Federal Resume Writing Workshop and Applying for Federal Jobs Using USAJOBS
This goal of this course is to familiarize university students, postdocs, and recent graduates with the differences between the private sector resume format (typically 2 pages), the CV (length to be determined), and the federal resume format (typically 3 to 5 pages). Participants will understand the different federal hiring paths available to them, including the difference between competitive (public) and non-competitive hiring authorities (Direct Hire Authority for Post-Secondary Students and Recent Graduates). All participants will create the first draft of a federal resume and gain the confidence to apply.
Workshop Format
Whether delivered virtually or in-person, this course is presented as an interactive workshop. Participants will write and share drafts with their peers, give and receive feedback, practice interviewing, and build a network of supportive contacts.
Outcomes
Participants will learn how to use USAJOBS to find roles and interpret announcements for positions at various grade levels to determine qualifications based on education, courses, specialization, and experience. Participants will complete the program understanding how to enhance their internships, research projects, courses, thesis, and dissertation content to demonstrate experience and to qualify for positions based on either education or a combination of education and experience.
Key Objectives
In this engaging, interactive course, participants will learn the basics of creating a competitive federal resume and navigating the online hiring system, USAJOBS. We will problem-solve for unique challenges and experiences students and recent graduates face when applying for their first federal position.
Participants will:
- Write accomplishments in the Context-Challenge-Action-Results (CCAR) format for resume development and interview preparation. This is a useful format for writing about internships and special projects, major papers, theses, and dissertations.
- Interpret the job announcement and target their resumes to match specific positions and agency hiring needs.
- Read, study, and match the questionnaire language in descriptions of courses, projects, and experience. Include keywords and skills.
- Build their first compliant federal resume, including month and year to month and year and hours per week for each entry describing work history, internship, or major project.
- Make one resume SEARCHABLE in USAJOBS
- Participate in Question & Answer sessions throughout the workshop and at the end of the session. Course summary and chat notes will be shared at the end of the course.
Preferred format: Virtual training via the Zoom platform. Active participation in the chats, peer review workshops, and practice interviews is required.
Course text
Each participant will be required to purchase the course text, Federal Resume Guidebook, 7th Ed. The printed book is $15.95 plus $10 shipping for a total of $25.95. The PDF version is $15.95.
Preferred format: Virtual training via the Zoom platform.
Active participation in the chats and peer-review workshops is required. We will demonstrate live USAJOBS tours and online research.
Course length: Full day, half day, or 90 minute webinars