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10 Big Mistakes Vets Make Applying to Fed Jobs
Featured Author:
Kathryn Troutman
Kathryn Troutman, Author and president of The Resume Place, Inc. and the Certified Federal Resume Writers Team. Kathryn is also the author of the best-selling, award-winning, Ten Steps to a Federal Job, 2nd Edition, which will help you put your very best foot forward in your federal job search (eBook available now and Print edition available 1/20/09).
The Resume Place can assist you with every step of your federal job search:
• Creating your own Outline Format USAJOBS Federal Resume
• Finding vacancy announcements
• Identifying keywords
• Showcasing your accomplishments
• Using proper formatting technique
• Writing effective KSAs
• Applying online
• Interviewing
Kathryn Troutman | Federal Career Coach
Mistake 1: I only apply for jobs on USAJOBS (or CPOL or DONHR or WHS).
If you limit your search to just one agency or website, you are limiting your job search.
There are at least five major sites where you can create a profile, set up a resume builder, answer questions, and apply for a federal job:
www.usajobs.gov – the official government jobs website, includes Air Force civilian positions
www.cpol.army.mil – the website where all Army jobs are posted and where you would apply for an Army position
http://military.com/careers – a commercial site that manages,resumes and job postings for federal agencies.
www.donhr.navy.mil – the website for Navy and USMC civilian positions
www.whs.mil – Department of Defense civilian jobs are posted here and the resume builder and application is here.
The Ten Mistakes:
Mistake 1: I only apply for jobs on USAJOBS.
Mistake 2: I only apply for jobs that don’t require KSA’s.
Mistake 3: I have never written a resume, I don’t know how to get started.
Mistake 4: Sometimes, I sell myself short.
Mistake 5: My job is too unique to summarize.
Mistake 6: I’ve uploaded my resume, but heard nothing back .
Mistake 7: I didn’t tweak and edit my resume for each announcement.
Mistake 8: I have accomplishments embedded in the duties section.
Mistake 9: I didn’t realize that my five or 10 point preference really made a big difference.
Mistake 10: I can’t take personal credit for the work of my team, so what should I write?
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thanks for your sharing.now i am more confident of my interview.
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sophiaallen5
almost 3 years ago
58 comments
Very true list.I would like to list one mistake which is very common "Telling the employer what the company can do for you instead of what you can do for the company. This mistake is particularly common among new college graduates and other inexperienced job-seekers.
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Kathryn Troutman,
You list is correct on the "Ten Mistakes" people make but your #4 "sometimes I sell myself short" should be #1. Also, #5 "my job is too unique to summarize" is likely the killer of 95% of the people who apply in that they focus their resume too specifically instead of writing it broadly using specific examples. I would rather go hunting duck with a shotgun than a rifle. If you throw up enough bird shot, something will fall out of the sky.