by Kathryn Troutman, October 15, 2019
KEYWORD LESSON
How to find keywords in a USAJOBS Announcement!
TARGET: MISSION SUPPORT SPECIALIST
Target Announcement: GS 7 and 9, DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations.
Now is the time to research and consider applying for Immigration jobs! Just search for the word IMMIGRATION and look at the locations, grade / salary levels, and titles of position. You can probably find a position that could be of interest to you. NOTE: The qualifications may not require actual immigration experience. Both of the keyword lists below do NOT include the word IMMIGRATION! Mostly those keywords are Administrative, Database, Resources, Improving Efficiency.
THE BEST FEDERAL RESUME FORMAT
We recommend the Outline Format with KEYWORDS in ALL CAPS for the Work History section of the resume. See the samples of the Outline Format HERE.
WHAT ARE THE KEYWORDS AND SKILLS THAT YOU SHOULD BE SURE TO MATCH WITH YOUR FEDERAL RESUME?
Below you will see the keywords and phrases for the GS 7 and 9 positions. The words are similar but the GS 9 is more complex. Study your keywords carefully for each job announcement. Add these words into your WORK HISTORY / INTERNSHIP section of your Federal resume. These keywords can be used in non-profit and volunteer positions also.
HIRING! MISSION SUPPORT SPECIALIST, GS 7 to 12
Responsibilities
As a Mission Support Specialist, you will contribute to ICE Mission Support programs and provide advice in administrative specialty areas to supervisors, managers and employees. You will perform a variety of duties such as:
- Coordinate and perform a wide variety of administrative and management services essential to the operations of the office including, but not limited to: management information systems, telecommunications, budget, finance, procurement, human resources, training, logistics, property, space, records and files, printing and graphics, mail, travel, and office equipment
- Advise management on assigned administrative matters
- Conduct or participate in the evaluation of administrative programs, systems and methods and identify ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these services at the local level
- Represent the office in dealings with vendors and organizations within the agency that have primary responsibility for these services
- Operate, manage, and oversee a fleet management program including: purchase, disposal, maintenance, budgeting, and reporting functions
THE BEST KEYWORDS ARE IN THE QUALIFICATIONS SECTION.
Read the paragraph that starts out with “One year of specialized experience ….” To find the best keywords and skills to match in your Work Experience section of your Federal resume.
Qualifications
GS-07: You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess one of the following:
A. Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service, performing duties such as: Compiling and updating budget data on spreadsheets; assisting with the preparation of requests for personnel actions; coordinating office moves and telephone service requirements; monitoring usage of government/company owned motor vehicles; responding to routine questions concerning administrative procedures and requirements.
SELECT A FEW WORDS FROM EACH SENTENCE IN THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH. KEYWORDS FOR YOUR WORK HISTORY SECTION OF YOUR FEDERAL RESUME:
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
COMPILING AND UPDATING BUDGET DATA ON SPREADSHEETS
COORDINATING OFFICE MOVES / TELEPHONE / LOGISTICS SERVICES
MONITORING VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT
CUSTOMER SERVICES
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SPREADSHEETS
B. Substitution of Education for Experience: You may substitute experience by a successful completion of one full year of graduate level education. This education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university and demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work of the position. (A course of study in business administration, public administration, or related fields is qualifying.) Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education. If the information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours.
EDUCATION SECTION TIP FOR YOUR FEDERAL RESUME:
Type your relevant courses in the resume. Add any descriptions of courses that would be helpful for this position.
BS in Homeland Security Courses: Intro to Homeland Security; Homeland Security Response to Critical Incidents; Infrastructure in Homeland Security; Homeland Security and Intelligence Public Safety Administration Ethics; Public Safety Policies.
C. Superior Academic Achievement: You may substitute superior academic achievement for the experience required at the GS-7 level. You must have completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) the requirements for a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale of required major classes completed during the final two years of curriculum, class standing in the upper third of a graduating class or major subdivision, or membership in a national scholastic honor society.
D. Combining Education and Experience: Appropriate combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience described in A and B above, that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement.
Qualifications
GS-09: You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess one of the following:
A.Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the federal service, performing duties such as: Providing assistance to senior specialists in the evaluation and analysis of operational and administrative programs; assisting in the execution of administrative programs by carrying out specified portions or segments of specific projects such as updating budget data on spreadsheets and preparing routine budget requests; preparing requests for personnel actions; identifying and recommending solutions to administrative problems and providing advice to staff on established methods and procedures; coordinating office moves and telephone service requirements, monitoring usage of government/company owned motor vehicles.
SELECT A FEW WORDS FROM EACH SENTENCE IN THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH. KEYWORDS FOR YOUR WORK HISTORY AND INTERNSHIP SECTION OF YOUR FEDERAL RESUME:
ASSIST SENIOR SPECIALISTS IN EVALUATING AND ANALYZING OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS
SPECIAL PROJECTS
BUDGET UPDATES ON SPREADSHEETS
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
RECOMMENDING SOLUTIONS TO ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS
ADVISING STAFF ON IMPROVED ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
COORDINATING OFFICE AND RESOURCE LOGISTICS
B. Substitution of Education for Experience: You may substitute experience by a successful completion of a master’s or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, such as a L.L.B./J.D. This education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university and demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work of the position. (A course of study in business administration, public administration, or related fields is qualifying.) Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours.
EDUCATION SECTION TIP FOR YOUR FEDERAL RESUME:
Type your relevant courses in the resume. Add any descriptions of courses that would be helpful for this position.
BS in Political Science: American Government, Comparative Politics and Government, Law, Morality, and War, American Foreign Relations, Database Administration for Political Policy Research, Terrorism, Antiterrorism, and Homeland Security.
C. Combining Education and Experience: Appropriate combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience described in A and B above, that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement.
PERSONALIZED TIPS FOR A BEST QUALIFIED
FEDERAL RESUME: ORDER HERE
Resume Place Assessment Report and 30-Min Consultation: $190
- Find out what you need to change with your Federal resume and discuss accomplishments and keywords for the best application package