstacles, identify problems, locate, gather, and organize relevant information, generate alternatives, evaluate and analyze information, and apply what is learned. (related terms: analytic thinking, reasoning, argumentation, interpretation, problem solving)

Directing People and Projects

Leading, motivating, and inspiring others to accomplish organizational goals

Influences and inspires others by providing purpose, direction, and motivation to accomplish the organization's tasks and goals and improve the organization's capabilities; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations; offers career development opportunities to subordinates; mentors others' skills, abilities, attitudes, future intentions, and career issues; recognizes achievements; sets an example for others; encourages other's self-assessment and enhancement of skills in an activity; and promotes training, learning, and preparing for the future. Generates enthusiasm for task objectives and team accomplishment through standard and creative influence techniques. Recognizes contributions and achievements of all types, among people in high- and low-visibility activities alike. Rewards employees for high performance. Sets an example for others by acting in ways that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives. (related terms: motivating, inspiring, mentoring, encouraging, developing)

Managing/supervising the work of others

Organizes, coordinates, and leads subordinates in work efforts to effectively and efficiently accomplish organizational goals and objectives. Involves staffing, delegating roles and responsibilities, clarifying objectives, and monitoring, assessing, adjusting, and rewarding the actions of subordinates. Requires knowledge and experience applying performance management concepts, principles, and practices. (related terms: administering, overseeing, organizing people)

Project planning

Identifies resources, plans, organizes, schedules, and coordinates tasks and activities so that work is completed effectively and efficiently. Prioritizes various competing tasks and performs them quickly and efficiently according to their urgency. Finds new ways of organizing work areas or planning to accomplish work more efficiently. (related terms: project management, strategic planning, organization, coordination, planning, scheduling)

Professional Development

Continuous learning

Takes the necessary actions to develop and maintain knowledge, skills, and expertise; demonstrates an interest in learning; anticipates work changes; identifies career interests; applies a range of learning techniques; integrates newly learned knowledge and skills with existing knowledge and skills; and is aware of own cognitive processes. (related terms: adaptive learning, willingness to learn, active learning, metacognition)

Training others

Plans, organizes, and conducts activities that increase the capability of individuals or organizations to perform specified tasks or skills. Has knowledge and experience applying employee development concepts, principles, and practices related to planning, evaluating, and administering training and education initiatives. (related terms: teaching, developing skills)

Interpersonal

Teamwork and team-building

Establishes productive relationships with other team members to perform team tasks and works to improve team performance; acknowledges team membership and role; and identifies with the team and its goals. Team-building activities include improving the ability of a team to work together to accomplish a task or activity; resolving conflicts within a team; developing collaboration to promote learning and expand team perspectives; discouraging unproductive behavior among team members; and encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.(related terms: team player, followership, cooperation, collaboration)

Interpersonal skills

Recognizes and accurately interprets the verbal and nonverbal behavior of others; works well with others; shows sincere interest in and sensitivity to others and their concerns, needs, and feelings; shows insight into the actions and motives of others and recognizes when relationships with others are strained; and maintains open lines of communication with others. (related terms: demonstrating concern for others, demonstrating insight into behavior, intercultural skills)

Oral communication

Persuasively presents thoughts and ideas; receives, attends to, interprets, understands, and responds to verbal messages and other cues; expresses information orally to individuals or groups, taking into account the audience and the nature of the information; practices meaningful two-way communication; picks out important information in oral messages; understands and is able to process complex oral instructions; and appreciates feelings and concerns of oral messages. (related terms: speaking, public speaking, persuasive speaking, debating, active listening, two-way communication)

Written communication

Communicates thoughts, ideas, information, messages, and other written information in a logical, organized, and coherent manner; creates documents, such as letters, directions, manuals, reports, graphs, and flow charts; presents well-developed ideas, with supporting information and examples. Uses standard grammar and sentence structure, correct spelling, and appropriate tone and word choice. (related terms: writing)

Intrapersonal

Being dependable and reliable

Diligently follows through on commitments and consistently meets deadlines; behaves consistently and predictably; is reliable, responsible, and dependable in fulfilling obligations. (related terms: getting the activity done)

Conscientiousness and attention to detail

Diligently checks work to ensure that all essential details have been considered; performs assigned tasks and responsibilities diligently even when not under direct supervision; displays self-discipline and self-control; follows oral and written directions; complies with organizational rules, policies, and procedures. (related terms: conscientiousness, respect for procedures, discipline, autonomy, productivity)

Situational awareness

Perceives, analyzes, and comprehends critical elements of information in one's environment. This also includes continually seeking new information to update and refine one's understanding. More simply, know what is going on and how it relates to the goals of the individual, team, and/or organization. (related terms: alertness, responsiveness, attentiveness, situational understanding)

Adaptability

Responds quickly and effectively to uncertain and unpredictable work situations. Open to change, rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles. Thrives in the "gray" area and requires minimal structure. Quickly learns new work tasks, technologies, and procedures.(related terms: active learning, changing to fit the situation, able to adapt, situational flexibility)

Handling work stress

Functions effectively under pressure; remains composed under pressure and high-stress situations; does not overreact; manages frustration and other stresses well; acts as a calming and settling influence on others. Exhibits a hardiness of spirit despite physical and mental hardships; possesses moral and physical courage. (related terms: productive stress management, resilience, effectiveness under pressure, triumph over adversity, coping)

Persistence

Works hard to achieve a goal or accomplish an assigned task. Won't quit, does not tend to procrastinate, and completes tasks once begun. Sees work through to completion. Even in the face of failure, keeps trying. Tends to believe that success is always attainable with hard work and persistence. Works hard even when the reward is small, unlikely to be obtained, or will only be realized far into the future. (related terms: perseverance, grit, work ethic)

Behaving ethically

Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner and encourages others to do so as well. Always does the right thing even when no one is watching. This includes (but is not limited to) performing work-related duties according to laws, regulations, and policies, but also understanding that behaving ethically goes well beyond what the law requires. Takes responsibility and maintains accountability for own actions, decisions, and roles in missions.(related terms: integrity)

Operating safely

Identifies and carefully weighs safety risks in making decisions and adheres to safety rules and regulations. Fosters a safety culture, wears safety gear, and encourages others to follow safety rules and speak openly of their safety concerns. Has knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools used for risk assessment and mitigation, including assessment of failures and their consequences. (related terms: safety and risk management)