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Camille Carboneau Roberts, CFRW/C, CPRW, CEIP, CARW, CIJSEFederal Career Consultant, CC Career Services

Create an Effective Federal Résumé with the NEW USAJOBS.GOV Online Resume Builder

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Job-Hunt®

Quick Guide

Creating an Effective Federal Résumé www.job-hunt.org

© 2010, NETability, Inc. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use nor modification without prior written permission.

The United States Government implemented an update to the

USAJOBS.gov Website. This Guide will help you navigate the new

USAJOBS Resume Builder on the www.usajobs.gov Website. Because the

Website may change, this is an overview, providing guidance and tips for

creating an effective Federal résumé using the USAJOBS Resume Builder.

Your first step in getting a job with USAJOBS is to create at least one

résumé using the “Resume Builder,” and that is what this Guide will help

you do.

NOTE: The USAJOBS Resume Builder is one résumé format that may

be accepted by Federal agencies. Some agencies accept only their own

formats, including a Word document. This Resume Builder résumé can be

used only to apply to announcements listed on USAJOBS with agencies

that accept it. Read the announcement carefully. It will state in the “How to

Apply” section how the résumé will be accepted. While most agencies do

use USAJOBS, a full list of agency recruiting pages may be found on Job-

Hunt.org at www.job-hunt.org/jobs-in-government/government-jobs.shtml.

Success Secrets Align Your Résumé to the Job Requirements

USAJOBS.gov is the official Website for Federal Government job openings.

They are referred to as job announcements. For the most effective results,

customize your résumé content to the job announcement you are pursuing.

Focus each résumé on the details of your experience that most closely

relate to the job announcement, using the exact terms (keywords and

qualifications) in the announcement, assuming you possess those

qualifications. Aligning and customizing do not mean embellishing or lying.

It is critical that you demonstrate throughout your content that you have

the qualifications, experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities

required to perform the duties outlined in the job announcement.

For example, if the job announcement states that you must have C++,

JAVA, PHP, PL/SQL or Microsoft ASP/.NET skills, and you only have C or

Visual Basic programming skills, more than likely you will not qualify for the

position. In that case, you should look for something that better matches

your skills, education, and expertise. Likewise, if you do possess C++,

JAVA, PHP, PL/SQL or Microsoft ASP/.NET and the announcement states

C++ as the only requirement, you could be overqualified.

Leverage the Resume Builder to Help You Stand Out from the Competition

The online Resume Builder is used to ensure that all necessary information

is collected and stored appropriately for review. The following information

will provide tips on leveraging the Resume Builder to help you stand out

from the competition and hopefully get you screened into the interview

process:

• Take the time to complete the Resume Builder in its entirety before

applying to any federal job announcement. If you are unable to finish your

résumé in one session, be sure to use the “Save for Later” feature to

finish later. This could take a few hours to copy and paste from a prepared

résumé, or several hours if you are using the Resume Builder to create your

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http://www.usajobs.gov

http://www.job-hunt.org/jobs-in-government/government-jobs.shtml



résumé. Save your résumé often as you step through the process so that

you do not lose your work in case of a power loss or other computer failure.

It will not be visible to recruiters in its incomplete state until you choose to

make it searchable. Plan to do this when you have sufficient time.

• Use the “Additional Information” section to list your qualifications and

competencies. Customizing this section, which is often left blank by job

seekers, can be what sets you apart! This section is where you can sell

yourself – electronically – an important step in the process. Complete

this section with information that qualifies you and shows how you

add value – list qualifications, core competencies, leadership activities,

accomplishments, honors, skills, awards, computer knowledge, software

knowledge, and any other information relevant to the position that is not

listed elsewhere in the Resume Builder.

• Remember the Resume Builder feeds a very large résumé database so

be sure to use the keywords that fit your qualifications from the job

announcement throughout your résumé. This is one of the advantages

of using the Additional Information section.

• If a field does not apply to you, be sure to put “NA” (Not Applicable) so

the reader will know that you acknowledged a field rather than skipped

over it. Some fields will not allow an NA entry; but include NA where it

is applicable and where a field will allow.

• Before submitting your résumé to apply for a position, carefully proofread it:

– Spell check the résumé – eliminate typos and misspellings.

– Ensure your contact information, dates, and reference phone numbers

are accurate.

– Ensure that you have selected the proper “check boxes” and “radio

buttons” (answers) in each section.

– Complete all the fields that pertain to you and list “NA” in the fields

that do not, when the Resume Builder allows.

• You have the option to create and name up to five résumés. Since the

résumé title will not be seen by anyone but you, using the job title from

the job announcement is a good way to differentiate among the five

versions.

Preview, Save, and Backup Your Résumé

The Resume Builder gives you an option to preview your résumé as you

build it. I highly recommend that you do this. Click on “View” and a new

window will open which will display all the information you have put into

the Resume Builder. While you are in the preview mode, you can copy and

paste your USAJOBS résumé into your word processing program. To save it,

perform the following steps:

�. Press Control+A to select all the information in the new window.

2. Press Control+C to copy the highlighted information onto the computer’s

clipboard.

3. Open a new document in Word (or any other word processing program).

4. Press Control+V to paste the résumé information from the Preview

window into your new blank document.

5. Click “Save” to save the document to your computer as a backup. Be sure to

save it where you normally store your documents so you can easily find

it. I recommend you save it as “yournameUSAJOBSresumename.doc” or

whatever extension is appropriate. 2



Be sure to print and proofread your résumé. Have a friend and a colleague

read it. Ensure the contact information, dates, addresses, and detailed

information is accurate. Fix anything that is wrong and ensure that you

have completed it in its entirety before making your résumé searchable, or

applying to any job announcements.

Applying for a Position (Also known as Applying to an Announcement)

Read the announcement thoroughly, including the “How to Apply” instruc-

tions. Begin with the end in mind. Know what you have to do, and plan to

submit it at least 24 hours before the deadline. If you want your résumé

to be found by federal recruiters, it is critical that you make your résumé

searchable.

You must finish the Builder and actually “apply” to the announcement

before the deadline in order to have success in gaining federal employment.

Just making the résumé searchable does not mean you have applied to the

announcement.

USAJOBS provides a “Saved Search” function that you may set up so you

can be alerted to positions that fit your background and education. You can

have up to 10 Saved Searches. This feature alone will save you hours of job

searching because it will allow you to receive job announcements that may

interest you via email. (More about Saved Searches on p. 20.)

Save the announcements of the jobs you apply to, especially the contact

information, so you can follow up with the contact to check the status of your

résumé, when possible.

Some Federal Jobs Are Not Listed on www.USAJOBS.gov

Understand that not every job in the Federal Government is filled through

USAJOBS.gov. Excepted service agencies include Congress, the Judicial

Branch, the CIA, and some others. Positions may be in the excepted service

by law, by executive order, or by action of the Office of Personnel Manage-

ment. Check Job-Hunt’s Government Job Resources section for links to the

recruiting pages of over 200 Federal agencies and departments.

Understanding Federal Government Terms and Jargon

Some of the government language can be confusing. To find the official

definition of Federal terms, click or copy and paste the following link into

your browser to review the Glossary of Federal Terms. http://www.usajobs.

opm.gov/infocenter/glossary/A.asp

Getting Started with USAJOBS.GOVSafety Double-Check

Before you enter any information into your profile on USAJOBS.GOV, make sure you are really on the correct Website.

The only way to ensure that you are on the correct Website, even if it looks

exactly as it does below, is to check your browser’s location bar where you

should see this URL:

3

http://www.job-hunt.org/jobs-in-government/government-jobs.shtml

http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/infocenter/glossary/A.asp

http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/infocenter/glossary/A.asp



Please note the following:

When you go to the home page of www.usajobs.gov, you will see the screen below. You can also access a step-by-step tutorial for USAJOBS.gov through

the “Info Center” or “First Time Visitors” links on the home page (www.usajobs.gov) shown below:

To begin the application process, go to

www.usajobs.gov and click on the “Create an Account” link at the top of the home

page. Once you have completed the

registration process, you may create up

to five versions of your résumé in order to

apply to a variety of different job

announcements. This Guide will help guide

you through that process, section by section,

with tips and additional information to help

you be as successful as possible.

If you already have created a USAJOBS.gov

Account, click on “sign-in,” open your

résumé profile, and review it as you read

this Guide. You may also use this Guide to

step you through the process of creating

your résumé with the Resume Builder.

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Creating Your USAJOBS AccountCreate your account by selecting the “First Time Visitors” link on the USAJOBS home page, or “Create an Account“ in the upper right hand corner.

Complete the required fields, read the Terms and Conditions, and click the “I agree. Create my account“ button at the bottom of the page, if you agree

with the Terms and Conditions.

The following information is required to set up a USAJOBS account:

• First Name

• Last Name

• Home Address

• City/Town

• State/Territory/Province

• Postal/Zip Code

• Country

• Telephone Number

• Email

• User Name

• Password (follow the directions)

• Citizenship

• Veterans’ Preference (being a veteran is not a requirement

for employment). More information about Veterans’ Preference

at www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

Throughout USAJOBS, required information fields are marked with a red asterisk. Do not leave them blank.

5

http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx



FAQ: If I forget my password, can I get help to retrieve it?Answer: Yes, but it could take up to 48 hours to obtain the password, or help, so I recommend you write your username and password in a safe place. To

retrieve a forgotten password, click on “Sign In” from the USAJOBS.gov home page and click on “Forgot User Name and/or Password.”

Navigating USAJOBS.gov If you have any questions about what a section or field of the Resume Builder wants, click on the small blue question mark for help.

Once you have created your account, you will have many options. The foundation of your Federal job search will be your federal résumé – you cannot apply

for most jobs without one. Read the following tips to help you navigate within USAJOBS Website:

At the top of every USAJOBS Webpage, you will see “Search Jobs,” “My Account,” and “Info Center.” This Guide focuses on “Resumes” under “My Account.”

Also, at the very bottom of every USAJOBS Webpage, you will find the set of navigation links below. To return to your USAJOBS Account home page if you

get lost, click on the “Site Map” link:

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Once you are on the Site Map page, click on the “My Account – Main Page” link to return to your USAJOBS account home page.

You can refer to this page from any part of the USAJOBS Website.

Click on whatever link will be the most helpful to you.

While you are working on your résumé, the “My Account – Main

Page” link will get you back to your Account home page where you

will find links to your résumés and the other Resume Builder applications.

The Site Map also includes links to all of the other main sections of

USAJOBS, giving you access to the whole site, by subject.

Completing the Resume BuilderResume Builder vs. Resume Upload

FAQ: Should I use the Resume Builder or the Upload Resume Option? Answer: When you create a new account, or sign into your account on USAJOBS.gov, you will have an option to “Build A Resume” or “Upload A Resume”

under the “My Account” section. You can have a total of five résumés in the “Resume Builder.” Two of those résumés may be added to USAJOBS using the

“Upload New Resume” option.

�. Resume Builder The résumés in the Resume Builder are created using several sections (fields) that are required for a federal résumé. Résumés created using the “Resume Builder” are searchable by recruiters. Most agencies require you to apply for a position using the résumé you created using the Resume Builder.

2. Upload New Resume The résumés you upload from your computer are forwarded only to the agencies which accept uploaded résumés. If the job announcement states that

the employer will accept uploaded résumés, then your uploaded résumés(s) will appear in the list of résumés you can use to apply for that job. You can

have up to two uploaded résumés to choose from. �



Uploaded résumés must be in a file format which is usable by USAJOBS.

The acceptable formats are .doc, .docx, .jpg, .pdf, and .rtf.

USAJOBS limits the size of the uploaded file to 3MB or smaller. You will

not be able to successfully upload a file with larger than 3MB, or any other

extension.

Also note that uploaded résumés cannot be converted to Senior

Executive Service (SES) résumés.

Uploaded résumés are not searchable by recruiters. You will need to complete your résumé using the Resume Builder to apply for almost all job announcements listed on USAJOBS.gov.

Creating Your Résumé Using the Resume Builder Once you have registered and logged in, click on the blue “Resumes” button on the left side of the page. Then, select the “Build New Resume” button

to get started. The first section at the top of the Resume Builder allows you to classify your résumé as confidential or non-confidential.

Confidential or Non-Confidential. • Choose “Confidential” to hide your contact information,

current employer name, and references from recruiters

conducting résumé searches. If your résumé is marked

confidential, recruiters who find your résumé will contact

USAJOBS which forward the recruiter’s message to the

email address you have provided in your contact information. It can slow down the process of being reached by a recruiter, but it can protect your job.

• Choose “Non-Confidential” if you want all information to be visible to the recruiter.

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FAQ: If I create a résumé and do not finish it, do I have to start over?Answer: No, you can save your résumé, and finish it later. Be sure to save it often.

FAQ: What is the reason for having multiple versions of the résumé? Answer: The reason for multiple versions of your résumé is to customize each version for a specific job announcement/job title. In the different versions,

describe your qualifications and competencies using the “Additional Information” section, focusing on relevant aspects of your employment, education,

training, and volunteer experience.

For example, if you have the skills and education to apply for two positions such as Program Analyst and Procurement Analyst, you should have two different

USAJOBS résumés, one for each position. Each résumé should contain the appropriate, customized “Additional Information” section where you describe

your skills and qualifications for that type of position. The “Education,” “Work Experience,” “Specialized Training,” “Volunteer Service,” and other sections

of the résumé may not need to change, but the information in the “Additional Information” section should change to align your qualifications with those in

the announcement. On a traditional résumé, those sections are sometimes called the Qualifications and Core Competencies sections. Those are the sections

that “sell” you to the employer – the sections where you communicate your value to the hiring manager.

It is critical that the résumé contain the keywords and qualifications contained in the announcement,

paralleling your knowledge, skills, and abilities within your résumé to the announcement.

Candidate InformationIn this section, you will enter your résumé title and contact information. I recommend you name the

résumé the same as the job title of the announcement such as Contract Specialist, Intelligence

Officer, or Program Analyst – whatever the job title is on the announcement. This will help you

organize your résumés and use the proper one, depending on the announcement you apply to. The

résumé title is not seen by anyone but you.

Social Security Number

The Federal Government requires any person doing business with the Federal Government to furnish

a Social Security Number or tax identification number. (Executive Order 9397, November 22, 1943).

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It is used to identify your records because other people may have the same

name and birth date. The Office of Personnel Management may also use your

Social Security Number to request information about you from colleges,

employers, and banks, but only as allowed by law or Presidential directives.

FAQ: Do I have to provide my Social Security Number? I am worried about identity theft. Answer: Although providing your Social Security Number is voluntary, your

application will not be processed without it. Some agencies are using the

last four digits of the Social Security Number, but not all agencies have

changed to the four digit system. It is critical to provide all the information

requested in the announcement to be considered for the position.

Email

It is important to create and use an email account in order to receive

correspondence from potential employers, including the Federal government.

I recommend you set up a new email account specifically for the purpose of

job searching. Make sure you choose a professional email name, not one

such as [email protected], or [email protected].

In fact, I highly recommend you use your name. An example is

[email protected]. A web-based email service is best.

You could set up your email to be [email protected] and

use it only for your job search. Be sure to check it often.

Having an email with your first name and last name will help ‘brand’ you.

It will ensure your materials are identifiable and will make it easier for

Human Resources personnel to remember you. Use your new email address

for all professional contacts and job searching.

Veterans’ Preference

By law, veterans who are disabled or who served on active duty in the

Armed Forces during specified time periods, or during military campaigns,

are entitled to preference over non-veterans both in hiring from competitive

lists of eligible candidates as well as in retaining employees during reduc-

tions in force. To find out if you are qualified for this preference, visit this

link FedsHireVets.gov or contact the Department of Veterans Affairs.

When you have completed and saved your résumé, you can upload a scanned

copy of your DD-214, or other discharge document you received, to your

USAJOBS records using the “Upload a New Document” found under the

Saved Documents area. Find more about how to upload your DD-214 on

page 18 of this Guide.

Highest Career Level Achieved

Select the level that most clearly reflects where you are in your career. You

can change this selection as your career level changes. This is an optional

field and not always necessary for current or former Federal employees.

Read the announcement carefully.

Federal Employee Information

Are you, or were you ever, a Federal civilian employee? The definition of

“civilian” includes some Veterans. The answer to this question will be

“Yes” if you are a current or former Federal civilian employee who holds or

has held a non-temporary appointment such as the following:

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mailto:[email protected]

http://www.FedsHireVets.gov

http://www4.va.gov/VECS/



• A Veteran who is eligible for veterans’ preference or separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous military service.

• Served in competitive service in the Executive Branch, or in a position not

in the Executive branch specifically included in the competitive service by

statute.

• Served in an excepted service position covered by an interchange

agreement.

• Eligible for reinstatement.

• A person with a non-competitive appointment eligibility.

Pay Plan

This applies only if you answered “Yes” to the Federal Employee question. A Pay Plan refers to a two letter code in the Federal Government

system for categorizing pay systems. For many Federal employees, the pay

plan is GS, for others it may be WG, ST, or NS. If you have ever held a

position as a Federal Civilian Employee, enter your highest permanent grade

attained, job series, grade level, as well as the dates you held that grade.

Series/Grade

This applies only if you answered “Yes” to the Federal Employee question. A series refers to the Federal Government’s system for

categorizing and defining jobs. A grade refers to the Federal Government’s

system for defining and categorizing positions. You can find out more

information on the job classifications and pay at this link:

http://www.opm.gov/fedclass/index.htm

FAQ: Are classification and qualifications the same thing?Answer: “Classification” and “qualifications” are often confused; each

has its own distinct function.

• Classification pertains to a position or job and the evaluation process

that determines the appropriate pay system, occupational series, title,

and grade/pay band.

• Qualifications pertain to a person and describe the knowledge, skills, and

abilities a person must have to be successful in a particular occupation.

ICTAP Eligibility

ICTAP applies only if you answered “Yes” to the Federal Employee question. ICTAP stands for Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan.

The participant in this plan is a current or former federal employee that

has been displaced from a Federal agency. To be eligible, you must have

received a formal notice of separation such as a reduction in force (RIF)

separation notice. If you are an ICTAP eligible candidate, you will normally

be provided priority consideration for vacancies within your commuting area

for which you apply and are well qualified.

Work Experience“Work Experience” is a required section. Complete a “Work Experience” section for each of your employers. When you have

completed one Work Experience section, click the “Add Experience” button

to add your next job.

��

http://www.opm.gov/fedclass/index.htm



FAQ: How many years of work experience should I include?Answer: You should include a minimum of 10 years of experience,

which may require you to complete several Work Experience sections,

depending on how many jobs you have held in the last 10 years.

The number of years of experience to include depends on your

individual situation and the level of position. Some employees have

had one employer in 20 years. Some may have had 10 employers in 20

years. If you can, ask a Federal recruiter or a Certified Federal Résumé

Writer/Coach if you have specific questions on what and how much

to include for this section after careful review of the announcement.

There are strategic reasons for using older work experience which

could be included in the Federal résumé.

Your supervisor may be contacted if you choose “Yes” to the “May

we contact your supervisor?” question. Choose “No” if you do not want

your supervisor contacted. Or, if your search is confidential, choose

“Contact me first” so you can advise your supervisor beforehand.

Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills Field

This field allows up to 3,000 characters so you can, and should, provide a substantial amount of relevant information about your duties, accomplishments,

and any related skills. Again, use keywords from the announcement as you complete this field for each job you have held.

The USAJOBS Resume Builder provides you with a live “Character Count” below the input box so you can see how many characters you have used of your

3,000 character allotment. Be sure to use the spell check feature whether you are manually keying in the information or using copy-and-paste from your

word processing software.

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FAQ: Do I need to submit my current employer information? Answer: Yes, but you can identify that employer as “confidential” so the

employer cannot be contacted. There is a radio button (selection) to make

this selection confidential on your current employer information.

FAQ: Do I need to list my salary information for each position?Answer: Yes. If you do not have the information, you can obtain your

salary history from the Social Security Administration. They have a record

of each employer which has paid taxes on your behalf. It is important that

you submit accurate information. This helps in the qualification process. The

time needed to obtain this information varies depending upon whether you

have a local Social Security Administration office where you can walk in and

request the information, or if you have to request it via email or U.S. mail.

FAQ: What if I work more than 40 hours per week, or less than 40 hours per week?Answer: List the average hours you work per week. If you work an average

of 50 hours per week, list 50 hours per week. If you work a constant 40

hours in one job and 20 in another, list both positions with that detail. It

does help in the qualification process. The key is to be accurate.

Education“Education” is a required section. When you have added the last

screen of “Work Experience” information that is appropriate for this

résumé, scroll down the “Work Experience” page, to find this section.

Be sure to complete the required fields designated with a red asterisk. The

highest level of education can be selected under Degree/Level Attained, including high school if that is the highest level you attained.

The schools or programs you list in this section MUST be included in the

US Department of Education’s directory of accredited schools to be

included in your application. You can perform a search at http://www.ope.

ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx to be sure that your school qualifies.

Relevant Coursework, Licensures and Certifications Box

Include this information if it is relevant to the position or if it helps to

demonstrate your skills, competencies, and/or accomplishments. The

Relevant Coursework field allows up to 2,000 characters, and the live

counter below the box helps you see how many characters you have used.

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http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx

http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx



If you have attended more than one educational institution, you can click

on the “Add Education” button and provide the additional information for

each subsequent educational institution. Start with the most recent and

work backward. Be sure to include high school. It is required to be listed on

a Federal résumé.

FAQ: Do I need to submit my GPA? I did not do very well in col-lege, but I graduated, and have held highly responsible positions throughout my career, isn’t that good enough?Answer: Yes, you need to submit your GPA, and you will also need to

submit an official transcript at some point in the hiring process.

The GPA is used in the hiring process, but it is not the only factor in

deciding the candidate pool to submit to the hiring official. Focus on

your strengths in the “selling sections” that demonstrate your value and

throughout your résumé.

Do not leave off the GPA. Order your transcripts early. It can take up to six

weeks to receive your transcripts. Some agencies will allow you to scan

and upload the transcript into the online Resume Builder.

FAQ: I’m not quite done with my degree. How can I show that?Answer: There is a field for semester/quarter credits complete. This will

tell the recruiter how many credits you have completed, but in the text

box field, you can write an expected completion date, or an explanation of

the reason the degree is incomplete. I recommend that you do not leave it

blank, even if you have completed your degree. It helps give them timeline

of your activities.

FAQ: Do I need an official transcript by the time I apply for the position? I do not think I can obtain one that quickly.Answer: It depends on what is stated in the announcement. Check the

“How to Apply” section on the announcement to be sure. Generally, if

transcripts are required at the time of submission, you can submit an

unofficial copy of your transcripts, but you will eventually need to submit

the official transcripts. It is a good idea to request your transcripts as soon

as possible as they can take up to six weeks to obtain.

When you use education to qualify for a position, Federal agencies will

normally ask you to provide a transcript, either when you apply or if you

are selected. By fully completing all of the fields in this section, you help

ensure that you receive appropriate credit for your academic credentials.

If you have no degree, but have completed post-secondary courses, you

should provide that information.

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Job Related Training“Job Related Training” is an optional section. If you do not have any relevant Job

Related Training, you can leave this section blank. If you have any training that might be

considered relevant, include the title and completion date.

For example:

Microsoft Office. January 2010.

Electronics Surveillance. May 2009.

Sexual Harassment Training. June 2009.

There is no need to provide a full explanation of the course description, although you are allowed 5,000 characters.

FAQ: How many training courses should I list? Answer: List only the training relevant to the position, training that adds value.

References“References” is an optional section. However, it is a good idea to include at least

three references. Be sure to complete the minimum required fields designated with a

red asterisk. It is helpful to complete each field to assist in the background investigation.

As stated earlier in the Resume Builder, if you choose “confidential,” this

information will not be visible to recruiters performing résumé searches. Do not list

personal addresses in the fields of your references. Be sure to notify your references

that you have included them on your Federal résumé. For privacy reasons, you should

ask them for their contact information that they would like listed on your résumé.

Additional Language SkillsAdditional Language Skills is an optional section. In this section, you have an opportunity to list your language skills. Even if you speak only one

language, it is best to include it here. You can list all the languages and the extent to which you speak, write, and read the language.

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FAQ: Do I need to complete this section if English is my native language?Answer: Yes. If you leave this section blank, anyone who sees it may be unsure what language you speak, read, or write since they have not met you. If

English is your native language, specify that you understand English, and be sure to include your level of spoken, written, and reading skills. Affiliations

“Affiliations” is an optional section. If you have professional affiliations, be sure to

include both the Organization Name and your Role. For example:

St. Louis Police Association.

Member.

Professional Publications“Professional Publications” is an optional section. In this section, enter any

professional publications you have written. You can have up to 5,000 characters for

this field. I recommend that you list your publications as follows:

Name of article. Name of publication. Where/who published it, or the purpose. Month,

Year.

Additional Information“Additional Information” is an optional field. Take advantage of this section to

demonstrate your value to the hiring manager! This can be the section that contains

the information that sets you apart! In my 20+ years of experience writing Federal

résumés, this is the section I see misused most often by Federal job seekers. Most of

the time, it is blank, or contains irrelevant, personal, or discriminating information.

The character limit is 20,000 – plenty of space to list qualifications, core competencies,

leadership activities, accomplishments, honors, skills, awards, computer knowledge,

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software knowledge, and other information relevant to the position that demonstrate your expertise, skills, and abilities. Propose your value to the employer!

FAQ: Can I just upload my Word résumé (.doc/.docx) into this section?Answer: No. You must complete all sections of the Resume Builder according to the specifications in order to be considered. However, I recommend that

you copy and paste the qualifications and core competencies, or the other ”selling” sections of your traditional résumé rather than leaving it blank. Also, be

sure to list only professional, non-discriminating activities and information in this section. Avoid mentioning religion and politics and other sensitive issues.

When you create your account on USAJOBS, there is an option to upload additional documents, such as the SF-50, DD-214, transcripts, and others. There

is also a statement that you can upload your résumé in that field. Please note: if you upload your résumé, in that section, it is NOT searchable by recruiters. Only the USAJOBS résumé is searchable.

Availability“Availability” is an optional section. However, I encourage you to check each box

appropriate for you to provide the recruiter with more information on the type of position

you are seeking.

However, check only all that apply regarding the type of work you are willing to consider.

You will also need to define the work schedule you are willing to consider.

Looking For A Specific Work Environment“Looking for a Specific Work Environment” is an optional section. This section

will provide recruiters with additional detail on the type of position you are seeking.

Checking options in this section will not exclude your résumé from consideration. You

can check more than one option.

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Desired LocationsYou will have an opportunity to define the desired location in which you wish

to work if the announcement states options. You can choose the state where

you would like to work, then the location, as well as regional locations.

Select the locations you want, and add them to the box on the right by clicking

on the “ADD” button.

Make Searchable or Save for LaterAt this point, you can make your résumé searchable, or save it for later and come back to proofread, then choose “make searchable.” If you click on the

“Activate Resume” button, you will allow recruiters to find your résumé during their résumé searches, and you will be able to apply to job announcements.

If you need to obtain more information to add to the résumé later, be sure to click on the “Save for Later” button and follow the prompts.

If you change your mind after “Activating” your résumé, you will be able to make it unsearchable by clicking on the “Make Not Searchable” link on the résumé’s “Status.” Keep your résumé not searchable until you are sure it is ready and contains

all the required information. Make it searchable when you are ready to be found by recruiters and apply to job announcements.

Adding DocumentsUSAJOBS allows you to upload five attachments along with your résumé such as the DD-214, SF-15, SF-50,

OF-306, college transcripts or other types of documents.

Click on the “Saved Documents” link on your USAJOBS “My Account – Main Page” to access the page

which allows you to add attachments to your résumé.

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What Now?Use this résumé to apply for as many announcements as possible that match up with the qualifications outlined on your résumé. Remember, if you apply to

an announcement with a different job title, it will have different requirements, so you will need to use a different version of your résumé (see below).

Job Search Time-Saving Tips

Duplicating Your Résumé in the Resume Builder

After you create one résumé and customize it to align with one job announcement, you can use that

résumé to apply to positions with the same job title. You can then use the “duplicate” feature to

duplicate the résumé, and rename it.

Be sure to modify the new duplicate résumé to refocus the Additional Information section and any

other sections appropriately to apply for a different job announcement with a different job title.

Be sure to separately name each résumé you create in USAJOBS so you can keep them organized, and

use the appropriate résumé for the proper announcement. For example:

Program Analyst Résumé 4-15-2010

Accounting Résumé 4-20-2010

Contract Specialist Résumé 4-30-2010

Keep Good Records

It is a good idea to print a copy of your USAJOBS résumé as well as copy and paste it into a Word document (or other word processing program) just in case

something should happen to it on the USAJOBS server.

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It is also a good idea to keep a copy of the entire announcement. The best

way to do this, so you can view it after the announcement closes, is to click

on “Print Preview,” then press Control+A, then Control+C (to copy), then

open up a Word file, and paste it into the document by pressing Control+V.

Then be sure to save the file the same name as the announcement number

and date so you can easily find it.

Saved Search (formerly Job Search Agent)

Be sure to set up the Saved Search using keywords from the announce-

ment, your skills, qualifications, competencies, knowledge, education,

desired salary, and location. When you set up a Saved Search, you will

receive an email as soon as there is an announcement that matches your

search criteria. This feature alone will save you hours of time in manually

searching through thousands of job announcements. You can set up 10

different Saved Searches.

Another feature to save you time and further automate your job search, is

to set up your Saved Searches by Series. To do this, follow these steps:

Notification Alerts / Application StatusNotification Alerts allow you to stay informed of changes to your application

status. You can choose to be notified of a job that you have applied to that

has closed, status of an application you have submitted changes to, and

status of documents you have uploaded.

If you did not apply to the job announcement with your USAJOBS résumé

through the “Apply Online” button, you may not have successfully applied

and your application cannot be tracked. When you click on “Apply Online,”

some announcements redirect you to a specific agency Website. In that

case, it is not possible to track applications in your USAJOBS account

when they have been submitted through an agency’s application website or

through the mail. You can contact the agency that posted the announcement

to verify receipt of your application. Each record will be deleted 18 months

after the Initial Application Date.

�. Log in to “My Account.”

2. Select “Saved Searches” from the drop down menu.

3. Select “Create a new saved search” on the left side of screen.

4. On the “Create a new saved search” page, you can select one or up

to 10 series titles from the “Occupational Series” window. Finish

answering the other items on the page, then I recommend you save the

name of this Saved Search as “Search by Series.”

20



About Job-Hunt.org Job-Hunt.org is a free “employment portal” Website which links to nearly 14,000 employers, associations, and job search and career resources. Advice from

various job search experts is also provided, including everything from protecting your privacy to using Craigslist, LinkedIn, and Twitter in your job search.

Assisting job seekers since 1995, Job-Hunt has won much recognition for the quality of the content, and our goal is to continue to deserve that recognition.

• US News & World Report Top Site for Finding Work

• Forbes Best of the Web for Job Hunting

• PC Magazine Best of the Internet for Careers

Contact information: Website: http://www.Job-Hunt.org Email: [email protected] Twitter: Twitter.com/JobHuntOrg Office: 508-624-6261

Join Job-Hunt’s LinkedIn Group: Job-Hunt Help with Subgroups for Boomers and Beyond, Introverts, Veterans, Social Media and Job Search, and Personal

Branding. It’s free, fun, and helpful!

About Camille Carboneau Roberts Job-Hunt’s Federal Job Search Expert, Camille Carboneau Roberts, has over 20 years of successful experience providing career services,

writing, and consulting on Federal and private-sector résumés, Federal Senior Executive Service, interview coaching, salary negotiating, web

résumés/portfolios, and computer training. Camille has an excellent reputation for success in helping her clients get jobs by writing high-

quality, brand-focused Federal résumés, narratives (KSAs, ECQs, PTQs, MTQs), cover letters, thank you letters, job proposals, and social media

profiles. She is recognized for helping her clients understand, interpret, and navigate the Federal hiring process. Camille teaches several

Federal-related topics, including Getting Re$ult$ with USAJOBS.gov. The courses can be taken via weekly webinars, or at your facility.

Contact information: Website: www.ccCareerServices.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: www.Twitter.com/CamilleRoberts

Web Résumé: www.ccCareerServices/resumes/CamilleCarboneauRoberts LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/in/CamilleCarboneauRoberts

Join her new LinkedIn group: Federal Job Hunt Help and her new Facebook page and group: search CC Career Services

Camille is Job-Hunt’s “Federal Government Job Search Expert” offering advice every month on Job-Hunt.org to help job seekers succeed in their federal job search.

Camille Roberts

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