Navigate the Maze of Federal Hiring and Get Your “Dream” Job

1. Navigate the Maze of Federal Hiring and Get Your “Dream” Job

2. Preparing a Resume for Federal Government Hiring What is Required? • Name, mailing address, phone number, SSN and email address. • Job title and job announcement number. • Highest level of education (List names and addresses of schools, major(s), degree and year degree was attained. • Are you a U.S. citizen? • Other job qualifications or relevant training.

3. Requirements Cont. • Do you claim veteran’s preference? If so, attach the DD214 form or other proof of service. • If you have ever been employed as a civilian Federal employee or are eligible for reinstatement based on previous Federal status, include the job title and highest grade attained. Attach a copy of most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action. • Original Signature on your resume. • Work experience.

4. Work Experience • Look at the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed on the job announcement. Highlight your work or education relative to these. • Include all paid and non-paid experience to show your experience in these areas. Don’t underestimate your experiences! • For each work experience, include salary, hours worked per week and specific dates worked. Ex: June 1, 2007 – September 2007 instead of June 2007 – Sept. 2007.

5. Work Experience Cont. • Don’t forget to include honors, awards, or other recognition bestowed to you. • Select individuals who know your work as references. As a courtesy, get their permission beforehand to list them on your resume.

6. Resume Writing Tips • Use active verbs. • Be specific (Don’t generalize and don’t use abbreviations). • Describe your work, not the work of others. • Check spelling and grammar. • If you are providing a copy of the resume, make sure it is a clear copy.

7. Do’s • Read the vacancy announcement carefully. • List your full name, not a nickname. • Keep experience descriptions brief but fully detail, in bulleted format, what your duties entailed. • Arrange experience in chronological order. • Explain what acronyms stand for in parentheses prior to using them.

8. Do’s Cont. • Include any special qualifications, memberships, accomplishments, licenses, typing speed, in the “Other Qualifications” sections. • Make sure pages are in correct order and all requested material is attached. • Contact the office listed on the announcement if you have any questions or a change of address or telephone.

9. Don’ts • Don’t use the same application/resume for job announcements in non-related fields. • Don’t exaggerate and don’t be humble. Be honest. • Don’t omit church, community or organization work. • Don’t copy or use position descriptions to explain your job. • Don’t include copies of awards, published work, etc. unless requested.

10. Examples to help in crafting bullet statements: • You will receive no credit unless your experiences are listed. • When you describe your work experiences, keep in mind that the person rating your application may not be familiar with you certain acronyms or short descriptors. Explain! Ex: “set up z-line drag systems” Ex: “EMT/IV”

11. Example 1: Metro Parks, Park Ranger Provided visitor service and ensured visitor safety. -How did you do this? Did you explain park rules and regulations? Issue citations and discuss why issued? -Did you make any arrests? How many and what were they? Did you go to court for any of these as a witness? Conducted security checks on buildings within the park. -When did the security checks occur? -Did you set the security alarms? Were you the main response person for the park? -Did you work with city/county/stateLaw Enforcement units?

12. Example 2: A County Parks Dept. Job Title: SHIFT OFFICE-PARK RANGER Responsibilities: • Second in command of six park rangers. • Assisted in training new employees on park department policies and procedures such as traffic stops, report, writing, surveillance, and confronting others. • Served as communication liaison between Chief Ranger, the public and subordinates. • Informed subordinates of bulletins and policy changes. • Noted and explained any errors in procedure to subordinates. • Offered suggestions for improvement to Chief Ranger.

13. Jesse Santos Education: 1.) Michigan State University (MSU) Location: Ann Arbor, MI 67890 Major(s): Fisheries Biology Minor: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Credits earned: 60 semester hours Graduation date: May 2004 Degree: M.S. 2.) Slippery Rock University (SRU) Location: Slippery Rock, PA 15366 Major: Biology Minor: Federal Law Enforcement Certification Credits Earned: 130 Semester Hours Graduation Date: May 2000 Degree: B.S.

14. Work Experience • Position: Resource Management Specialist Dates of Employment: March 3, 2002 to present Address: National Park Service Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve RR 1, Box 123456 Copper Center, AK 12399 Supervisor: Chief of Resources Management, Jessica Smith (555)556-9877 Salary: GS-0401-9/2 Hours Per Week: 40 hours

15. Duties and accomplishments: • Supervise 5 permanent NPS staff, 3 NPS summer and 1 winter seasonals, and 15 volunteers. • Conduct studies of fish abundance, seasonal distribution, condition size, age, growth, sex, and primary food sources. Studies relate to food sources/bear density populations within established stream locations. • Participate in one aerial wildlife study of bear density in a 250-mile radius. • Draft report of findings. Two studies required hiking in remote, rough terrain and camping for up to 15 days. Transported to site by fixed wing aircraft.

16. Supervise volunteer staff in observation of caribou herd populations/breeding patterns. Assist staff in tracking herds of radio-collared moose and Dall sheep. Note tracking patterns on 7.5-minute topographical maps, Global Positioning System (GPS) for entry into digital format database. • Complete planning and logistics of all staff field trips, including planning of meals, and procurement and transport of equipment and supplies. • Research and analyze data. Utilize computer programs to compile, retrieve, analyze and report resource management information. Maintain computer databases for park Resource Management Specialist.

17. Training Courses • Radio telemetry field and class work on Elk herds of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, as part of NDSU degree curriculum requirements. Field work included 40 hours of study. • Completed vegetation analysis as part of B.S. degree senior thesis and internship, National Park Service, Assateague Island National Seashore, Virginia. Vegetation analysis included an assessment American Beach Grass competition with exotic species invasion along the primary dune system. • S-130 Firefighter; S-190 Basic Wildland Fire Behavior: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

18. Skills • Proficient in handling and maintenance of barb-wire fence and gate installation tools such as fencing pliers, hydraulic tractor mounted and gas powered two-man hand held posthole augers, fence stretchers, wire winders, hammer, chain saw and associated protective equipment, and the utilization of All-Terrain-Vehicles for relocation of materials. • 1994,1995 Softball coach for one team, ages 9-15. • Sunday school teacher- 4th and 5th graders. • Volunteered with Fargo, ND area Boys and Girls Clubs to provide mentoring assistance to troubled teens.

19. Awards • Senior capstone scholarship recipient for junior and senior years, North Dakota State University. Scholarship included $6,000 per year tuition coverage and $1,500 per year textbook allowances. • Deans list, each consecutive semester, Sophomore, Junior and Senior years. GPA=3.95 • Boys and Girls Clubs of North Dakota state Mentor of the Year, 1998. • Member, American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES), 1997 to present. • National Institute of Science, 1997 to present. • President for Thunderbird Theater Club, Oglala Community College, 2000.

20. KSA’s • There is a separate page to state these • It is in addition to your resume • Should be no more than 1 page and directly address job skills required • Should be in paragraph form addressing each KSA. • Should give examples and use the CARC format which is context, action taken, results and challenges • Write at least one entry for each area of CARC-at minimum you will have 4 entries or small paragraphs for each KSA

21. Agency Name:Department Name:Position Title, Series, Grade:Announcement Number:Candidate:Social Security Number:Title: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Ability to communicate orally: I orally presented the culmination of my group’s work on the Rwandan genocide to our graduate class in Non-Profit Management. To begin the project, my group conducted intensive research on the timeline of events in Rwanda. My research component focused on the management structures of the United Nations. I utilized official documents from my multiple international governments and intergovernmental organizations. For the presentation, we developed a summary of events, analysis of the crisis and specific management recommendations. Using PowerPoint, I presented the history of the Rwanda genocide, my analysis of management failures and recommendations for change within the United Nations. I have also answered questions from the audience. My 15-minute presentation was positively received by the class. Many people were moved by the story of Rwanda. They were also shocked when we revealed how simple flaws in management structure led to a travesty of justice. Our presentation received an excellent graded and our professor complimented me for the clarity and succinct nature of my presentation. The presentation was particularly challenging because after our team spend months analyzing a very complex problem, I was given 15 minutes to present the problem, our group’s analyses, and our recommendations. While we worked collaboratively to sort out the issues and recommendations, in the end, I was left o develop an organized presentation outline and script within the time limits.

22. References 1.) John Smithton 122 E. Sondastand Street Seward, AK 12345 Years known: 2 years Relationship: Co-worker 2.) Eileen Connary 1567 2nd Street West Fargo, ND 98765 Years known: 15 years Relationship: Family friend