About The Outline Format
FIRST . do you need to write your first Federal Resume? Use our easy Federal Resume Builder: click here.
How This Format Was Created
The Resume Place, Inc. and Kathryn Troutman, President and acclaimed author created the Outline Format in 1999. All of our book samples and services feature this format.
Is the Outline Format Recognized by the Federal Government?
YES! This is the Federal Resume format that human resources recruiters like to see. It is easy to read, and they can find the keywords and qualifications EASILY when they are reading hundreds of applications.
What Makes This Outline Format Work?
Writing a federal resume is very different from writing a private industry one. Most federal resumes are 3 to 5 pages long. The challenge is to present large amounts of information in a clear, organized way that is easily scanned by both people and computers. The OUTLINE FORMAT succeeds because both the federal human resources staff or the online application programs can effectively identify that the experience you have meets the desired job qualifications.
Our Federal Resumes Feature Accomplishments!
Write your accomplishment stories with our awesome CCAR Accomplishment Builder!
Check out our free 30-minute Federal Resume Writing Webinars Especially Writing Your Corporate America Resume and Ten Steps to a Federal Job.
Include Your Portfolio Or Side Projects
These additional accomplishments provide visual and direct proof of what you have been working on in the past and demonstrate the skills you have to perform well on the job. While your side projects are usually not part of your work experience, they on your federal resume are valuable examples that show your skills and traits.
Employment History Sample: Direct Your Message
In the employment history section of your resume, which most likely will be organized in reverse chronological order, stick to the facts without wasting words . Here you detail your job responsibilities and achievements in bulleted items using direct, simple language. Make sure each item illustrates that you can perform the duties your new job will entail.
First, compile a list of all the jobs you have had that relate to the job you seek. Consider your responsibilities and achievements in each position. Then, as you begin to write, focus on the outcomes of your actions and the problems you solved. Use data and details to strengthen your claims.
Try the STAR format for organizing this section. Relate the Situation, explain your Task, tell what Action you took and detail your Results.
Below you will find an adaptable employment history resume sample.
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How To Write A Resume For A Government Job
When writing a resume for a government job, you want to include all necessary information to highlight your skills and qualifications. Use the keywords and phrases from the job posting to identify the essential and asset requirements they seek in a candidate. This customization can also help you pass the initial screening process. Follow these nine steps to write your government resume:
Include Your Citizenship Status
While citizenship is usually a strict requirement for federal government positions, some state and city government roles may only require potential employees to hold residency or general work entitlements. Itâs likely that you may be required to prove your citizenship status or entitlement to work in Australia.
It can still be a good idea to mention your citizenship status on your resume itself, though. This may contribute to a more seamless application processing procedure.
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Start With A Trusted Format
There are 3 typical resumes formats you can pick from:
- Reverse-chronological: this ones the standard and it lists your experiences from most recent to the oldest one.
- Functional. This one doesnt include work experiences and focuses solely on your skills.
- Combination, a mix of the other 2 formats.
Since youre making a federal resume, though, you need to go with a reverse-chronological format.
Its the most common format in the US and is recognized by every single federal recruiter.
- How Long Should a Federal Resume Be?
While a traditional resume is 1-2 pages max, the federal resume provides you with a LOT more freedom.
As we highlighted above, a federal resume includes a lot more detail than the conventional one. So, if you aim for 1-2 pages, youll just come off as lazy .
- Which Format Should You Use ForYour Federal Resume?
Unless the job ad specifically asks for a specific format, we recommend you stick to PDF.
A PDF resume maintains its original formatting and will look just like you intended regardless of which computer you open it with.
The same, however, cant be said for a Word resume format.
- Should I Use a Federal Resume Template?
Yep – if you use a resume template, your resume is going to be a lot more noticeable and at the same time, easier to create.
You can pick one of our hand-crafted CV templates and get started with yours in minutes!
Key Components Of A Federal Resume
The best way to create a federal resume is to use the resume builder on the federal governments jobs website, USAJOBS. The resume builder will guide you through the whole process. And you dont have to stick with one. You can create a resume tailored to fit different positions you apply for. You can also create a searchable, master resume, so HR specialists can contact you if theres an opportunity that fits your skills and experience.
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Federal Resume Guide With Examples
A government job can offer you many perks, such as full healthcare coverage, pensions, job security, and more. When you look through UsaJobs, you can find countless employment opportunities within the government workforce.
As you plan your application for a federal position, you will want to prepare a professional UsaJobs resume to land the role. This federal resume guide will help you to secure your dream government job.
How To Write A Government Resume
The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed’s data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.
A government resume is a formal authoritative document that represents a candidate’s professional qualifications and background experience when applying for a government job. It’s common for this type of resume to include fewer pages than a regular one, as the resume often acts as a supporting document to the application itself. Understanding the requirements of a resume for a government job can help you create your own with confidence. In this article, we discuss how to write a government resume and provide you with a helpful template and example.
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Cv Skills Example: Attributes At A Glance
The skills section of your government worker CV is a great place to optimize for the ATS. Here you will choose your top 4-7 attributes. Make sure your CV contains the exact language from the job listing. That means reviewing the listing and matching your skills to those necessary for the job.
The purpose of this section is twofold:
Dont neglect soft skills
Your technical and learned job skills are important, but so too are the soft skills that make you a good employee. Consider adding one of these six that Randstad looks for in candidates:
What Is A Federal Resume
A federal resume is a detailed account of previous work experience and is required if you’re applying to a . It appears similar to a private sector resume with sections for work experience and education. However, a federal resume template differs in its structure, length and content. It must also include all information required for the job you’re applying for.
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What Is A Government Resume
A government resume is a specialised resume that accompanies an application for a job in local, state or federal government. It’s usually a standard requirement for candidates to submit a resume for a government job with a cover letter and an application detailing how the candidate meets the selection. There are many similarities between a resume for a government job and a regular resume. For example, both require you to detail your previous education, work experience and skills that relate to the job you’re applying for.
The fundamental way a government resume differs from a regular resume is that it has the primary purpose of supporting your claims relating to specific selection criteria. Because of this, consider including fewer personal details and more detail about your past roles. These details can include your salary, how many hours you worked per week and the name and contact information of your immediate supervisor. With this information, the hiring managers can more easily verify your employment history and determine your suitability for the role, department or organisation.
Choosing The Best Resume Format For A Government Worker
Given the structure of government job applications, we highly recommend using the reverse chronological order resume format. This format is favored by recruiters and the ATS your resume will have to get past in order to reach the hands of a person.
Although other formats exist, you should use them only in special circumstances. If it is your first job, you are a career-charger or have many years of experience under your belt, check out the resume formats we suggest as chronological alternatives or hybrids.
Unless you have highly specialized production skills or work in a highly technical field, the functional resume format should not be your first choice. It offers a means to emphasize niche or highly complex skills by expanding the skills section and reducing the employment history section in exchange.
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List Any Professional Development Training
List any professional development training that is specific to the job position. This section is optional but can provide further credibility to your expertise by showing your willingness to continue improving your skills and knowledge. If you include this section, begin with the title of the training you completed, the facility that provided the education, and the date you finished. This is an excellent opportunity to highlight essential or asset experience not listed in your work history section.
Provide Other Requested Information
This is the last section, and where you can provide the additional requested information as listed in the government job posting. You can include your language proficiency, such as being fluently bilingual or having another language as a native language. In this section, you can also add any security clearance specifications required for the position, if listed. Use this section to address any other criteria highlighted in the job posting when you can meet the requirement.
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Use Similar Terms And Address Every Required Qualification
Your experience needs to address every required qualification in the job announcement. Hiring agencies will look for specific terms in your resume to make sure you have the experience theyre seeking.
For example, if the qualifications section says you need experience with MS Project you need to use the words MS Project in your resume.
Government Worker Education Resume Example
The education section of your government worker resume is a simple listing of your academic degrees. Start with your high school diploma and list your degrees and majors.
If you have any certifications relevant to your job, list those here as well.
If you have publications, awards or professional memberships that will add to your candidacy, consider creating a separate section to highlight them if you have the space. Your resume should not be more than 2 pages long.
Below you will find an education section resume example as a formatting guide.
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Describe Your Work Experience
The work experience section is typically very important on a resume for a government job. Hiring managers require an in-depth understanding of your previous employment and how you can meet the selection criteria for the role.
When describing your work experience, you can consider including:
-
Job title and location: At the top of each employment section, you can include your job title at the company, the company’s official name and where it’s located.
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Current salary and weekly hours: While not essential, it can be beneficial to mention your remuneration and how many hours your role required you to work each week. This can notify the employer of your experience and salary expectations.
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Key responsibilities and achievements: Highlight your responsibilities, how you performed your tasks and any impressive contributions you made to the company. Employers usually like to see quantitative figures, as this can tell them more about your contributions to the company.
When creating this section of your resume, show how your experience and major responsibilities match the selection criteria, where possible. Where you have no relevant direct experience, ensure you identify the skills you have which may be transferable.
Making Your Government Resume Stand Out
You want to make a strong first impression to all recruiters that get a hold of your resume. Sure you do! But how?
Well, the easiest way to stand out is by adding a bit of creativity to your Government resume. You could do this by going for a colorful layout or adding a creative section or two. It all depends on the industry and the position youre applying for!
For instance, a position in design would allow for a more colorful resume, while a position in finance would probably not.
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Resume Layout And Design: Stay Professional
First impressions count! Keep your layout professional-looking even if you are tempted to stand out with a unique design. To make sure you make a positive, lasting impression with your resume layout and design, follow the guidelines below:
- Big blocks of type are difficult to read, so create white space by varying line lengths and break it up with bold headings
- Stay away from gimmicks and flash you want hiring managers to read the content, not be distracted by the layout.
- Proofread, or use an online resume-builder that includes spellcheck.
A great resume should have a header that makes your name and contact information stand out. To create this in a few steps, try using a professionally-designed resume template. These layouts allow you to focus on the writing and customize the formatting options to your liking.
Resume Reference Page Example
Check out this properly formatted resume references example to see what a references list looks like in practice:
Note that in this example, the candidate matches the style of her reference page to her resume design.
If you need to include a list of references with your resume, be sure to match the formatting to the rest of your application.
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Find The Perfect Government Resume Templates
The availability of government jobs rises and falls based on many factors. The current trend for jobs within public safety, government agencies, and other public services is at its lowest point in nine years. There are fewer teachers with larger classrooms. Social workers carry more caseloads. The police force is working at its limit. This means you need a strong resume that represents you as a desirable candidate, no matter where you hope to work.
Use our government resume templates as a guide for creating a winning document. Prepare a resume that is attractive to hiring personnel and that will pass an applicant tracking system. Achieve this goal with specific keyword phrases and an appropriate format. The software used to track applicants gets confused by changes in fonts, extra images, and unnecessary borders. We have a large selection of templates, so you can choose the best one for your job search.
Our resume-writing tools help you determine the best skills to list and the right format for displaying your most impressive information. We offer templates and resume tips for many government positions, including policy makers and postal employees. We used input from government officials to create these documents, so you’ll feel confident in the results.
Use Numbers To Highlight Your Accomplishments
Use numbers, percentages or dollars to highlight your accomplishmentsyou can find this information in things like your performance reviews, previous job descriptions, awards and letters of recommendation.
When explaining your accomplishments:
- Include examples of how you saved money, earned money or managed money.
- Include examples of how you saved or managed time.
Examples
- Improved efficiency of document processing by 25 percent over the previous year.
- Wrote 25 news releases in a three-week period under daily deadlines.
- Managed a student organization budget of more than $7,000.
- Wrote prospect letter that has brought in more than $25,000 in donations to date.
These statements show in concrete terms what you accomplished.
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What Is A Government Job Resume
A government job resume is a formal document for application to a federal, provincial, or regional government position. It’s similar to other professional resumes regarding your skills and work history and has a strong focus on the essential requirements for the job. A government resume lists your essential and asset qualifications for the recruiting manager to identify quickly. You also include your formal education, professional profile, awards, and other government job information, if applicable, such as security clearance or language proficiency.
Within government job postings, there is typically a list of crucial qualifications or skills followed by qualities that would be an asset. When you format your resume with a focus on the skills and abilities mentioned in the government job posting, you can improve your chances of making it through the screening process and landing an interview. Most federal and provincial jobs use an automated screening process, looking for keywords and phrases in your application.
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