How to Compose a Resume for a Federal Job

Friday, September 28, 2007

Resume Tips - How to Compose a Resume for a Federal Job

Source: The Federal Resume Guidebook, by Kathryn Kraemer Troutman.

A federal resume is the best thing that has happened to federal employment in years. Finally, you can write and submit a resume for a federal job instead of completing a "life history" form, known as the Standard Form 171 (SF 171). By writing a federal resume, you will impress HR professionals by highlighting your qualifications. Applicants no longer need to use bureaucratic lingo and worn-out position descriptions.

Whether you're seeking a promotion, trying to change to a new series or attempting to get your first job in government, you can write a federal job application that gives a great first impression and organizes your qualifications in the most marketable way.

The federal resume is a new federal application and should not be submitted in combination with the SF 171 or the Optional Form 612 (OF 612 is the new, shorter form that is replacing the SF 171).

This resume is "federal" because it includes certain information required of federal personnel and is in a specific format. The federal resume averages three to five pages, is chronological and presents job-related and recent (the last 10 years) employment, education, training, skills and other qualifications.

The new resume format also introduces a writing style that emphasizes skills, accomplishments and results. The Government Results and Performance Act, signed by the President, mandates agencies to become results oriented and establish methods to measure performance by federal workers. This new attitude must be reflected in your resume if you want to be a successful federal applicant.

Benefits of a federal resume

It's not a SF 171 form. This form was very time-consuming and asked for a ton of information that sometimes didn't apply to the job position.
It looks great. The federal resume averages three to five pages, is easy to read, and looks attractive.
It provides a flexible format. You can use your favorite word-processing program to create a resume instead of filling out a form.
It helps career changers. You can target the announcement with your relevant experience, education and skills on the first page.
It highlights your background. The federal resume can support unique experiences by giving you the opportunity to list and describe.
It focuses the resume with a profile statement. It is your introduction and the answer to the question, "Tell me about yourself."
It emphasizes accomplishments and results.
It highlights critical job-related information in the position descriptions. Make a list that tells the reader what you have to offer. Make it clear and easy to read.
The federal resume application package usually requires supplemental statements known as KSAs: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities that relate to the announcement. The first purpose of the federal resume is to see that the candidate meets the basic qualifications for the vacancy announcement. The KSAs tell whether the person is qualified to perform the specific position.
KSAs are statements to your application that give specific examples of paid and nonpaid work experience, education, training, awards, and honors that support each major work area of an announced position. There are usually four to six KSAs listed on each announcement. KSAs should present a good example, should be one-half to one full page each, and should be written in first person.
Here are some ways to approach KSA statements:

Describe a specific situation.
Give an overview of your experience.
Give an example of relevant education or training.
Describe an award given for specific accomplishments.
Describe an experience in your previous job in the history format.
KSAs are also a writing test and an elimination tool. They require an ability to communicate in writing, an ability to understand instructions, skill in using a computer to produce the document, an ability to interpret the announcement, knowledge of an agency's or organization's mission and purpose and the ability to interpret the special needs of the hiring organization.
Sometimes announcements request KSAOs, which mean "Other" personal characteristics. According to the government, the 'O' stands for a special, specific personality factor or aptitude or a physical or mental trait needed to do the work, which appears either in addition to or to a greater extent than what is generally expected of all employees in all jobs.

If you write sharply about your experiences in each KSA statement, hiring managers will rate you very well. Remember when you're writing the KSAs that you are being graded. HR professionals have a rating and ranking system for each KSA statement. Your statements can range from Superior to Not Acceptable. The actual points given to each element are confidential.