8 Things Federal Agencies Need To See On Your Resume

Are you thinking about expanding your job search and applying for a job or two within federal or state government agencies?

If you thought job hunting was frustrating, time-consuming, and discouraging before, let me paint a picture of what a government job search looks like.

First, there are three things you need to know before starting a government job search:

1. Your resume won’t be contending against others in Applicant Tracking systems, but it will be battling eligibility and qualification requirements that have no wiggle room.
2. HR Specialists expect a 3 to 5-page resume (depending on your career level) to adequately determine whether or not you are minimally qualified for the role you’re applying for.
3. Your application which typically includes a federal resume and Application Questionnaire must earn over 90 points on a 100-point scale for you to be considered best qualified and “Referred,” which means you’re resume is being reviewed by a hiring authority to be considered for an interview.

You may still be determined qualified (Think 70 points or higher) without being “Referred” to be considered for an interview. You’ll be waiting for the first round of best-qualified candidates to bomb their interviews before you’ll get a chance. The interview process is reserved for only the top-ranking applications.

Daunting, yes. Impossible, no way.

Federal resume writing is an art, a science, and a task that will require some insights into government hiring processes to be completed effectively. Let’s start with the basics of which details the HR Specialists at federal and state government agencies need to see on your resume to move you forward in the hiring process.

This blog contains affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you subscribe or buy something through the links I share. I only share links to products or services that I use myself or absolutely love!

Citizenship

Your country of citizenship is required on a federal resume or application because you must be a U.S. citizen or national to work for the Federal Government. There are some exceptions, though.

A federal agency may hire a non-U.S. citizen for excepted service positions (positions at agencies who set their own qualifications requirements and are not subject to the appointment, pay, and classification rules in Title V code) and are not subject to or Senior Executive Service positions (executive positions filled based on leadership qualifications) if the Appropriations Act, the Immigration Law, and the agencies internal policies allow it. A federal agency may also request to hire a non-U.S. citizen for a competitive service position (positions subject to the civil service laws passed to ensure fair and equal treatment in the hiring process) if no qualified U.S. citizen is available.

Hours Worked Per Week

There are compliance details required on a federal resume for each job you’ve held for the last ten years. One of these details is listing the average hours you worked per week.

HR Specialists reviewing your resume will be looking to ensure you meet the minimum requirements for the job which typically includes one year of Specialized Experience. The Federal Government defines one year as 40 hours a week for 52 weeks. Listing your average hours worked per week for each job you’ve held in the last 10 years will determine whether you meet the minimum requirements for one year of Specialized Experience (more on Specialized Experience below!).

Supervisor Contact Information

Another major compliance detail that agencies need to see on your federal resume is your supervisor’s contact information. This includes your supervisor’s name, phone number, and an indication as to whether or not this supervisor may be contacted.

This is a requirement for background checks. Federal agencies will be using this contact information and permission not just for a reference but to verify your employment, position title, average hours worked, and salary which can give some context to your level of responsibility (more on context below!). Don’t start to panic if you had personal differences and workplace conflicts with a supervisor, though. You can indicate that this supervisor may not be contacted or to contact you first.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

Your federal resume must have detailed examples of experiences and accomplishments that prove you can perform the tasks at the level required for the job you are applying for. In fact, your federal resume must address every required qualification on the job announcement.

In addition to the listed qualifications, your resume must address the knowledge, skills, and abilities (also known as KSAs) which are typically listed in the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section. For you to demonstrate that you are minimally qualified for the job, your federal resume must showcase specific examples from your background that relate to these KSAs (such as knowledge gained from education or training, skills or abilities demonstrated throughout your work history, etc.).

Specialized Experience

Specialized Experience is the experience you have that is directly related to the position you are applying for. This experience will prove that you have the particular KSAs needed to do the job well, and nearly all job announcements will require you to possess and demonstrate at least one year of Specialized Experience at the equivalent or next lower grade in the federal service to qualify.

Don’t worry - the job announcement will describe exactly what that means.

I can’t express enough the need to meet all of the minimal requirements before taking the time to write a federal resume and apply for a federal job. You will not be considered if you do not meet the minimal requirements. This may seem harsh, but the Federal Government has strict requirements due to its demanding responsibility to this country and our employment laws.

Context

Context explains the factors, surrounding environment, and circumstances that affect your role. Adding context to your federal resume could be describing what instigated the challenges you faced, what your budget or time constraints were, and what organizational or external changes affected you and your responsibilities. Context should also describe your role more clearly. Were you a team member or a coordinator? What was your level of responsibility?

You should use context to quantify and qualify KSAs and Specialized Experience. Adding context to different areas of your federal resume will differentiate you from another candidate with similar skills. This is also what will differentiate whether you’re a minimally qualified or best qualified candidate.

Key Accomplishments

If your federal resume doesn’t include accomplishments, then you are not demonstrating excellent past performance to federal agencies. Your accomplishments should be tailored to the KSAs required in the job announcement, too.

If you don’t have an accomplishment for every KSA, that’s okay. Having zero accomplishments to showcase for any of the KSAs is a serious problem that will affect whether you are ranked as best qualified and “Referred” or not. Consider the following questions if you’re struggling to come up with accomplishments:

• What have you done in this role that you are proud of?
• How did you contribute to your organization’s mission?
• What projects did you lead or contribute to, and were specific goals or deadlines met?
• More questions to consider…

Core Competencies (or Transferable Skills)

According to the Office of Personnel Management, core competencies are basic qualities that employees should exhibit in the workplace to maximize their potential for the government.” These are the transferable skills that can apply to a wide range of careers including:

• Building positive relationships
• Handling conflict and negotiations effectively
• Collaborating with others
• Communicating clearly
• Managing complaints and concerns promptly
• Remaining calm in high-pressure situations
• Solving problems creatively
• Encourages lifelong learning

These traits will help you stand out from other candidates with similar skills and should be integrated into your Experience section for a stronger federal resume.

Conclusion

A resume for federal and state government job vacancies requires specific details that you wouldn’t necessarily add to a resume for the private sector. You’ll want to add your U.S. citizenship near the top of your resume and list your average hours worked per week and supervisor contact information for each job you’ve held in the last 10 years. You’ll also want to make sure your Experience section clearly outlines and describes that you have the KSAs, Specialized Experience, Key Accomplishments, and Core Competencies expected of a best qualified candidate.