The Anatomy of a Federal Resume

The job application in the federal government differs greatly from the corporate ones, from the career tools (federal resume, cover letter, KSA, ECQ) to the process itself and there’s no other writing task that is more challenging than creating a federal resume. 

What is a federal resume?
 
A federal resume is a detailed and comprehensive document used to apply for a federal job post and one of the three documents accepted as an official application for position vacancies within the federal government (OF-612 and SF-171). It has various unique elements as compared to a corporate resume. In addition to the traditional sections, such as the experience, education, and references, it has an integrated knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or executive core qualifications (ECQ) section, depending on the needs and requirements of a specific job announcement number.
 
How to write a federal resume?
 
Unlike in the private sector, government job applications are dominated by a specific set of guidelines and qualifications. If you haven't already done so, here are a few pointers on how to write a federal resume that gets results.

1.Job announcement number
 
Prior to hitting the apply button, read carefully the entire job announcement with a focus on the most important sections, such as the following:

• Duties and qualifications
• How to Apply (including a preview of the assessment questionnaire)
• How You Will Be Evaluated

 
By understanding the information indicated in the above section you will know the key details to be included in your federal resume. Make sure that you have the required experience and education to be considered for the position.
 
2.Be specific and concise
 
A federal resume is not the same as a resume for a regular job. It requires more extensive and accurate details, as well as quantitative results. You must have job announcement specifics, which included job number, title, and grade in federal resume writing that is not often included in a corporate resume.
 
Your federal resume should not be lengthier than three or five pages, as is often requested. The cover letter, KSA statements, and other add-ons are not included.
 
3.Highlight your education and work experience
 
The job announcement is used by hiring agencies and recruiters to identify the job and the necessary credentials, which included the level and amount of experience, education, and training. Elaborate on your work experience and educational background, including the relevant courses that match your target job.
 
Make sure to effectively convey your accomplishments, you may use the challenge-action-results (CAR) format to justify the skills that you can offer on the table. Elaborate on the challenges, the actions that you did to overcome them, and finally the results, the more numbers, and the percentage you include the better.

 
 
What are the key parts of a federal resume?
 
1.Header: Unlike corporate resumes, federal resumes have more details in their header, which include:
 

• Name
• Contact Details with your LinkedIn Profile
• Job Announcement Number
• Pay Scale and Grade
• Country of Citizenship
• Veterans Preference
• VEOA Eligibility
• Department
• Agency Name

 
2.Integrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
 
A KSA is a series of narrative statements that are required when applying to U.S federal government job openings, when applying to federal government positions, a federal resume is usually required in addition to KSA statements. These are also known as evaluation factors; other agencies call them rating factors or quality ranking factors, you can usually find them under the “How You Will be Evaluated” section of the job announcement. Try to prove your skills and expertise through the examples of your accomplishments throughout your career.
 
3.Work History or Professional Experience
 
Make a list of every work experience you've ever had and put them in reverse chronological order, from the most recent to the oldest. Include the name(s) of the firm(s) or department, dates of employment, supervisor(s) names, number(s) of hours served per week, assignment location(s), pay, and job description (s).
 
For example:
 
Name of Company
Complete Address
Job Position/Job Title | Complete Inclusive Months and Years
Hours per Week
Salary per Year
 

• Job description and accomplishments

 
4.Additional information
 
Include any pieces of training you've taken and the number of hours you've gotten out of them. Don't just include paying work experience in your resume, you may also include volunteer services or jobs in community organizations that reflect your transferable skills and abilities to do the job. Provide at least three references, along with their contact information for background checking.
 
Besides, make sure that your federal resume is error-free and you’re not missing anything important. If the above tips and information are too much for you, you may consider hiring a professional resume writer to help you in completing this job. They have excellent assistance and will do the job in no time.

​To learn more about how to write a Federal Resume,  schedule a call today to speak with one of our career experts. 
 
(P.S. Tired of spinning your wheels with your career? If you're ready to turn your resume into a hard-hitting marketing tool then take our FREE resume quiz today to see exactly which services are right for you!