Mario Rodriquez ⋅ Tampa, FL CareerSource Tampa Bay ⋅ 10 years experience

At MacDill AFB, and I assume many others, there is a class called, "10 Steps to a Federal Job" The workbook is available through Amazon, but the class goes in depth on how to the federal hiring process work and especially how to tailor the content of your resume to the specialized experience and other requirements of the job announcement. There are several exercises to complete, including writing some personal accomplishments. The format of the federal resume can be implemented by using the resume builder on USAjobs, but the class helps with the content of the resume. Kathryn Troutman is the expert on the federal resume writing process and she is the author of the 10 Steps manual, as well as several others. Her staff can also write your resume for you, at a cost, if you like. The website for all of her services is www.resume-place.com

Samantha ONeil ⋅ Alexandria, VA SOS International, LLC ⋅ 15 years experience

Tessa --

I took a federal resume training course in the government and they gave me some good advice that I used successfully in future applications.

Government job applications go through a computer screener, which ranks the application before a HR professional ever sees them. To ensure you are highly ranked by the computer screener, use the words/terms from the job description directly in your resume. You should tinker with your resume previous employment descriptions to do this for each unique application. For example, if the job description uses digital media communications and my resume says "social media" I would update it to use the government's terminology instead of my own. This also works for the KSAs - if there are questions that require written responses you should be using, and over-using the same terminology in your responses as the job description from the government. Good luck!

Diana C. Navratil ⋅ La Quinta, CA Freedom 4 YOU Life Coaching ⋅ 10 years experience

Hello Tessa,
You mentioned you are not able to get past the pre-interview. As a Life Coach my sense is the person interviewing you is not hearing who you are and what you stand for in applying for the Job. A resume is one part of the process the next is how you show up in the interview.

Feel free to contact me and we can explore what is missing on your part.
My Best,
Diana

Serena Davidson ⋅ Fayetteville, NC U.S. Army Reserve, Sergeant First Class ⋅ 27 years served

Tessa,
I'd be happy to assist. Please keep in mind the Air Force often has open announcements. This means they advertise to gain a pool of qualified applicants.
Back in 2008 the resume format changed from the old block paragraph to quantifiable sections.
I'm retired E7 with 17 yrs in Civil Service. I have also held various series as GS, 0301,0560,0343 and now 1102. Let me know if you would like further assistance.
Serena

Rick Russell ⋅ Fort Worth, TX ⋅ 30 years experience

Tessa,
First, thank you for your service. Second (pardon the bluntness), but how much is your resume success worth to you? About 3 years ago, I took my resume to a professional writer for executive positions. It cost me $75 and about 4 hours interviewing with the writer. The result was fantastic and worth every penny. Just a thought.

John Parker, MBA, MSIS ⋅ Vacaville, CA U.S. Air Force, Senior Airman ⋅ 4 years served

It would be better to ask your regional Veterans Employment Service Office (VESO) or Dept of Labor for Veterans in your area and they will give you some good pointers. One very important bit of knowledge that I was given is to pay attention to the occupational questionnaire. The questions that are asked in that section should be reflected in your resume as skills you already have and when answering, the last answer is always the best one because it usually goes something like "yes, I have both the qualified education and 10 years of work experience, etc where as the first answer which is what you never want to select will say something like "no, I do not have experience related to the job". But first and foremost contact your VESO so they can give you the template for the resume. With this strategy I've been successful at being selected to be on several hire eligibility lists and I also received one job offer without interviewing which I declined because the pay was too low (I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where you need six figures for normal living). Let me know how it goes. Coincidentally, I was stationed at Ellsworth........get out of there!

DF Jackson ⋅ Washington, DC U.S. Air Force, Senior Airman ⋅ 4 years served

SAMPLE RESUME FORMAT
Although the Federal Government does not require a standard application form for most jobs, we do need certain
information to evaluate your qualifications and determine if you meet legal requirements for Federal employment. If your
resume or application does not provide all the information requested in the job vacancy announcement you may lose
consideration for a job.

WHAT TO INCLUDE
Job Information
 Announcement number, title and grade of the job you are applying for
Personal Information
 Full name, mailing address (with Zip Code)
 Day and Evening phone numbers
 Email
 Country of Citizenship
 Veterans’ Preference
 Reinstatement eligibility (Proof of your career or career conditional status may be requested)
 Highest Federal civilian grade held (provide job series and dates held)
Desired Location(s)

Work Experience
Provide information for your paid and nonpaid work experience related to the job you are applying for.
 Job Title (include series and grade if Federal job)
 Job Address
 Duties and accomplishments
 Employer’s name and address
 Starting and ending dates (month and year)
 Hours per week
 Salary
 Supervisor’s name and phone number
 Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor.
Education
 High School
o Name, City, and State
o Date of diploma or GED
 Colleges or Universities
o Name, City, and State
o Majors
o Type and year of any degrees received
o If no degree, show total credits earned and indicate whether semester or quarter hours.)
 A copy of your college transcript may be requested if you are using education to meet qualification
requirements. An official transcript will be required prior to your appointment if selected.
Other Qualifications
 Job-related training courses (title and year)
 Job-related skills, for example, typing speed, other languages, computer software/hardware, machinery, etc.
 Job-related affiliations, honors, awards and special accomplishments, for example, publications, memberships
in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, and performance awards, etc. (Give dates but do not
send documents unless requested.)
References
 Name
 Phone Number
 Reference Type (Professional, Personal, Academic)

James Yaple ⋅ Austin, TX Department of Veterans Affairs ⋅ 25 years experience

If you have a rated disability (30% or more). You can contact the local HR departments directly and ask about a scheduled A appointment. This way you can get considered and selected for a position before the job is event announced. This may not apply to you but it's a good way to transition.

Tessa,

I am a federal employee who has been involved in hiring close to 100 people. You might think I have it made, but I myself have had the maximum number of five USAJOBS resumes and four USAJOBS searches running for over 15 years. I am always looking at USAJOBS postings.

I'll point out two key points to getting referred. Referred is one step past getting ignored (LOL).

First, you will probably encounter questions that assess some skill on a five point range;

1) no training or experience
2) training but no experience
3) experience under supervision
4) perform duties independently with minimal supervision
5) expert/instructor, people ask me for help/guidance

If you can't/don't say 5 for every one, you will not be selected

The other thing is yo adjust your resume to meet the stated duties (this is an example using my skills, but you probably get the idea. The announcement says:

"Develop plans, policies, methodologies, and architecture solutions that establish the framework for the management of multiple business lines of IT programs in support of Identity Management and the delivery of PKI services in an Active Directory environment."

I will put a line in my resume something like:

I developed plans, policies, methodologies, and architecture frameworks for the management of multiple programs in the delivery of Active Directory Identity Management and PKI services.

I literally cut and paste (adjusting wording sometimes) right out of the announcement.

This will get you referred about 1/3 of the time.

It's a numbers game, so set your search criteria broadly, probably state wide. You'd rather see more job announcements than fewer.

You should try to apply to at least one job per month. I think you need to submit about 25-50 applications before you will end up being selected. Apply, apply, apply!

Another thing I notice with veterans is they undervalue their experience or are ethical and don't want to overstate their qualifications. This will be a challenge. Just realize that people who overstate their qualifications are many, and if you don't take full credit for your experience them you will probably not get past the initial screening.

The reviewers don't know you, they only know what is on that piece of paper.

Good luck and Thank you for your service. Feel free to reach out directly for additional support. Sign up for LinkedIn, connections help!

James

Mark Aldridge ⋅ Horseshoe Bend, ID FAA ⋅ 45 years experience

Tessa,

The HR types that do the initial screening of your resume don't have a clue about the job you are applying for. My advice is to copy and paste the job description and experience requirements from the vacancy announcement into a bulletized word document. Then plug your training and experience into those bullets - using their key words and your qualifications. This will also help de-militarize your resume. Have a civilian "Loggie" check your resume for this. You must also bridge the gap from Army speak to Air Force speak. Then copy and paste your work experience back into the USA Jobs resume builder.

Good luck!

Henry ("Dr. Hank") Stevens ⋅ Fort Lauderdale, FL Human Resources Quality Assurance, LLC (Now Retired) ⋅ 50 years experience

Hello Tesssa! Thanks for your service, first of all. Second, this response is NOT about the specifics of your question but your delivery. So, please forgive me if this turns out to be a sensitive topic for you.

Maybe I am dense, but I had to read your question 3 times, as I did not understand what it was you were really asking. Thus, if your resume, cover letter, or other writing is like this question of yours, you are not exhibiting a written, "clarity of thought."

I suggest, therefore, that you have someone edit your written communications before submitting it again. Yes, I know that this is an informal medium and no one is grading you; BUT, as a decades-experienced recruiter, you need to know that if I read this in your cover letter or resume, your papers would have been placed in the left-hand stack.

Contact me off channel, if you like, for a free resume review at hlstevens@att.net

Jim Williams ⋅ Fpo, AE Navy Facilities Command - Public Works Department - Naples, Italy ⋅ 4 years experience

Do you know anyone that might work at the agency you are seeking employment at? If so, reach out to the him/her and see if they can assist in getting your name to the hiring manager. As a veteran you have hiring preferences that might be of interest to the hiring manager if they are looking to fill the position quick. Even if you don't know some at the agency, seek someone through LinkedIn or local veterans organization like American Legion, etc these veterans are well connected through the community may be able provide an you an introduction. Yes, have to have a tailored resume to the position and meet the grade qualifications, however having a connection will help set you apart.

Good Luck.

/r

Jim

Susana Moraga ⋅ Hayward, CA California State University East Bay ⋅ 20 years experience

Tessa,
One of the great things about applying to federal positions is there is a recruiter connected with each posting. If you call them after applying and ask for feedback they are frequently forthcoming. If they don't answer the phone they will call you back.
They want you to be successful.
Good luck,

Tessa Mastin ⋅ Rapid City, SD U.S. Army, Specialist ⋅ 4 years served

Thank you Timothy and Liz! I really do appreciate your responses.

Elizabeth Raddatz ⋅ Orland Park, IL Kopka Pinkus Dolin, PC ⋅ 25 years experience

Tessa,

I agree with Timothy. As he indicated, the first cut is done electronically, which seeks out the key words from the job description. Do not make your resume too "flowery" and keep to the facts. In other words, do not include your hobbies, unless they are job related. Also, read the posting thoroughly, as grade levels are strict about education and experience. Again, as Timothy mentioned, it is a very slow process and you will receive periodic emails as to the progress of your application. Above all, do not be disappointed if you get a form email stating that you did not make the cut. It is not personal. Just keep reaching for the next opportunity. All the best to you!

Liz

Timothy Strickland ⋅ Frederick, MD Defense Health Agency ⋅ 10 years experience

Tessa,

In some ways is not that much different from any other resume. I would suggest you physically build your resume in usajobs. The main thing is to read the job listing thoroughly. You will need to pick out the key words that describe what they are looking for. Those words need to written in your resume. That will insure you have the best chances of making it through the first pass which is usually electronic. Otherwise, make sure you meet the specifics and send in all documents they ask for: transcripts, DD-214, etc.

I'd be happy to look over your resume if you like. But, bear in mind that the federal process is slow and difficult regardless of the position or grade. Don't be too discouraged by not being referred.

Good luck.

Timothy