5 LinkedIn Mistakes Veterans Make (That Civilians Never Would)

kate frese

May 25

3 min read

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The LinkedIn Problem

You're separating from the Navy. You update your LinkedIn. You add 'Veteran' to your title. You wait for the job offers to roll in. They don't. Here's why: your LinkedIn profile looks like a military resume, not a civilian job application. And civilian recruiters don't know how to read it. This isn't your fault — but it is your problem to fix.

Mistake #1: No Profile Photo (Or a Uniform Photo)

LinkedIn profiles with photos get 21x more views than those without. A uniform photo signals 'I just separated and haven't updated this yet.' Use a clean, professional headshot — business casual, neutral background, good lighting. Your phone camera is sufficient. Do this today.

Mistake #2: Rank as Your Job Title

'Lieutenant Commander, US Navy' tells a civilian recruiter almost nothing about what you can do for them. Instead of: 'LCDR, USN (Ret.)' Try: 'Operations Leader | Supply Chain & Logistics | Veteran | Open to Opportunities' Your headline should reflect your skills and target role — not your rank.

Mistake #3: No Summary Section

The About section is your 30-second pitch. Most veterans leave it blank or paste their eval bullet points verbatim. Write 3–5 sentences in first person that answer: Who are you? What do you do well? What are you looking for? This is not a formal document. Write like a human being talking to another human being. Recruiters spend 7 seconds on your profile — make those seconds count.

Mistake #4: Military Jargon Nobody Can Decode

Your civilian reader does not know what an LPO is. They don't know NKO, PMS, INSURV, or what a 3.8 on a fitrep means. Every piece of jargon is a door closing. Translate everything to outcomes: people led, dollars managed, problems solved, systems improved. Make it legible to someone who has never worn a uniform.

Mistake #5: No Connection Strategy

LinkedIn is a network, not a billboard. Most veterans connect with other veterans and wait. The move: • Connect with hiring managers in your target industry • Connect with veterans who've made the transition you want to make • Connect with recruiters at companies you're targeting • Connect with alumni from your college or university Send a brief, genuine note with every connection request. It doesn't have to be long — it just has to be human.

The Fix: One Afternoon

New photo. Rewritten headline. 3-sentence About section. One jargon bullet converted to an outcome. Ten new connections in your target industry. That's one afternoon — and your profile will outperform 80% of other veterans on the platform.