Matthew basically wrote most of my response. Always use the USAJobs resume builder tool instead of uploading an academic-type CV, and modify it for every single job you apply, using key words plucked from the announcement skills, requirements, and experience - and use them more than once. The resume builder has some limitations in the number of characters for some fields (including work experience and some others) but there is one field named "additional experience" that has basically no limit (it is so high). That field allows you to include anything else you'd like to highlight, like relevant committees, volunteer work in scientific organizations, media presence, etc.
What I do is I have a super complete and long CV on the resume builder, and i make a copy of it and edit and name it for each position. then i delete it after a while, since you can only have something like 4 resumes in the system at a time. i haven't applied for many fed jobs, but have gotten up the ladder a couple times, including interviews, using these strategies. Astrid Caldas, PhD Science for Better Environmental Policy P: 240-4605275 I blog at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/astrid-caldas/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/acaldas http://twitter.com/climategeek >________________________________ > From: "Voisine, Matthew NAN02" <matthew.vois...@usace.army.mil> >To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU >Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 9:58 AM >Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] USA jobs: CV vs. Resume (UNCLASSIFIED) > > >Classification: UNCLASSIFIED >Caveats: NONE > >As a federal employee for 10 years, at two different agencies, and applied to >hundreds of positions I can attest that KEY WORDS ARE ESSENTIAL. Yes veterans >are given extra points and current federal employees have a better chance but >persistence is key. > >Unfortunately the initial screening process is done through a computer system >or HR person that is not necessarily familiar with the position. Therefore the >thing they look at are key words. Regurgitate the key words that are on the >job announcement. Regurgitate the key words that are on the job announcement. >Yes I said it twice. Use the form that USAJOBS provides. DO NOT UPLOAD your >own version of a CV or resume. Once you have your USAJOBS resume it is >relatively easy to apply for positions with minimal tweaking. > >The HR person then passes along the a few qualified, top scoring applicants to >the hiring supervisor to determine who will get an interview. The top scoring >applicant does not have to be the person offered the position. If you are not >on that list from HR you are out of luck however, the hiring supervisor can >always ask that a specific applicant be added to the list. If you can find out >who the hiring supervisor is and give them your CV, resume you may stand a >better chance or may just anger them because you did an end round the system. > >Matthew Voisine >Biologist >USACE- NY District >26 Federal Plaza >Room 2151 >NY, NY 10278 >917.790.8718 voice >702.271.0496 mobile >212.264.0961 fax > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Brent Bellinger [mailto:bbellinger2...@yahoo.com] >Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2013 1:24 PM >Subject: USA jobs: CV vs. Resume > >I am looking for some advice to improve my odds of getting past the initial >applicant screenings in USA Jobs. As a research scientist, I've put together a >pretty standard CV, which I've uploaded onto USA jobs and is used when >applying for research positions. I was told recently by a non-scientist (a >helicopter mechanic), the key when applying to positions through USA jobs is >to make sure your resume utilizes key words which helps it rise to the top of >the applicant list. A CV obviously does not have the depth of detail in terms >of outlining skills, abilities, knowledge, etc. that a resume usually does. >I'm wondering if I need to augment my profile and compliment my CV with a >descriptive resume to help my odds of getting an interview? Is a key-word >heavy resume a real and necessary thing in USA jobs, or have I just had bad >luck with the past few positions I've applied to (i.e., they were not good >fits with my skill set)? > >Thanks much for the insight on this matter. > > >Brent Bellinger, Ph.D. >post doctoral scientist >U.S. Environmental Protection Agency >Duluth, MN > >Classification: UNCLASSIFIED >Caveats: NONE > >
