Resume & Interview Tips

Candidate Question: "How do I make mine a perfect application? What do I do and not do, for the USA Job's robot to accept my application?"

WFW Staffing Consultant Responses:

READ the entire job announcement and instructions carefully.
Ensure you have a federal resume and adjust your resume to show qualifications matching the responsibilities for the job and minimum requirements are listed. A good way to approach this is by cross referencing your federal resume to the full job announcement, ensuring you tackle each section to greater your chances of passing through the first computer screening. USA Jobs uses an initial screening system to match at least 75% of the work duties/ requirements to your resume.
It is recommended to utilize the resume template USA Jobs provides to ensure all the required segments are listed as this is an easy way to get disqualified.
Pay close attention to the required documents and complete the veteran’s preference forms accurately. Make sure to turn in a complete application and always consider submitting a cover letter that specifies your skills and achievements pertaining to the job you are applying for.
Lastly, always consult with a Work For Warriors VSC to review your application and resume.

Why make your federal resume and profile searchable?

When HR federal recruiters and HR specialists look for candidates for positions they posted. They use the Agency Talent Portal (ATP) which allows them to search for candidates based on specific positions such as; Degree, Experience, specific skills, etc.
For more information in how to make your one federal resume searchable use this link

How to add a hiring authority on your resume after your email:

Important takeaway from a recruiters perspective. They only view the resume, if the Hiring path is not listed on top of the resume. A candidate is missing out having their resume placed into the hiring path folder for further review.
Hiring managers are searching for candidates based on unique hiring authority, below is an example.

When does a federal resume meet the criteria for a position?

An HR recruiter will email the candidate and ask them if they are interested in a specific position.
Key takeaway from this, mark one resume searchable, add your hiring authority, & state clearly what technical skills & abilities you offer for a federal position you are applying for.