Union Pacific Resume Template for Veterans

What Union Pacific looks for

Union Pacific has published five résumé tips for veterans. First, learn what matters to the railroad: serving customers and a commitment to safety. Highlight safety, training, productivity, innovation, leadership, problem solving, working in extreme conditions, engineering, logistics, communications and customer satisfaction. Replace the objective with a Career Highlights section of four or five major accomplishments. Show measurable results with data instead of responsibilities, drop military jargon and acronyms, and have people without military experience review it. About 17% of UP's workforce are veterans.

Bullet formula: Union Pacific's own example: not "Responsible for a $4 million parts budget" but "Saved 15 percent ($600K) through improved parts inventory process of a $4 million budget." Show [% or $ change] + [the process you improved] + [the scope].

Do

• Replace the objective with a Career Highlights summary of four or five major accomplishments a UP recruiter needs to know.
• Emphasize safety, leadership, planning and operations. UP says these apply directly to the railroad.
• Show measurable accomplishments, not responsibilities: percent change, a process improved, dollars saved, a customer served better.
• Use plain terms. UP's own example is writing "US Navy Special Operations" instead of NAVSPECWARCOM.
• Have people without military experience check that every accomplishment is fully translated.
• Include work in extreme conditions and around-the-clock operations. UP lists this as a relevant skill.

Avoid

• Don't use an Objective section. UP recommends Career Highlights instead.
• Don't lead with combat or weapons skills. UP suggests highlighting safety, leadership, planning and operations instead.
• Don't write responsibility-only bullets like "Responsible for a $4 million budget."

Words from their postings

safety, customer service, training, productivity, innovation, leadership, problem solving, logistics, extreme environmental conditions, operational excellence.

Veteran programs

• UPVETS, one of Union Pacific's largest employee resource groups, open to all employees.
• A Military Skills Translator, plus recruiters trained on roles in all branches.
• A military liaison for deployed employees and families, and a reservist policy that covers the difference between military and railroad pay during duty.
• UP says veterans are about 17% of its workforce and that it exceeds the federal protected-veteran hiring benchmark.

Where veterans land

Manager of terminal / train operations, Conductor trainee, Locomotive engineer, Mechanical / carman, Engineering and track maintenance, Customer care and support

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