Fall 2013Go Government Webinar Series

How to Create a Strong Federal ResumeOctober 8, 2013

Housekeeping

• We will open up the phone lines for questions at the end of the call. In the meantime, we encourage you to type your questions into the Q&A box.

• The recording of today’s presentation will be sent to all registered participants in 2-3 business days

Presenters

Emily McConnell• Program Associate, Education and Outreach

Caleb Campbell • Program Associate, Education and Outreach

Mark Doboga • Director, Government Transformation and Agency

Partnerships

Partnership for Public Service

The Partnership is a nonprofit, nonpartisan

organization that is dedicated to revitalizing the federal

government by inspiring a new generation to serve and

by transforming the way government works.

Agenda

• Federal Resume

• Resume Best Practices

• How to Build a Resume on USAJOBS

• Resources

• Question and Answer

• Length• Level of detail• Required information

What is the difference between a federal resume and a traditional resume?

Federal Resume v. Traditional Resume

TIP: Federal resumes can range in length: from 1 to 5 pages for entry-level applicants!

Resume Best Practices

Dos and Donts

Do: • Be concise and clear• Address all periods of time• Highlight strengths with examples• Amend resume to “fit” the job• Use correct grammar and punctuation• Double check spelling• Be consistent in your format• Include cover letter

Dos and Don’ts

Don’t:• Use acronyms• Include unnecessary information• Write in current tense for former jobs• Be chatty• Be untruthful

Resume Best Practices: Write to the Position

• If the vacancy requires the “ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing”… highlight your communication skills.

• If the vacancy requires knowledge of Excel… focus on the most complex use of Excel.

Resume Best Practices: Highlight a Range of Skills

• Communication (written and oral)

• Innovation

• Creativity

• Autonomy

• Skills

Straight to the Source

• What best practices would you suggest regarding the federal resume?

• What is the most common mistake you see in a federal resume?

Building a Federal Resume on

USAJOBS.gov

Building Your Federal Resume

Two primary ways to create a resume for a federal job:

• Resume Builder• Resume Uploader

Building Your Federal Resume

Create an account on USAJOBS.gov

• Build up to 5 federal resumes, each tailored to a different federal opportunity!

• Upload your private sector resume to the Saved Documents folder

Carefully review the job vacancy announcement

• Focus on the “Duties” section and customize your resume accordingly by identifying and including key words and phrases

Building Your Federal Resume

Sections:• Candidate information• Work experience• Education• References• Affiliations• Desired locations

Building Your Federal Resume

Building Your Federal Resume

Remember to include:• Salary and pay period• Average hours per

week• For federal positions,

pay plan, series and grade

Building Your Federal Resume

• Be specific and detailed

• Use keywords from the job description

Building Your Federal Resume

• Include information about schools attended, degree information, and relevant coursework

Building Your Federal Resume

Other information can enhance your application:

• Job related training• Foreign languages• Organizations and

affiliations – especially for students

Building Your Federal Resume

Up to 5 references

Good references:• Employers• Professors and advisors• People who know you

from organizations or community service

Straight to the Source

• What are the advantages of using the USAJOBS Resume Builder tool to create a federal resume?

• What are some more ways to tailor the resume to the job description? Are there any special keywords or phrases that hiring agencies look for?

• How can students who don’t have much traditional work experience use the federal resume to highlight their qualifications?

Resources

• GoGovernment.org

• Partnership Connect

Fall 2013 Upcoming EventsGo Government Webinar: What Makes a Federal Job Application Stand Out?

Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. EST

If you’d like to learn more about the Federal Advisor Certificate Program, please visit www.calltoserve.org/certificate/

Questions?

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