Converting your Postal 991 into a Federal Résumé

You’ve already done all the hard work – all those S.T.A.R. statements. In the federal government these are called KSAs – Knowledges, Skills and Abilities statements. Not all jobs require them, but most do. Let’s talk a little bit about what the federal government does require. 

 The government no longer requires a form. The SF-171 is outdated and not used much anymore. Instead all government agencies accepted a federally-formatted résumé.  A federally-formatted résumé contains the following compliance information:

• Your contact information

• Your social security number

• Your citizenship

• Your federal status

• Your veteran’s preference (if any)

• Your education, including high school information (name, city, state, and year of graduation)

• And for each job you must include a supervisor’s name and telephone number, hours worked per week, and your salary
   

 All of this information can be placed into a regular résumé. Using a résumé instead of the SF-171 also allows you to showcase your strengths and skills in a more powerful way.

 For example, on the form it asks for your most recent job first. Well, that might be fine for most folks, but let’s say that you are currently doing something that you don’t want to keep doing. Instead you want to go into a field that you have previously worked in. Let’s say you’re currently in an administrative position but would like to take this opportunity to go back into the finance field – work you have previously done. Rule number one of resumes is this: What people see and read about you first is what they think you are. Since you have only 7-30 seconds to get someone’s attention and get them to read your résumé, and since opinions are formed within that time frame, you do not want them determining that you are an administrative person before they see you’ve worked in the finance field.

 You want to show your financial work first, possibly under a section called RELATED WORK HISTORY. So you can customize your résumé if you create a federally-formatted résumé. You cannot if you use the old government form. In addition, you will want to create a powerful PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY at the top of your résumé. You can’t do that on the form. So, create a résumé that has all the required components and use that instead.

 Okay, so you’ve decided to transition into the federal government. The only other item missing from your 991 that you will need to work on are job accomplishments and tasks. The government will need to know what you did/do and what you have accomplished in your positions. They want job details. So think about what you do. Do not take your daily tasks for granted. Make a list of everything you do from the time you get to work until the time you leave. Think also about your accomplishments. Have you made a suggestion that was implemented? Did you suggest a better way of doing something? Have you gotten an award? What for? Have you gotten promotions? Do you have a good reputation?  All these things can be put on your new government résumé. Create bullets under each job that describe your tasks and accomplishments. Use action verbs to begin each bullet. Words like design, create, implement, spearhead, draft, read, execute, produce, perform, write, etc. Be creative and descriptive and always honest.

 With a federally-formatted résumé, you are ready to transition into any other government agency you want to work for. Your annual leave, sick leave and retirement go right with you. You’ll find a world of opportunities waiting for you.