Federal Employment Application

Which Federal Employment Application Format Should I Use?

Probably the most frequent initial question individuals planning to apply for a Federal position ask professional preparers is "Which format should I use?" The most definitive advice from the Federal government on this subject is the following statement, which appears at the top of the official form OF 612:

You may apply for most jobs with a resume, this form, or other written format. If your resume or application does not provide all the information requested on this form and in the job vacancy announcement, you may lose consideration for a job.

Let's examine each of the alternative formats commonly considered by prospective applicants.

Standard Form 171 (SF-171).  Although still promoted by some preparers who have not updated their preparation software or who are able to collect larger fees for this longer form, the form was withdrawn by the Federal government in 1994 and is no longer being printed. It is still accepted by agencies, but is not recommended by them. No valid reason exists to create a new job application using this obsolete format.

Private-Sector resume.  The OF 612 contains 18 major sections, many of which require multiple items of information. For example, in the experience section each previous position you describe requires 10 data items. An effective private sector resume does not normally include (and should not include) many of these items—your salary and supervisor's name and phone number, for example.

Even if you are successful in remembering to include all the detailed items required by the OF 612, there still exists the following major difference between a Federal application and a private resume. An effective private resume is brief—normally one to two pages. It is more a marketing piece for your abilities than a chronology of your work history.

A private resume longer than two pages is rarely read thoroughly. An effective OF 612 is generally at least four and sometimes as many as eight or more pages in length. The Federal personnel specialist is required to consider an OF 612 or Federal Resume in its entirety to establish the applicant's nominal qualifications for the position and grade being sought. 

"Federal Resume."  This term is in quotes because the phrase is not a federal government-devised term. Nowhere does the Federal government use the words "Federal Resume" as having any predefined meaning. The phrase does have the potential advantage of emphasizing the difference between an acceptable and effective Federal application format and a typical private-sector resume.

A Federal Resume is essentially an OF 612 on plain paper. Using your own resume format carries the risk of overlooking required information. Moreover, it may create a hardship on the reviewer, who is accustomed to finding data in the prescribed OF 612 locations. Most important, perhaps, is the mistaken notion among many prospective applicants that you can simply "convert" a private sector resume to a "Federal Resume."

A Federal Resume can have the benefits of offering a more compact format than the OF 612, of the opportunity to reorganize some information to emphasize it, and of   allowing a Qualifications Highlights section to be added near the begiinning.
  

Additional Tips For Federal Employment                                                                                                         By Tony Jacowski, http://www.sixsigmaonline.org

The State Department wants its employees to be "The Face Of America To The World."

Considering that the State Department's Press Meets that are being beamed across the globe live, leaving absolutely no room for mistakes, it is no wonder that Federal Jobs are some of the most sought-after in the country.

The above scenario is not exclusive just to the State Department – therefore, it is extremely important to prepare well for the Federal job selection process, should you decide to target a position with one of the many departments in the Federal Government. You should start with resume writing for the Federal selection process.

Resume Writing

Unlike the corporate world, none of your accomplishments, special skills, backgrounds will help unless they are explained in great detail and in the proper context. Here are the top tips to attract Federal Hiring Managers:

1. You cannot limit yourself to just listing your skills specifically related to the job you are applying for, if you are serious about landing a Federal Government position. Federal Employers have to deal with loads of employment applications that carry resumes resembling small booklets, and they are used to it. There is a danger of your resume getting pitched in the "C" file if it is not meticulously put together.

2. Refrain from using industry specific jargon and acronyms in your resume or anywhere in the application packet. It is difficult to understand how they will be interpreted, as they might have developed a different set of jargon specific to that agency.

3. Formatting exactly as per the agency's specifications is essential. Don't get into making special formats or graphics as this could potentially annoy recruiters. Packaging the complete application with all elements like the KSA and process standards are equal in importance.

Focus on Target Agency: Know which agencies in your skill area are continuously hiring depending on the budget available to them. These are your hot agencies.

Internships: Job directories available through public libraries list internship programs for the summer, which is usually the application deadline. Internships usually impress Federal Hiring Managers. The State Department is the front runner in employing interns.

Know More About The Procedure: The easiest way to know and understand more about the recruitment procedure is by networking with actual federal employees. You can also unearth more on the recruiter, the working style of the agency and the pros and cons of that particular federal job.

Writing KSAs: This uphill task can be overcome by following some specific approaches. These are thinking, writing one story at a time with breaks thrown in.

There are also employment agencies and resume writers that focus specifically on helping candidates apply for federal positions, including writing KSA's, which can be one of the most daunting tasks of the application process.

In general, you can count on independent resume writers, the public library, direct contacts, employment agencies - both private and government – and the internet for your main sources in applying for jobs with the Federal Government.