Translating army service into civilian-understandable phrases on a resume requires a strategic method. This includes clearly articulating the talents, coaching, and expertise gained throughout service and demonstrating their relevance to the specified civilian position. As an example, a army logistics officer would possibly spotlight expertise in provide chain administration, stock management, and useful resource allocation, emphasizing quantifiable achievements each time attainable.
Efficient communication of army expertise considerably will increase the probabilities of securing civilian employment. It allows employers to acknowledge the dear transferable expertise veterans possess, resembling management, teamwork, self-discipline, and problem-solving beneath strain. Traditionally, veterans have confronted challenges translating their service into civilian careers. Nevertheless, elevated consciousness of the distinctive strengths veterans convey to the workforce, mixed with assets designed to bridge the hole, has created a extra favorable surroundings for transitioning service members.
The next sections will delve deeper into particular methods for successfully presenting army expertise on a resume, together with translating army jargon, quantifying achievements, and tailoring the resume to particular job descriptions.
1. Translate Army Jargon
Readability is paramount when presenting army expertise to civilian employers. Army jargon, whereas commonplace throughout the armed forces, can create confusion and obscure priceless expertise and expertise. Translating this specialised terminology into civilian-equivalent phrases is crucial for guaranteeing recruiters and hiring managers perceive the relevance of a candidate’s background. For instance, referencing “MOS 11B” affords little perception to a civilian recruiter, whereas stating “Infantryman, specializing in small unit ways and fight operations” clearly communicates the position and skillset. Equally, changing “CONUS” with “Continental United States” avoids ambiguity and ensures clear communication.
Failure to translate jargon can result in a resume being ignored or misunderstood. A civilian recruiter could lack the time or assets to decipher army acronyms and terminology, doubtlessly resulting in certified candidates being dismissed. Conversely, successfully translating jargon showcases a candidate’s means to adapt communication to totally different audiences, a priceless talent in any civilian office. Think about a candidate itemizing “qualification with the M4 carbine.” Whereas informative inside a army context, a civilian employer would possibly higher perceive the phrase “proficient with small arms weapon techniques.” This translation clarifies the talent and avoids potential misinterpretations. Moreover, utilizing clear language helps exhibit vital considering and communication expertise, additional enhancing the candidate’s profile.
Efficient translation of army jargon immediately contributes to a stronger, extra impactful resume. This apply ensures readability, highlights related expertise, and demonstrates adaptability, rising the chance of securing an interview. This translation course of requires cautious consideration of the audience and the precise necessities of the specified civilian position. Assets like military-to-civilian occupation translators and veteran-focused resume writing guides can help on this essential side of resume preparation.
2. Quantify Achievements
Quantifying achievements is essential for successfully translating army expertise onto a resume. Whereas army descriptions typically deal with duties and obligations, civilian employers search concrete proof of affect and outcomes. Quantifiable achievements present tangible proof of expertise and skills, enabling employers to evaluate a candidate’s potential contribution.
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Efficiency Metrics:
Utilizing metrics provides weight to accomplishments. Moderately than stating “answerable for automobile upkeep,” a quantifiable assertion like “diminished automobile downtime by 15% by way of preventative upkeep packages” demonstrates a tangible affect. This data-driven method gives employers with clear proof of a candidate’s effectiveness and effectivity.
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Scope and Scale:
Defining the scope of obligations gives context and demonstrates management capabilities. As an alternative of stating “supervised personnel,” specifying “led a staff of 12 personnel in complicated logistical operations” affords a clearer image of management expertise and duty. Equally, quantifying the dimensions of operations, resembling “managed a price range of $2 million” or “oversaw the distribution of assets to five,000 personnel,” gives priceless context.
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Price Financial savings and Effectivity Enhancements:
Highlighting price financial savings or effectivity good points demonstrates worth and impactful contributions. Examples embody “carried out a brand new coaching program that diminished coaching prices by 10%” or “streamlined logistics processes, leading to a 5% enhance in operational effectivity.” These quantifiable achievements resonate with employers who search candidates able to delivering tangible outcomes.
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Awards and Recognition:
Together with awards and recognition gives additional validation of achievements and demonstrates distinctive efficiency. Itemizing particular awards, resembling “Awarded the Military Commendation Medal for excellent management,” affords concrete proof of recognition and reinforces the candidate’s {qualifications}. You will need to briefly clarify the importance of the award in civilian phrases to make sure its relevance is known.
By quantifying achievements, army expertise turns into extra impactful and simpler for civilian employers to know. This apply permits candidates to showcase their contributions successfully, rising their competitiveness within the civilian job market. Translating army expertise into quantifiable achievements bridges the communication hole between army and civilian sectors, enabling employers to acknowledge the true worth veterans convey to their organizations.
3. Spotlight Transferable Abilities
Highlighting transferable expertise types a cornerstone of successfully presenting army expertise on a civilian resume. Army coaching typically cultivates a singular set of expertise not readily obvious to civilian employers. Instantly connecting these expertise to the necessities of civilian job descriptions is vital for demonstrating a candidate’s suitability. For instance, expertise main a squad can translate to confirmed management and staff administration expertise relevant to challenge administration or supervisory roles. Equally, expertise in logistics or provide chain administration throughout the army immediately interprets to equal civilian roles. A candidate proficient in working complicated army gear can emphasize technical aptitude and flexibility, priceless property in technical fields. The flexibility to thrive in high-pressure army environments demonstrates adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving expertise, wanted in varied industries.
Failure to focus on transferable expertise can result in underselling priceless expertise and {qualifications}. A resume merely itemizing army duties with out connecting them to civilian-relevant expertise dangers being ignored. A candidate might need intensive expertise in cybersecurity throughout the army, however itemizing solely technical army jargon with out emphasizing expertise like community safety, risk evaluation, or incident response fails to speak the true worth of that have to a civilian employer. Conversely, a candidate who explicitly states expertise in strategic planning, threat evaluation, or disaster administration gained by way of army management roles instantly demonstrates their relevance to a broader vary of civilian positions.
Successfully highlighting transferable expertise bridges the hole between army expertise and civilian profession alternatives. This course of requires cautious evaluation of job descriptions, identification of related key phrases, and clear articulation of how army expertise interprets to these necessities. Doing so maximizes the affect of a resume, enabling employers to acknowledge the dear skillset veterans supply. Assets such because the Army Abilities Translator and veteran-focused profession counseling providers can present invaluable help in figuring out and articulating transferable expertise. This significant step considerably will increase a veteran’s probabilities of securing interviews and in the end, profitable profession transition.
4. Use Civilian Job Titles
Utilizing civilian job titles is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of a resume that features army expertise. Whereas army occupational specialties (MOS) or different military-specific titles are readily understood throughout the armed forces, they typically lack that means for civilian hiring managers. Translating army roles into equal civilian job titles ensures speedy readability and permits recruiters to shortly grasp a candidate’s expertise and skillset. This apply considerably improves the probabilities of a resume being correctly understood and regarded.
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Readability and Understanding:
Civilian job titles present speedy context and understanding for recruiters unfamiliar with army terminology. For instance, as a substitute of itemizing “11B Infantryman,” utilizing a title like “Safety Specialist” or “Workforce Chief” immediately conveys the character of the position and its potential civilian purposes. This readability is vital for attracting consideration in a aggressive job market.
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Key phrase Optimization:
Applicant Monitoring Methods (ATS) typically scan resumes for particular key phrases associated to the job description. Utilizing civilian job titles ensures resumes align with frequent business terminology, rising the chance of being flagged by ATS and reaching human reviewers. A army title like “92A Automated Logistical Specialist” is likely to be ignored, whereas “Provide Chain Supervisor” or “Logistics Coordinator” immediately aligns with frequent business key phrases.
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Demonstrates Adaptability:
Utilizing civilian job titles demonstrates a candidate’s understanding of the civilian job market and their willingness to adapt their communication model. This adaptability is a priceless asset in any office and alerts a proactive method to profession transition.
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Facilitates Direct Comparability:
Civilian job titles facilitate direct comparability with different candidates from civilian backgrounds. This stage enjoying subject ensures army expertise is evaluated pretty and permits recruiters to simply assess a candidate’s {qualifications} relative to different candidates.
Using civilian job titles on a resume considerably enhances a veteran’s means to attach with potential employers. This apply ensures readability, improves ATS compatibility, demonstrates adaptability, and facilitates direct comparability with different candidates, in the end rising the chance of securing a civilian job interview. Assets resembling military-to-civilian job title converters and veteran-focused resume writing guides can help in precisely translating army roles into their civilian equivalents. This significant step is instrumental in bridging the communication hole between army expertise and civilian profession alternatives.
5. Tailor to Goal Roles
Tailoring a resume to focus on particular roles is paramount when transitioning from army service to a civilian profession. Generic resumes typically fail to focus on the relevance of army expertise to particular person job necessities. A focused method ensures the resume speaks on to the wants of every potential employer, maximizing the affect of military-acquired expertise and expertise. This customization demonstrates a proactive method and a real curiosity within the particular position, rising the chance of securing an interview.
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Key phrase Optimization:
Fastidiously reviewing job descriptions and incorporating related key phrases into the resume is crucial. Applicant Monitoring Methods (ATS) typically filter resumes primarily based on key phrase matches. Aligning the resume with the precise language used within the job description will increase its visibility and improves the probabilities of reaching human reviewers. For instance, a veteran making use of for a challenge administration position ought to incorporate key phrases like “challenge planning,” “threat administration,” and “staff management,” that are generally related to such positions, and join them with related army expertise.
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Highlighting Related Abilities:
Emphasizing the transferable expertise most related to the goal position ensures the resume resonates with the hiring supervisor. Whereas a veteran would possibly possess a broad vary of expertise acquired throughout army service, choosing and highlighting these immediately relevant to the precise job necessities demonstrates a targeted and tailor-made method. A veteran making use of for a logistics position ought to prioritize expertise like provide chain administration, stock management, and procurement, even when in addition they possess different expertise like fight operations or weapons dealing with.
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Quantifying Achievements with Context:
Quantifying achievements is crucial, however offering context related to the goal position provides vital affect. As an alternative of merely stating “managed a price range,” tailoring the outline to “managed a $2 million price range for logistical operations supporting 5,000 personnel” aligns immediately with the necessities of a senior logistics administration position. This context demonstrates the dimensions and complexity of the achievement, making it extra related and spectacular to the hiring supervisor.
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Addressing Particular Necessities:
Instantly addressing the precise necessities outlined within the job description demonstrates consideration to element and a real curiosity within the position. If a job description emphasizes expertise with particular software program or applied sciences, the resume ought to spotlight any related army coaching or expertise in these areas. This focused method demonstrates a candidate’s preparedness and suitability for the place.
Tailoring a resume to every goal position considerably will increase the effectiveness of presenting army expertise to civilian employers. By optimizing key phrases, highlighting related expertise, offering context for achievements, and addressing particular necessities, veterans can exhibit the direct applicability of their army expertise to civilian careers. This tailor-made method enhances the resume’s affect, making it extra prone to seize the eye of hiring managers and in the end result in profitable profession transitions.
6. Give attention to Outcomes
Specializing in outcomes is paramount when translating army expertise onto a civilian resume. Whereas army resumes typically element obligations and duties, civilian employers prioritize demonstrable outcomes and quantifiable achievements. This shift in focus requires reframing army expertise to showcase the affect of actions and contributions. Trigger and impact relationships should be clearly articulated. For instance, as a substitute of stating “answerable for automobile upkeep,” highlighting the end result, resembling “diminished automobile downtime by 15% by way of implementation of a preventative upkeep program,” demonstrates tangible affect and quantifiable success. Equally, fairly than stating “managed logistics,” quantifying the achievement with “optimized logistical operations, leading to a ten% discount in transportation prices” showcases the direct affect of actions. This results-oriented method immediately addresses what civilian employers search: proof of worth and contribution.
Actual-life examples additional illustrate the significance of specializing in outcomes. A army medic making use of for a civilian nursing place would possibly state “supplied emergency medical care in fight conditions.” Whereas descriptive, a results-oriented method would emphasize outcomes, resembling “administered emergency medical therapy to over 200 casualties, leading to a 95% survival charge.” This quantified achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of the medic’s expertise in a high-pressure surroundings. An officer answerable for coaching personnel would possibly state “developed and carried out coaching packages.” A results-oriented method would quantify the affect: “developed and carried out coaching packages that improved soldier proficiency by 20%, as measured by standardized efficiency evaluations.” These examples exhibit the ability of showcasing quantifiable outcomes, offering concrete proof of expertise and skills.
Understanding the importance of specializing in outcomes empowers veterans to successfully talk the worth of their army expertise to civilian employers. This method clarifies affect, strengthens the resume’s narrative, and aligns with civilian expectations. It addresses potential challenges in translating army jargon and expertise into civilian-understandable phrases, immediately contributing to a more practical and aggressive resume. By showcasing the tangible affect of their actions, veterans can successfully bridge the hole between army service and civilian profession alternatives, maximizing their probabilities of success within the civilian job market.
7. Use Motion Verbs
Robust motion verbs are essential for successfully speaking the worth of army expertise on a civilian resume. These verbs inject dynamism and precision into descriptions, reworking passive statements of duty into lively demonstrations of expertise and accomplishments. This lively voice engages the reader and gives a clearer image of a candidate’s capabilities, immediately contributing to a extra compelling and impactful resume.
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Readability and Influence:
Motion verbs change imprecise language with concise and impactful descriptions. As an alternative of “answerable for coaching new recruits,” utilizing “Led, mentored, and educated 20 new recruits, leading to a 100% go charge on qualification exams” gives particular particulars and quantifiable outcomes, showcasing the candidate’s management and coaching talents.
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Demonstrates Initiative and Possession:
Motion verbs emphasize proactivity and possession of accomplishments. Phrases like “Spearheaded the event of…” or “Carried out a brand new technique that…” spotlight a candidate’s initiative and contribution, contrasting sharply with passive phrases like “was assigned to” or “participated in.” This distinction demonstrates management qualities and a proactive method to problem-solving.
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Key phrases for Applicant Monitoring Methods (ATS):
Many firms make the most of ATS to scan resumes for particular key phrases. Motion verbs typically align with these key phrases, rising the chance of a resume being chosen for overview. Verbs like “managed,” “led,” “developed,” “carried out,” and “optimized” are often wanted by employers and ought to be strategically included when describing army expertise.
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Conciseness and Readability:
Motion verbs contribute to concise and impactful writing, avoiding pointless jargon and bettering readability. This streamlined method permits recruiters to shortly grasp the essence of a candidate’s expertise and {qualifications}, maximizing the affect of the resume inside restricted overview time. For instance, utilizing “streamlined logistics operations, decreasing transport prices by 15%” is extra impactful and simpler to know than a lengthier, passive description.
The strategic use of motion verbs considerably enhances the presentation of army expertise on a civilian resume. This apply clarifies accomplishments, demonstrates initiative, aligns with ATS key phrases, and improves readability. By successfully using motion verbs, veterans can guarantee their resumes resonate with civilian employers, showcasing the dear expertise and expertise gained by way of army service and maximizing their probabilities of success within the civilian job market.
8. Preserve Constant Formatting
Constant formatting is essential for presenting army expertise successfully on a civilian resume. A well-formatted resume enhances readability and professionalism, enabling recruiters to shortly course of info and grasp the worth of a candidate’s {qualifications}. Inconsistencies can create distractions and detract from the content material, doubtlessly resulting in a damaging first impression.
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Font and Font Dimension:
Sustaining a constant font and measurement all through the resume ensures a clear {and professional} look. Utilizing an ordinary, simply readable font like Occasions New Roman, Arial, or Calibri in a measurement between 10 and 12 factors is advisable. Various fonts or sizes can create a disorganized and unprofessional impression, doubtlessly signaling a scarcity of consideration to element. For instance, utilizing totally different fonts for headings and physique textual content or inconsistent font sizes between sections can disrupt visible stream and detract from the content material.
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Spacing and Margins:
Constant spacing and margins contribute to a cultured and arranged presentation. Utilizing normal margins (sometimes 1 inch on all sides) and constant spacing between sections and features of textual content improves readability and visible attraction. Inconsistent spacing, resembling massive gaps between sections or uneven line spacing, could make the resume seem cluttered and unprofessional. As an example, sustaining constant spacing between job entries ensures a transparent and arranged presentation of expertise.
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Headings and Subheadings:
Utilizing clear and constant headings and subheadings improves the group and readability of the resume. Constant formatting of headings, resembling utilizing daring textual content or a barely bigger font measurement, helps information the reader’s eye and facilitates fast entry to info. Inconsistencies in heading types can disrupt the visible hierarchy and make the resume troublesome to navigate. For instance, utilizing totally different capitalization types or font sizes for headings all through the resume can create confusion and detract from the general presentation.
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Dates and Places:
Consistency in formatting dates and places ensures readability and professionalism. Constantly utilizing both the month-year or month-day-year format for dates and utilizing a constant model for places (e.g., Metropolis, State) avoids confusion and maintains a cultured look. Inconsistent formatting, resembling utilizing totally different date codecs throughout the similar part or abbreviating places inconsistently, can create a disorganized impression. For instance, itemizing one job’s location as “San Diego, CA” and one other as “New York Metropolis, NY” lacks consistency.
Constant formatting immediately contributes to a cultured {and professional} resume, enabling army expertise to be introduced clearly and successfully. A well-formatted resume enhances readability, improves ATS compatibility, and creates a optimistic first impression, in the end rising the chance of success within the civilian job market. Consideration to those seemingly minor particulars can considerably affect how a recruiter perceives a candidate, emphasizing professionalism and a spotlight to element, essential attributes for any civilian position.
Steadily Requested Questions
Addressing frequent inquiries concerning the inclusion of army expertise on a resume clarifies finest practices and assists transitioning service members in successfully speaking their {qualifications} to civilian employers. The next questions and solutions present priceless insights into this significant side of profession transition.
Query 1: How ought to army ranks be introduced on a resume?
Whereas together with rank can present context, it is typically more practical to deal with the management obligations and achievements related to that rank. Clearly articulating the scope of management, such because the variety of personnel supervised or the dimensions of operations managed, gives extra impactful info for civilian employers. Utilizing civilian management titles like “Workforce Chief,” “Supervisor,” or “Venture Supervisor” can additional make clear roles and obligations.
Query 2: Is it essential to record each army project or responsibility?
Itemizing each project is not at all times mandatory. Prioritize relevance. Give attention to experiences and expertise immediately relevant to the goal civilian roles. Tailor the resume to every particular job utility, emphasizing probably the most related points of army service. This focused method maximizes affect and avoids overwhelming the reader with pointless info.
Query 3: What if army expertise is the one skilled expertise?
Even when army service contains the whole thing {of professional} expertise, focus stays on transferable expertise and quantifiable achievements. Spotlight management, teamwork, problem-solving, technical proficiencies, and some other expertise related to the specified civilian profession. Quantifying achievements each time attainable gives concrete proof of capabilities.
Query 4: How can safety clearances be addressed on a resume?
Merely stating the extent of clearance held is adequate. Keep away from together with particular particulars concerning the clearance course of or categorized info. For instance, stating “Held High Secret clearance” is adequate with out divulging delicate particulars. Focus ought to stay on expertise and expertise related to the goal position.
Query 5: What assets can be found to help with translating army expertise?
Quite a few assets exist to help veterans in translating army expertise onto a civilian resume. These embody on-line army expertise translators, veteran-focused resume writing guides, and profession counseling providers provided by veteran organizations. These assets present priceless steerage and assist throughout the profession transition course of.
Query 6: How can veterans handle employment gaps as a consequence of deployments or different service commitments?
Deal with employment gaps immediately and concisely. Briefly clarify the explanation for the hole, resembling “Army Deployment” or “Energetic Responsibility Service,” together with the dates of service. Give attention to the talents and expertise gained throughout that interval and their relevance to the goal civilian position. This transparency and deal with transferable expertise mitigate potential considerations about employment gaps.
Successfully translating army expertise onto a civilian resume requires cautious consideration of viewers, related expertise, and quantifiable achievements. These FAQs supply steerage for navigating this course of and guaranteeing a profitable transition into the civilian workforce.
Extra assets and in-depth steerage on particular points of resume writing for veterans will be discovered within the following sections.
Suggestions for Presenting Army Expertise on a Civilian Resume
Successfully speaking the worth of army expertise to civilian employers requires a strategic method. The following tips present sensible steerage for crafting a compelling resume that highlights related expertise and achievements.
Tip 1: Translate Army Jargon: Change military-specific phrases and acronyms with civilian equivalents. For instance, translate “MOS 11B” to “Infantryman, specializing in small unit ways and fight operations.”
Tip 2: Quantify Achievements: Use metrics to exhibit the affect of contributions. As an alternative of “answerable for automobile upkeep,” state “diminished automobile downtime by 15% by way of preventative upkeep packages.”
Tip 3: Spotlight Transferable Abilities: Join army expertise to civilian job necessities. Expertise main a squad can translate to “confirmed management and staff administration expertise.”
Tip 4: Use Civilian Job Titles: Translate army roles into equal civilian job titles. For instance, use “Logistics Coordinator” as a substitute of “92A Automated Logistical Specialist.”
Tip 5: Tailor to Goal Roles: Customise the resume for every job utility, emphasizing expertise and experiences related to the precise necessities. Incorporate key phrases from the job description.
Tip 6: Give attention to Outcomes: Emphasize outcomes and quantifiable achievements fairly than simply itemizing duties and obligations. Showcase the affect of actions.
Tip 7: Use Motion Verbs: Start descriptions with robust motion verbs to create dynamic and impactful statements. Examples embody “led,” “managed,” “developed,” and “carried out.”
Tip 8: Preserve Constant Formatting: Guarantee an expert look with constant fonts, font sizes, spacing, margins, and heading types.
By following the following pointers, candidates can create a compelling resume that successfully interprets army expertise into civilian-understandable phrases, maximizing their probabilities of securing interviews and in the end, profitable profession transitions.
The next part gives a concise conclusion and reinforces the significance of successfully presenting army expertise on a civilian resume.
Conclusion
Efficiently integrating army expertise right into a civilian resume requires a strategic method that bridges the communication hole between army and civilian sectors. Key parts of this course of embody translating army jargon into civilian-understandable phrases, quantifying achievements with metrics and impactful language, highlighting transferable expertise related to focus on roles, and utilizing civilian job titles for readability and key phrase optimization. Constant formatting and a results-oriented method additional improve the resume’s effectiveness, permitting recruiters to shortly grasp the worth a candidate brings. Tailoring the resume to every particular job utility ensures probably the most related {qualifications} are introduced, maximizing affect and demonstrating real curiosity within the alternative.
Efficient presentation of army expertise is crucial for profitable profession transition. By using these methods, transitioning service members can showcase the dear expertise, expertise, and dedication cultivated throughout army service, guaranteeing their {qualifications} are acknowledged and valued by civilian employers. This clear and concise communication empowers veterans to compete successfully within the civilian job market and safe fulfilling careers that leverage their distinctive strengths.
