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 Events

Go 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?

OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG