Office of Human Resources, Department of Health and Human Services

FACT SHEET: Federal Resume

Knowing how to write a persuasive Federal resume is a valuable skill to have in today’s job market. Your resume is the first impression you give to a potential employer, it is your marketing tool. A well-written resume can help you land an interview or may lead to new job opportunities. Whether you are actively seeking a job with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), another Federal agency, or just want to update your existing resume, this guide may assist you in making your resume stand out. Is there a preferred style of resume I should use when applying for a Federal position? You are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder tool when applying to a Federal vacancy at www.usajobs.gov. You may use any resume format you wish, as long as it includes all the required information in your resume. The USAJOBS Resume Builder automatically formats your resume using the information you provide, allows you to build and store up to five distinct resumes. What information should be in my resume? Having the right information at your fingertips will be helpful as you create your resume. Here’s a list of recommended information you’ll need in your resume:

Your full name, mailing address with zip code, area code and phone number, your email address, and country of citizenship (Social Security Number not required for resume).

Your eligibility for veteran’s preference, if applicable (DD-214 or statement of service) Summary Statement Employer names, addresses and telephone numbers Dates of employment including the starting and end dates (Mo/Yr) Former supervisor’s names and telephone numbers Your job title Education List of your responsibilities Career accomplishments Training Awards received Publications Public speaking

If you are a current or former Federal employee, you should also have:

GS level, series and step, if applicable Last SF-50 Last Performance Appraisal

Should I include all my previous positions on my resume? How far back should I go? The most important thing is to include your most relevant experience. When considering how far back to go with your work history, go as far back as you need to in order to make your experience applicable. In other words, make sure you highlight your accomplishments of previous jobs that are most recent and relevant to the position you are seeking.

Office of Human Resources, Department of Health and Human Services

How long should my resume be? While the length of your Federal resume is a personal choice, the general rule of thumb is one to ten pages depending upon your level of experience. However, if you are building your resume in USAJOBS, the average length is four to five pages. Regardless of the length, your resume should best reflect your qualifications for the position to which you are applying as concisely as possible.

Resume Do’s and Don’ts Do Don’t

• Quantify whenever possible use numbers and data points to illustrate success.

• Make things up or inflate your accomplishments, level of responsibility, or skills.

• Check your application package for misspellings and grammatical errors.

• Use personal pronouns (I, my, me) in a resume.

• Use active verbs to describe actual work performed. Be specific.

• Don’t use acronyms, unless you are certain everyone knows what that acronym is.

• Use your own words when writing a resume. Be concise.

• Use job description expressions like “duties included” or “responsibilities:” instead use accomplishment oriented phrases that sell.

• Edit your resume to reduce fluff and make every word count. Set your resume aside for a few hours/ days and then come back to it again with a fresh perspective.

• Include personal information on your resume, other than contact information (examples: height, weight, age, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, ethnicity, health, reason for leaving

previous jobs, etc. • Review your application package

to ensure that it contains all of the required information listed under the “How to Apply” section of the vacancy announcement.

• Glaze over employment gaps on your resume. Be honest and confident when explaining unemployment periods.

For additional resume writing information please visit the USAJOBS website: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Tips Suggestive Resources:

• Finding and Applying for Jobs in the Federal Government (Video) • Do I Need to be a United States Citizen to Work for the Federal Government? • 5 Tips for Communicating Your Qualifications (Video) • What are Special Hiring Authorities? (Video) • Special Federal Hiring Authority for Individuals with Disabilities (Video) • Do You Need a Degree for a Federal Job? (Video) • Pathways Internships Tutorial (Video) • Pathways Recent Grads Tutorial (Video)

Office of Human Resources, Department of Health and Human Services

FACT SHEET: Build a Portfolio

What is a portfolio?

A portfolio is a personalized collection of materials. Portfolios are often identified with people in

the arts (photography, design, etc.) and conjure up images of large black cases or binders with

samples of work. They are now widely used in many other fields.

A portfolio is:

• A reflection of you as a professional

• A record of your professional development

• Proof of performance on the job or in class

• What you have accomplished (i.e., tangible artifacts/evidence)

• Evidence of your learning new skills

Regardless of purpose, portfolios document skills and accomplishments through examples of

work.

What included in a portfolio?

• Resume or CV

• Commendations/kudos

• Transcripts

• Evidence of professional affiliations

• Licenses or certifications

• Letters of reference

• Evidence of specific skills (e.g., public speaking, leadership, writing)

• Work samples (e.g., class projects, items produced during internship or co-op

experiences)

Depending upon your profession, specific items can be added to provide an accurate

representation of your knowledge and abilities.

Your portfolio is an ever-evolving item. Keep it updated and organized!

Federal Resume Format: Sample

47

Double click on the header and insert

your name and contact information.

Use the profile/summary to describe what kind of employee

you are

Include technological,

social media and foreign language

expertise. Education

comes next. Bullet point

specific courses if your

major was broad.

Remember: Put relevant

experience first! Use this format

for job information.

Federal Resume Format: Sample (con’t)

48

Use a combination of narrative and

bullets for each entry. Narrative to describe what

you did; bullets to highlight

outstanding accomplishments.

Double click on the

header and insert your name. Use automated numbering.

Remember to include your job

title.

Federal Resume Format: Sample (con’t)

49

If including training, just the year and course title are needed.

Include volunteer, civic,

federal and school groups.