Federal agencies employ over 7,000 SES (Senior Executive Service) employees, who draw annual salaries to the tune of US$107,550 to US$162,100, on an average. A glance at the benefits of being employed by federal agencies is enough to attract anyone who wants a secure and prosperous future. This is why the number of job applicants for each job vacancy is overwhelming.
To secure interviews for DoD civilian jobs, it is important to adapt to the KSA style of resume writing instead of the standard corporate format. For SES, there are certain Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) that an applicant needs to address in his resume. These include:
• Leading transformations
• Leading groups
• Result Orientation
• Business sense
• Building coalitions and relationships
Resume for DoD Civilian Jobs: Tips for Writing KSAs
When applying for DoD civilian jobs, remember to segregate the resume from the Knowledge Skill and Ability (KSA) section. Here are some top tips on resume writing for federal DoD civilian jobs.
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| The Pentagon is just one place you can find DoD civilian jobs. |
• Type out and organize your application and supporting documents in a numbered legible format. Specify your name and announcement number in the documents.
• It is important to inform the person reviewing your resume about all your qualities, without exaggerating. On the other hand, you might want to appear humble, but your resume should not reflect humility in the manner of not mentioning your best attributes.
• KSA response should be limited to two single-spaced, type-written pages. Avoid using shortened forms and acronyms.
• Keep in mind that the person evaluating your resume will not believe that you play an important role in your current job if he does not know how your industry or company functions.
• In order to elaborate on your qualities, it is advisable to write clear concise examples as opposed to flowery and vague descriptions of your responsibilities.
• Ensure that you have answered all the parts of the five W’s and one H tenet: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.
• Use direct and strong language as opposed to non-definitive terms to describe your capabilities when you link your skill-set to the requirements of the DoD civilian job. For example, avoid words like considerable, highly, etc.
• If possible, highlight the indicators of progress and achievement with respect to your abilities.
• Finally, get it reviewed by a peer or, if possible, by a credible authority. Following this, edit the resume and proofread it yourself.
For more information on DoD civilian jobs, products and services relating to securing such jobs, or information on other government jobs, visit Virginia-based federal research service FedJobs at www.FedJobSearchTrainer.com or contact them on (703) 914-JOBS.
