Applying for vacancies on USAJobs has been described as an excruciating task for the majority of the federal job aspiring population. Nevertheless, people continue to apply and pursue positions with the federal government. To be more precise, 2 million new job applications go through USAJobs.gov every month. I can understand your frustration with the application process and resume building experience.
Many people pursue federal jobs for years and even decades only to not hear back or receive an email expressing a lack of qualifications. This is even more discouraging for those who truly are qualified but failed to state and support their qualification claims on the resume and application.
To save yourself some anguish and emotional turmoil, I would like to suggest the tips below before you embark once more on the journey to that amazing federal job.
1. Read the information 3 times, first passively, then actively, and finally review it one last time. If your eyes read better on paper as opposed to on screen, then print the job description. I know we should all be aware of our environment; however, this would be the exception to the rule. If you print the job ad, underline and highlight important sections while making personal notes.
2. Ask yourself, “Do I meet all of the knowledge, skills, and abilities at their highest evaluation?” If you do not meet all of them or if you do not meet them at their highest evaluation, your application will probably not be accepted. Consequently, your resume will not be seen or reviewed, and you will probably not be contacted for an interview.
In the event you do not meet all of the KSAs, make a government job one of your future goals and continue to work towards achieving that goal. Be practical about it. Place the job ad you printed somewhere visible in your . This will make the goal seem more alive and present on a regular basis rather than being buried in the depth of your thoughts.
Make sure to note the KSAs or requirements you are currently missing for your target position with the federal government. Be sure to acquire those skills in your current or next job. Make a deadline for yourself, “By MM/YYYY I will have met and exceeded experience in XYZ requirement.
3. After you have read the entire job ad at least twice and have decided you meet all of the requirements, start developing your government resume based off the KSAs required for the posting. For most of you, the resume building process is one of the most difficult and challenging ones in the federal application process. Consequently, because you do not have a good resume, your application falls below acceptable and is rejected.
- Be sure to address each KSA with supporting evidence on your resume.
- Include measurable quantitative descriptive actions as much as possible.
- Brainstorm and include your experience in a cohesive and precise manner.
USAJobs.gov specifically stresses your resume should support the statements you claim on your application.
Resumes are technical documents used to market your skill set to your target audience. Moreover, government resumes are even more technical and follow specific guidelines that differ between job ads. For most of you, this all might be easier said than done.
Remember the 2 million new applications that go through the USAJobs system?
Partnering and choosing a good resume writer plays a key role in this process. A resume writer who produces quality work and personally collaborates with you will not only develop your federal resume but will also assist you in developing the information you will need to respond to the KSAs.
See, a proper federal resume will follow and support the KSAs required for your target position. As you collaborate with a resume writer, you will find yourself developing the answers to your application.
Wouldn’t someone’s assistance and guidance relieve you from the stress, negativity, and frustration you experience with the federal hiring process ?
I enjoy embarking on the resume writing journey with people seeking a new job, a promotion, and a better career. Whether the person is just establishing the foundations of their career or advancing to higher executive positions, I cherish the opportunity to present new insights and perspectives to their professional goals.
Want to pursue a government job, but your resume is not passing the agency requirements and your application is being rejected? Click here to send me a message to discuss your professional goals and my resume writing process.
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Yuleni Pulido ► Executive Resume Writer
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The system is rigged, as evidrnced by jobs that open and close in dsys, the jobs citr quals that really are NOT required for the actual job because I have seen people fet the jobs i have applied for who were govt that did NOT have the quals who were then sent off to school to get them, and then you have random people in DLA (for DOD, IC jobs) who have no real understanding of the actual work to be done assessing whether your “equivalent experience ” (effectively doing the job as a contractor for years) qualifiies you and being told you dont fit. It’s a complete joke.
Hi Laurie, thank you so much for taking the time to comment on your experience while trying to secure a government job through USAJobs. I remember when job announcements had a deadline of one year. The deadline would approach and suddenly it would get extended. This would cause thousands of people to be uncertain about whether the announcement was really for a job that was currently vacant. This would also discourage people, as the wait time was just too long.
About a year and a half ago, the deadlines for government jobs were changed to a more immediate one. I think this is a positive change, because it allows the process to proceed quicker. Federal resumes follow different guidelines than those for private sectors. The resume and application first goes through the applicant tracking system. If your resume is created properly, it should pass, as long as the application is properly completed too.
Your resume should also properly present your experience and qualifications in such a way that the person reviewing it will understand the relation between your experience and the requirements for the job they need to fulfill. It is a challenging task, but I enjoy working with those pursuing government jobs. By collaborating on the resume, I also facilitate their application process.
If you have a government job you would like to apply to, but need help with your resume and guidance on the application, contact me at OrganicResumeCreations@gmail.com.