Tips for Crafting a Professional Resume for Government Jobs

Overall Professionalism

Government employers want you to appear professional without fail. To elicit this sense for a potential employer, start by carefully selecting your resume’s font, font size, and color scheme. Your resume should also include your contact information (phone number, e-mail address, and physical address) in the upper-left corner or at the bottom.

It is also best practice to begin your resume with a brief profile which should articulate all the ways you are uniquely qualified and talented. Ensure that the words you use to describe yourself and your experiences are industry-specific and tailored to the specific job you are applying for.

Eliminate Unnecessary Information

Your resume should be succinct, so strive for 1-2 pages in length. This means only include relevant information pertaining to each job and the skills applicable to any given industry.

Likewise, avoid including personal hobbies and other personal activities. Leave out any recommendations or references found on social media as well.

Highlight Relevant Work Experience

When selecting sample work experiences to include on your resume, it’s important to tailor them to the job and industry you are applying for. This means that if a job you listed doesn’t relate to the position you are applying for, eliminate it.

For roles that have key achievements in the following, be sure to include that direct and relevant accomplishment in your job experiences. Target this information to your overall job purpose and give authority to yourself with the additional details of what you have been able to do successfully on the job.

Summarize Your Education

Be sure to include the educational institutions and degrees you have obtained in a succinct way. For recent grads this may include an studies, internships, and experiences.

Include dates if you attended an university or post-secondary institution.

Put Actionable Steps in Place

1. Review the Job Posting

Before crafting your resume, review the job posting and its requirements carefully. Take note of the job’s qualifications and the requested skills needed for the role and compare this to your resume.

2.Highlight Your Transferable Skills

A resume for a government job should emphasize the core competencies and skills you possess that would transfer to the new role. Focus on experiences that are related to a specific job and ensure to add the necessary quantitative metrics related to those experiences.

3. Utilize a Professional Resume Writing Service.

Sometimes, the language used to craft resumes may be confusing. Professional resume writers can help you eliminate any of the confusing language found on your resume and make sure that you are properly communicating the successes you have had with past roles to pertinent organizations.

Conclusion

When you are crafting a professional resume for a government job, you must consider the requesting organization’s specific requirements. Place a lot of concentration on how the specific skills you will bring to the role will help you fill the role and make significant contributions. Highlight those accomplishments carefully and make sure that your contact information is at the top for quick access.