The Difference Between Federal and Corporate Resumes (Examples) - ZipJob

The Difference Between Federal and Corporate Resumes (Examples) - ZipJob If you have been considering a career in the federal government, it’s important to understand that your job search efforts will be noticeably different than in the private sector. Obviously, you will still need a well-crafted resume to help you obtain federal employment. But make no mistake; you should not just polish off your old corporate resume and try to use it to land that federal job. There is a clear difference between federal and corporate resumes. In this post, we will explain how the two differ so that you can ensure that your resume does the job you need it to do. We also provide an example of each specialized format you can use as a guide. Federal Resumes Have Strict Format Requirements One big difference between federal and traditional resumes is that the former offer little latitude for creativity when it comes to formatting. Federal job applications demand adherence to strict formatting guidelines, while corporate resumes have some formatting flexibility. Perhaps the most striking difference, however, is in the length. While your average corporate resume should be no more than two pages in length, a federal resume is often three times that length. There are also character count requirements, expectations about the order in which information is presented, and information requirements. To add to the complexity, there is no one standard for federal job announcements. Instead, different job postings may have dramatically different formatting requirements. Suffice it to say, your corporate resume won’t provide much help in this instance. Federal Resumes Require Detailed Information Another key difference between federal and corporate resumes is in the type and amount of information you’re expected to provide. Your federal resume will need to include specific details that include your social security number, all educational details, and complete employment history. Most expect to see your college GPA and any additional training as well. If you fail to provide complete details, your federal resume could be rejected out of hand. On the other hand, if you put these details on a corporate resume, you could be rejected automatically to avoid discrimination claims. You May Need to Provide Certain Documentation For some federal jobs, it may also be necessary to provide documentation that corporate jobs would never require. For example, you may be asked to submit school transcripts, military service documents, or prior employee evaluations. As a result, there is an even greater need to ensure that everything on your federal resume is 100% accurate and honest. Some Federal Jobs Are Open Only to Certain Applicant Groups One unexpected difference between federal and corporate resumes is the preference sometimes shown to certain groups. A notable example is the preferred status that is often given to veterans. In some cases, certain federal jobs may only be open to veterans or other identified interest groups. At other times, only current employees of the United States government are eligible for the positions. When you create your resume, it is critical to know about such requirements. Federal Jobs Have Strict Application Procedures Federal vacancy announcements include instructions for applying for open positions. While this is often true with corporate jobs as well, it is vital that you follow the federal instructions to the letter. That’s another big difference between federal and corporate resumes that you cannot afford to overlook. If you fail to properly follow those directions and deadlines, your application will almost certainly be ignored. You Must Meet All Criteria to Be Hired The job notice will include specific criteria that must be met. Now, in the corporate world, you can often get around certain requirements by citing equivalent experience or similar qualifications. With a federal job, however, you typically need to meet all those criteria if you want to get hired. That means that you need to pay careful attention to the qualifications and ensure that your resume properly conveys that information. How to Manage the Difference Between Federal and Corporate Resumes As you might expect, it is no easy task to create a resume that meets all these highly-specific requirements. However, that doesn’t mean that you should simply create a standard resume and hope for the best. There are ways to increase your odds of meeting those requirements, and it all starts with the vacancy announcement. If this were a corporate resume, you would tailor it to fit the qualifications cited in the job posting. The good news is that you can do much the same thing with your federal resume. You should rely on that vacancy announcement to provide guidelines for customizing your resume. Pay attention to the language used to describe the needed qualifications and try to use those terms in the appropriate sections of your federal resume. Federal Resume Example: Civilian Resume Example: Summary Federal resumes have some very specific requirements you must address in each job application you submit.The fact is that it can be difficult to get a handle on the difference between federal and corporate resumes. For most job seekers, those differences can be frustrating and confusing. You can spare yourself that frustration by relying on a professional resume writing team to help you craft the federal resume you need. That approach is often the most effective way to ensure that your federal resume maximizes your chances of landing the government job you’re seeking.