There is a world of difference between a federal resume and a private sector resume. Our team of experts is well-versed in both. We have helped thousands of clients land interviews in both realms and I am here to shed some light on the confusion.
With the vastly changing landscape of federal employment, we are helping several clients to transition to the private sector by creating a corporate resume. We know that right now the federal workforce is experiencing layoffs and encouragement to resign. I want to create some clarity and help jobseekers understand the difference between the two resumes.
First understand the different Hiring Processes in the Private and Federal Sectors
To understand how the resumes are different it is important to first understand how the processes are different and the purpose of each resume.
Federal Hiring Process and Resume – Most federal agencies use software only for administering questionnaires and sorting client applications. Federal agencies typically don’t use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). An HR representative typically reads a resume to ensure it matches up with the qualifications on the application questionnaire. Your resume is used to assess whether you are a strong match. A strong match is a candidate who possess and identifies as an expert performing all or most of the qualifications listed in the job posting.
Corporate Hiring Process – The vast majority of companies in the private sector use ATS. Your resume is scanned and scored on how well you match up to the job posting. This first determined by the software by how many times you use the indicated keywords in your resume. A score is assigned and if the score is within the correct range an HR representative or recruiter reviews your resume. A score that is too high indicates you probably cut and pasted your resume together. A score that is too low indicates that you don’t have the qualifications they are looking for.
The Difference Between a Federal and Corporate Resume
A federal resume needs to be thorough because you need to show that you have every single qualification that the agency is looking for. You also need to indicate how many hours you worked per week. It is required that you include a supervisor name and phone number for each role you work. This resume is typically reviewed by the human eye as opposed to ATS, so you want to be sure that all the qualifications are easy to see and review. A lot of jobseekers tend to use blocks of
writing instead of breaking the info down into shorter points.
A civilian resume needs to be 2 pages. If the resume is too long, it is often seen as messy or from an applicant that is uniformed. Once a resume is scanned by an ATS and lands in a human’s hands, it needs to be easy to review in a manner of seconds. An HR representative is only going to give this resume a matter of 6 to 10 seconds of their time before making a snap judgment.
A Few Dos and Don’ts for Federal and Corporate Resumes
Federal Resume
Don’t exceed five pages. It has been an ongoing trend that agencies ask for five pages or less.
Don’t skimp on the information. Be thorough when it comes to describing qualifications and accomplishments.
Don’t leave off a supervisor name and phone for each job over the past 10 years.
Do tailor your resume for each job you apply for. I can’t stress this enough. This is the easiest and best way to get referred.
Do make sure that your resume is easy to scan for key information.
Do only apply to jobs you fully qualify for. You are expected to have all the qualifications outlined in the job posting.
Do have a friend or colleague or your favorite resume look over your resume to make sure it is free of typos.
Corporate Resume
Don’t exceed two pages.
Do not turn in a one-page resume. The one-page resume is a major myth. This won’t be enough verbiage to get you to pass the ATS.
Don’t include an objective. This is very outdated.
Don’t create something generic.
Do include accomplishments with hard stats on your success.
Do include details above and beyond your qualifications. This means anything that you have done outside your job description or value you added to the workplace.
Do have a friend, colleague or your favorite resume writer review your resume to make sure it is near perfect.
The Stakes Are High
When you are a making a transition from federal to corporate jobs, consider the fact that you are in the running with anywhere from 20 to 200 other applicants. Your resume has six seconds to matter. About 10-15 of you will get interviewed and one will land the job. Make sure that you are on you’re a-game when it comes to preparing for your job search. Perfection really is the goal when it comes to creating your corporate resume.
Reach out to my team if you are ready to land several interviews. A month from now you can be in a better place if you simply take the leap and sign up for a free consultation.
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