Intelligence Community Résumé Writing

1. Intelligence CommunityRésumé Writing IC Familiarization Series Great Plains National Security Education Consortium August, 2012 This briefing is UNCLASSIFIED

2. Audience Purpose Theme Substance Style Perfection

3. Audience Job Fair Computer Human Resources Hiring Manager

4. Purpose Survive computer filter Grab attention for follow up Snag an interview

5. The Hiring Manager • Put yourself in her position: • Very busy – lots of urgent and important substantive demands (they are evaluated on substance; less on admin) • Hiring is important, but not urgent • Résumés stack up in a big pile • Most résumés / applications start looking the same - painful • Even a busy manager will read an engaging résumé / application • Long résumés OK – if good • It solves her problem – gets an interview scheduled • Managers often “satisfice” – not optimize

6. Theme • Essentially, your objective statement • Why is this so important? • There are lots of jobs – which office should they send it to? • What are you passionate about? • Are your desires commensurate with your skills? • Your objective statement should demonstrate your understanding of the agency and job • Your FEAR: That you will limit your options • If you are focused, they may pass on you • If you are unfocused, they probably will pass on you • Hedge with multiple options – if your résumé supports them • Be clever

7. Needs Help “Complete undergraduate education at Creighton University and then to advance either to graduate school to receive further education or, if offered employment within the intelligence community, begin working after completing undergrad as an analyst.” “Obtain a position in the Intelligence Community that will provide a foundation of knowledge, training and necessary skill sets for a career in Intelligence.” “Obtain an intelligence position that can benefit from my education, professional and research experience”

8. Getting Better “Seeking a position that will incorporate my legal and financial analytical skills, as well as my foreign language ability in order to help provide safety and security to our nation.” “Obtain a career as a Counterterrorism Analyst within the Department of Homeland Security.” “Obtain an intelligence analyst position working on issues related to East Asia, particularly China.” “Obtain a position within the Intelligence Community using my corporate experience and diverse life experiences in support of field operations domestically and internationally.”

9. Real Examples from IC • Don’t tell the IC your objective is: • “To attend law school” • “Formulate policy” • “Lead sales teams” • “A post in the State Department” • A position with a Fortune 500 company…” • A position with the “National Security Administration”

10. Substance • Supports the objective statement with data • Show, don’t tell • Don’t say “I’m a leader”; prove it with examples • Demonstrate: • Passion • Ambition • Intellectual capability • Achievement • Never brag, spin, or embellish • Adjectives, particularly superlatives, are your enemy • Honesty • It goes without saying, but it must be said • Focus • Experience • Character • Skills

11. Demonstrate: • You understand the job • You have the skills • You are a team player • You are a leader • You have initiative • You are curious and have diverse interests • Do not demonstrate overt political bias • but political affiliation is OK Find examples of these factors in your life and get them on the résumé. If you don’t have any, go get them.

12. Highlight: • Any case studies done • Research experience and skills • Quantitative skills • Modeling and simulation • Statistics and regression • Applied math • Ability to organize, manipulate, and mine large amounts of data Find examples of these factors in your life and get them on the résumé. If you don’t have any, go get them.

13. “A summer spent in a non-mission relevant job is a wasted opportunity. There is always some other kid who did an unpaid internship in DC.”

14. Organization Depends on the Job • Analysis • Objective • Education • Research • Languages • Travel • Leadership & Service • Experience • Awards • Support • Objective • Education • Experience • Leadership & Service • Travel • Languages • Research • Awards Operations • Objective • Education • Languages • Travel • Leadership & Service • Experience • Research • Awards But organize in whatever way makes sense

15. The Numbers Game Thousands of Applications HR whittles down to reasonable number ~ 120 Applications to Hiring Manager ~ 10 Interviews 3 Conditional Offers of Employment 1 Hire

16. Process Audience Purpose Substance Theme Thousands of Applications Survive Filter Agency/Job Key Words Computer N/A HR whittles down to reasonable number HR Professional Get routed to Relevant office Office-Specific Interests and Skills Objective Education Skills Experience Character ~ 120 Applications to Hiring Manager Technical Hiring Manager Snag Interview Résumé supports objective Technical Hiring Manager Successful Interview ~ 10 Interviews I will fit in Be yourself 3 Conditional Offers of Employment 1 Hire

17. Style • Bullets v. narrative • Formatting • Font and typeface choices • Passive v. active voice • Don’t: • Use Word templates • Use pictures • Display your sense of humor

18. Style – email address • Your email makes an immediate impression on the reader • Make your name at least part of your email address • More examples from IC: • alwaysderelict@... • sigmaman@... • realandpoetic@... • bootylicious@... • electronball@... • ajdsssoccerman@... • skywalker753… • dancingchick86@... • cereberus346@... • crazyclown112000@...

19. Length and Style • Job Fair • One page and bullets • Hiring Manager • ≤ 3 pages • Narrative and bullets • Application Validation (e.g., USAJobs) • Any length • Either narrative or bullets or both

20. Perfection • The document must be perfect • Your reviewers write perfect documents for a living • They edit menus and The New Yorker for sport • Spelling, grammar, formatting • One error – survivable (except grammar – major doubts) • Two – serious doubts • Three – forgetaboutit • Read it backwards • Read it out loud • Have someone else – who’s good – read it

21. Random Notes • This should take a long time – several hours • Ask of every word: Is this word necessary? Is there a better word? Am I sure I know what this word actually means? • Never say “References by Request” • Dare to write well; differently • Paint an engaging picture of yourself without being cute or dorky • Be the Apple of the IC