Federal Resumes

by Dreamfedjob.com

After you click on the “Create a Resume” button and register with the USAJOBS Web site, you'll see that the resume-building process has four basic steps: Getting Started, Experience, Related Information, and Finishing Up. At any point during this process, you can click the “Save For Later” button at the bottom of the page and return to your resume at a later time. As you complete the resume building process, keep an eye out for blue circles with question marks inside, as these can help explain the step you're working on.

Getting Started

On the Getting Started page, you'll be asked for your basic contact information. Be sure to fill out all of those boxes marked with a red asterisk — they're mandatory. The one major decision you face here is whether to make your resume confidential or non-confidential. Marking your resume as confidential will prevent federal recruiters from easily learning your current contact information and employer. If a federal recruiter is interested in your resume, they'll send you a message through USAJOBS and you'll have the option to give them that information. Marking your resume as confidential will not hide the entire document from federal recruiters — you'll have the chance to do that later.

Experience

The Experience section is where you will list your career experience and educational achievements. Fill out both the work experience and education sections with a single record at a time. Once you click “Add Work Experience” or “Add Education” buttons, you'll be able to add information about other jobs you may have had or schools you may have attended. At the bottom of the Experience page, there's an optional section that will allow you to list any job related training you may have had. If you've taken relevant courses or attended valuable training sessions, be sure to include them here!

Related Information

The Related Information tab provides another opportunity for you to add information about yourself that recruiters may value. List personal and professional references, languages you speak, organizations to which you belong, publications to which you have contributed and awards which you have received on this page.
Toward the bottom of the page, you'll notice that the site asks you what type of employment you'd be willing to consider. This choice may seem daunting at first, but don't fret — if you click the question mark next to the word “Availability,” you'll find short descriptions of each of these job types. Read these descriptions and you'll be able to make an informed decision about what sort of job you're looking for.

Below the “Availability” section, you'll find the “Desired Locations” box that will allow you to let federal recruiters know of any geographic preferences you have. Feel free to select as many or as few locations as you like.

Finishing Up

Once you click through to the Finishing Up page, you'll have the option to automatically spell-check your resume. This is a good idea since spelling errors reflect poorly on job applicants. This is also a good time to click the “Preview Your Resume” button along the left side of the page. You'll be able to see your resume just as federal recruiters will see it.

After you're satisfied with the shape your resume is in, click the “Activate Resume” button. This will send your resume out into the pool of other applicants and allow federal recruiters to find it in their searches.
Whether you decide to make your resume searchable or not, you'll be able to use it if you find a position on USAJOBS that accepts online applications. Look for the “Apply Online” button at the bottom of a job posting to see if the position you're interested in qualifies. If you decide to submit your resume electronically, make sure to read the job description carefully to ensure that all of the information that it asks for is included in your resume.