USAJobs Training Workbook FINAL

7/31/2019 USAJobs Training Workbook FINAL

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ROADMAP TO DEVELOPINGA N E F F E C T I V E U S A J O B S R E S U M E


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ii www. Ca re e rProP l us . c om

CareerPro Global is the only ISO 9001:2008-Certified Resume Writing, Training, and Career Coaching Company

Worldwide. In business since 1986, we are part of the family of career services websites of CareerPro Global,

Inc. (CPG). CPG consists of some of the bestif not the bestresume writers in the careers industry.

Our writing team members hold a number of writing certifications. They are published authors, HR

professionals, expert technical writers, engineers, programmers, educators, journalists and editors, lawyers,

and corporate executives for major industries. Additionally, our team possesses strong career backgrounds

working in major roles of Fortune 500 corporations. Team members consist of former university-level

educators, attorneys, engineers, and mass communications professionals; they come from marketing,

publishing, business, research, military, and federal backgrounds, to name a few.

At CareerPro Global, we are committed to producing premier resume and career services products, providing

service excellence, and remaining abreast of global employment and hiring trends. We are also committed to

continual improvement of the quality management system.


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iii www. Ca re e rProP l us . c om

has led CareerPro Global, Inc. (CPG) since 1989, and is

recognized as one of the pioneers in the careers services industry. Barbara has

built CPG into one of the largest and fastest-growing career services organizations

industry-wide, having served more than 55,000 clients to date. Barbara positioned

CPG to raise the bar by developing an ISO 9001:2008-guided quality process (the

first in the careers industry) through which all of CPGs processes are reviewed

and measured for quality. CPG earned full ISO 9001:2008 certification/registration

in 2010. Barbara recently co-authored several books, including Roadmap to the

Senior Executive Service and Roadmap to Job-Winning Military to Civilian

Resumes, covering military to civilian transitions and the Senior Executive Service.

is a successful author who also spent 11 years in the U.S. Army, working

his way from Private to Captain. He also spent a year in Ramadi, Iraq (20052006),

and his last position in the Army was Commanding Officer of a 275-person company.

Since leaving the military, Lee has leveraged his writing and military background to

become one of CareerPros senior writers, and serves as Director of Training and

Veteran Transitions. He holds three industry certifications: Master Federal Career

Advisor / Trainer, Master Federal Resume Writer and Master Military Resume

Writer. Lee recently co-authored two books in CareerPros 21st

Century Career

Series, and won the Best Military Transition Resume TORI Award in 2011.

brings 20 years of experience in high-level business communication and

writing to develop client resumes and personal narratives from entry to executive-

level. Through a global view of a clients inner strengths and skills, Lisa expresses,through carefully selected words and phrases, the clients intrinsic value, significant

contributions, and pledged commitment to potential employers in an employer-

friendly context and format. Lisa has partnered with CareerPro Global, Inc. since

1993 and is CPGs Managing Editor, an award winning writer, and holds three

industry certifications: Master Federal Career Advisor / Trainer, Master Federal

Resume Writer and Master Military Resume Writer.

brings 30 years of professional and technical expertise in

manufacturing, engineering, quality, and business planning. Ted is an exceptional

technical writer and editor specializing in writing federal government resumes,writing KSAs, and using online Resumix systems. Ted has researched, developed,

and continues to manage CareerPro Globals first Quality and Process Manual and

has prepared CPG in all facets for ISO 9001:2008 certification. He is recognized as a

pioneer of the first organization in the careers industry to implement a Quality

Assurance (QA) system and the preparation of CPG for ISO 9001:2008 certification.

Ted is a Master Federal Career Advisor and a Master Military Resume Writer and

Master Federal Resume Writer.


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iv www. Ca re e rProP l us . c om

Find and Select a Job on the USAJOBS.gov Website Page 5

Identifying Keywords/Headlines to Use in Your Federal

ResumePage 17

Create the Framework for Your USAJOBS Resume Page 29

Write Your Duties and Accomplishments for Each Position Page 36

Complete Your USAJOBS Resume Page 43

Tools and Resources Page 49

Resume Samples Page 116


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5 www. Ca re e rProP l us . c om

The website, www.USAJOBS.gov,

is the official employment

website of the federalgovernment. In January 2010, the

Office of Personnel Management

(OPM), the official hiring or

Human Resources (HR) agent of

most federal agencies, launched a

streamlined design of the website

to make it easier to find jobs according to user-input search criteria and to apply for these jobs with just a few

keystrokes in most cases. All Competitive Service positions that are open to applicants outside a specific

agency must be posted on www.USAJOBS.gov. In addition to allowing users to search and apply for jobs,

www.USAJOBS.gov allows users:

Determine what pay scale is applicable to them by viewing the vacancy announcements. If the position

begins with GS, they should refer to the General Schedule; if its WG, its the Wage Grade.

Build and store up to five unique resumes in their personal and secure online account area. Applicants may

also upload up to two resumes to USAJOBS. These resumes can be released to various jobs for which

candidates have determined they are a match.

Set up and save automatic job searches. Applicants should put www.USAJOBS.gov to work by setting up an

automatic job search agent that will scan the various vacancies every day and notify you via email whenopenings that match your criteria become available. This is a great way to receive alerts of newly posted

jobs, allowing the maximum amount of time to perfect your application materials (resume, questionnaires,

etc.).

Manage various applications. www.USAJOBS.gov and its sister site, Application Manager

(www.applicationmanager.gov), will provide updated information regarding the status of submitted

applications.

FIND AND SELECT A JOB ON

THE USAJOBS.GOV WEBSITE


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UNDERSTANDING FEDERAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTSOften, someone exploring federal employment for the first time will focus on job description, salary, and

location. Many job seekers do not examine their eligibility for the position, nor do they follow the application

instructions. Thus, they are not referred to the position, regardless of how qualified they may be.

Although OPM has standardized the format used for federal vacancy announcements, its important to

remember that not every announcement is created equally. For example, some announcements specifyKnowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs), while others do not.

Similarly, some announcements are more detailed while others make assumptions. Some agencies that fall

under the Excepted hiring category (meaning that they are typically independent from the OPM and have

their own hiring practices) publish vacancy announcements that look nothing like what one would typically

find on www.USAJOBS.gov, OPMs official employment site.

If you understand the anatomy of an announcement, youll be able to confidently navigate through the federa

application process.

When a vacancy announcement states that documentation is required, applicants must follow the

announcements instructions to submit required documents. Failure to submit required documentation may

result in disqualification.

It is extremely important to read the vacancy announcement in its entirety to make sure that all

requirements are met. If you have questions or require clarification about something in the announcement,

you should contact the HR representative listed on the vacancy announcement prior to the closing date. The

HR representative can provide guidance and assistance, as needed.

It is not recommended that applicants apply for a position on the day the vacancy announcement closes. If

you wait and then encounter technical difficulties with applying for the job, you may not be able to complete

the application process.

Federal regulations require the person performing the submissionnot a third partyto be the applicant.

Throughout the years, the government has greatly simplified the application process; now, candidates simply

upload their documents via the Application Manager site at www.applicationmanager.gov.

However, not all jobs use this method, so it is strongly recommended that you understand the various online

application systems so that you meet the submission requirements, which we will cover in this section.


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The elements of a vacancy announcement are as follows:

This is the identification number issued to each vacancy

announcement. The applicant must reference this number on all submitted materials.

This is the date when the vacancy announcement was initially opened for submission of

applications.

This is the final date that applications may be submitted for consideration for an available

position. Applicants should read this carefully; many announcements close at 11:59 p.m. EST while others may

close at other times. It is the applicants responsibility to ensure their application is received by the closing

date; deadlines are rarely extended.

This is the title of the vacancy being announced.

This information indicates the pay plan, series, and grade for the available position.

Some positions are posted at multiple grades; applicants should apply for every grade they are willing toaccept and should not assume that the agency will automatically consider them for every grade available.

This information will indicate if the available position has the potential for

promotion as well as describe the full performance level. Generally, positions filled at a grade lower than the

full performance level have non-competitive promotion potential to the full performance level. This means

that employees will not have to compete again to reach the positions full performance level.

This is the salary range for the available position.

This is the geographic location where the position will be filled, or where the position is

located.

This area describes who is eligible to apply for the available position, such as Federal

Civil Service Employees or Public.

When a vacancy announcement states that it is open for Merit Promotion (MP), this means that applications

will be accepted from current Competitive Service federal employees, Veterans Employment Opportunities

Act (VEOA) eligibles (those with three or more years of active duty military service), or employees who are

reinstatement eligible (held a Competitive Service position in the past). Working for a federal contractor or

being a former military service member does not constitute federal employment status.

When the vacancy number includes the suffix DEU, this means that applications will be accepted from all U.S.

citizens. There may be reasons why a current or former federal employee may want to apply on a DEU

(sometimes called Public or External vacancy), but typically, a current or former federal employee has more

advantage if he/she applies on an MP vacancy. For example, if you are a veteran, you may feel that the

additional points for Veterans Preference will be beneficial if you apply on the DEU vacancy announcement.


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If you are at a certain grade and/or series and feel that you have higher-level experience, you may want to

apply on the DEU vacancy in order to reenter the government service at a higher grade and/or in a different

series (if selected).

Separate lists are generated for MP and DEU applicants (separate lists are also generated for each grade); the

more ways in which you apply for a position, the more likely you are to appear on multiple lists. The more lists

on which you appear, the higher the likelihood of your being selected, since a hiring manager may select off

any list.

Vacancy announcements that are open to all U.S. citizens are not required to include the DEU prefix.

This section lists the common duties of a position. Applicants should review this section

carefully so that they understand the nature of the job. The duties section also includes keywords that can

be mined for your resume.

These are the basic qualification levels on which applicants will be considered.

For example, if you are a GS-7 clerk, you are not automatically eligible for a GS-7 budget analyst position.

Applicants are required to have one year of specialized experience in order to meet the eligibilityrequirements of the GS-7 budget analyst to be ranked as eligible. Make sure that your resume provides

information that clearly demonstrates that you meet the specialized experience requirements. A good rule of

thumb is that if you do not possess the specialized experience requirements, you are not well qualified for the

position and will not be a strong candidate. Specialized experience is not nice to have; it is considered

essential.


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Lets study an actual vacancy announcement and draw up an action plan for someone looking for a Senior

Information Technology (IT) position. We have included some notes in call-out boxes and have underlined

verbiage to draw your attention to small details that might be otherwise overlooked if youre focusing on only

the salary and the job duties. We have also highlighted keywords that youll want to pay attention to when

developing a resume for this vacancy. (More on keywords later.)

Job Title: IT Specialist (Data Mgmt), CG-2210-13 (Term Appointment)

Agency: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Sub-Agency: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Job Announcement Number: 2010-DALD-B1073

Salary Range: 86,555.00 - 143,217.00 USD/year

Series & Grade: GS-2210-13/13

Promotion Potential: 13

Open Period: March 17, 2012 to March 30, 2012

Position Information: Competitive ServiceDuty Locations: 8 vacancies - Dallas, TX

Who May Be Considered: All U.S. Citizens

JOB SUMMARY:

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is one of the most respected forces in

Americas financial community. Our mission is to maintain stability of and public

confidence in the nations financial system by insuring deposits, examining and

supervising financial institutions, and managing receiverships.

This position is located in the Division of Resolutions and Receiverships, Dallas

Regional Office of the FDIC and provides support in the areas of the data management

resolution activities of failing/failed financial institutions.

Applicants with federal status should apply to the "Public Status Positions" announcement

2010-DAL-B1074 for this same vacancy. Merit Promotion referrals will not include

applicants to this announcement.

The candidate selected will be offered a term appointment not to exceed two years, which

may be extended to a maximum of four years based on management needs.

KEY REQUIREMENTS: Incumbent may be relocated to any duty location to meet management

needs. This position requires very frequent overnight travel.

MAJOR DUTIES:

The incumbent serves as Information Technology Manager (ITM) for financial institutions

in the various stages of resolution. Responsibilities include directing the data

management resolution activities, serving as general systems technical consultant for the

FDIC resolution team, scheduling, planning, and overseeing staff of failing/failed

financial institutions.

The data management activities include: extracting, profiling, cleansing, transforming,

and loading data. Incumbent serves as a download specialist, independently performing

data management activities for FDIC systems and users. As part of the download function,

the ITM also prepares ad hoc reports for the receivership resolutions team. The incumbent

Study the described duties of the position; there are plenty of great keywords in here to use in a

resume (highlighted). Also, when determining if youre a fit for the position, consider these

various responsibilities and ensure you have the corresponding experience.

This is a term appointment,

not a permanent job.


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will also serve as team leader on projects and be responsible for project deliverables.

The incumbent conducts highly complex analytical assignments, systems analysis, computer

network assessments, and maintenance of specialized databases and applications. The

incumbent will be engaged in complex Information Technology (IT) activities related to

pre-resolution, resolution, and post-resolution financial institution activities,

supporting receivership asset liquidation and liability settlement.

The incumbent will continually seek opportunities to increase customer satisfaction,

deepen client relationships, and manage client expectations effectively.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants must possess at least one year of experience equivalent to the grade 12 level

in the Federal Service.

Specialized experience is experience that demonstrates expertise in the

interrelationships between multiple IT disciplines; e.g. IT Operations, Back Room

Operations, and Management Information Systems Project Management combined with

experience in the use of state-of-the-art automated systems and technologies as well as

proficiency in the use of a wide range of analytical and evaluative methods to analyze

financial information to support resolution and receivership strategies. Specifically,

experience must also demonstrate expertise in the areas of application programming anddatabase and system design and will have included responsibility for communicating with

clients to identify needs and evaluate alternative business solutions.

Candidates eligible for CTAP or ICTAP will be determined to be well qualified if they

achieve a score of 85 points or higher. More information at

http://www.fdic.gov/about/jobs/jobs_ctap_ictap.html. There is no substitution of

education for experience at this grade level. A person must have actual experience that

demonstrates expertise in the interrelationships between multiple IT disciplines; e.g.,

IT Operations, Back Room Operations, and Management Information Systems Project

Management combined with experience in the use of state-of-the-art automated systems and

technologies as well as proficiency in the use of a wide range of analytical and

evaluative methods to analyze financial information to support resolution and

receivership strategies.

Under law, FDIC may not employ any person who has:

1. been convicted of any felony;2. been removed or prohibited from participating in the affairs of any insured depository

institution pursuant to any final enforcement action by any appropriate federal

banking agency;

3. demonstrated a pattern or practice of defalcation regarding obligations to insureddepository institutions; or

4. caused a substantial loss, in an amount in excess of $50,000, to federal depositinsurance funds.

FDIC employees, their spouses, and minor children are also prohibited from acquiring,

owning, or controlling, directly or indirectly, a security of an FDIC-insured depositoryinstitution or an affiliate of an FDIC-insured depository institution.

Only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)

are eligible for appointment to Competitive Service jobs.

Moderate Risk Position: Minimum Background Investigation (MBI) required. (Specialized

forms are going to be required for this position before an applicant can be officially

offered the position.)

This is important. Note that in this announcement, there is no education substitutionallowed for experience; the hiring agency wants someone with at least one year of GS-12

experience.


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Make sure your resume verifies your

questionnaire responses. The results of the

panel review will determine who is interviewed.

Although this position is a two-

year term, a one-year

probationary period is required.

Applicants tentatively selected for this position must complete a Confidential Financial

Disclosure OGE-450 prior to receiving an official offer from the Human Resources (HR)

Branch. Candidates who are tentatively identified for appointment must meet suitability

requirements for federal employment prior to appointment. FDIC will request applicant to

provide additional information, including a credit statement release, prior to making a

formal offer of employment, as required by 12 CFR Part 336.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Candidates will be evaluated using a phased rating process. Phased rating incorporates a

structured interview as part of the assignment of final rating points used to determine

who is eligible for referral to the selecting official on the certificate of eligible

candidates.

It is expected that applications from at

least the top 10 candidates who appear to

meet the specialized experience outlined will

be reviewed by a panel of Subject Matter

Experts (SMEs). The panel will validate the

applicants answers to the assessment

questions against information provided in their resumes, including their paid or

volunteer experience, education, training, and certifications.

The candidates responses to the assessment questions, as supported by the resume; theresults of the panel review; and the interview will count toward the candidates total

score.

BENEFITS:

The FDIC offers a comprehensive package of employee benefits and work life programs. Some

benefits are at no cost while others involve a premium or contribution, often on a pre-

tax basis. Your type of appointment determines the benefits for which you are eligible.

Enrollment in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Federal Thrift Savings Plan and

FDIC 401(k) Plan, both with employer matching funds. Health and Dependent Care Flexible

Spending Accounts. Federal and FDIC Life Insurance Programs, Federal health insurance and

FDIC dental and vision plans; and for permanent appointments only, long-term disability

insurance.

Thirteen paid sick leave days annually, including sick leave usage options for family-

related reasons. Ten paid holidays per year. Thirteen paid days of vacation for the first

3 years of Federal Service, increasing to 20 days for more than 3 to 15 years of service

and 26 days for more than 15 years of Federal Service.

Transit Subsidy Program for employees who commute via public transportation. Work-life

programs and services, including: teleworking, alternative work schedules, Information

and Referral Services, and Elder Care Support Services. Business Casual Dress Code.

Clinical Support Services. Supplemental pay and support for activated Reserve and Guard

members.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Additional selections may be made from applicants to this position to fill identical

vacancies that occur subsequent to this announcement, as allowed by regulation.

Please read about your rights and responsibilities as an applicant for federal employment

under the following link:

http://www.fdic.gov/about/jobs/jobs_rightsprotections.html.

If selected from a DEU certificate or if this is your

first federal appointment, you will be required to

serve a one-year probationary period.

Its always a good idea to set up an account with the agency/ies to which you will be applying in advance,

rather than wait until the last minute. Waiting until the last minute will put you at risk of encounteringtechnical difficulties that might prevent applying by the announcements closing deadline.


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How to Apply:

The first step is registering as a user of FDIC Careers and then responding to all of the

questions, and providing responses to the quality ranking statements. During

registration, you will be required to establish a password. It is essential that you

verify before noon of the closing date that you have access to your FDIC Careers account

to ensure you are able to complete your application on time. If you are locked out of

your account, you must call 1-866-555-1234 or email [email protected] between 7 a.m.

and 7 p.m., E.T. Monday-Friday. Each account is linked to a unique SSN; therefore, you

cannot create a new account as a work-around to a lost password. Creating a false SSN or

using anothers is prohibited under 18 USC 1001.

We encourage you to review the resume that you load in FDIC Careers and update it to

accurately reflect your current experience. Your responses will be assessed by a panel of

experts. Check below for any additional documentation needs that may be relevant to your

application.

Only applications submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time of the closing date via the FDICCareers site will be accepted.

Exceptions will be made in the instance of handicap accommodation specific to problems

with using a computer or extreme hardship cases in accessing technology. Applicants

requesting an exception from the online application must contact the HR Specialist listed

in the vacancy announcement prior to 12:00 noon local time on the closing date. Approved

applicants will receive a complete paper application package that includes the same

vacancy questions as those applying online, to be completed and returned within

timeframes as specified in the package. Alternate applications submitted without prior

approval will not be accepted for this announcement.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Please review information about types of documentation that may apply to your

application. If you claim special hiring eligibility, you will need to provide

supplemental documentation. For 30% disabled veterans, please check the information at

our Veterans Employment link; for the disabled, please check the information at our

People with Disabilities link. Both of these links are displayed at the top of the FDIC

Careers homepage.

All supplemental documents required to establish your eligibility or entitlement to any

type of consideration need to be received by the closing date. If you encounter a delay

in meeting the cut-off, contact the HR Specialist noted in this announcement by noon of

the closing date to request an extension. Late filing of documentation will not be

accepted without the prior approval of the Specialist. Submit your documentation using

the fax coversheet that you will be prompted to print out at the end of the application

process.

Veterans Preference eligibles must submit a copy of their DD-214 (Member Copy 4), and

other documentation, as appropriate, as explained on the Veterans Employment site

(http://www.fdic.gov/about/jobs/jobs_veterans.html).

Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility should review requirements at the CTAP/ICTAP

site (http://www.fdic.gov/about/jobs/jobs_ctap_ictap.html). Documents required to

establish eligibility include a copy of the agency RIF notice or certificate of expected

separation, your most recent performance appraisal, and your most recent SF-50 showing

position, grade level, and duty location.


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WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Applicants should sign in to the FDIC Careers system to monitor the status of their

application.

EEO Policy Statement: http://www.USAJOBS.gov/eeo

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement: http://www.USAJOBS.gov/raps

Veterans Information: http://www.USAJOBS.gov/vi

Legal and Regulatory Guidance: http://www.USAJOBS.gov/lrg

Control Number: 1848156

The following are some terms that you might encounter when reviewing vacancy announcements:

Career and Career-Conditional EmployeePermanent federal career status is automatically gained

upon completion of the mandatory three-year career-conditional period. These candidates are also known as

status candidates.

Creditable ServiceThis refers to federal government employment (civilian or uniformed service) that

meets requirements for a particular type of appointment or benefit, such as leave accrual or Reduction in

Force (RIF) retention.

Declaration for Federal EmploymentThis form documents a candidates fulfillment of the two

requirements for federal employment: U.S. citizenship and, for men born after December 31, 1959,

compliance with U.S. Selective Service registration.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)This defines the fundamental knowledge, skills, and abilities

required for the particular position. In the past, KSAs often obliged an applicant to prepare a separate

document to address each of the KSAs required.

Occupational QuestionnaireThese questions, usually posted online, typically consist of a combination of

multiple choice, yes/no, and short narratives, which are designed to further assess a candidates qualifications

Some questionnaires also require the completion of narratives to substantiate multiple-choice answers.

Regardless of whether the questionnaire requires narrative responses, all claims made in the questionnaire

should be documented in your resume in order to receive full credit.

OPM (Office of Personnel Management)The governments main HR agency.

Veterans PreferenceThis refers to an employees category of entitlement preference in the Federal

Service based on active military service that was terminated honorably and that meets specific criteria.

Veterans Preference is awarded as follows:

5-point preference is the preference granted to a preference-eligible veteran who does not meet the

criteria for one of the types of 10-point preferences.

Every vacancy announcement has a unique control

number to distinguish it from others in the system.


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10-point (disability) preference is the preference to which a disabled veteran is entitled.

10-point (compensable disability) preference is the preference to which a disabled veteran is entitled if

he/she has a compensable service-connected disability rating of 10% or more.

10-point (30% compensable disability) preference is the preference to which a disabled veteran is entitled

if he/she is entitled to a 10-point preference due to a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or

more.

10-point (other) preference is the preference granted to the widow/widower or mother of a deceased

veteran or to the spouse or mother of a disabled veteran. This is also known as derived preference

because it is derived from the military service of someone elsea veteran who is not using it for

preference. If the disabled veteran uses the service for preference, his/her spouse or mother is no longer

entitled to preference.

Qualifications Standards Operating Manual (also known as the X-118)This is the published guide

to qualifications required for General Schedule (GS) positions in the federal government. It outlines minimum

experience and/or education requirements for each job series.

ResumixThe Resumix system is an online system used by various agencies for employment applications.

Status CandidatesThese are job applicants who currently work for the federal government or certain

former federal employees who held (or hold) Competitive Service positions.

TemporaryAs the name suggests, temporary positions are filled for one year or less; employees chosen for

these jobs do not receive benefits.

Term PositionA term position is a non-permanent position that can last anywhere from one to four years.

Employees who fill term positions generally receive the same benefits as permanent employees, but do not

have status.

Superior Qualifications AppointmentThis refers to placement of a person in a hard-to-recruit-for

position at a pay rate above the minimum step 1 for a particular grade, based on the applicants unique or

unusually high qualifications, a special government need for applicants services, and/or the fact that

applicants present salary or salary offerings are higher than the minimum rate of the grade level to which the

applicant can be appointed. This is negotiated individually between the successful applicant and the agency,

and is not guaranteed.

To determine your Veterans Preferenceeligibility, visit: www.dol.gov/elaws/vets/vetpref/choice.htm, and choose Option 1.


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Candidates seeking federal employment can take advantage of the search agent function on

www.USAJOBS.gov. Applicants can establish searches by geographic location, grade, pay, job category, and/or

agency.

To access this function, you will need to set up an account on the website, which takes just a few minutes.

Then, from a personalized home screen, you should click on CREATE A NEW SAVED SEARCH (up to 10

different searches can be created and saved), found on the left side of your homepage.

After clicking on the CREATE A NEW SAVED SEARCH button, you will be taken to a webpage that is very similar

to what you would see if you were conducting a basic search. Here, you will enter job-search criteria, including

location(s), job category(ies), etc.


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USAJOBS does not use advanced

optical character-recognitionsoftware, or imaging

technologies to screen resumes.

However, it has its own

limitations and requirements.

That means your materials must

meet the required format and keywords criteria to be considered. USAJOBS hosts many thousands of job

applications for a variety of federal job openings in the U.S. and around the world. Online formats tend to be

restrictive and each has different format requirements. If not written correctly with the required format, your

application may end up being automatically rejected.

There is a wealth of information to be found in the vacancy announcement. Any similarities or recurring

phrases in the vacancy announcement should be extracted and utilized in the resume as much as possible by

connecting your experiences to those core performance expectations.

It is a good idea to encode your resume with specific keywords that will generate a hiring authoritys interest

in interviewing you for positions to which youve applied. The hard part is that there is a different set of

keywords for every job and there is no way of knowing what those words are. The hiring authoritys first step

in processing what can be an overwhelming response to announcements of vacant positions is to digitize

applicants resumes and run them through keyword-searchable databases, using software to search those

databases for specific keywords that relate to job vacancies. In the past, this technique was used almost

exclusively by the federal government, but as technology has advanced, Fortune 1000 companies and even

smaller companies are jumping on the bandwagon. The bottom line is that the federal government, the

civilian sector, and private companies are all electronically searching for job-specific keywords, and if a resume

is not populated with those words, it doesnt have a chance of being flagged for consideration. Even though

there is no reference book of keywords, there are tools to identify important words and phrases that will flag

the artificial intelligence software scanning the document for them. In the majority of cases, keywords are

IDENTIFYING KEYWORDS/HEADLINESTO USE IN YOUR FEDERAL RESUME


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nouns. However, the what to in relation to which you performed the action is just as important. In the

following examples, the underlined nouns are the keywords that relate to the action indicated by the verbs:

Conducted cross-functional management for initial and follow-up contact.

Coordinated marketing campaigns and special events.

Managed customer database, product updates, and upgrades.

Functioned in project management role.

Oversaw procurement, allocation, distribution control, stock levels, and cost compilation/analysis.

What types of nouns are sought? Nouns that relate to the skills and experience the employer is looking for in a

candidate are the ones to shoot for. More specifically, keywords can be precise hard skillsjob-

specific/profession-specific/industry-specific skills, technological terms, and descriptions of technical expertise

(including hardware and software in which you are proficient); job titles; certifications; names of products and

services; industry buzzwords and jargon; types of degrees; names of colleges; company names; terms that

tend to impress, such as Fortune 500; and even area codes for narrowing down searches geographically.

Awards and names of professional organizations to which you might belong can even be used as keywords.

Keywords are intentionally placed in all vacancy job announcements. You can find keywords in job vacancy

announcements under three sections: the Job Summary, the Major Duties, Qualifications Required (specialized

experience and how you will be evaluated), and any online questionnaires.

There are actually several good ways to identify the specific keywords for which an employer might be looking

in any given job search, and they are as follows:

Use job-description books and job-description software

Search the vacancy announcement

Consult the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Classification StandardsVisit your current employers website

Visit the websites of professional associations in your field to look and listen for current buzzwords

Consult government publications such as The Occupational Outlook Handbook at libraries or online

Visit the website of the employer you are targeting and look for keywords describing the companys

culture and values; note the companys mission statement and look for ways to quote it in your resume

and/or cover letter

Use web search engines, such as Google and Yahoo, to search for job descriptions

Keywords are always listed in order of

importance; if something is mentionedtwice, pay careful attention to those words.


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Visit online specialty sites defining acronyms and technical jargon

Look for the words that appear early in an ad or job description; the first keywords mentioned are

likely the most important

To make sure you cover all your bases, go to USAJOBS and find anywhere from three to five vacancy

announcements for the same position at various federal agencies and departments. Go through each one and

highlight or underline the words and phrases that could likely be the keywords used in the employers search

criteria. After youve analyzed several ads this way, make a list of the keywords common to all ads. Those arethe keywords that have the best chance of being successfully sought out by the employers search software.

Here are examples from several Project Manager vacancy announcements, for which we frequently prepare

resumes for our clients. Note the words and phrases that are underlined and highlighted.

AD #1: SENIOR IT PROJECT MANAGER

The Senior IT Project Manager must be able to oversee large, complex projects, control

and understand the business environment and work product, and evaluate technical

specifications. Key responsibilities include directing and evaluating project vision and

strategy, accountability for project completion and team management, defining and driving

project deliverables, and facilitating development and operations project teams. The

Senior IT Project Manager will be responsible for defining, creating, and maintaining aproject plan, managing day-to-day client communication, allocating resources, and

maintaining team productivity and morale in high-pressure situations. Candidates must

have IT expertise, a Bachelors degree in management, engineering, computer science,

business, or similar field, 4+ years experience in professional services or consulting,

2-4 years of managerial experience, as well as the ability to manage multidisciplinary

projects with 10+ people.
http://www.quintcareers.com/researching_resume_keywords.htmlhttp://www.quintcareers.com/researching_resume_keywords.html


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AD #2: PROJECT MANAGEROur firm has a Project Manager position opening in its Professional Services group.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Work with the prospective professional services customer to define the scope of workand provide it to the customer for approval.

Identify the external resources and, if appropriate, internal resources with thenecessary skills to develop a detailed Statement of Work (SOW).

Manage the Professional Services team to execute on and complete the deliverablescalled out in the SOW. --Manage the client relationship.Qualifications:

Demonstrated management, leadership, communication, motivational, and influencingskills.

Must have a thorough understanding of the software development process, preferablyfrom a system (hardware/software) perspective.

Must have a proven record of managing software/hardware system integrationprojects/programs.

Must feel comfortable in a leadership role in a matrix management environment. Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing with individual

contributors, management, executive staff, as well as with the customer.

Demonstrated commitment to quality.

Problem-solver with the ability to provide primary problem diagnosis and coordinateresolution.

http://www.citehr.com/5357-identifying-key-words-put-your-resume.html

--Direct experience in a project management role is a must.

-- Experience in computer industry product development in a technical contributing role.

--Actual software development experience.

--Background must include responsibility for, and accomplishment of, delivering

integrated products to market.

Education:

-- B.S. or higher.
http://www.quintcareers.com/researching_resume_keywords.htmlhttp://www.quintcareers.com/researching_resume_keywords.html


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AD #3: PROJECT MANAGER

Reporting to the head of B2B and Global Products, candidate will be an integral member of

a dynamic team.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

-- Strategic Planning: Well rely on your expertise to drive business opportunity,

tracking eCommerce trends and technologies, evaluating their relevance to the

organization, and proposing courses of action.

-- Key technology partner to internal business colleagues to jointly manage the

deployment of technology to meet global markets and internal customer needs and to ensure

that products and services are brought to market quickly to enhance revenue growth.

-- New Product Development: Impact success by working with business partners to envision

and define new product offerings.

-- Technical Development and Operations: Overall management of development

prioritization, sizing, development, and implementation as well as production planning

and monitoring of the B2B systems.

--Oversee day-to-day work of a development manager and team.

-- Alliance Relationships: Support the analysis, negotiation, due diligence, and

maintenance of the ongoing relationship with our alliances and partnerships.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

-- Bachelors or Masters in Computer Science or equivalent experience.

-- Extensive experience working in an organization using complex technology, including

management experience in a complex, multi-platform development and processing

environment.--A successful record of leadership development and implementation of creative strategies

and innovative solutions in response to dynamic business and customer needs, with

particular emphasis on eCommerce and WWW experience.

-- Ability to effectively deal with business and technology senior management on a global

basis.

-- Excellence in partnering with internal and external customers, using strong

negotiation and persuasion skills to achieve business objectives.

These are the words and phrases in the above ads that were identified as keywords and key phrases:

oversee large, complex projects

understand the business environment andwork product

evaluate technical specifications

project vision and strategy

project completion

team management

project deliverables

development and operations project teams

project plan

client communication

allocating resources

team productivity and morale in high-

pressure situations

IT expertise

Bachelors degree in M, Engineering,

Computer Science, Business, or similar field

professional services or consulting

managerial experience

ability to manage multidisciplinary projects

with 10+ people

scope of work

identify the external resourcesclient relationship skills

management skills

leadership skills

communications skills

motivational skills

influencing skills

software development process

proven record of managing

software/hardware system integration

projects/programs

leadership role

matrix management environment

communicate both verbally and in writing

commitment to quality

problem solver

experience in a project management role

experience in computer industry product

development in a technical contributing

role
http://www.usajobs.gov/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.usajobs.gov/


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software development experience

delivering integrated products to market

B.S. or higher in an engineering discipline

strategic planning

key technology partner to internal business

colleagues

deployment of technology to meet global

markets and internal customer needs

products and services brought to market

quickly to enhance revenue growth

new product development

envision and define new product offerings

technical development and operations

management of development prioritization,

sizing, development, and implementation as

well as production planning and monitoring

of the B2B systems

alliance relationships

Bachelors or Masters in Computer Science

extensive experience working in an

organization using complex technology

management experience in a complex,

multiplatform development and processing

environment

successful record of leadership

development

implementation of creative strategies and

innovative solutions

ability to effectively deal with business and

technology senior management on a global

basis

excellence in partnering with internal and

external customers

strong negotiation skills

persuasion skills

The next step would be to narrow down the list to a set of keywords that might work for multiple Project

Manager jobs:

oversee large, complex projects

project vision and strategy; strategic planning; implementation of creative strategies and innovative

solutions

project completion

managerial experience/skills; leadership skills; motivational and influencing skills; ability to manage

multidisciplinary projects with 10+ people; team management and development; team productivityand morale in high-pressure situations; successful record of leadership development

project deliverables; delivering integrated products to market; products and services brought to

market quickly to enhance revenue growth

project plan; scope of work

client communication and client relationship skills; excellence in partnering with internal and external

customers

IT expertise; software development process; key technology partner to internal business colleagues;

deployment of technology to meet global markets and internal customer needs; extensive experience

working in an organization using complex technology management experience in a complex,

multiplatform development and processing environment; proven record of managing

software/hardware system integration projects/programsBachelors degree in Management, Engineering, Computer Science, Business, or similar field

communication, negotiation, persuasion skills

commitment to quality

problem solver


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Now that we have some good ideas about how to identify keywords, how should they be used?

The prevailing wisdom for several years was that job applicants should front load their resume with a

laundry list of keywordsa keyword summary with no contextbecause, supposedly, database search

software would search no more than the first 100 words of a document. If that 100-word limitation was ever

true, however, it doesnt seem to be anymore, and job seekers are now advised to use keywords throughout

their resume.

It still makes some sense to front load your resume with keywords, howeverpartly to ensure you get as

many as possible into the document, and partly for the phase of resume review in which actual humans will

screen the resume (after the initial screening by the search software) and may be attracted to keywords that

appear early in the document.

We suggest populating keywords liberally in the Work History and Additional Information sections. Ideally,

keywords in the Work History are tied to accomplishments rather than job duties. Most types of applicant-

search software not only look for keywords but also rank them on a weighted basis according to the

importance of the word to the job criteria, with some keywords considered mandatory and others merely

desirable. The keywords can also be weighted and the resume ranked according to how many timesmandatory words appear in your resume.

If your document contains no mandatory keywords, the keyword search obviously will overlook the resume.

Those with the greatest keyword density will be selected for the next round of screening, this time by a

human. Generally, the more specific a keyword is to a particular job or industry, the more heavily it will be

weighted. Skills that apply to many jobs and industries tend to be less weighty.

Since you also dont know the exact form of a keyword that the employer will use as a search criterion, it

makes sense to also use synonyms, various forms of your keywords, and both the spelled-out and acronym

versions of common terms. For example, use both manager and management; try both CRM andCustomer Relationship Management.

To determine the keyword health of the resume, highlight all the words in it that would probably be

considered keywords. Some experts say that a good goal to shoot for is 25 to 35 keywords, so if you currently

have fewer than that, try to beef up every section of the resume with keywords, varying the forms of the

words you choose.

Human Resources (HR) professionals, who are generally the first people to screen all incoming resumes and

applications, have learned to use technology to their advantage. In the past, they would have to read everyapplication to weed the best job candidates from the rest.

With the advent of computers and searchable software programs, some agencies have instituted a process in

which all applications are first sent through an optical scanning program to look for predetermined

qualifications in the form of keywords and phrases strategically planted within the vacancy announcement or

posting.


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CareerPro Global, Inc. adapted the Headline Format-Style Resume on all federal resume applications in 1995,

when the SF-171 was eliminated and regular paper federal resumes and Resumix systems were launched.

Today, we use the Headline Format-Style Resume on all federal job applications to draw attention to specific

areas of expertise our clients have and to assist federal hiring managers when analyzing applications for

specific expertise and keywords.

Federal HR professionals have welcomed CPGs Headline Format-Style Resume for years, and our federal

applications have earned interviews for thousands of job candidates, leading to job offers.

These bold headline statements usually draw attention and make HR representatives want to read more about

the experience in order to determine if the headlines utilized are on the mark.

Think of the federal resume as an advertisement to sell yourself. When writing a federal resume, youll want

to keep it original and let it express everything original about you. However, you want to express that

uniqueness in the language of the vacancy announcement.

Put yourself in the shoes of the HR hiring manager. What will he/she look for in your resume? What specific

keywords are in the announcement? What keywords best exemplify your strengths and experience?

For example, if a soldier was an Instructor and First Sergeant, the headline might be translated to TRAINING

AND LEADERSHIP. If your goal is to become an Aircraft Mechanic, important keywords might be: hydraulics,

airframe and powerplant, structural repair, operational testing, inspections, or the names of specific tools and

equipment used in that profession.

Less-relevant keywords might be: budget preparation, office automation equipment, or strategic planning.

Keep the announcement and your goals in sight at all times, and resist the temptation to highlight non-

relevant skills, even if they sound important within the resume. Only skills, knowledge, and abilities that are

relevant to the specific position will be given credit and help qualify you.

Your federal resume is only as good as the words and phrases you use to describe your duties,

accomplishments, and contributions to the employers you have served. The creation of a resume likely to be

rated as Best Qualified is a careful marriage of art and science. Keep it action-oriented and interesting. Show

results, especially your individual value and what you bring to a prospective job or organizationagain, in the

context of the announcement.


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Below is an example of how you can use keywords to create headlines within the employment section of a

resume. Note how the headline is followed by a brief description that captures the key points or

accomplishments within the headline, and avoids restating job descriptions.

Notice also how the text is left-justified with no formatting (highlights and bold used for illustration purposes);

this is the recommended format for federal electronic applications. The information at the beginning of the

sectionincluding position title, employer, hours per week, salary, supervisor name, and contact

informationis required for federal resumes.


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Major Duties

Qualifications

Questionnaire

KSAs

Position Descriptions

Agency Website (mission and vision)

Here is an example of a vacancy announcement for a Supervisory Program Manager, GS-0340-14, with

keywords highlighted.

Supervisory Program Manager


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Here is another example using the Headline Format:

Served as an InoMedic Health Applications, Inc. Contractor for National Aeronautics and

Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Air Force (USAF) at the Kennedy Space

Center (KSC) in the Health Physics Department, serving as Emergency Response Exercise

Program Specialist.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: Developed and executed budgets up to $300K; supervised up to 10

personnel; and served as one of the lead trainers for new employees, applying management

techniques, best practices, and business metrics to evaluate operations and improveefficiency and cost-effectiveness. Served as a Senior Specialist, evaluating,

coordinating, and executing a wide variety of management and administrative services, to

include Management and Information Systems (MIS), budget, finance, procurement,

personnel, telecommunications, logistics, property, space, records and files, printing

and graphics, mail, travel, and office equipment. Provided expert advice on environmental

health and safety issues, as well as emergency preparedness and response, including

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear and (high) Explosive (CBRNE) exercises.

ADMINISTRATIVE/TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT: Oversaw the development, implementation, and

evaluation of emergency preparedness programs, analyzing, evaluating, and recommending

improvements to achieve effective emergency services. Developed, coordinated, and

participated in Table Top Exercise (TTE) and Full Scale Exercise (FSE) training

operations as a certified Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP). Employed Homeland SecurityExercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) methodology to develop training and exercise

plans and documentation.

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT: Advised NASA and USAF personnel on continuity policy and emergency

management policy issues as a key member in a pivotal role overseeing all matters related

to emergency preparedness, mitigation, and recovery. Developed and implemented guidance

for the design, development, and execution of exercises to enhance emergency response

capabilities. Researched and interpreted complex administrative policies and regulations

for senior management officials.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE: Coordinated training programs and emergency operations and drills to

prepare staff to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. Participated in numerous

emergency operations as a First Responder, including industrial accidents such as a

Titan-IV A-20 rocket explosion at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in August1998 (the rocket was carrying a classified payload).

STRATEGIC PLANNING: Applied emergency planning concepts necessary to develop an

integrated, generic, comprehensive emergency operations plan and Continuity of Operations

(COOP) Plan. Provided development and articulation of key policies regarding emergency

management. Created strategies and plans for dealing with potential emergency service

scenarios.

COMMUNICATIONS: Prepared and delivered correspondence, reports, and presentations.

Regularly briefed senior leaders, external stakeholders, and emergency management

counterparts on various TTE program aspects. Provide detailed communications and advice

on Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-20 (National Continuity Policy), HSPD-

8, and other federal directives to meet requirements based on NASA and USAF mission,resources, and budget constraints.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

*Completed Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Master Exercise Practitioner

certification.

*Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) member for all-hazard emergency response and

recovery.

*Developed and managed a robust emergency management TTE program and COOP.


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Work Experience: Employer

Name is 60 characters; job title,

100 characters; phone number,

30 characters

Duties, Accomplishments and

Related Skills: 5,000

characters/spaces

Education: School Name, 100 characters; Major and Minor, 60 characters each

Relevant Coursework, Licensures and Certifications: 2,000 characters/spaces

Job Related Training: Maximum of 5,000 characters/spaces

Organizations/Affiliations: Maximum of four listings

Publications: Maximum 5,000 characters/spaces

Additional Information: Maximum of 20,000 characters/spaces

CREATE THE FRAMEWORK FOR

YOUR USAJOBS RESUME

Up to five separate resumes may bemaintained on the USAJOBS.gov website.


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List of Job-Related SkillsReminds you of what types of positions you want

toand shouldtarget

Letters of Recommendation Give you potential quotes and referencesPerformance Appraisals

Give you specific accomplishments and possibly

some supportive quotes about your performance

College TranscriptsHelp you remember specific courses that might be

relevant

Training CertificatesProvide details about what you

learned/accomplished/became certified in

Awards Citations and HonorsShow how you excelled and give potential quotes

about your performance

List of Affiliations Shows with which organizations you are aligned

List of PublicationsShows that you have been published and possess

strong writing skills

List of Speaking EngagementsShows that you are comfortable and confident

speaking in front of people

Official OrdersCan help you remember special

assignments/accomplishments


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The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) allows you to include an additional 20,000 characters/spaces for

any other information in your resume that was not already included under Work Experience and Education.

Although it is at the bottom of the resume, the Additional Information section holds the same weight as

any other section, so why not use it to your advantage?

Examples of information you might include in this section to optimize your resume:

Career Highlights

Professional Summary

Additional Relevant Experience

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

KSAs

Security Clearance

Performance/Rater Comments

Professional Affiliations

Professional Certifications

Equipment/Tools/Systems

Speaking Experience

Publications

Areas of Expertise (Soft/Technical Skills)

Computer and Technology Skills


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AVIATION MECHANIC173 Pierce Avenue, Macon, GA 31204 United States

Email: [email protected] Phone: 478-742-2442

Day Phone: 478-742-2882Highest Federal Civilian Position Held: GS-1670-12

GOAL: Aviation Safety Inspector

EXPERIENCE:

United States Air Force (USAF) 09/1997 to Presen

Charleston Air Force Base (AFB), SC, United States $40,000 per year

Aviation Lead Technician, WG-8602-10 Average hours per week: 40

Supervisor: Kevin Thomas Phone: 843-555-3333

Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills:

LEADERSHIP:

QUALITY ASSURANCE/CONTROL:

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE:

TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION:

SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS:***

EDUCATION

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Major: Professional Aeronautics

Daytona Beach, FL, United States Minor: Management and Aviation Safety

Bachelors Degree GPA: 3.38

Completion Date: 07/2010 127 Semester Credits Earned

Relevant Coursework, Licensures and Certifications:

Aircraft Accident Investigation; Aviation Legislation; Aviation Law; Technical Report Writing; English Composition;Introduction to Computers and Applications; Management of Production and Operations; Aviation Safety;Microeconomics; Macroeconomics; Project Management in Aviation Operations; Human Factors in Aviation Safety;Aviation Safety Program Management; Explorations in Physics; Mechanical/Structural Factors in Aviation Safety;System Safety Management; Financial Accounting; Basic Algebra and Trigonometry; Algebra; Statistics with AviationApplications


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OTHER:

Job Related Training:

RELEVANT TRAINING:

Department of Interior (DOI), Contracting Officers Technical Representative (COTR), 06/2010Flight Safety, Safety System Management, April 2010Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP) Aviation Safety Officer (ASO), 08/2009FAA Advanced Aircraft Accident Investigation, June 2009

Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Aircraft Maintenance Manager, 03/2005Data Collection and Analysis, 08/2004Supplier Quality Fundamentals, 07/2004Intermediate Systems Acquisition, 05/2004Production, Quality and Manufacturing Fundamentals, 01/2004Fundamentals of System Acquisition Management, 11/2003F-117 Engine Bore Scope, 12/1998C-17A Engine Run Course, 08/1998

Organizations/Affiliations:

American Legion Member

Toastmasters International Member

REFERENCES:

John Jones, U.S. Air Force Maintenance [email protected] Reference

Additional Information:

SECURITY CLEARANCE: Secret

SUPERVISOR QUOTES AND RATING TEAM COMMENTARY:

Your contributions were immediate and impactful. Discussions and presentations on fuel efficiency, fuel emissions, andmethods for all federal aviation programs have helped to improve the governments approach to sustainability and ourcommitment to climate stability. We are also extremely grateful for your continued participation in efforts to improveaviation safety as a valued member of the ICAP Aviation Resource Management Survey (ARMS) team and itsInternational Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) survey teams.~SALLY SUPERVISOR, U.S. Air Force (USAF)

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:***

(After writing your duties/accomplishments in Check Point 4, you can simply copy/paste some of them into this section of

the USAJOBS Resume Builder thats on your CD.)

MILITARY AWARDS:Aerial Achievement MedalAir Force (AF) Commendation Medal (x2)AF Achievement MedalNational Defense Service Medal (x2)


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Global War on Terrorism Service MedalArmed Forces Expeditionary Medal (x2)Armed Forces Service Medal

MILITARY EXPERIENCE:United States Air Force, 09/1997 to 08/2003Lead Aircraft Technician (Air Reserve Technician)

LICENSES/CERTIFICATES:Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspection Authorization, 04/2009Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level 2 Certification, 09/2006Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Level 2 Certification (MT, UT, ET, RT, and PT), 08/2005FAA Pilot Ground School, 12/2002Federal Communications Commission (FCC) General Radiotelephone Operators License (with radar endorsement),08/2001FAA Airframe and Powerplant License, 08/1999FCC Technician Class Amateur Radio License, 02/1998

SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic with Inspection Authorization, Quality Assurance, and Aviation Safety ComplianceSpecialist with specialized knowledge and skill pertaining to the maintenance and airworthiness of aircraft; experience

leading and conducting surveillance and inspections of diverse types of fixed wing aircraft and equipment to ensurerepair, maintenance, and safety compliance with Department of Defense (DoD), Department of the Interior (DOI), FederalManagement Regulations (FMR), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)requirements.

You can find the aboveresume sample completedin the Tools and Resourcessection on page 120.


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Here are a couple of specific accomplishments he might list:

Maintained complex radio communications systems for 30 vehicles (worth more than $400K),

troubleshooting and replacing equipment, as needed; developed new system for monitoring

communications equipment, resulting in zero radio malfunctions during high-intensity combat

assignment.

Overcame a lack of internal communications by coordinating with engineers to cut down old telephonepoles on abandoned Iraqi facility and to install telephone poles on base; directed installation of aerial

telephone wires and tactical phones at key locations, enhancing productivity and overall resources.

Accomplishments Are Personalized. And remember, you want to include accomplishments that are also

relevant. Sergeant Mitchells accomplishments might help him land a job in the communications field, but as

an Accountant? Not so much.

The key to writing strong accomplishments statements is to answer the question, So what?

We recommend using the CCAR(Challenge-Context-Action-Result) or Situation-Task-Action-Result (STAR)

formula when writing duties/accomplishments. At the very least, a good duty/accomplishment should address

your action and the result of your action. In other words, dont just say what you did; be specific and explain

the results of your actions.

Focus on OutcomeYoud be amazed by how many people forget to mention this critical aspect of

experience. When discussing outcome, be sure to discuss the whats, the hows, and the breadth and scope of

your experiences:

What occurred? Did you improve the workplace? Perhaps you refined technology tools, created

programs, or organized procedures. Regardless, let the agency know what happened. Use brief

examples to best illustrate your point, whenever possible.

How much and how many? Did you start new projects? How many? Did you save the office money?

Time? How much? Dont forget percentages, numbers, and degrees that apply.

Notice how this example falls flat because it ignores the outcome:

As a Supervisor at Early Start, oversaw the development of grant proposals. While

in this position, put systems in place to ensure employees provided the government

with the exact information it needed.


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This revision is more revealing, and competitive:

As a Supervisor at Early Start, oversaw team of 10 employees engaged in grant

development; developed a template-based system to anticipate requirements and to

meet deadlines in advance, and created proposals that won two grants over the

previous year.

Showcase Your RoleDid you work on your own? As part of a team? In a supervisory capacity? As a team

leader? Let the agency know your role in the projects. For example, this response ignores the candidatesrole(s):

Helped put together conferences. Among responsibilities were sending invitations,

calling potential guests, and preparing conference materials.

A stronger way of phrasing this would be:

As part of a team of five employees, participated in conference planning; among

other responsibilities, coordinated with co-workers to send invitations, contact

potential guests, and prepare conference materials.

Were you promoted while working on a project? If so, mention that, too. Note, for example, the followingresponse doesnt mention a promotion:

In last position, spent two to three months at a time in the field collecting

samples for the study. The following year, spent most of time in the lab, only

going to the field occasionally.

However, this revision does:

As Project Manager, spent two to three months at a time in the field, overseeing

five specialists who assisted in the collection of samples for the study. The

following year, was promoted to Senior Project Manager, which required more time in

the lab and less time in the field.

Remember: Timeframes CountTimeframes count, so be sure to address these questions: What were the

dates or time periods you worked on a project or job? Did you work full-time or part-time? If part-time, what

percentage of your time did you perform specific tasks?

For example, this candidate could have worked in his position for a few months as a part-time employee, but

the employer wont know for sure:

Served as a Contractor for the agency. Regularly produced educational videos and

IVT training sessions.

This response is stronger worded this way:

From 1999 to 2002, served as a full-time Contractor for the agency, spending at

least 30% of time producing educational videos and IVT training sessions.

If you didnt spend substantial time in a particular position, include the dates anyway. Other information, such

as the outcome of your experience or the scope and depth of your work, will underscore its value.


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Value Your ExperienceMany experiences illuminate your significance as a candidate. For example, you

might have published relevant articles or gained valuable experience through:

Leadership Positions. Were you president of a sorority or fraternity? Did you lead a team either as part

of a classroom experience or a volunteer group? Mention these positions and the outcome of your

efforts.

Extracurricular Activities. Perhaps you volunteered at or belonged to a club that gave you valuableexperience. Let the agency know specific details, including projects, dates, and how that experience

applies to the field.

Internships, Training Assignments, and Special Details. Never underestimate the importance of hands-

on education, especially internships, whether during the summer or over an entire semester.

Show and TellWriting about your experience is great, but be sure to use specific examples, too. For

example, read how this candidates job sounds pretty blas:

As a Maintenance Mechanic, often work in settings that require strict control of

every move in the operation.

Look at the difference a few specifics can make:

As a Maintenance Mechanic, often worked in settings that required strict control of

every move in the operation; e.g., for 16 months, worked on renovation projects in

the Smithsonian Institutions, handling priceless museum exhibits using forklifts,

cranes, skids, and rollers.

The following tips and examples will demonstrate what you should and should not do in your own resume:

Write your resume in the assumed first-person Point of View (POV), without using personal

pronouns.

Poor: I managed a team of six people in organizing and tracking a major warehouse

operation.

Better: Directed team of 12 personnel in organizing, tracking, and improving a

24/7 warehouse of trucking supplies valued at more than $800K.


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Use action-based verbs and adjectives, but dont overuse them!

Poor: Detail-oriented, versatile, results-focused, and dedicated leader with 20

years of experience.

(uses too many action-oriented adjectives in a row without any specific action verbs that clarify actual tasks)

Better: Highly skilled Electrical Engineer with 20 years experience in

designing, evaluating, troubleshooting, and improving complex electrical systems

for Fortune 500 companies.

(uses relevant action verbs descriptive