1. A federal job search is not like a private sector job search. Let’s say you’re seeking a banking job in the private sector. You tailor your resume toward that industry and send it to all the banking institutions in your area or in other states if you’re agreeable to relocation. A federal resume doesn’t work that way. You can’t write one resume and send it to various agencies (eg: DOD, FDA, FHA, etc.). Every federal job has a vacancy announcement (job position) with a unique number and requirements for it. Therefore, your federal resume will be submitted to one agency or institution only…not all of them.

2. Federal jobs may require additional documentation. These may be KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities), MTQs (Managerial and Technical Qualification Statements), or ECQs (Executive Core Qualifications). These are essay type questions that you must answer indicating how your background meets the requirements of the position.

3. Federal resumes are formatted for the Resumix system. Unlike formatted Word resumes that go to employers in the private sector, a Resumix resume does not have bolding, italics, special fonts, etc. It is unformatted, looking like an ascii or plain text resume (the kind you send in the body of an email). Some federal resumes may be formatted. It depends upon the job and the agency requirements.

4. Federal resumes may be lengthy – more than 10 pages – or they may have a strict word count.

5. They contain information you would never put in a private sector resume. That would include your Social Security Number, supervisor’s name, contact #, high school information, etc.

The above are just some of the major differences between a federal and private sector resume.

Before you begin your federal job search, it’s important to familiarize yourself with these differences. If you fail to follow guidelines, you will not be considered for the position.

Unfortunately, that’s not close to reality for several reasons:

1. There is no such thing as a ‘perfect’ resume. A resume may be flawless (no errors), detail exactly what you can offer in terms of knowledge, skills and abilities, be organized well and still not gain you the interview. Why? Most likely because another candidate was better qualified or more uniquely qualified for the position. Remember, you’re competing against dozens, perhaps hundreds of other individuals for the same position. Employers can afford to be choosy.

2. You’re sending your perfect resume to a myriad of jobs without bothering to change the document’s focus. Let’s say you’re an accountant, but you also worked in retail management for many years. With your accounting-focused resume, you begin to apply for retail management jobs – just in case. However, none of the hiring managers for those positions call you in for an interview. You’re mystified. Your resume is perfect! Well, not exactly. If the focus of your document is accounting and the hiring manager wants retail management, they won’t care if your resume is perfect or not. You’re not who they’re looking for.

3. You’re overqualified or under-qualified for the position. Again, if you don’t match the qualifications better than anyone else, you won’t be called into interview.  It’s an unfortunate truth that you can’t simply send out a thousand resumes to every available job, hoping that some will stick. They won’t. Not in this economy.

4. You’ve failed to target what the employer wants most. Your resume may read well and have a lot of good data about you, but again, it’s not what the hiring manager wants or needs to fill the vacancy.

In today’s job market there is no such thing as a perfect resume or a one-size-fits all document. Each time you apply for a position, you need to tailor your resume to fit specific needs.

If you don’t, it won’t matter how perfect you believe your resume to be.

Being invited to interview may be a dream you don’t believe will happen.

However, companies need employees as much as you need a job. They are interviewing. They are hiring. They are also weeding out candidates that don’t present them with the best possible background for the position.

Knowing what an employer wants isn’t difficult. They want you, the potential employee, to either make their company money or save their company money. Yes, it’s as simple as that.

They want your resume to reflect your knowledge, skills, abilities, in an easy to read and follow format.

They want to know what you achieved – the results of your tasks, not simply your tasks.

A stellar resume that is accomplishment oriented, rather than task oriented, will get you in the ‘to-be-interviewed’ pile. Dovetailing your background to fit perfectly with a company’s needs will place you far ahead of your competitors.

Getting an interview and being awarded the job is doable – all you need to remember is to give employers what they want.

Do you go with the cheapest? The one with the biggest/flashiest internet ad? The one who guarantees the moon?

Here are a few points to keep in mind when you’re searching for a resume writer:

1. Is the individual certified to write resumes?

This is an important factor. Not all resume writers are created equal. The industry isn’t regulated; therefore, anyone can ‘hang out a shingle’, claiming they’re a resume writing expert.

A true professional will belong to or work for a company that belongs to the Professional Association of Resume Writers (PARW) – the industry’s gold standard. The PARW has a certification program, granting the CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer) designation to an individual that passes its rigorous test. Not everyone passes on the first try. The test materials are difficult and comprehensive.

2. Is the individual charging too little or too much?

A lunch at your favorite restaurant shouldn’t cost you more than a professionally written resume. If it does, then the individual doing the work most likely isn’t a seasoned professional. Nor should the service cost as much as a mortgage payment no matter how many years the resume writer has in the field. Check out various sites and you’ll soon determine the average price of a resume. Stick with those companies that most closely match the norm. Not too high; not too low.

3. Is the service a member of the Better Business Bureau or other agencies that keep track of customer satisfaction?

If not, move on to the next company. If a company is a member of the BBB, check out their track record with complaints. Do they resolve them readily?

4. Does the writer or writers have industry experience?

Not only experience in writing resumes, but in the client’s particular industry. Not everyone understands Information Technology or Engineering. If you hire a resume writer who has no idea of the jargon or nuances of your industry, especially if it’s technical, then you’re in trouble.

5. Does the site guarantee the moon?

Something like getting a job in 30 days- guaranteed. Or getting interviews with the resume despite the horrible economy or the fact that industry jobs are being outsourced to foreign countries.

Use common sense when it comes to guarantees. No service can promise every one of its clients that they’ll get a job. That’s just not practical. If they have 20 marketing clients and only two jobs are available, then that means 18 of their clients are going to be turned down. Resumes, no matter how professionally they’re written, can’t guarantee an interview. There are many other factors at work, including whether the individual has the perfect skills for the job. Be wary of too-good-to-be-true guarantees.

6. Great ads don’t make for the best service.

Just because a resume writing company has catchy, intriguing ads or a dynamite site doesn’t mean their service is right for you. As a smart consumer, you still need to determine if their writers have knowledge of your industry, if the service is priced competitively and if they’re a member of an organization like the PARW or BBB.

You’ve chosen your career steps wisely. Now, it’s time to use the same due diligence with the individual or company that will craft your resume.

Think of your résumé as a portable version of that billboard. The motorists whizzing by? Human resources professionals and other hiring entities. They don’t have time to read a biography of a jobseeker, and they don’t want to read your job description. (They aren’t interested in knowing that you report to work and do what an employer expects of you – the daily tasks for which you are paid.) They want to know what makes you special; how you add value; how you can make a difference in their organizations. They want to glance at your résumé and say, “Here’s someone I need to meet.”

It’s not always easy or comfortable for people to try to “sell” themselves this way. There’s a fine line between hollow bragging and effective advertising. Professional resume writers know the difference, and ResumeEdge.com’s writers will work with you to turn a so-what list of responsibilities or accomplishments into a powerful marketing tool. Here are some real-life examples:

Before

• Daily processing of portfolio transactions in accordance with department policies and procedures.

After

• Provide investment managers and clients with accurate, time-sensitive portfolio information through diligent processing, analysis, reporting and dissemination of cash and transaction data.

Before

• Inspected, marketed and sold properties to first time homebuyers.

After

• Created home ownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents who might otherwise be excluded from the housing market. Provided prospective buyers with inception-through-settlement financial  consulting services and education.

Before

• Presented PowerPoint presentations to civic, photography and hiking clubs around the country with client endorsements.

After

• Increased revenue and brand awareness by making sales presentations to clubs and associations countrywide, incorporating customer testimonials about tour experiences as marketing technique.

Before

• Organized profitable & charitable events.

After

• Organized and ran for-profit and charity events attracting more than 45 musicians of regional, national and international influence in the avant-garde genre, including two-time world DMC champion DJ Klever. Ready to see yourself in a new light? Help is only a mouse click away!

Getting to the point quickly, succinctly, and effectively is what separates a winning resume from one that’s discarded by the hiring manager or recruiter.

Too many times an individual writes: “Reorganized an entire department per management instructions.” That’s not an accomplishment, that is a daily duty. An accomplishment would read like this: “Generated savings in excess of $25,000 annually by reorganizing the marketing department and employing temp workers, rather than full-time staff.”

The above speaks to what a hiring manager and/or recruiter wants to see – how you can make them money and how you can save them money.

To further strengthen your resume, make certain to put at least one, preferably two, quantified and relevant accomplishments in the opening summary. This is especially true if you use the word ‘proven’ to describe yourself. For example, you write:

Accounting professional with comprehensive experience and proven results in negotiations with the IRS.

Proven by whom? You? That’s not enough proof for a hiring manager or recruiter. They want more. It’s better to write:

Accounting professional with comprehensive experience and proven results in negotiations with the IRS as evidenced by the $.5 million in savings, resulting from the 2009 audit.

The above clearly states that you saved your company a half million dollars through your expertise. That speaks volumes to hiring managers and puts you well above the others competing for the same position.

Does that mean you should throw up your hands and give up?

Not at all.

What it does mean is that you need to remain realistic. Gone are the days when a candidate could send out five resumes and receive four calls for interviews and a bidding war for the individual’s services. Today, each of us has to realize that even with a hundred resumes sent out, there may be no call backs. So, we have to submit again and again.

We may also have to take a lesser position to get our foot in the door. We may have to transition to a growing industry if ours is contracting or being outsourced.

A great, accomplishment-based resume is always a terrific way to begin the job hunt. But it’s no longer the be-all and end-all. It’s only one part of a very long process.

The key is to keep submitting your resume, keep looking for opportunities and to recognize an opportunity when it arrives. It may not be what you dreamed about, but it could be the chance for something better in the future.

Government jobs are plentiful even in a down economy. They are also good career-oriented positions with advancement opportunities. Landing a government job is a complex process, but it is well worth the effort if you desire to work in the public sector. Many private-industry job applicants use a standard resume thinking it is the same or just as effective as a Federal resume when applying for a government job. This is not the case. There is certain information that needs to appear on a Federal resume that you would not include on a private-sector resume. The human resource professionals need to see certain information in your application materials in order for you to be considered for further review as an applicant.

Federal Résumés Require More Personal Information

The information you need to provide for a government application (often called a vacancy announcement) includes your full name, complete mailing address, social security number, and your country of citizenship. Vacancy announcements contain a list of what to include in your résumé. If you leave any information out such as your social security number, you might not be considered for the job.

Federal Résumés Need to Align with the Job Announcement

With a standard resume, you might use a qualifications summary to outline your skills and experience that relate to the job you are applying for. With a federal résumé, you use an objective statement that needs to include the job title and department, the position’s grade level (the job’s level of difficulty), and the job announcement reference number. Following the objective statement you include a list of your qualifications that apply to the requirements listed in the job description.

Adhere to all Application Guidelines

Each vacancy announcement includes a “How to Apply” section that tells exactly what application process you need to follow and what information you need to include. It is critical that you provide information for every category in this section because most résumés are electronically scanned before a hiring manager reviews them. The required information often includes your past supervisor’s name and phone number and if that person can be contacted. This section often asks for your highest employment grade level whether you are a veteran or a civilian employee. You won’t be able to provide this information if you are transitioning from the private sector so you could enter N/A. Do not leave any categories blank.

Standard resumes are commonly one-to-two pages. Federal résumés can range from two-to-six pages and must comply with the guidelines required by the government personnel offices. Federal employment can be a good career opportunity if you are prepared and willing to produce a Federal résumé package that promotes you as the “best qualified” candidate for your selected government position.

To request David for your federal or private sector order, please key in his last name (jensen) in the ’select your editor’ field of the online form.

Government agencies can provide great opportunities for long-term employment. While seeking employment with a government agency can be complex, you can give yourself an advantage in the job market by learning what agencies look for in job candidates.

What Expertise do Government Agencies Need?

Given the latest developments in global communications and homeland security, there is a demand for skilled employees in cyber security, intelligence, foreign languages, diplomacy, and law enforcement. However, beyond these skill areas, agencies want candidates who have a clear understanding of the organization’s mission and objectives. For example, the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency all have overlapping involvement in energy and environmental conservation issues.  

When President Obama took office, there were a number of issues he pledged to address during his term. Some of these items include:

• The nation’s transportation infrastructure
• International diplomacy and trade relations
• Homeland security
• Environmental awareness and global warming

Whatever items are on the President’s “To Do” list, there is likely a government agency assigned to handle the issues. When seeking job candidates to work with these agencies, hiring managers are looking for people who are innovative and willing to present ideas. They also want people who are knowledgeable and passionate about the issues that impact global societies such as clean and affordable energy, health and nutrition, and secure Internet usage. You can improve your employment prospects with government agencies when you strive to learn what they are doing to achieve their goals.

Learning More about What Agencies are Looking for

You can learn a lot about various government agencies by reading newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal and the Federal Times and reviewing government Web sites such as the Office of Personnel Management site at www.usajobs.opm.gov or other information at www.firstgov.gov. Look for sections that highlight the specific concerns and “hot topics” that are of particular interest to the current administration.

When faced with new issues, government agencies don’t have all the answers. Due to the Freedom of Information Act, information about the objectives and methodologies of government agencies is available to the public. You can learn about the current events and which agencies have programs to address these issues. Once you learn about what your target agency is doing and what they still need to do to accomplish their objectives, you can present your knowledge, skills, and abilities as a solution to their problems.

Government agencies focus their efforts and obtain funding to address the issues that are of interest to the nations’ leaders. To be a successful government job candidate, it’s important that you present yourself as someone who is knowledgeable of these issues, is a team player, has ideas for solutions, and possess a stellar federal resume and accompanying documents.

To request David for your federal order, please key in his last name (Jensen) in the ’select your editor’ field of the online form.

Government jobs are plentiful even in a down economy. They are also good career-oriented positions with advancement opportunities. Landing a government job is a complex process, but it is well worth the effort if you desire to work in the public sector. Many private-industry job applicants use a standard resume thinking it is the same or just as effective as a Federal resume when applying for a government job. This is not the case. There is certain information that needs to appear on a Federal resume that you would not include on a private-sector resume. The human resource professionals need to see certain information in your application materials in order for you to be considered for further review as an applicant.

Federal Résumés Require More Personal Information

The information you need to provide for a government application (often called a vacancy announcement) includes your full name, complete mailing address, social security number, and your country of citizenship. Vacancy announcements contain a list of what to include in your résumé. If you leave any information out such as your social security number, you might not be considered for the job.

Federal Résumés Need to Align with the Job Announcement

With a standard resume, you might use a qualifications summary to outline your skills and experience that relate to the job you are applying for. With a federal résumé, you use an objective statement that needs to include the job title and department, the position’s grade level (the job’s level of difficulty), and the job announcement reference number. Following the objective statement you include a list of your qualifications that apply to the requirements listed in the job description.

Adhere to all Application Guidelines

Each vacancy announcement includes a “How to Apply” section that tells exactly what application process you need to follow and what information you need to include. It is critical that you provide information for every category in this section because most résumés are electronically scanned before a hiring manager reviews them. The required information often includes your past supervisor’s name and phone number and if that person can be contacted. This section often asks for your highest employment grade level whether you are a veteran or a civilian employee. You won’t be able to provide this information if you are transitioning from the private sector so you could enter N/A. Do not leave any categories blank.

Standard resumes are commonly one-to-two pages. Federal résumés can range from two-to-six pages and must comply with the guidelines required by the government personnel offices. Federal employment can be a good career opportunity if you are prepared and willing to produce a Federal résumé package that promotes you as the “best qualified” candidate for your selected government position.

To request David Jensen for your federal resume product, simply select his name in the drop-down menu of the ’select your editor’ field.