Federal job--does resume have to include *every* job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP

Your detailed answer is very helpful. Thank you so much!

I tend to be too humble. I may downplay some accomplishments because I am not sure people would believe some of them. It’s the work of which I am most proud!

I’ve collected photographic evidence and screenshots in case I’m ever questioned, but I don’t have that for everything.

Do the opposite with a fed job. Don’t lie of course but let yourself shine (and exaggerate on the questions if you are not sure where you fall - score yourself up). Use strong, concise descriptions that parrot the language in the posting and especially in the questions/specialized experience. Then add everything else you would normally want an hiring official to know (side note: there are often battles between the hiring official and HR over those screening questions, so providing more details in addition to clearly spelling out that required knowledge is a good thing when it comes to the interview round). This is why federal resumes are, and should be, so long (I am the poster who said my two most recent jobs are two pages and the total resume is 5 pages).

As a SME I would also encourage you to not use the USAJobs resume. It’s very hard to read on our end because it strips the formatting). Submit a PDF and used bullet points (not short bullets, just easily digestible ones). It makes the resume much easier to review given the information we know you need to provide.

And just be prepared to talk about the screening questions and especially the specialized experience in an interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Resume. No. Background check yes.

+1, but no time gaps in whatever you do list on the resume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP

Your detailed answer is very helpful. Thank you so much!

I tend to be too humble. I may downplay some accomplishments because I am not sure people would believe some of them. It’s the work of which I am most proud!

I’ve collected photographic evidence and screenshots in case I’m ever questioned, but I don’t have that for everything.

Do the opposite with a fed job. Don’t lie of course but let yourself shine (and exaggerate on the questions if you are not sure where you fall - score yourself up). Use strong, concise descriptions that parrot the language in the posting and especially in the questions/specialized experience. Then add everything else you would normally want an hiring official to know (side note: there are often battles between the hiring official and HR over those screening questions, so providing more details in addition to clearly spelling out that required knowledge is a good thing when it comes to the interview round). This is why federal resumes are, and should be, so long (I am the poster who said my two most recent jobs are two pages and the total resume is 5 pages).

As a SME I would also encourage you to not use the USAJobs resume. It’s very hard to read on our end because it strips the formatting). Submit a PDF and used bullet points (not short bullets, just easily digestible ones). It makes the resume much easier to review given the information we know you need to provide.

And just be prepared to talk about the screening questions and especially the specialized experience in an interview.

This is good info to have. Thank you.

What a relief that I can use a formatted PDF. I was hoping someone would say that!

I've organized info under headings that use the language from the four KSAs and incorporated language from the questions. I tried to make the process of seeing that I have the experience very, very clear.

Let's see what happens!

OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP

Your detailed answer is very helpful. Thank you so much!

I tend to be too humble. I may downplay some accomplishments because I am not sure people would believe some of them. It’s the work of which I am most proud!

I’ve collected photographic evidence and screenshots in case I’m ever questioned, but I don’t have that for everything.

Do the opposite with a fed job. Don’t lie of course but let yourself shine (and exaggerate on the questions if you are not sure where you fall - score yourself up). Use strong, concise descriptions that parrot the language in the posting and especially in the questions/specialized experience. Then add everything else you would normally want an hiring official to know (side note: there are often battles between the hiring official and HR over those screening questions, so providing more details in addition to clearly spelling out that required knowledge is a good thing when it comes to the interview round). This is why federal resumes are, and should be, so long (I am the poster who said my two most recent jobs are two pages and the total resume is 5 pages).

As a SME I would also encourage you to not use the USAJobs resume. It’s very hard to read on our end because it strips the formatting). Submit a PDF and used bullet points (not short bullets, just easily digestible ones). It makes the resume much easier to review given the information we know you need to provide.

And just be prepared to talk about the screening questions and especially the specialized experience in an interview.

This is good info to have. Thank you.

What a relief that I can use a formatted PDF. I was hoping someone would say that!

I've organized info under headings that use the language from the four KSAs and incorporated language from the questions. I tried to make the process of seeing that I have the experience very, very clear.

Let's see what happens!

OP

DP. That's exactly how to do it.

[Anonymous]

My federal resume is 5 pages. Also some postings require you to put the hours worked and pay for each job and if you don’t do it- you don’t get referred.

One job I had I was there for 6 years so my total hours are like 14,000 hours…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My federal resume is 5 pages. Also some postings require you to put the hours worked and pay for each job and if you don’t do it- you don’t get referred.

One job I had I was there for 6 years so my total hours are like 14,000 hours…

That’s good to know. I haven’t seen the requirement to calculate the hours yet. It’s nice to be aware of that though!

I do provide the weekly hours for each job in my resume.

I can answer every question at the highest level and support that with info in the resume. About to do a 10th proofread and will submit on the due date!

Thanks! OP