Writing Your Federal Resume2

FEDERAL RESUMEKate Templeton, NCC

Career Consultant

Certified Federal Career Coach

WRITING YOUR

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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…