Writing an Effective Resume for Government Jobs

Writing an effective government resume is the first step in obtaining that government job you have been after. The purpose of the resume is to get a call back for an interview with the hiring manager. Your government resume needs to be clear and accurate.

Personal Contact Information
Begin your government resume by listing the personal facts about yourself and all of your contact information. This information should include your name, date of birth, home address, home phone number, mobile phone number and an email address. Add any government security clearances that you have obtained.

Career Objective
State the government job that you are applying for, and what your goals are for working this job. State what benefits you can bring to the job if you are hired. Here is your opportunity to grab their attention.

Education
List your education from grade school through college. List any degrees you received, with the highest listed first. Add any extra-curricular activities that you were involved in such as sports and club memberships. Highlight any activities that pertain to the government job you are applying for. Be sure to mention any special leadership training, seminars or workshops that you have attended.

Work History
List your complete work history. Start with the latest job you held. Be sure to mention the duties you performed at each job. Start with you current or most reason job. List your supervisor name and contact number for references.

Skills
Highlight the skills your possess pertaining to the government job that you are applying for. Start with the ones with regard to the posted job, and then list any additional skills.

Achievements/Awards
Outline all of the achievements and awards you have earned. Always list your highest achievements first. Include any academic, social or leadership awards.

Military Service
List any military service you performed. Indicate your highest rank, and outline the specifics of your service. Make sure to include any specialized training you received, and any service medals or other recognitions. List any security clearance that you may have received.

Volunteer Service
Adding volunteer service you may have performed is a great addition to a government resume. List the charities that you have worked with and include a contact that can be used as a reference.

Keywords
One of the most important parts of a government resume is to use the proper keywords. When your resume is reviewed, they will take about 30-40 seconds and scan your resume looking for the keywords that apply to the government job you are applying for. If they don’t see enough of these keywords, your resume will be tossed away.

Writing an effective resume for government jobs is essential to you getting the position you are applying for. Be honest, precise and remember to highlight anything that pertains to the government job you are applying for and fill it with keywords. Sending a follow up letter is a great opportunity to highlight your greatest strengths and refresh their memories.

Get more information on government resume writing at governmentresume.org.