Your Interview Toolkit: Confidence-Boosting Tips for Veterans

Troopr’s top tips on interviewing as a veteran and how to stand out….for the right reasons!

Interviews. Love them or loathe them, they’re part of the journey to landing your next mission in civilian life. But here’s the good news: as a veteran, you bring a unique skill set, mindset, and work ethic that civilian employers want, they just might not fully understand it yet. That’s where a little prep, polish, and confidence come in.

Whether it’s been years since your last interview or you’re stepping into civilian hiring processes for the first time, this toolkit is designed to help you feel more confident and own your story.

1. Translate your experience into civilian language

Military acronyms and jargon? Impressive to those in the know. Confusing to those who aren’t. Think of your interview as a chance to become a translator of your own experience. Show the outcome. Focus on skills like leadership, adaptability, resilience, and planning, and tie them to real, relatable examples.

2. Do your homework on the company

Just like any mission, preparation is key. Research the organisation—its values, culture, mission, and people. Think about how your experience and ethos align with theirs. If you’re applying to a company that values teamwork, customer focus, or problem-solving under pressure—ding ding! You’ve got that in spades. Be ready to show how. Look at their careers site or social media channels (in particular LinkedIn) and pick up on the language they use. It can help you speak their language and subtly signal you’re already aligned with their culture.

3. Practice your stories using the STAR method

You’ve got stories—lots of them. But in an interview, structure matters.

Use the STAR method:
S – Situation
T – Task
A – Action
R – Result

This helps you give clear, powerful answers that show not just what you did, but how and why it made a difference.

Example:
Q: Tell me about a time you handled a challenge at work.
A:

“During a training exercise, our communication system went down (Situation). I was responsible for keeping the unit operational (Task). I created a backup comms plan using satellite phones and briefed the team (Action), which meant we completed the mission safely and on time despite the setback (Result).”

4. Don’t downplay your achievements

Modesty might be ingrained in military culture, but now’s the time to step into the spotlight. It’s not bragging—it’s clarity. Employers want to understand what you’ve done and what you bring. So own your achievements. If you led a team, delivered results under pressure, or overcame big challenges, say so—and say it with pride!

5. Prepare for common questions (and your own!)

Practice your answers to common questions like:

“Tell me about yourself.”
“Why do you want this job?”
“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
“Tell me about a time you showed leadership/problem-solving/teamwork.”

Also, prepare your own questions for the interviewer. Asking good questions shows interest, confidence, and curiosity. For example:

“What does success look like in this role?”
“How do you support career development for new starters?”
“What’s the team culture like?”

6. Remember: You belong here

It’s normal to feel nervous or even like an outsider in the civilian job market. But remember, your military background gives you real, relevant, and in-demand skills. Veterans are dependable. Quick learners. Cool under pressure. Problem solvers. Leaders. Teams work better with veterans on them. And employers are starting to understand that more and more. So when you walk into that interview room, know this: you’ve already done harder things. You’ve already shown up, delivered, adapted, and overcome. This? This is just the next step.

At Troopr, we believe veterans are some of the most valuable people in any workplace - and we’re here to help you show that in every interview. With the right prep and mindset, you won’t just get through interviews - you’ll shine. Our platform is packed full of tips and advice on how best to make the most of your military skills and translate them into civvy street along all the latest jobs and opportunities. Alternatively, if you are looking for more interview tips, check out our partner’s SaluteMyJob’s blog page, The Saluting Post.