RESUM E WRITING & USING USAJOBS

1. RESUME WRITING & USING USAJOBS PRESENTED BY: HRO, Code 30 Recruitment & Compensation

2. STARTING YOUR RESUME First steps in creating a resume and applying for a new job or promotion: • Gather all the information you will need before you sit down at the computer (employment history, awards, training, and references). • Find a place and time where you will not be interrupted. You want to work in an atmosphere that will allow you to think, organize, and create a good product.

3. Formatting Your Resume USAJOBS uses a Chronological format for resumes. This type of resume focuses on skills and experience by employment dates, usually starting with your current position and going back. The font type used in USAJOBS is already selected so it can not be changed. Other resume formats used but not available in USAJOBS: • Functional – focuses on skills and experience. • Combination – lists skills and experience first followed by employment history. • Targeted – customized to highlight skills and experience relevant to the position.

4. RESUME WRITING FACTS • Use words wisely • Keep sentences short and clear • Make your message stand out • Focus on outcome • Showcase your role • Timeframes count • Value your experience • Show and tell • Resist additions

5. Use Words Wisely Minimum words to provide maximum information. Watch out for useless words and phrases such as due to the fact, it is important, it was my responsibility.

6. Use Words Wisely - Example • The sentence below is full of useless words and phrases that block your point. In this position, it was my responsibility to assist the program director on evaluating health care programs. Due to the fact that most of these centers were in rural areas, it was important that I traveled at least 3 days a week. • Cut them out for a stronger, easy-to-access message. In this position, I assisted the program director on evaluating health care programs. Because most of these centers were in rural areas, I traveled at least 3 days a week.

7. Use Words Wisely - Example • Repeats can slow your message. Look at this line:I worked with new law enforcement officers who were just entering the force and needed to learn techniques for identifying and interrogating suspects who they suspected of illegal activity. In my capacity, I trained them on these techniques. • Notice that new law enforcement officers and who were just entering the force say the same thing? So does suspects and suspected of illegal activity. Less obvious is the repeated work with and trained. The revision would read: I trained new law enforcement officers on techniques for identifying and interrogating suspects.

8. Use Words Wisely There are certain words that will grab the attention of managers.  These Power words include: • Created • Increased • Reduced • Improved • Developed • Researched • Accomplished • Won • On time • Under budget

9. Keep Sentences Short and Clear • Short, direct sentences helps the reader get the points you are making. • Don’t duplicate your resume, rather elaborate on significant points in full sentences. • Use correct tense for past and current positions.

10. Keep Sentences Short & Clear - Example • This line is too long. It practically leaves the reader out-of-breath. My 12 years as a customer service representative have given me the opportunity to become comfortable speaking to virtually anyone and to answering questions calmly and professionally even when the person I am speaking to is upset. • By breaking up sentences, your point is more flowing. My customer service representative experience provided opportunities to sharpen my skills. For example, I am comfortable speaking to virtually anyone. I can answer questions calmly and professionally, even when the person I am speaking to is upset.

11. Make Your Message Stand Out • Paragraphs that are easy-to-read can make or break your message. • Keep your paragraphs brief, usually between 5 and 10 lines. • Put important points first – where they are most visible.

12. Make Your Message Stand Out - Examples • Short paragraph While an associate editor for Agricultural Magazine, I selected each month‘s special features on scientific findings and agricultural economics; hired five diverse new writers, all with scientific backgrounds; and reviewed all articles to ensure a style accessible to readers ranging from rural farmers to university researchers. • Sub headers While an associate editor for Agricultural Magazine, I was responsible for: • Critical content decisions.I selected each month's special features on the relationship between scientific findings and agricultural economics, among other articles. • Quality of articles.I reviewed all articles to ensure the style was accessible to readers ranging from rural farmers to university researchers.

13. Focus On Outcome • What occurred. Did you improve the workplace? Perhaps you refined technology tools, created programs, or organized procedures. Regardless, let the agency know what occurred. Use brief examples to best illustrate your point whenever possible. • How much and how many. Did you start new projects? How many? Did you save your previous office money? Time? How much? Don't forget percentages and numbers that apply.

14. Focus On Outcome - Example • Notice how this example falls flat because it ignores the outcome: As a supervisor at Early Start, I oversaw the development of grant proposals. While in this position, I put systems in place to ensure that my employees provided the government with the exact information it needed. • While this revision is more revealing...and competitive: As a supervisor at Early Start, I oversaw a team of 10 employees who developed grant proposals. While in this position, I developed a template-based system to help my coworkers anticipate requirements. This helped us meet all deadlines a week in advance and create proposals that won us two grants more than the previous year.

15. Showcase Your Role • Work experience: • Worked on your own • Worked on a team • Team Lead • Supervisor

16. Showcase Your Role - Example • Let the agency know your role in projects/jobs. I helped put together conferences. Among my responsibilities were sending invitations, calling potential guests, and preparing the conference materials. • Would be stronger if worded this way. As part of a team of five employees, I helped put together conferences. My responsibilities included sending invitations, calling potential guests, and preparing the conference materials.

17. Remember – Timeframes Count • What were the dates or length of time you worked on a project or job? • Did you work full-time or part-time? • If part-time, what percentage of your time did you do that work?

18. Value Your Experience • Many experiences illuminate your significance as a candidate. • For example, you may have published relevant articles in your college newspaper or a local publication. • Leadership positions. Were you president of your sorority or fraternity? Did you lead a team either as part of your classroom experience or a volunteer group? Mention these positions and the outcome of your efforts. • Extracurricular activities. Perhaps you volunteered or belonged to a club or church group that gave you valuable experience. Let the agency know specifics including projects, dates, and how your experience applies to the field. • Internships. Never underestimate the importance of hands-on education, especially internships, whether during the summer or over an entire semester.

19. Show and Tell • Telling about your experience is great but be sure to use examples, too. See how this candidate's job sounds pretty blasé: As a maintenance mechanic, I often worked in settings that required I maintain control of every move in the operation. • Look at the difference a few specifics can make: As a maintenance mechanic, I often worked in settings that required I maintain control of every move in the operation. For example, for 16 months I worked on renovation projects in the Smithsonian Institutions where I had to move priceless museum exhibits using forklifts, cranes, skids, and rollers.

20. Resist Additions • You may be tempted, but please resist sending an additional package with copies of awards, publications, training certificates, letters of recommendation, lengthy job descriptions, writing samples, or a photo unless the agency specifically requests it. • Instead, keep important information where it belongs - in your application or resume.

21. Resume Writing Your resume should contain information necessary for the job for which you are applying. Example of Wage Grade: • Work Performed = tools and materials used in work performed • Leader = leadership experience • Supervisory = experience in supervision & management of other employees • Inspector = experience in inspections and quality control procedures • Special Qualifications = such as Nuclear or Refueling; experience in nuclear components and systems • Planning = experience in planning work including the documents used or created and the process for obtaining material

22. Resume Writing Example of General Schedule: • Engineering = list various ship systems • Budget = experience in funds administration/processes • Administrative = experience in organizational processes/policies • Computer = experience in specific automated programs or hardware • Supervisory/Managerial = management of people, programs, and projects

23. OTHER INFORMATION • TRAINING – list training that is relevant to the position you are applying for. • EDUCATION – include all education, dates, and degrees received. • PERFORMANCE AND AWARDS – list your current performance rating. Only include awards you have received within the past 5 years. Include type of award, amount of award (money or time-off), and date received. • CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES – list all current licenses, certificates and/or contracting warrants under the Additional Information section of your resume.

24. Key Improvements Provided by the USAJOBS Tool

25. USAJOBS USAJOBS - contains Department of the Navy’s Job Opportunity Announcements (JOAs). Options: • Search for Jobs • Build a Resume • Create Job Searches

26. USAJOBS SEARCH - CAUTION • When searching for jobs you will have 2 choices: • Only Jobs Open to ALL U. S. Citizens • ALL Jobs (I’ll Determine If I can Apply) • If you select the first option, you will only receive job announcements whose area of consideration is any U. S. Citizen which may exclude internal merit staffing opportunities. • Be sure to select the second option, to get all job announcements both internally and externally.

27. USAJOBS SEARCH

28. My Account • You can edit your Profile • Create, view, edit Saved Searches • Check your USAJOBS Inbox (messages if you request to be notified of any changes in that application status • Review, apply, or delete any Saved Jobs • Upload, view, delete any Saved Documents • Check the status of your application packages by clicking on Application Status.

29. USAJOBS FACTS • Job Opportunity Announcements (JOA) are open for 5 – 10 calendar days. • Open Continuous Announcements will not be used at this time. • You will have to attach a current SF-50 to announcements you apply to along with any other documents requested in the JOA. • Skill words will not be used; instead applicants will self-certify their experience by completing an Assessment Questionnaire. These are job specific and change for each JOA.

30. FINAL THINGS TO REMEMBER FIRST IMPRESSIONS – Your Resume Should Be: WELL WRITTEN GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT NO TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS NO EXCESSIVE ABBREVIATIONS (ACRONYMS)