By Kathryn Troutman
In today's Federal job market you have to be ready to apply for any type of position for which you would be qualified and that would interest you. Jobs are available everywhere! People are retiring, new jobs are opening up because of Homeland Security, new training programs are being offered, details are available and are important for your career, and competition is around the corner many times. Be ready with multiple resume formats to act quickly to take advantage of opportunities that could come anytime! Here are four resume formats that you could use to manage and grow your Federal career:
- ONE PAGE MARKETING/NETWORKING RESUME - You might need a one-page resume for networking, details, conferences, career development programs or introductions for speeches.
- TWO-PAGE COMPETITIVE CONTRACTOR RESUME - If your agency is considering privatization and you have to compete with a private industry firm, you should prepare a two-page resume that sells your knowledge, expertise and accomplishments for the competitive board.
- THREE-FOUR PAGE FEDERAL RESUME - If you're trying to get promoted or change careers in government, you might need a 3 or 4 page Federal resume that includes accomplishments, compliance details and the career history.
- THREE PAGE ELECTRONIC RESUME - If you're trying to get promoted or change careers or move agencies into a Defense or other automated agency, you will need an electronic resume that is formatted for easy copying and pasting into a textbox of a Resume Builder or email box.
RECOMMENDED ORGANIZATIONAL FORMAT FOR EACH OF THE FOUR RESUME FORMATS:
One-page Marketing Resume: This resume should just focus on the most important information that a person could read quickly in a minute or less. Typefont should be 11 point for readability.
- Personal and contact information
- Objective
- Summary of Skills or Significant Accomplishments (2 of these)
- Employment History (just an outline, including job title, agency, city, state and dates)
- Education (very short version)
- Awards and Honors (only very significant)
Two-page Competitive Contractor Resume: When competiting with contractors, you should make your resume look like the competition. Contractor resumes are usually not more than two pages. You will have to PITCH your best skills, knowledge and expertise so that you can beat the competition! This is an important resume! It must be powerful, informative and demonstrate expertise! It should include the following:
- Personal and contact information
- Objective
- Summary of Skills (VERY IMPORTANT)
- Employment History (details for 10 years; MUST include ACCOMPLISHMENTS)
- Education and training
- Community Service
- Awards and Honors
Three to four page Federal Resume: Should be 3-4 pages and be your "base" resume. It will include a career history and should be focused toward the position you are seeking. Include these elements:
- Personal and contact information
- Summary of Qualifications
- Employment History (details for 10 years; summarize the earlier positions)
- Certification
- Education
- Training
- Awards and Honors
- Other Information (Community Service)
Three-page Electronic Resume: With 60% of the jobs requiring an electronic resume format, you will need a 3-page electronic format with the following information. You will need to follow the instructions in the Job Kit for the Civilian Human Resources Management Agency, DOD agency or other agency requiring automated applications. If you have a good electronic resume, you can apply to many on-line jobs and databases.
- Personal and contact information
- Employment History (details for 10 years; summarize the earlier positions)
- Certification
- Education
- Training
- Awards and Honors
- Other Information (Community Service)
RESUME WRITING SAMPLES AND WRITING INFORMATION:
The Resume Place publications: Federal Resume Guidebook and Electronic Federal Resume Guidebook are the leading books with samples and insight into writing these resume formats. Consider these publications for your career library. A new publication will be coming out in August: Ten Steps to a Federal Job. Check out book table of contents at www.resume-place.com.
Your resume is your Number One Marketing Tool:
Human resources managers and supervisors say that the biggest problem they see what resumes they receive is that it is obvious applicants just do not spend enough time on their resume. They do not take the time to describe their skills, duties and accomplishments. An excellent resume can take 5 to 10 hours to write, edit, format and re-write to focus the resume toward various positions.
RESUME EDITING AND DESIGN:
The Resume Place, Inc. has been editing, designing and writing resumes for 29 years! Our publications and PC disks give great samples that you can use to start your new resume. Our expert editors and review and make sure the resume is as good as it can be. Want an estimate for editing services? Fill out our free customer intake form.
WRITE TO ME AT KATHRYN@RESUME-PLACE.COM
If you have Federal resume writing questions, write to me at the above email. I'll answer them in the next Career Corner column. Sign up for mailing list if you would like emails regarding Federal jobs in the U.S. and tips for job search overseas. www.resume-place.com.
Kathryn Kraemer Troutman is the President of The Resume Place, Inc. and is an expert in the Federal hiring process and writing outstanding applications. She designed the "federal-style" resume for the government in her book, Federal Resume Guidebook. Kathryn is an in-demand trainer inside of government on career development and resume writing. She writes a popular column on federal jobs: Career Corner found at her website: www.resume-place.com.
COPYRIGHT AND PERMISSIONS
Feel free to forward this Career Corner column to friends and colleagues. You may use this column for training in career classes with recognition of the author and website. You may not link this column to other websites without permission. For information about licensing this content write to Kathryn at kathryn@resume-place.com.
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