Writing A Resume For Federal Government Jobs

Cv Skills Example: How You Excel

How to Create a Federal Resume | American Military University (AMU)

Every resume should include a section listing skillsthat are relevant to the job. Master chess player? Interesting, but probably not relevant. The skills section should typically include a mix of technical skills computer knowledge, advanced expertise in your field, etc. and soft people skills like customer service, a knack for sales or public speaking ability.

Avoid clichés like team player or self-starter. Try to describe your skills in language that other resumes wont have. These examples illustrate how to give generic skills a more original twist:

Expert computer programmer

Key Takeaways For A Federal Employee Resume

There are millions of Federal jobs with excellent pay, benefits and job security, and the job outlook for this sector is secure.

The U.S. government itself tells job seekers: Your resume is the primary way for you to communicate your education, skills and experience. For anyone seeking federal employment, building an outstanding resume is the crucial first step.

The federal government and resume.io will both tell you that each resume you send out must be custom-built to specifically address the requirements of the job youre seeking.

Go to resume.io, choose one of our professional templates and start crafting a bulletproof resume today. The jobs are there all theyre waiting for is you.

Get started!

Federal Resume Writer Criteria

Each of the federal resume writers below was reviewed by a Certified Professional Resume Writer taking into consideration the following:

Cost: The cost of the service compared to other federal resume writers.

Turnaround: The speed at which the resume draft is completed.

Credentials: Overall experience, awards, and certifications.

Resume Design: The design, style, and overall look of the resume.

Customer Reviews: The number of reviews and overall satisfaction ratings.

This list was hand-curated to serve all federal professions. These jobs include GS-3 to GS-4, GS-5 to GS-7, GS-8 to GS-12, GS-13 to GS-15, and also Senior Executive Service 5, 4, 3.

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Key Components Of A Federal Resume

The best way to create a federal resume is to use the resume builder on the federal governments jobs website, USAJOBS. The resume builder will guide you through the whole process. And you dont have to stick with one. You can create a resume tailored to fit different positions you apply for. You can also create a searchable, master resume, so HR specialists can contact you if theres an opportunity that fits your skills and experience.

What Should A Usajobs Resume Look Like

Because every job announcement will require a tailored resume, the USAJOBS Resume Builder is the most common of application formats, however many vacancies allot you to upload your federal resume and best practices for SES applicants is do not submit more than five pages. The key to building a USAJOBS Resume is to ensure your resume is in compliance with all information required and you focus on qualitative and quantitative results related to your career progression. With that in mind, there are a few tips you can use to increase your chances of getting your resume past the initial filters.

When you start the federal application process through USAJOBS, you will be asked a series of assessment questions that determine your experience level. Your response content needs to appear in the body of your USAJOBS resume and the answers should reflect your superior knowledge and skill level. Simple errors can mean automatic elimination by the USAJOBS system before it reaches the review stage.

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List Your Work Experience

Federal resumes require a detailed accounting of your work experience over the last 10 years. Similar to normal resumes, it is best to begin the body of your federal resume with professional experience, especially in positions related to the job you’re applying for. If you’re lacking significant professional experience, consider listing your education first and choose the most applicable positions that prove you’re suited for the job.

To provide the most detailed account of your qualifications, include the following information when describing each of your work experiences:

What Should Be Included In A Federal Resume

When you look for federal resume writing services, you want to feel confident the writers will include all the relevant information a federal resume should contain. Here are some things you should communicate to your resume writer:

Start and end dates for every job you include on the resume
Number of hours per week each job required you to work

The level of the job, such as director, manager, engineer, trainer or other team member
The address, supervisor name and salary for each position

A critical part of the resume is proving you have the ability to perform the tasks detailed in the job description. Your experience should convey that you can handle these duties and have performed similar work in the past. In other words, you need to prove you have the skills and experience to perform in the job.

Federal job applications should highlight qualitative and quantitative numbers to show why you would make a good hire. If you have data on how much money you saved your company by changing the way something is done or how many times you performed a task each week, you should give this information to your federal resume writer. The more specific and results oriented your resume is, the better.

Employment History Sample: Direct Your Message

In the employment history section of your resume, which most likely will be organized in reverse chronological order, stick to the facts without wasting words . Here you detail your job responsibilities and achievements in bulleted items using direct, simple language. Make sure each item illustrates that you can perform the duties your new job will entail.

First, compile a list of all the jobs you have had that relate to the job you seek. Consider your responsibilities and achievements in each position. Then, as you begin to write, focus on the outcomes of your actions and the problems you solved. Use data and details to strengthen your claims.

Try the STAR format for organizing this section. Relate the Situation, explain your Task, tell what Action you took and detail your Results.

Below you will find an adaptable employment history resume sample.

Topresume: Why Do Job Seekers Need A Special Resume When Applying For A Position In The Federal Government

Decoding Federal Resumes

TC Paulson: The federal application path itself is a more lengthy, involved, and comprehensive journey, so your resume needs to reflect that. However, it’s not just about developing a resume as complex as a government process there are lots of required elements you won’t find in a typical corporate hiring process, and it’s important that you include them all.

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Start With A Trusted Format

There are 3 typical resumes formats you can pick from:

Reverse-chronological: this ones the standard and it lists your experiences from most recent to the oldest one.
Functional. This one doesnt include work experiences and focuses solely on your skills.
Combination, a mix of the other 2 formats.

Since youre making a federal resume, though, you need to go with a reverse-chronological format.

Its the most common format in the US and is recognized by every single federal recruiter.

How Long Should a Federal Resume Be?

While a traditional resume is 1-2 pages max, the federal resume provides you with a LOT more freedom.

As we highlighted above, a federal resume includes a lot more detail than the conventional one. So, if you aim for 1-2 pages, youll just come off as lazy .

Which Format Should You Use ForYour Federal Resume?

Unless the job ad specifically asks for a specific format, we recommend you stick to PDF.

A PDF resume maintains its original formatting and will look just like you intended regardless of which computer you open it with.

The same, however, cant be said for a Word resume format.

Should I Use a Federal Resume Template?

Yep – if you use a resume template, your resume is going to be a lot more noticeable and at the same time, easier to create.

You can pick one of our hand-crafted CV templates and get started with yours in minutes!

Make Sure You Fulfill The Minimum Qualifications

Even before you start writing your resume for a federal job, you have to make sure that you will be able to prove your qualifications adequately on your resume.

Read the entire job announcement carefully.

Check the This job is open to and Who may apply sections to check out the eligibility criteria or the hiring paths the job is specified for.

Once youre sure you meet the eligibility criteria, proceed to the Qualifications section to check whether you meet the minimum qualifications in the type of work experience, years of work experience, skills, knowledge, education, and any other requirements.

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Tr: What Tips Can You Give To Someone Looking To Use A Federal Resume

TP: Your federal resume will go through a scoring process when you apply for a job. To help you score higher, your federal resume writer will need your help!

Thoroughly review the requirements in the vacancy announcement and select the details and achievements from your background that align with those requirements. As you invest in this service, take the time to provide your writer with comprehensive information, quantifiable data, and specific achievements. With this, your professional resume writer will be able to develop an interview-winning document for you.

After your writer has delivered your final document, the rest is up to you. Follow the directions in the application process and pay attention to additional questions or essay requirements. And of course, be mindful of the application deadline!

Looking for a position in the federal workforce? Hire a TopResume federal resume writer today!

Include Dates Hours Level Of Experience And Examples For Each Work Experience

USAJOBS Federal Resume Writing Services: CareerProPlus

For each work experience you list, make sure you include:

Start and end dates .
The number of hours you worked per week.

The level and amount of experiencefor instance, whether you served as a project manager or a team member helps to illustrate your level of experience.
Examples of relevant experiences and accomplishments that prove you can perform the tasks at the level required for the job as stated in the job announcement. Your experience needs to address every required qualification.

Example

Experience/Accomplishment

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Whats A Federal Resume

A federal resume, as the name implies, is the type of resume you need to make in order to apply for US federal positions.

It is similar to the conventional resume in the way you describe your experiences. You include all the must-have sections in your resume, and describe your skills and past experiences.

There are, however, some differences from a conventional resume that make creating a federal one a bit trickier.

S To Produce A Best Qualified Federal Resume

How much qualitative difference actually exists between the top 5% of candidates and the top 15% or the top 25%? Some, but its equally likely that extremely well qualified candidates may fall into the lower qualification levels simply because their capabilities arent clearly communicated. Getting the edge in a tight competitive field may come from the way your information focuses on the key requirements and how easy you make it for decision makers to recognize your fit for the position.

What works? Here are 7 resume tips for government jobs to help you piece together the federal resume puzzle:

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Cv Skills Example: Attributes At A Glance

The skills section of your government worker CV is a great place to optimize for the ATS. Here you will choose your top 4-7 attributes. Make sure your CV contains the exact language from the job listing. That means reviewing the listing and matching your skills to those necessary for the job.

The purpose of this section is twofold:

Allow hiring managers to quickly scan to make sure you have the skills they are looking for in a candidate

Give those hiring managers an idea of the skills you believe are most important for the job.

Dont neglect soft skills

Your technical and learned job skills are important, but so too are the soft skills that make you a good employee. Consider adding one of these six that Randstad looks for in candidates:

Communication

Tr: What Should A Federal Resume Include

Webinar: Federal Resumes and Job Applications w/ Paula Golladay

TP: Like any traditional resume, a federal resume is a key tool in the first phase of the job application process. It is designed to showcase that you have the required qualifications for the specific job you are targeting.

A federal resume needs to keep pace with government policies and procedures for hiring, which means following mandated changes required by the Office of Personnel Management . It’s important that you redesign your resume so it complies with the core elements required by the majority of government agencies, all while, of course, including unique aspects of each specific job. It should detail the key aspects of your qualifications, including your experience, education, certifications, and any other relevant data. In addition, the header should contain your personal data including your name, contact information, citizenship, Veterans Preference, and federal employment history .

Overall, it should contain the following categories of information:

Get The Interviews And Offers You Deserve

The federal resume writing service offered by CareerProPlus can provide you with the tools you need to hold your own in the highly competitive federal job market. Since 1986, CareerProPlus has proudly served candidates for jobs in both the private sector and federal government, military personnel seeking post-service employment, and current federal employees seeking a promotion or career change. Our professional federal resume writers have written more than 60,000 military, civilian, and federal resumes, resulting in many of our clients landing interviews that lead to job offers. If youre having trouble getting through the application process, CareerProPlus can refine your federal resume and get you in the right place at the right time.

How To Write A Federal Resume In 2022

Creating a federal resume is a lot trickier than a conventional one.

For starters, you need to make it way more comprehensive .

You also have to add very specific details, such as your GS rating, clearance, and more.

Want to learn how to create/build a federal resume the easy way?

Whats a Federal Resume & How Does It Differ From a Conventional One

How to Write a Federal Resume in 6 Easy Steps
How to Look for Federal Jobs

And more!

So, lets get started.

How To Build A Resume

To build a resume in USAJOBS:

Sign into USAJOBS.

Go to your Documents.

Make sure youre in the Resumes section and select the Upload or build resume button.

Click Build resume.

Name your new resume and click Next.

Click Add Work Experience, enter the required information and click Save Work Experience. To add additional work experience repeat this step or click Next to continue with your education information.

Click Add Education, enter the required information and click Save Education. Repeat this step to add additional education or click Next to continue with your references. You may also click Finish if you dont want to add more information.

Click Add Reference, enter the required information and click Save Reference. Repeat this step to add an additional reference or click Next to continue to the next step.

You can enter additional information on your resume such as job related training, language skills, organizations/affiliations, professional publications, and other information. Click the corresponding button under each section to add your information, enter your information and click Add or Save for each section once completed.

Click Finish to save your resume. Your new resume will appear in your Documents list.

Click View on the resume icon to preview your resume. To edit your resume click Edit on the resume icon and it will bring you to the first page of your resume in the resume builder tool.

Describe Your Educational Background

Federal Resume Example & Writing Tips for 2021

Education is another important facet of your resume. Be sure to only list schools and programs that are accredited through the Office of Personnel Managements standards. If youre an entry-level candidate, consider including more information, like relevant coursework from your education.

Be sure to include these educational details for government recruiters to review:

Name of school

Awards, scholarships or special recognitions

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What Is A Government Resume

A government resume is a specialized resume that consists of a three- to seven-page analysis of your professional qualifications. There are many similarities between a government resume and a regular resume. For example, both require you to detail your previous education, work experience and skills that relate to the job youre applying for. However, a government resume has additional requirements that help hiring personnel to verify your employment history and determine your suitability for the role, organization or department.

This type of resume also requires you to list your salary, how many hours you worked per week for each position as well as the name and contact information of your immediate supervisor. You must also include your General Scheduled rate, which is a pay grade assigned to current employees of the government and determines your pay rate and the position youve held with an organization. This scale goes from 1 to 15, showing how pay increases at each rank for the position.

Tr: So A Federal Resume Is Different What Does It Look Like

TP: First and foremost, you can expect a federal resume to be longer than a private sector one. A typical private-sector resume will be 12 pages in length, but to include all the critical data essential for the federal application process you might find yourself needing 3-7 pages for your resume, depending on the length and breadth of your work experience.

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