Because going to work for the Government is totally different then going to work in the private sector it therefore makes sense that a Government resume will be totally different as well. In order to give yourself the best possible chance at landing the Government position of your dreams you have to be sure that you are following proper guidelines with your Government resume.
Federal recruiters will grade your Government Resume using a very specific point system based on the FQS, or Federal Qualifications Standard method. Using this method the recruiters will match the most qualified applicant according to education and related work experience. Therefore it is of utmost importance that you follow the guidelines to the letter if you wish to have your resume reviewed.
Each Government resume must be structured so it will follow the Government guidelines and has to basically be custom tailored around the specific job announcement and must also include all the information that the announcement requires.
Though it is said that the standard resume should be no longer than a page unless absolutely necessary, a Government resume will contain much more needed information and will therefore be much longer. Here is what must be in every Government resume:
• Information about the Job: This will include the announcement number of the job and the job title.
• Your Information: You will be required to give your name, contact information, your social security number, and your country of citizenship.
• Government Experience: If you have any past Government experience you will be required to provide the highest grade you attained.
• Other Education: You will list all degrees you have obtained along with any training specific to the job posting.
• Your Experience: Here is the perfect opportunity for you to list anything and everything that is relevant and will show that you are the perfect candidate for the specific job posting. If you have relevant work experience in the private sector that will translate over to the Government job you are trying to get then be sure to list that.
• Everything Else: You can also list if you are a veteran. You will want to further include anything else that is relevant to the job announcement. Do not include anything that is irrelevant even if it is an outstanding award. Nothing gets a Government resume tossed faster than irrelevant information.
These days Government recruiters use a keyword searching software called Resumix in order to help weed through the sometimes hundreds of resumes that are turned in for one Government job posting. For this reason it is important that you use specific keywords that will relate to the job posting so that your resume has a better chance of standing out.
Depending on the job posting you may also need to obtain and fill out all the pertinent KSAs –Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities- and then turn those in with your Government resume. If KSAs are required, it will be listed as such in the job announcement.
While a Government resume is certainly more time consuming and much more detail oriented in comparison with a traditional resume, you must follow the guidelines for success. Failure to do so will have you disqualified at a rather fast pace and leave you to have to wait for the next time your dream Government job opens up.
Showing posts with label government resume. Show all posts
Showing posts with label government resume. Show all posts
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Finding a Government Job – Offline is the Key
Before you can polish up your Government resume and start practicing what you will say at your Government job interview you have to know where to find a Government job opportunity and many times offline is the key. This may take some getting used to terms of thinking as many people these days find anything and everything they are looking for online through the wonderful World Wide Web. While the Internet remains a great source to look for a Government job it should be complimented greatly with an offline search as well.
There are several ways to go about looking for a Government job offline and the method that best suits you will all be determined by the type of person you are. Here are some different ways in which you can work the offline angle in an effort to find a Government job:
• Network: No this doesn’t mean ‘computer network.’ This means networking with anyone and everyone you know and getting the fact that you are seeking a Government job out there. This is where you have to really rack your brain. Who do you know that might be able to help you in your Government job search? Perhaps a friend who is already working for the government at any level? This type of friend could prove to be n invaluable resource as they will know the process of getting a Government job and may be able to point you in the right direction as far to where to look and who to talk to.
• Government Buildings: If you live near a Government building then it definitely pays to take the time and visit. There you will almost always find a bulletin board that has postings of Government jobs available right in your own back yard. If you have trouble finding this ask the receptionist at the help desk where in the building it is. They will show you where to find the bulletin board and may also be able to tell you what other Government buildings in the area have the same thing. These bulletin boards are a great way to get a jump on the competition because the job postings usually go up on the bulletin board before they go live online and some never make it to the web whatsoever.
• Job Fairs: Yes the Government takes advantage of job fairs too. A job fair can be a wonderful opportunity for you to not only see what Government jobs are available, but they also allow you the opportunity to ask questions directly to the recruiters themselves. This is a golden opportunity for you to find out what a specific job will entail, what will be expected of you, and what the review board will be looking for. It also gives you yet another opportunity to network.
Going online is great and it certainly saves a huge amount of time and energy for many instances, but it has its place. If you want to find a Government job you have to pull out all the stops. Not only should you be conducting your hunt online but you should also be getting out of your cocoon and conducting your search offline as well; and offline is really the key.
Learn how to write a proper government resume before you apply for any government job.
There are several ways to go about looking for a Government job offline and the method that best suits you will all be determined by the type of person you are. Here are some different ways in which you can work the offline angle in an effort to find a Government job:
• Network: No this doesn’t mean ‘computer network.’ This means networking with anyone and everyone you know and getting the fact that you are seeking a Government job out there. This is where you have to really rack your brain. Who do you know that might be able to help you in your Government job search? Perhaps a friend who is already working for the government at any level? This type of friend could prove to be n invaluable resource as they will know the process of getting a Government job and may be able to point you in the right direction as far to where to look and who to talk to.
• Government Buildings: If you live near a Government building then it definitely pays to take the time and visit. There you will almost always find a bulletin board that has postings of Government jobs available right in your own back yard. If you have trouble finding this ask the receptionist at the help desk where in the building it is. They will show you where to find the bulletin board and may also be able to tell you what other Government buildings in the area have the same thing. These bulletin boards are a great way to get a jump on the competition because the job postings usually go up on the bulletin board before they go live online and some never make it to the web whatsoever.
• Job Fairs: Yes the Government takes advantage of job fairs too. A job fair can be a wonderful opportunity for you to not only see what Government jobs are available, but they also allow you the opportunity to ask questions directly to the recruiters themselves. This is a golden opportunity for you to find out what a specific job will entail, what will be expected of you, and what the review board will be looking for. It also gives you yet another opportunity to network.
Going online is great and it certainly saves a huge amount of time and energy for many instances, but it has its place. If you want to find a Government job you have to pull out all the stops. Not only should you be conducting your hunt online but you should also be getting out of your cocoon and conducting your search offline as well; and offline is really the key.
Learn how to write a proper government resume before you apply for any government job.
Top Five Questions about KSA Writing
When you are attempting to obtain Government employment, more time than not you will be required to complete KSAs and turn them in with your Government resume. KSAs are a very important piece of the Government job puzzle as they will be looked at by reviewers in order to determine who the best candidates for a specific job posting are and this will determine who gets an interview and who gets left out in the cold.
While there are many questions that arise about KSA writing there are five that usually crop up more often than not. The top five KSA writing questions are:
1. What are KSAs: KSAs stand for Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities and are a sort of sub-application that needs to be completed in order to obtain Government work. The KSAs will delve into your qualifications for a specific job posting by having you answer questions about yourself and your background.
2. What Questions are asked on the KSAs: The questions you will have to answer for the KSAs all depend on the job in which you are applying for. Each job posting will carry a different set of KSA questions that will be relevant to that specific job posting.
3. How Long Should Each Answer be: Unless it is stated, there is no minimum or maximum that is required, but a good rule of thumb is making sure that every answer is between half of a page to a full page in length. But remember, KSAs are an intricate part of obtaining Government work and the answers you give must be enough to set you apart from the other applicants which can reach the hundreds depending on the job posing. Only put in the answer what is important and avoid adding filler or fluff to make the answer longer.
4. What Should be Included in a KSA Answer: Again this depends on the job posting. Any answer you give needs to show relevancy towards the job in which you are trying to obtain. Your answers need to be clear and concise and you should avoid such costly mistakes as acronyms and slang. Be sure that the answers read intelligently, but stay away from using words and phrases that are too big as this will not fit properly into the answers. The last thing you want with you KSAs is to come off sounding too much like a know it all.
5. Where can Help be Found: Because KSAs are so important you absolutely have to be sure that your answers are top drawer. If you do not feel comfortable answering some of the questions it may be in your best interest to employ the use of a KSA writing service. These professionals will have had many years of experience and will know what the KSA reviewers are looking for.
When it comes to obtaining Government work you will have an abundance of competition. Government jobs are highly sought after and because of that many times you will have hundreds of applicant competing for the same posting. To ensure that you stand out from the large crowd you have to be sure that your Government resume is sparking and that your KSAs are as well.
While there are many questions that arise about KSA writing there are five that usually crop up more often than not. The top five KSA writing questions are:
1. What are KSAs: KSAs stand for Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities and are a sort of sub-application that needs to be completed in order to obtain Government work. The KSAs will delve into your qualifications for a specific job posting by having you answer questions about yourself and your background.
2. What Questions are asked on the KSAs: The questions you will have to answer for the KSAs all depend on the job in which you are applying for. Each job posting will carry a different set of KSA questions that will be relevant to that specific job posting.
3. How Long Should Each Answer be: Unless it is stated, there is no minimum or maximum that is required, but a good rule of thumb is making sure that every answer is between half of a page to a full page in length. But remember, KSAs are an intricate part of obtaining Government work and the answers you give must be enough to set you apart from the other applicants which can reach the hundreds depending on the job posing. Only put in the answer what is important and avoid adding filler or fluff to make the answer longer.
4. What Should be Included in a KSA Answer: Again this depends on the job posting. Any answer you give needs to show relevancy towards the job in which you are trying to obtain. Your answers need to be clear and concise and you should avoid such costly mistakes as acronyms and slang. Be sure that the answers read intelligently, but stay away from using words and phrases that are too big as this will not fit properly into the answers. The last thing you want with you KSAs is to come off sounding too much like a know it all.
5. Where can Help be Found: Because KSAs are so important you absolutely have to be sure that your answers are top drawer. If you do not feel comfortable answering some of the questions it may be in your best interest to employ the use of a KSA writing service. These professionals will have had many years of experience and will know what the KSA reviewers are looking for.
When it comes to obtaining Government work you will have an abundance of competition. Government jobs are highly sought after and because of that many times you will have hundreds of applicant competing for the same posting. To ensure that you stand out from the large crowd you have to be sure that your Government resume is sparking and that your KSAs are as well.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
What is Resumix and how do I Use it?
Agencies such as the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and the Department of Commerce now rely on a resume system known as Resumix to aid in the hiring process. The implementation of this system was done to help ease the recruitment process on both the recruit and the recruiter side. A Resumix resume is much different than that of a traditional resume in regards to the layout as the Resumix resume will later be scanned instead of reviewed by a person and the scanning software will only be looking for certain keywords and phrases.
Resumix resumes are submitted online and kept in a database regardless of whether or not they contain the proper information. However, if you do submit a Resumix resume that is not properly formatted it will never see the light of day or be reviewed.
To take advantage of the Resumix resume program you need to use an online resume builder to submit your information and thus create a Resumix resume. This process actually eliminates the need for KSAs to be submitted in some, but not all, circumstances. The nice thing about having your Resumix resume stored is that you can apply for multiple positions using the same resume by utilizing a self-nomination process.
Resumix will automatically match the skills you have listed with the skills that are required form a certain posting so it is of utmost importance that your Resumix resume contains all the relevant information and keywords. For this reason it is best to spell out certain skills and don’t get too simple or complex with any verbiage.
Now here’s the trick; you have to write your Resumix resume so that it will first catch the attention of the computer scanning software, but it must also be written so that a person can understand it. This is because the Resumix system only eliminates human interaction at the first level and once a resume is flagged for review, it is an actual person who will be conducting the review before an interview is granted. This can be easier said than done, but fortunately there are a number of services online today that offer Resumix resume help.
Obtaining help from a professional may be a route you want to consider as you will want to make sure that you have a well written Resumix resume that can appeal to the scanning software and the reviewer as well, but more than that there are certain rules for Resumix resumes depending on what agency you wish to apply for. For example the Navy Resumix will allow you to submit five pages, but the Army Resumix will only allow you to submit three. Here again, if you don’t do it right, you don’t stand a chance.
While it was designed to both streamline and ease the hiring process, Resumix can be somewhat confusing. Working with a professional Resumix resume writer can help you to ensure that the resume you submit will not only be accepted, but also viewed; hopefully multiple times.
Learn more government resume tips.
Resumix resumes are submitted online and kept in a database regardless of whether or not they contain the proper information. However, if you do submit a Resumix resume that is not properly formatted it will never see the light of day or be reviewed.
To take advantage of the Resumix resume program you need to use an online resume builder to submit your information and thus create a Resumix resume. This process actually eliminates the need for KSAs to be submitted in some, but not all, circumstances. The nice thing about having your Resumix resume stored is that you can apply for multiple positions using the same resume by utilizing a self-nomination process.
Resumix will automatically match the skills you have listed with the skills that are required form a certain posting so it is of utmost importance that your Resumix resume contains all the relevant information and keywords. For this reason it is best to spell out certain skills and don’t get too simple or complex with any verbiage.
Now here’s the trick; you have to write your Resumix resume so that it will first catch the attention of the computer scanning software, but it must also be written so that a person can understand it. This is because the Resumix system only eliminates human interaction at the first level and once a resume is flagged for review, it is an actual person who will be conducting the review before an interview is granted. This can be easier said than done, but fortunately there are a number of services online today that offer Resumix resume help.
Obtaining help from a professional may be a route you want to consider as you will want to make sure that you have a well written Resumix resume that can appeal to the scanning software and the reviewer as well, but more than that there are certain rules for Resumix resumes depending on what agency you wish to apply for. For example the Navy Resumix will allow you to submit five pages, but the Army Resumix will only allow you to submit three. Here again, if you don’t do it right, you don’t stand a chance.
While it was designed to both streamline and ease the hiring process, Resumix can be somewhat confusing. Working with a professional Resumix resume writer can help you to ensure that the resume you submit will not only be accepted, but also viewed; hopefully multiple times.
Learn more government resume tips.
Government Resume Writing Tips
Government resume writing needs to be clear, concise and to the point. More than that though, your government resume has to be relevant to the Federal job you are applying for. With the upcoming phasing out of the KSAs it is now more important than ever to make sure that your government resumes is a custom fit for the position you seek.
Here are some government resume writing tips to remember when preparing yours:
• Mold your government resume: Adapt your government resume to fit the position you are applying for. Nothing is a quicker death when seeking a Federal job than a resume that has no relevance to the position. This will increase in importance once the KSAs are totally phased out.
• Keep it clear: You definitely want your government resume to stand out, but don’t get carried away. Use words and phrases that are clear cut, concise, and to the point. Don’t get caught up using phrases that are too complex as this can vex a potential Federal employer.
• Condense: Instead of long drawn out paragraphs, fill your government resume with indented bullet points and focused statements. The idea is to get the potential Federal employer to read your entire resume and not to bore them.
• Highlight your strengths: Mention your relevant strengths in any way you can. This may be done by more than job experience, like with volunteer work you have done or your specific education background. If you have a chance to mention a relevant strength, do so.
• Eliminate irrelevant information: Even if the information is favorable to you, if it has absolutely no relevance to the Federal job you are applying for, don’t bother with it.
• Avoid clutter: If you are reading something you want it to be easy to read and not cluttered up right? The same goes for the individuals reviewing your government resume. Be sure to use spaces between sections and use headings to organize all of the different details on your government resume. An easy to read resume will get reviewed long before one that is cluttered.
• Don’t lie: This is a good rule of thumb for anything in life, but especially when writing your government resume. There is nothing wrong with making yourself sound good, but be careful that you don’t exaggerate the truth or flat out lie. The last thing you want is to get flagged for lying as this will no doubt lead to you looking elsewhere for employment.
• Use keywords and phrases: Use keywords and phrases that Federal employers like to see. A government resume chalk full of these keywords and phrases will get more looks and thus more of a consideration for the position.
Remember, your government resume is your story and if not told properly you will find yourself on the outside looking in. With the soon to come phasing out of the KSAs, individuals will now have to be sure that their government resumes are up to speed. Ensuring that you have a well written and good looking government resume will ensure that you get more interviews, which will lead to the Federal job that you have always longed for.
Here are some government resume writing tips to remember when preparing yours:
• Mold your government resume: Adapt your government resume to fit the position you are applying for. Nothing is a quicker death when seeking a Federal job than a resume that has no relevance to the position. This will increase in importance once the KSAs are totally phased out.
• Keep it clear: You definitely want your government resume to stand out, but don’t get carried away. Use words and phrases that are clear cut, concise, and to the point. Don’t get caught up using phrases that are too complex as this can vex a potential Federal employer.
• Condense: Instead of long drawn out paragraphs, fill your government resume with indented bullet points and focused statements. The idea is to get the potential Federal employer to read your entire resume and not to bore them.
• Highlight your strengths: Mention your relevant strengths in any way you can. This may be done by more than job experience, like with volunteer work you have done or your specific education background. If you have a chance to mention a relevant strength, do so.
• Eliminate irrelevant information: Even if the information is favorable to you, if it has absolutely no relevance to the Federal job you are applying for, don’t bother with it.
• Avoid clutter: If you are reading something you want it to be easy to read and not cluttered up right? The same goes for the individuals reviewing your government resume. Be sure to use spaces between sections and use headings to organize all of the different details on your government resume. An easy to read resume will get reviewed long before one that is cluttered.
• Don’t lie: This is a good rule of thumb for anything in life, but especially when writing your government resume. There is nothing wrong with making yourself sound good, but be careful that you don’t exaggerate the truth or flat out lie. The last thing you want is to get flagged for lying as this will no doubt lead to you looking elsewhere for employment.
• Use keywords and phrases: Use keywords and phrases that Federal employers like to see. A government resume chalk full of these keywords and phrases will get more looks and thus more of a consideration for the position.
Remember, your government resume is your story and if not told properly you will find yourself on the outside looking in. With the soon to come phasing out of the KSAs, individuals will now have to be sure that their government resumes are up to speed. Ensuring that you have a well written and good looking government resume will ensure that you get more interviews, which will lead to the Federal job that you have always longed for.
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