The Basics of Writing a Federal Resume for USAJOBS.GOV

Courtesy Photo | If you're a transitioning service member looking to apply for a federal job, you may be using USAJOBS to find your next career. Many make the mistake of writing a civilian resume and using it to apply for a federal government position. Applying to a federal job is not like applying to a job in the civilian sector. As a result, the resumes are written differently, including different lengths and content. (Photo/Graphic Courtesy Army Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program)  

UNITED STATES

07.31.2018

Courtesy Story

DoD, Military-Civilian Transition Office

Article by Soldier for Life - Transition Assistance Program HQ Staff

If you're a transitioning service member looking to apply for a federal job, you may be using USAJOBS to find your next career. Many make the mistake of writing a civilian resume and using it to apply for a federal government position.

Applying to a federal job is not like applying to a job in the civilian sector. As a result, the resumes are written differently, including different lengths and content.

USAJOBS has a resume builder that can be used to guide you and ensure you include all necessary information. Below you will find basic guidelines for sections that can be included in a federal resume.

1. Basic Information

This includes your full name, address, phone number, email address, and Veteran's preference. It is important to make this information professional in nature, including email addresses that state your name.

2. Work Experience

List details of your job experience that show improvements, percentages, and goals reached. Do not just copy and paste the duties and responsibilities you have listed in your evaluation reports. Use this section of the resume to tailor your work experience to the position that you are applying for. It is highly encouraged to have more than one resume and each resume should be tailored to a specific type of job and/or position. USAJOBS allows you to upload five resumes.

3. Education

Under this part of the federal resume, list the accredited education you currently have. If you are enrolled at the time of submitting the resume, include an expected date of graduation and any relevant courses or credit hours you have taken so far. If you are only a few classes in, you can list that you are currently pursuing a degree, but be sure to list the school, location, degree(s), and major(s). Your GPA can be listed under education, unless the GPA is low.

4. Job-Related Training

Certifications require you to take an exam (and then pass!). Certifications must be renewed and maintained. List any certifications you currently have under job-related training. This should also be where you include your military training.

5. Additional Information

If you would like to include other relevant pieces of information, do so under this section. This can include your willingness to travel, additional skills or leadership, teams you are involved in, the languages you speak, your security clearance level, other duties you complete, etc.

a. Affiliations

If you are a member of a professional organization, club, or volunteer, you can include this information. If you have other roles outside of your current position, include them if they relate to the careers you are applying for.

b. Publications

If you have authored or co-authored a published work, include this in the federal resume.

c. Achievements

List awards, accomplishments, any exceptional rating comments, and recent job performance achievements.

6. References

List the name, phone number, email address, and type of reference (professional or personal) under the references heading. Make sure you have spoken with your references in advance and received their permission to include them in your application.

7. Career Summary/Cover Letter

In this section of the resume or as part of the cover letter, spend a paragraph explaining your background. This is a written version of your "30-second elevator speech." Use this time to list your certifications, Veteran status, and other important qualifications.

As with any resume, it's important to frequently review and update your federal resume. Be sure that before submitting it online, you have multiple people review it for spelling and grammatical errors. Keep the information on your resume organized and avoid using acronyms to explain roles, locations, positions, and duties, unless they directly relate to the position you are applying for. In addition, federal resumes range in length, but often run between five to six pages, so tailor each resume to the position.

For more information on the Transition Assistance Program, contact the Transition Assistance Program Manager on any military installation.

• Date Taken: 07.31.2018
• Date Posted: 07.31.2018 08:33
• Story ID: 286431
• Location: US