Revise Your Resume
How do I revise my resume now that I’m looking for a job outside of the Federal Government?
​Hiring managers will typically only quickly look through a resume before deciding whether to look more closely at a candidate. Resumes therefore need to be short (1-2 pages) with a focus on quantifiable achievements written in standard industry terminology that stands out to a hiring manager - not government jargon.
Two differences stand out when you compare government and non-government resumes:
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Simplify language: Replace government-specific terms, such as occupational series numbers, processes and programs, with industry-relevant equivalents. Consider what a hiring manager may need to know to understand how your experience translates to their specific needs and communicate that in plain English. For example, if part of your work was to represent your agency at Inter-agency Policy Committees (IPCs), instead point to your work influencing stakeholders / decision-makers / policy-makers across sectors.
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Condense details: Federal resumes often require extensive detail to respond to equally detailed position descriptions. They are often written in complete sentences and are expected to include all of the experience that would enable you to meet minimum qualifications so that your application will be passed to the hiring manager, and numerous qualifiers that hopefully allow you to be hired at a specific GS-level. Outside government, keeping language concise, focusing on key (and quantifiable) accomplishments is essential. You should be able to quickly skim your resume and immediately pick out the most essential details. Instead of writing sentences, start with a strong verb, and include only the experiences that are relevant to the job. Too much information is more likely to lead a hiring manager to overlook your resume then read it closely to find the hidden gems that make you a competitive applicant.
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Not specific to federal resumes per se, the most two important pieces of advice on impactful resumes are:
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Write for the job description: Tailor every point in your resume for the job you are applying to. This is where culling unrelated experiences and really drilling into the key skills and responsibilities in the position description is essential. Remember, your resume is your value proposition to the hiring manager.
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Focus on quantifiable results: Covey your experience in the bullet points under each job entry to tell the reviewer how you have applied your skills to achieve a result. The Muse has 40+ tips on writing a great resume (recommended reading), including a terrific way to think about these bullet points:
Start with a strong action verb, include relevant skills from the job description, and frame your bullets around your achievements—don’t just list your job duties. Tell them how your work benefitted your boss or company so they know what they stand to gain by hiring you.
Here’s a simple formula to follow:
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Compelling verb + job duty + key skills used = tangible result
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Make it ATS compatible: Finally, most large organizations use ATS software to be able to review resumes and forward the most relevant applications to hiring managers. Similar to how government resumes are reviewed, you'll want to include keywords (not abbreviations) from the position description, especially hard skills that appear at the top or are mentioned frequently. Although creative features in your resume can set you apart (graphics!), ensure your resume include ATS readable formats - e.g. text. Jobscan's ATS Resume Scanner allows you to scan your resume and position description to maximize ATS readability.
Resume Support
Have an updated resume you'd like to get reviewed? You can submit a request for free assistance to make sure you are effectively communicating your skills and achievements to the non-public sector.
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After you submit your request and a reviewer is identified, we will email you to request an editable version of your resume (Word, Google Doc, etc. - no PDFs please). If you already have a specific position you plan to apply to, you can include the position description with your resume.
