writing your federal resume2
TRANSCRIPT
FEDERAL RESUMEKate Templeton, NCC
Career Consultant
Certified Federal Career Coach
WRITING YOUR
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Search by Pathways Programs
Am I qualified?
How much time do I have?
For the ResumeCritical Components:
OverviewDuties
Read each announcement
carefully and thoroughly!
Educational Qualifications and Pay Grades
GS-4 Two years above high school education (or AA Degree)Step 1 - $25,011 –> Step 10 - $32,517
GS-5 Four years above high school leading to a BA/BSStep 1 - $27,982 –> Step 10 - $36,379
GS-7 One full year of graduate study or BA/BS with Superior Academic Achievement*Step 1 - $34,662 –> Step 10 - $45,057
GS-9 Master’s Degree or Equivalent or two years of graduate school Step 1 - $42,399 –> Step 10 - $55,116
GS-11 Ph.D. or three years of graduate schoolFor Research Positions only: completion of a Master’s DegreeStep 1 - $51,298 –> Step 10 - $66,688
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2015/general-schedule/
*Can be accomplished in three ways:1. Class standing in top 1/3rd
2. GPA (3.0/4.0 or 3.5/4.0 in major coursework)3. Election to a membership in a National Honors Society.
Building a Federal Resume• What is the difference between a federal
resume and a traditional resume?• Length• Level of detail• Required information
• Create an account on USAJOBS.gov• Build and store up to 5 federal resumes• Upload non-federal resumes and other
materials
Let’s Review!• What is the name of the federal government’s initiative to get students
into federal careers?Pathways
• What pay scale (GS level) would most undergraduate students at UGA qualify for?
GS 4 through 7• What is the difference between a federal resume and a traditional
resume?LengthLevel of detailRequired information
What to Include• Candidate information• Name, contact information, citizenship, whether you claim veteran’s
preference, federal employee information
• Work experience• Employer, location, position title, start and end date, average hours worked
per week, responsibilities and accomplishments• Education• Schools attended, degrees obtained• Optional: Grade point averages, relevant coursework taken, academic papers
or projects, key presentations, honors received, other important accomplishments
Optional InformationJob related training
AffiliationsReferences
Professional publicationsLanguage skills
Additional information
Tips for Building a Federal Resume
Tailor to the Job AnnouncementFocus on the ‘duties,’ ‘qualifications’
and ‘requirements sections
Customize using key words and phrases
Numbers impress hiring managers• Highlight your performance metrics - percentages, numbers and data • Describe the specific impact you had in a particular job• Listing actual measures will go a long way with hiring officials
Sell yourself and your achievements• Don't be shy – give a reason to make you one a top candidate• Include the skills and achievements that go beyond work experience
and education. • May set resume above the rest, especially if they correspond to the
qualifications for the position.
Be concise• Delete education or experiences that do not relate to the position.• Do not assume the reader is familiar with organizations in your
resume. • Remember: the quality of the information is more important than the
quantity
Other Reminders• Check your spelling and grammar• Use a word processor or ask a peer or professional to check your spelling and
grammar
• Keep a copy of your private industry resume• Some agencies use third-party application systems that are not USAJOBS.gov
and may require a different kind of resume
Let’s see some examples…