usa jobs resume creator

• USAJOBS Resume Builder
• Federal Resume Guide
• UsaJobs Tips

Last Updated on 02/08/2024

Before you start creating a brand new resume to apply for a federal government position, you need to choose the way to build it. You can either make use of the USAJOBS resume builder or upload your own resume. The former has a number of advantages over the latter.

First of all, by using the USAJOBS resume builder, you will create a document in a standard federal resume format. It will make searching and evaluating your resume easier for federal human resources specialists.

Second, the USAJOBS resume builder allows you to duplicate your resume, which is very helpful when you need to upgrade the document or tailor it to a specific position. Offering you to use its federal resume builder, USAJOBS provide you with a professional resume writing instrument, which is worth trying out.

Table of Contents

• 1.1 1. Searching for Jobs
• 1.2 2. Tailor Your Resume for Each Specific Position
• 1.3 3. Do Not Leave Blank Fields
• 1.4 4. Proofread
• 1.5 5. Keyword Research
• 1.6 6. Consider Your Audience
• 2.1 Step-by-Step Guide on USAJOBS Resume Builder
• 2.2 Should I Use USAJOBS Resume Builder or Upload My File?
• 3 Wrapping It Up

USAJOBS Resume Builder Tips

For your resume to be searchable and efficient, take your time to learn the subtleties of the federal resume builder USAJOBS has created. We have come up with the top 4 tips that will help you avoid the common mistakes that often prevent the candidates from being recognized as qualified for the job.

1. Searching for Jobs

The USAJOBS search engine can be tough. To speed up your job searching process, use OPM Job Series. It’s one of the effective methods to find the right job in your field.

Read the announcement carefully! Before appl ying for a position, go to the Qualifications section in the vacancy announcement and preview the vacancy announcement questions.

Let’s compare a basic Qualifications list for a Marketing Assistance position : 

And more detailed Qualifications list for a Strategic Marketing Analyst position : 

As we can see, Qualifications requirements may vary depending on GS position, education, expert level skills or other specific knowledge relevant to a job announcement. So make sure to select a corresponding answer to each question prior to appl ying for a job posting. 

2. Tailor Your Resume for Each Specific Position

This is indeed a tedious task but it is totally worth the effort. USAJOBS allows the employee to have 5 resumes created and uploaded via the USAJOBS resume builder.

Tailoring your resume for each specific federal job announcement can be the key to your success.

Although having similar titles, the different job announcement will be using different keywords to describe their requirements for the candidate. Keep your resume brief, describe your work experience and education relevant to the position you apply for.

The advantage of the resume builder is that you get a consistent federal cv, which can be found by a recruiter using a keyword search. Building a resume that is perfectly in tune with the specific announcement will help your application score more points in the competition.

Information for Veterans: The Saved Documents section on USAJOBS allows to save up to 10 supporting eligibility documents as recommendation letters, cover letters or performance reports.

3. Do Not Leave Blank Fields

It is true that a resume should normally be kept brief but with the federal government resumes, it is all about the perfect balance between being concise and being informative. The technical trick about the USAJOBS resume builder tool is to use all the fields it provides.

4. Proofread

Believe it or not but such an obvious step in the resume writing process is often neglected by the applicants. Typographical errors, not to speak of grammatical and spelling mistakes, will seriously impair the impressions of the federal HR specialist even about a seemingly perfect resume.

As a practice task, you can take any USAJOBS resume builder sample and evaluate it in terms of the points described above. This will train you to be more critical and attentive when you start building your own federal resume.

5. Keyword Research

Don’t forget that there is no automated sorting out of resumes — your qualifications will be checked and analyzed by real people. Given that they read through dozens of submissions, your task is to boost your application’s informational strength. Highlight crucial keywords — place yourself in the potential reader’s shoes.

Make your USAJOBS resume format clear and precise. Although it contains long paragraphs describing your skills or job-related accomplishments, add proper keywords to fit into the target position’s frames.

The keyword research as a process should fail into these two categories:

• General — “teamwork”, “communication”, and something like “leadership” commonly have a universal appeal in making your resume get noticed among other applications. Still, it is better to see what requirements your position stays on to avoid overly general terms.
• Specific — nonetheless, industry-specific keywords will help you nail it and showcase your professionalism and expertise in the target field. When applying for a government position, enrich your resume with the right content in headers, work experience, skills, and accomplishments sections. You don’t have to allocate them evenly throughout the text — the beginning of paragraphs or resume’s new sections are quite good for the task.

6. Consider Your Audience

When working on your federal resume’s content, conduct a thorough research about the hiring agency and its standards. You can focus on the most widespread expectations and format preferences in your field and adhere to them. Following a typical resume structure and using USAJOBS resume builder without much creative customization will help you stay on the safe side.

Consider your industry of expertise. Attorneys, budget analysts, human resources specialists, and civil engineers as a few examples of federal government jobs will have their distinctive storyline formats.

How to Create a Resume with USAJOBS Resume Builder

If you do not know what to start with, read through the instructions on How To Create and Develop USAJOBS Profile . We provide all the necessary basic technicalities of the resume building process. If you have a vague idea about what to write in each section, we highly recommend examining at least one USAJOBS resume builder example to see how a well-built final document should look like. Do not forget that all the information you put in your resume should not only be up-to-date and 100% correct but also demonstrating the level of your qualification for the job to the full extent.

If you want to get the best federal employee compensation package with benefits like taking part in the FSAFEDS or long-term care and health insurance, it is crucial to raise your resume’s potential. The easiest way is to include all the crucial details in the document and choose a template that caters to the interests of several agencies in the market. That’s why using the services of the official employment website of the federal government is such a lucrative opportunity.

Step-by-Step Guide on USAJOBS Resume Builder

Let’s check the step-by-step guide on your course of action on the USAJOBS:

• Sign in or sign up. Provide your valid email address and select your language preference. You can choose from English, Spanish, and French newsletters.
• Acknowledge the platform’s terms and conditions to complete the registration.
• Check your mailbox for a confirmation letter from USAJOBS.

Once the registration is completed, confirm your account. The system will let you select the desired authentication method: security key, backup codes, voice or text message, authentication app, face or touch unlock.

Don’t leave blank fields — it will simplify your interaction with the platform. You can add hiring paths, citizenship, languages, experiences, and further details. The system lets you save up to five resumes and up to ten documents of other types (DD214, for instance).

• Open the Documents tab to be able to upload a finished and polished resume to start your job search. If not ready yet, create a custom version matching the target position’s requirements.
• Fill in the fields. Click “Add Work Experience”, “Add Education”, and “Add Reference”, enter the data, and hit the “Save” button for each section. For more detailed descriptions of your skills, you will have a field with 5000 characters available.
• To move your ready paragraphs and adjust the storyline’s order, use the web’s arrows.
• Click “Add” to provide other pieces of information, including your academic accomplishments or training. Although you have to be open about your experiences, there is a list of exceptions of what data is insufficient for a federal resume on the website: – in-depth personal information, including your religious preferences, sexual orientation, etc.; – personal photos (another difference between federal resumes versus private ones); – Social Security Number; – government and classified sensitive data (only approved files of general use). If your GPA is below 3.5, it isn’t a compulsory detail to include in your resume. Besides, make sure you double-check the qualification of educational establishments on your list — OES and NCOES military schools won’t be considered as high education institutions to apply for a federal position.
• Review the provided data and proofread the document. Once you submit the application, no further changes will be possible.
• Hit the “Finish” button to complete your resume for USAJOBS.gov.

Should I Use USAJOBS Resume Builder or Upload My File?

Both options can help you deliver top-notch resumes and prove your worth as a federal worker. Still, creating such a document from scratch requires certain skills and experiences. If it is your first time, there is nothing wrong with relying on ready-made templates from USAJOBS resume builder.

“Should I use USAJOBS resume builder?” is one of the most typical concerns of novice applicants. The key advantage of taking the most out of the website’s functions is that you minimize prospective risks.

Wrapping It Up

By taking a closer look at USAJOBS resume builder examples, it is easier to understand what format to pursue to get the best results. Follow the tips and suggestions from this guide to ensure your value as an ideal applicant in the eyes of the target hiring agency in the federal market. Make sure to customize your resume for every position with proper keywords, job-related training, and other facts that match up to its requirements. Good luck in finding the job of your dreams!

Still unsure about how to make federal resume? Read our USAJOBS Tips articles:

How long does USAJOBS take to review applications

How to delete USAJOBS account

How to fill out USAJOBS questionnaire

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USAJobs Resume Builder Preparation The Ultimate Guide

Section 1: Create a USAJobs.gov Account and Profile

Getting started.

Let's create an account on usajobs.gov and sign in.

You will need to create a login.gov account to sign into USAJobs.gov. It’s pretty simple, but you need a very strong password, so have one ready.

Set Your Credentials

Step 1: Enter your email address .

Tooltip: Don't use an unprofessional address, (like [email protected] ). If necessary, create a specific usajobs email address. Keep out span by only using it for employment purposes. ( [email protected] for example)

Step 2: You must Confirm your email address to proceed.

Step 3: Select a primary authentication method .

Tooltip: Some of these security options may be new to you. You may learn about Authentication Applications here . If you have a security key, it must support the FIDO standard. These methods are the most secure. Using any method you prefer will be acceptable.

Example: If you chose to authenticate by phone, enter a phone number . You will receive a one-time security code via text.

Step 5: Déjà vu? Go ahead and choose a backup method .

You've Created an Account with Login.gov!

Write down the email and password you used to create this account. You don't want to forget your user ID or password. You may now Sign in to usajobs.gov . It might take 5 tries and 3 password resets, so be patient!

Create Your Profile:

Important: USAJobs.gov may sign you out before you can save anything. It may be best to prepare in a Word document and paste onto the form. You don't want your session to expire before you save.

Click on “Guest” and it takes you to the Legal Name field. Use the name you would like hiring officials to see.

Remember if you use nicknames, they will be visible to others. I prefer full first name (formal) middle name, full last name.

Enter your full address . Use official abbreviation of street codes (ST, AV, DR). Enter the Zip code, city and state (state from drop down).

You may enter up to 2 phone numbers.

Be sure to enter your cell phone number if you have one. Hiring officials don't want to speak to a family member. Cell phones eliminate the problem.

Click on “Save Contact Information” to go to the next step.

Citizenship

Answer the citizenship question.

Click “Registered” or the correct exempt choice. Since January 1, 1960, many register for selective service in 11th grade.

Click “Save Citizenship” to continue.

Hiring paths

This information narrows down job searches that apply to you. Click on all that pertain to you.

IMPORTANT: Veterans receive 5 to 10 extra eligibility rating points. This will help you be placed at the top of the list. Include your DD-214 with your application package.

List your federal, military, and professional experience here. Make your profile searchable. Agencies can find you based on your experience.

Do you have Federal experience? Enter the type and Series and the highest grade achieved . Then enter the pay scale and your federal occupation (title).

Create a Biography by listing the federal jobs you had.

Federal Service: US Department of Commerce, US Census Bureau. 1998-2000 ACE Team Supervisor, Philadelphia 2005-2008 Field Representative/Senior Field Representative Los Angeles Regional Office 2008-2011 Regional Technician/Area Manager Census 2000, Los Angeles Regional Census Center 2014-2015 Government Contractor/Sabre Systems/Technical Writer

You don’t need to go into detail at this time. When you enter work experience, you have space to enter duties, skills, etc.

At this point they signed me out. I had to sign in again and re-enter the Biography. Good thing I saved it!

Military Service – Have you served in the US Military? Claim Veteran's Preference. This is very important. Veterans receive 5 to 10 extra points on your eligibility rating.

Veterans may be placed at the top of the list. Be sure to include your DD-214 with your application package. Aslo, Have your D-214 ready to answer the questions in this section. Skip to Demographics – Answer or decline by clicking the first box.

Section 2: Build Your USAJobs.gov Federal Job Search

Here is what you do to find a list of federal government jobs:.

Tooltip: Use your USA Jobs login or create your usajobs.gov account if you'd like to save your job search later! For step-by-step guidance, see the "Create Your USAJobs.gov Account and profile" section above.

Before you start looking at USAJobs resume examples, let's find your first list of government jobs. You will use www.usajobs.gov for your Federal government job search.

USAJobs.gov provides a complete list of Federal Government Jobs (Vacancies). We recommend this resource for finding a federal job.

Build Your First Federal Job Search

• Go to www.usajobs.gov on your desktop
• If you do not see a search bar, click the "Search" icon (top right)
• Enter a Location
• Click the blue "search" button next to the search bar to submit

You've completed your first Federal Job Search. Great job!

Look through your search results. You will see Vacancies available in the location you entered. Many of these vacancies may be outside of your career path.

Next, let's filter out the jobs you don't fit.

How to Filter Your Federal Job Search:

Filter by location.

First, let's set how far we are willing to travel within this location. The default is 25 miles.

When I used the 25 mile radius, it returned 44 Results. When I expanded to a 60 mile radius, I had 579 results! That's a huge difference.

Setting A Travel Radius

Tooltip: You can enter multiple locations and click search again. This is helpful if there are multiple places you are willing to work.

• Click “More Filters" .
• Use the slider to set the distance you are willing to travel .

The "More Filters" section

Look under “More Filters”. You will also find limits like Work Schedule, Appointment Type, and more. I do not find these filters necessary.

Additional Resources: Here is the Official Documentation for filtering results by: Location , Work Schedule , Appointment type , Security Clearance , and Travel Percentage .

How to Use "Top Filters" to gain an edge:

Tooltip: Current/former Federal Employee can leave filters unchecked. This will maximize your result options.

Top filters give you access to vacancies exclusive to certain groups. These vacancies may have less competition.

I only use these filters to add vacancies to your list of results. Try not to limit yourself to only one filter.

• Click "Top Filters"
• Click "Open to the Public"
• Click each additional filter for which you are eligible.

Filtering by Pay

Before you filter by pay, remember that what's important is getting in.

Changing Jobs within the Federal Government is Easy.

Have you served 90+ days after competitive appointment as a Federal employee? You may typically apply to ANY "status" position.

That means you get more opportunities with much less competition, so you can move up or move around very quickly. I recommend non-federal employees apply to EVERY relevant job. If qualified, just get in somewhere and figure it out from inside.

Use Pay Filters to Match Your Work Experience

If you have no Federal Experience:

Tooltip: Want to find the positions for which you most likely to be qualify? Start with the highest salary you've earned. Subtract 10-15k for your minimum salary. Add 10-15k for your maximum salary.

• Scroll down to "Pay"
• Click the radio button next to "Salary"
• Click the $ amount next to "Min" to type a minimum salary
• Submit using the "Enter" key
• Click the $ amount next to "Max" to type a maximum salary

If you have Federal Experience:

Tooltip: Even Federal employees should apply to every grade level. Look at the the 2021 Pay Schedule . A step-10 for one grade level may pay more than the step-1 of a higher grade level!

• Click "grade"
• Click to add each grade level for which you qualify

How to Filter Jobs by Keywords

Non-veterans.

Non-veterans might have a better chance using "Direct Hire" as a keyword. These jobs are critical to fill.

Many direct-hire jobs do not offer Veterans preference. This may level the playing field for you.

Student or Recent Graduate

You might have a better chance if you use "Pathways" as a keyword. These vacancies may value education over experience. Pathways are often excellent entry level government jobs.

• Under “Keywords” in the search bar, enter your interests .
• Click Search

Example: Do you want to work for a specific agency? If you like the Census Bureau, enter "Census Bureau". If you have IT experience, enter "IT Experience". I entered “Manager” and it returned 124 jobs. I would look at each one to see if I qualify.

Nice work! Now you have a well filtered job search.

Look at the job titles and save all that match your qualifications.

Is this your first time working for the government? Pay particular attention to any "assistant" position. These jobs are usually entry level. Many do not even require a degree or experience in that field. Be sure to save every job that has "Assistant" in the title. You face less cometition moving up to a higher grade level from inside.

Saving Searches

How to create a saved search.

Tooltip: To create "Saved Searches", You'll need to Create an account first and log in.

With saved searches, any time new jobs become available, you will receive an email. This ensures you are always up-to-date on new opportunities.

• Click on the “save search bookmark.”
• Name the search (Keyword and Date)
• Select how frequently you want to be notified
• Select how the jobs should be sorted (I like to sort by job title)

Final Thoughts on Job Searches

You can create up to 10 Saved Searches. They will appear on your usajobs.gov dashboard.

Once you have saved the jobs to your dashboard, you can determine which ones fit you. You are allowed to save up to 25 job vacancies. Don’t forget to delete the one’s you don’t want.

Section 3: Understand Your Vacancy

Tooltip: Read "Build Your Federal Job Search" to select a vacancy.

Why is the vacancy important?

Ready to learn the secret that every USAJobs Resume Builder tutorial leaves out? The Vacancy Announcement has what you need to customize your resume. The trick is to understand what they want, give it to them, and back it up.

Where to Start

Use the job search tool on www.usajobs.gov to find your vacancy announcements. Simply cut and paste, and edit every part that applies. This will satisfy the job requirements to get through the initial screening.

Open a vacancy announcement on the www.usajobs.gov website. You'll find a lot of information you need to review. This is how to find out about the job that is being offered.

How do I use the Vacancy?

First, you translate a vacancy announcement into understandable terms. This helps you decide if you are even qualified for the job. Then, later, you can review for additional information about the job.

How do I read the vacancy?

Government terminology can be complicated and hard to understand. They also use acronyms that may not be familiar to you.

There is a secret to understanding government Human Resource Specialists. Break every sentence down comma to comma . The sentences can be long and complicated. They take 30 extra words to make a point.

Look specifically for what you need be qualified for the job .

Finding The Qualifications

Start out by looking for 4 main headings :

• Proficiency Requirement
• Qualifying Experience
• Specialized Experience
• KSA's (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

Look for these headings in the announcement. You need to determine if you have that experience and meet those requirements . Often, this information is listed by Grade Level.

Here are the salary equivalents for each grade level .

Let's review the qualifications and evaluations of a vacancy. I am going to highlight the specific qualifications needed for the job. I have added notes next to any that need "translation".

Follow an Example Vacancy

Qualifications required:.

GS-5: You qualify at the GS-5 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level in the Federal government, which has equipped you with the skills needed to perform successfully the duties of the position.

• Entering information into a computer system ;
• Answering routine questions from other employees ;
• Distributing information to appropriate personnel .

GS-6: You qualify at the GS-6 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience , equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level in the Federal government, which has equipped you with the skills needed to perform successfully the duties of the position.

• Assisting analysts with interpreting and analyzing data . (Helping a supervisor compare information with expected results.)
• Assisting in the performance of ongoing reviews of documentation and verification of status . (Helping a Supervisor make sure documents are complete and accurate.)
• Assisting in the development of methodologies and plans for system utilization activities . (Helping plan and use tools and manuals to achieve results.)
• Assisting in compilation of statistical information from automated resources to be used in past, current and future evaluations of data quality . (Helping a Supervisor use programs like Excel to compare information.)

GS-7: You qualify at the GS-7 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level in the Federal government, which has equipped you with the skills necessary to perform successfully the duties of the position.

• Interpreting and analyzing data. (Comparing incoming information against what is expected)
• Performing on-going reviews of documentation and verification of status . (Reading documents and making sure they are complete and accurate)
• Developing methodologies and plans for system utilization activities with analysts . (Helping to plan and use tools and manuals to achieve results.)
• Compiling statistical information from automated resources to be used in past, current and future evaluations of data quality . (Using Microsoft Excel or other programs. Comparing information so that others can decide if the quality of the data meets the requirements.)

EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION:

GS-5: You may substitute 4 years of education above high school for the experience required at the GS-5 level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university.

One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school.

Appropriate combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience also may be used to meet the total qualification requirements for the GS-5 grade level.

All requirements for this position must be met by 11:59pm (Eastern Time) on the closing date of this announcement (Wednesday, June 01, 2015).

You qualify for this position at the Grade 5 level if you have a Bachelors degree. You may also combine education and experience to meet the requirements.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your application packet.

You will be evaluated for this position based on your resume. Your resume must support your responses. This includes job specific assessment questions. Include level of education claimed, experience, and training.

To be considered for this position, be sure your resume is compliant. Your resume must be submitted as part of your on-line application.

You must completing the online assessment questions. You must also upload your resume with any required supporting documents.

How to know if you are qualified

Review the "Finding the Qualifications" Section. Highlight the qualifications required to apply for the position. Next, you can decide if you have those qualifications.

Look at the highlighted items , one by one, and ask yourself, "have I done this?" .

Do you meet all qualifications under one grade level? This qualifies you at the next higher grade level. Can you answer yes to each of the requirements for Grade 4? You are qualified for Grade 5. Can you answer yes to each of the requirements for Grade 5? You are qualified for Grade 7, etc.

Pay attention to the closing date! At 11:59 PM (Midnight) Eastern Time (9PM Pacific Time) the job will close. After this, your application package will not be accepted. In fact, the job will no longer appear on the screen.

If you are qualified for the position, you will click on "Save Job." Once the job is saved, you can go back to your USAJobs.gov account page. Click on "Saved Jobs" when you are ready to apply for the job.

Section 4: USAJobs Resume Builder process

Federal resume guide.

IMPORTANT: Your resume must make it through the federal screening process. Do not apply to Federal Jobs with a non-compliant resume.

What is a Basic Federal Resume?

Your basic resume is a starting point. You will use it as a foundation for all of your job applications. Remember, only qualified applications will pass the screening. You may use the USAJobs resume builder or upload a customized resume in the official USA Jobs resume format.

You can use the USAJobs Resume Builder to apply for a federal job. To build the basic resume yourself, continue below.

If you prefer, you can Hire a USAJobs Resume Writer [$399] from our team. Just click the button that says "Write My Resume".

As a shameless plug, our customized resumes are compliant with all Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Standards. They are provided in the official USAJobs resume builder format ready to be uploaded. The service include the necessary USA Jobs resume keywords and phrases specific to your vacancy. Targeting your experience to the specific vacancy gives you a huge edge and allows us to confidently offer our 100% money-back guarantee .

Thank you for your interest and patience.

Get started with the USAJobs Resume Builder

Tooltip: If at any time you have questions, email me at [email protected] . I will be happy to try to clarify.

Go directly to Documents and click on “Upload or Build Resume” . Select “Build Resume.” Your profile information should carry over.

Experience does not carry over. There is no need to enter experience twice. Enter it only in the USAJobs Resume Builder. Do you already have a private sector resume? Keep both windows open so you can copy and paste.

Name and date the resume. Example: Basic Resume 8/2018

Work Experience

This is one of the most critical sections in your resume.

You will customize this section for each application. You may enter work experience 3 different ways.

1. Did you have only one position in a company ? Enter the company name and the position you held, most recent first.

2. Did you have several positions in the company ? Enter the company name once. Enter the dates employment began and ended . List each position in reverse chronological order (most recent first).

Include the dates you held each job within the narrative. This gives the hiring official the details of your term with the employer. It also lets them know that you were promoted.

3. Did you do freelance, consulting or volunteer work? Did you have gaps in your employment? You will enter it differently. In the "Company" field, enter the type of work you did.

(example: Administrative Consultant, Volunteer Work, Set Designer) .

In the field for "position", enter the company you worked for and the dates . These dates do not have to be chronological. Perhaps you had several consulting jobs at the same time.

Here is an example of the how to enter three different types of work history into the USAJobs Resume Builder:

Adelphia Cable Positions Held: Title: Metro Area Sales Manager From: 08/2000 To: 03/2002 Salary: $90,000/year Supervisor: Phone Number

Work History Example 2:

US Census Bureau Positions Held: Title: Area Manager Then, in the narrative, enter: Title: Area Manager From: 09/09 To: Present Salary: $65,000/year Title: Regional Technician From: 03/08 To: 09/09 Salary: Grade 12 Title: Senior Field Representative From: 02/2006 To: 03/2008 Salary: Grade 6 Title: Field Representative From: 01/2005 To: 02/2006 Salary: Grade 5 Title: Team Supervisor From: 10/1998 To: 05/2000 Salary: Grade 12 Supervisor: Assistant Regional Census Manager Phone Number

Work History Example 3:

Self-Employed Positions Held: Title: Truly Unique Web Administrative Consultant From: 3/2002 To: 3/2004 Salary: Volunteer Title: Benefits Plus Administrative Consultant From: 03/2002 To: 03/2006 Salary: Commission Title: Say Cheese Photography Administrative Consultant From: 03/2004 To: 03/2006 Salary: Commission Supervisor: Phone Number

Things To Keep in Mind

Have the addresses of your employers ready to enter . Did you work from more than one place? Enter the mailing address of the company , or the most recent address.

if you are still employed select “present” as the end date for that company.

When you enter the salary information, use "$" and commas . Enter the annual rate if possible (ex: $40,000/year – do not abbreviate.)

Duties, accomplishments, and related skills

Important: You will need to customize this section. This targets your experienc to each vacancy announcement you select.

At this time you can briefly enter duties, accomplishments, and related skills . You will add to this section later to customize it. Don't write a book .

You may enter your highest salary here. Label it as yearly, monthly, or hourly under salary rate. This tells hiring managers the grade level for which you will qualify.

Average hours per week

Enter your average weekly hours worked.

May we contact your supervisor

If at all possible, answer yes . You will be prompted to enter the supervisor name and phone # .

Is this a federal Civilian position

If you have not worked fro the government, enter no . Otherwise, enter yes. Select the Department & Agency, Series, Pay Scale and Grade Level . Also, you can select the Employment Type .

Save your work experience!

Then click on “Add work experience” to add the next job you held . Continue until you have listed your work history to the year 2000. Enter jobs in reverse chronological order. Include all military experience, even prior to year 2000.

Educational History

It is usually optional to enter your education. Check if the vacancy requires a specific educational level. Enter your degrees , most recent first.

Example: Doctorate; Masters; Bachelors; Associates; High School. Enter certifications, licenses, additional coursework. Click on “Save Education" for additional fields.

You will be asked to list name, phone number, Email. Select a reference type (professional or personal). Include the employer and the title of the reference.

Job Related Training

List the titles and completion dates of training courses you have attended. List certificates you have earned.

If you are bilingual , answer these questions . It is always helpful to speak more than one language. It is a requirement for some jobs.

Organizations and Affiliations

List any professional organizations to which you belong.

Professional Publications

Enter any professional publications in the space provided.

Additional Information

This section of the USAJobs Resume Builder will be customized for each job application. This is where you will add:

Specialized Experience required in the job announcement.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities required in the job announcement.

Any continuation of work experience.

Anything else you haven’t entered but want them to see.

Congratulations! You have a basic federal resume.

At this point you are ready to start looking for a government job!

Writing a Federal Resume

Is your resume one page? That’s fine for a private sector job. Your government resume, however, will need to have more detail, and it’s likely to grow to about two to five pages.

Key Components of a Federal Resume

The best way to create a federal resume is to use the resume builder on the federal government’s jobs website, USAJOBS. The resume builder will guide you through the whole process. And you don’t have to stick with one. You can create a resume tailored to fit different positions you apply for. You can also create a searchable, master resume, so HR specialists can contact you if there’s an opportunity that fits your skills and experience.

Building a Federal Resume

Candidate Information A federal resume will ask your citizenship status and most, but not all, positions require you to be a U.S. citizen. You’re also asked if you’ve worked for the federal government before and if you qualify for veterans preference —that is, you’ve served on active duty in the Armed Forces.

Work experience Your resume should list all the relevant jobs you’ve held.

Required : Employer, location, title, start and end date, average hours worked per week, responsibilities and accomplishments for each job you list.

Optional : A supervisor(s) as a reference and salary, although not listing salary doesn’t exclude resumes from consideration.

Education Include information on the schools you attended and the relevant coursework you completed. Only list degrees from accredited schools, or programs that meet the Office of Personnel Management’s standards . Provide as much information as possible to support your case that you’re the best person for the job.

Required : Schools attended and degrees obtained.

Optional : Grade-point averages, relevant coursework, academic papers or projects, key presentations, honors received, other important accomplishments.

Optional Information

For the best shot at a position, provide as much pertinent information as possible in optional sections, including:

Job–related training 

This could include classes, seminars, coursework, certifications or training that relates to the skills and experience the position requires.

References 

Consider listing professional or personal references who can vouch for your character, work ethic and dependability—such as colleagues, classmates and mentors.

Language skills 

Include the languages you have experience in, and your level of proficiency.

Affiliations 

Use this to list professional associations, societies, clubs or other organizations you belong to and to highlight leadership roles and volunteer experiences you’ve had that relate to the position description.

Professional publications

If you’ve been published, include the outlets you’ve contributed to, the publication names and the date your submissions were published.

Additional information 

You can add other relevant information, including awards, leadership activities, public speaking engagements or volunteer experience. You can also add your availability, the type of work environment you seek and your desired location. Even if your interests and desires don’t match the position’s needs, your resume will stay in the running.

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

How to complete any task on USAJOBS, step by step.

Manage Account

• Create a login.gov account
• Use login.gov if you have limited access to a phone or cell service
• Change the phone number you use to sign in
• Enter an international phone number when creating a login.gov account
• Update your primary email address
• Change or reset your password
• Sign into your account if you can't access your primary email
• Create a profile
• Delete a profile
• Fill out your education
• Answer questions about federal service
• Choose hiring paths in your profile
• Add languages in your profile
• Answer questions about military service
• Fill out your work experience
• Make your resume and profile searchable

Job announcement

• Understand a job announcement
• Understand announcement closing types
• Save a job announcement
• Remove a saved job announcement
• Contact an agency

Application

• Create an application
• Save an application
• Update an application
• Continue an application
• Check on the status of an application
• Archive an application
• Cancel an application
• View job applications
• Create a resume
• Build a resume
• Edit a resume
• Upload a resume
• Make a resume searchable
• Print a resume
• Upload documents
• Manage documents
• Fax documents
• Search by your preferences
• Save a search
• Sort search results
• Understand search results
• Unsubscribe from a saved search

Filter results by...

• Appointment type
• Hiring path
• Mission critical career field
• Security clearance
• Travel percentage
• Work schedule
• Zero job openings

Keyword and location

Get started.

USAJOBS posts all federal job opportunities with a position description and instructions how to apply. With USAJOBS.gov tools and resources, you can find the right federal job faster.

About USAJOBS

As the federal government's official employment site, USAJOBS has attracted over 16 million job seekers to create accounts to date.

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Quick Guide to Preparing a Resume For Federal Government Positions

Due to the volume of applications received for any given vacancy announcement within the website, your resume will most likely be processed through an electronic filtering mechanism before being reviewed by a Human Resources Specialist for a qualification determination. Your resume will also be screened according to certain preferences (e.g., Indian Preference, veterans, disability, etc.) and rated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training described on the vacancy announcement. It is essential that you tailor the experience listed on your federal resume to the specific position to which you are applying.

Once your application is rated, a quality review will be conducted by Office of Human Capital Management staff and/or a Subject Matter Expert (SME). Resumes are forwarded to the Hiring Manager for interview consideration. Once a hiring decision has been made, applicants will be notified.

Resume Writing

Before you begin, it may be helpful to compile all the information you want to include in your resume. The writing process will be much easier and faster.

It is important to thoroughly review the vacancy announcement for the position you are applying. You should tailor your resume to ensure you include the experience and skills that are required for the position.

What Should be Included in a Federal Resume?

A federal resume calls for some information that is not generally required on a standard resume for private industry positions, and not including the required information may immediately disqualify you from consideration. It is extremely important that you carefully read application instructions and include all required information. Below is an example of a resume for Federal employment:

First and Last Name Address City, State and Zip code Email address Phone Numbers

Special Hiring Authority: (Indian Preference, Veteran’s Preference or Person with Disability - Schedule A ) Federal Experience: ( Yes or No and Indicate Military, Federal or State Gov ) Security Clearance: ( Indicate what level and if it's still active ) OBJECTIVE: To obtain a full-time position in public service with ( Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs as a (Indicate the position including announcement Number if there is one )  

SKILLS SUMMARY: ( Has 3 elements: An introductory paragraph, list of skills directly related to the position, and your skills you have acquired throughout your career, that you want to highlight ) (1st Element: The introductory paragraph - Must be specific and highly detailed for each job series and position you're applying to. You need to outline all the specific skills you have that are directly related to the position you are seeking including Key Words identified in the positions description.) Focused and highly motivated management professional, with 12 + years of extensive experience in Strategic Workforce Planning , EEO , OHR and Diversity Mgt . Utilizing my background in Disability, Accommodations, Business Operations, Project Management, and Statistical Analysis to develop comprehensive programs based on the employment needs and mission of the agency. Deploying metric -based solutions and maximizing our ROI . I'm an innovative and energetic team player, relationship builder, and highly effective communicator. (2nd Element: List of skills directly related to the position and the Key Words you identified - Back up your skill summary with specific examples from you career or education. Identify specific accomplishments, length of time, highlight numerical results and awards derived from those duties and skills. This is the most critical area of the resume. You are relating an activity in your career to that of the position you are applying and showcasing your accomplishments.)

• Develop and create a Strategic Workforce Planning program to ensure were accurately utilizing all available resources. Good Example

• Expert in Equal Employment, Labor and Employee Relations assisting managers and staff in identifying and solving EEO Policy questions on Accommodations, for the past 9 yrs. Better Example

• As Diversity manager I trained a staff of 100+ internal and external personnel on diversity rules and regulations. My efforts resulted in a 70% reduction in violations and improved the overall atmosphere at ABC Co. Best Example (3rd Element: Acquired skills - These are skills you want every employer to know you possess and feel they are what defines you as a model employee. Remember you MUST quantify and qualify every statement you make.)

• Analyze, develop, test and incorporated IT business solutions to enhance business process control and tracking. Good Example

• Supervised, motivated, mentored and lead by example, using experience backed judgment, strong work ethic, and irreproachable integrity, derived from my 12yrs as a Department Manager at ABC Co. Better Example

• Developed and implemented a supply inventory program, which tracked our use of production and office materials. This provided us detailed reports of our available inventory at all times. Allowing us to make more informed purchasing decisions. Resulting in ABC Co. to save 500,000 per year. Best Example

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Name of Employer Position & Title GS level or Salary and Years of Service From: Mo/Year to Mo/Year; (Indicate if the work was Full Time, Part Time, or Seasonal; provide number of hours for PT or Seasonal work) Write a brief description of your experience/duties, and identify your major roles and responsibilities. Describe in detail each position you held for at least the last 10 years and quantify and qualify each statement). IP: Describe each duty as if you are describing it to someone for the first time. Agencies are not allowed to assume you can or can't do anything. Ex: Cashier: A cashier can perform numerous duties, if you only list cashier we can only interpret that as someone we collected and distributed money). As Diversity Manager I analyze develop and manage programs and projects related to the successful deployment of our department's initiatives. My duties included ensuring we provided an inclusive work environment, free from discrimination and ensuring we met all federal and state regulations. This was accomplished by collecting, analyzing human capital data and statistics from various sources to get an accurate analysis of the programs and work environment we provided our employees.   • Performed labor market Statistical analysis and employment projections locally and nationally to determine our recruitment strategy to ensure we were recruiting from a diverse population. Good Example • Coordinated with the Office of Human Capital and EEO managers to develop programs to improve our diversity in the workplace. Performed detailed analysis of the current workforce, and developed a strategy to ensure we targeted a broader workforce. This had an immediate impact on community relations and a 20% increase in local sales. Better Example

• Diversity manager for the past 7 yrs I was responsible for a staff of 20 employees. I coordinated with our Office of Human Capital to develop and measure recruiting timelines and efficiency, to determine cost per employee hired and accurate return on investment. Identified various key elements related to recruiting and performed a statistical analysis on reducing cost per hire. This lead to a yearly savings of 15% on recruiting expenses. Best Example

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (Identify any areas of your career you feel an employer will get a better understanding of who you are and your additional activities, to included honors received by organizations, exceeding specific goals on projects, etc.)

• 2011 Supervised and managed the Specialty Hiring Programs, including NonCompetitive Direct Hiring Authorities, Military Spouse Employment and Individuals with Disabilities Programs, at the Department of Defense. • 2008 Liaised with union and management on contract negotiations and labor dispute settlements with global manufacturer. Prevented the loss of 200+ jobs and saving the company 1.3 million dollars.

• 2006 The Minority Entrepreneur Network - Assisted 5 minority startup companies in researching, forecasting, and drafting their business plans and applications for small business loans.

• 2005 Restructured vendor contracts for a gross savings resulting in $375K per quarter.

COMPUTER SOFTWARE (List all software and applications you are experienced in and level. Identify formal training and where you received that training)

ADDITIONAL TRAINING (List any formal or informal training including accreditations and number of hours in the specific field)

• I have attended various seminars on EEO compliance and diversity Good Example

• Extensive EEO Compliance Training: Laws & Discrimination, Diversity in the Workplace, Workplace Relationships, EEO Complaints and Resolutions: (80+ hrs of training) Better Example

• Extensive Project Management Training specializing in large scale projects and developing the project plans and schedule. All training was done at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) 2002 thru 2011 (120 hrs) Best Example

HONORS AND AWARDS

(Any formal awards you would like to share)

VOLUNTEER WORK & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

(Depending on the type of work volunteering can count the same as formal on the job experience if related to the position) (2010 - current) I hold Diversity workshops at the ABC community center in Washington DC, 6 times each month. I provide employers with information on developing an inclusive and diverse workforce. Note: volunteer work must include the total # of hours PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AAPD - American Association of Peoples with Disabilities HAVA - Honored American Veterans Afield NRA - National Rehabilitation Association PMI - Project Management Institute Wounded Warriors Project - Warriors to Work REFERENCES (List at least 3 references including their contact information)

indianaffairs.gov

An official website of the U.S. Department of the Interior

• What is an Affinity Community?
• International Students
• Students of Color
• Veteran Students
• NCAA Student Athletes
• Students with Neurodiversity & Dis/ability
• Adult Students
• First Generation Students
• Prospective Students
• Undergraduate Students
• Graduate Students
• What is a Career Community?
• Exploration & Discovery
• Education, Cultures & Human Services
• Multimedia, Marketing, Communication & Creative Arts
• Policy, Law & Public Service
• Management, Consulting, Sales & Finance
• Life & Physical Sciences
• Environment & Sustainability
• Engineering
• Computing, Information & Analytics
• Exploring Careers
• Exploring Graduate School
• Internships
• Interview Prep
• Research, Volunteering, & Fellowships
• Resume Prep
• Skill Development
• Contact + Team
• Career Resources

Federal Resume Writing: USAJOBS and Resume Builder

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USAJOBS.gov is the official job-search website of the US Government. You have likely used it before if you have applied for a federal position. Along with listing the vast majority of open US government positions, USAJOBS also has an extensive library of resources that provide useful information about various positions and agencies within the government and a database of terminology and FAQs to assist the federal job seeker. The ability to navigate this site goes hand-in-hand with the importance of leveraging key information provided in vacancy postings to maximize the impact of your federal resume.

How do I use USAJOBS and What is Resume Builder?

An important first step to utilizing USAJOBS is creating an account. Make sure you provide accurate contact information and enable the “Make Your Resume Searchable” feature so that agencies can find your resume. When crafting your federal resume, be sure to review the USAJOBS vacancy posting and questionnaire for knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and key phrases to align your resume with the job posting.

After writing a tailored and effective federal resume with a sleek and streamlined design, the next step is to adapt the content for potential entry into the USAJOBS Resume Builder, a feature of USAJOBS that allows users to build components of their resume online rather than providing a full document for submission.

Adapting the Federal Resume to the USAJOBS Resume Builder

It may seem tedious to have to adapt your resume for entry into Resume Builder, a text-only interface. However, some agencies require the use of Resume Builder when submitting your application so it’s essential to write a federal resume that is easily adaptable in terms of formatting and basic design. To streamline the submission process, you should create your federal resume as a standalone document (essentially a USAJOBS resume) that meets all federal resume formatting and content requirements for easy entry into Resume Builder.

When building your standalone USAJOBS resume for Resume Builder, it is crucial to use simple formatting without text styling or bullets. In addition, detailed information about each position regarding employment dates, hours worked, and pay grade will need to be entered manually.

Content that needs to be adjusted to use Resume Builder: • To ensure that your Career Summary appears at the top of the resume, you will need to enter it as the first job entry. • Bold and italics should be substituted with all caps, and any special symbols such as ampersands should be avoided unless they are part of an organization’s title. • Bullets should be substituted with a + sign as this is recognized by Resume Builder. • You are only allowed 5000 characters for the main body of the resume, so if you exceed this you will need to enter any additional material into the Additional Information section. Federal resume writers generally consider this to be less than ideal, so it’s best to limit your document to fewer than 5000 characters.

The process of writing a federal resume can be time-consuming and requires attention to detail in order to ensure that all requirements regarding resume content, formatting, and submission are achieved. Along with learning how to successfully navigate USAJOBS and crafting a federal resume tailored to your ideal position, there is the additional hurdle of adapting your federal resume to the Resume Builder. To discover more strategies leveraged by experienced government resume writers for effectively managing the federal resume writing and application process, review our comprehensive  USAJOBS Resume Guide .

#1 USAJOBS® Federal Resume Writing Service

Welcome to Federal Resume USA ®

Federal resume writing for usajobs, custom tailored federal resumes for any federal position on  usajobs®, all federal resume writing services come with free federal resume updating and revising for life limited time offer.

Federal Resume USA®  is America’s #1 certified federal resume writing service and provider of federal resumes for  USAJOBS® – The Federal Government’s Official Jobs Site.

Ranked Best USAJOBS® Federal Resumes and best USAJOBS Resume Builder Format by federal HR Specialists and federal hiring managers.

#1 Federal Resume Writing Service Provider of Military Federal Resumes, Veteran Federal Resumes and Veterans Career Coaching and Military Transition Services.

“Offering the best certified federal resume writing and Government KSA Writing Services and certified federal resume writers with senior federal government experience and certified federal resume writing services for veterans, military, students, executives, state and local government employees, retiring and transitioning military (DoD) personnel and candidates seeking jobs in federal and private-sector industries”.

Experts at writing a federal resume for USAJOBS® . Our federal resume writers create federal resumes that bring your qualifications to life and show that you are a perfect fit for the job. One size never fits all. As you apply for jobs, we tailor your federal resume to the job’s requirements. If you have multiple skills, it is advantageous to create more than one federal resume on USAJobs.gov. Our federal resumes properly show how your competencies, knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, training and education match the federal agency’s needs, and the qualifications in the job announcement (JOA). Our editors know exactly what should be included in a federal resume to get referred, interviewed, and hired faster. Our federal resumes effectively highlight your accomplishments and display your competitive skills, which demonstrates to the federal hiring official(s) your value and ultimately determines your pay level.

Best custo mized federal resumes

Hiring agencies are more interested in the content of your federal resume than the length of it. You do not have to limit your federal resume to one or two pages. Our customized federal resumes for USAJOBS show the hiring agency you are the person they need!

Our editors review the job announcements carefully for key words – use verbs and adjectives (e.g., managed, implemented, created) that match key words identified in the job announcement – eliminate military lingo (use words such as personnel instead of squad or platoon) – include your accomplishments – and focus on the mission of the agency and translate your experiences. Our custom-tailored federal resumes clearly outline your key work, volunteer experiences, academic accomplishments as well as extra-curricular activities. Each federal resume highlights your unique skills that set you apart and make you uniquely qualified for the federal government job.

We are the #1 Federal Resume Writing Service for USAJOBS® . Federal Resume USA® connects more federal job seekers with federal employment opportunities across the United States and around the world in over 147 countries than all our competition combined.  As the best federal resume writing service for USAJOBS®, the Federal Government’s official employment site, Federal Resume USA® has successfully matched over 800,000 federal job seekers with the best federal resume writers to secure the right jobs at the highest starting salaries, from entry-level federal jobs through the Senior Executive Service (SES). The U.S. Federal Government relies on more than two million Americans and foreign nationals to work in the civil service, with job openings within hundreds of federal agencies and organizations, let Federal Resume USA® help you get more interviews and land a federal job faster.

A Federal government Job is the most secure “Recession Proof” form of government employment in the United States  with an average of  150,000 NEW FEDERAL JOBS OPENING EVERY MONTH  around the country, including federal jobs overseas, which are advertised on USAJOBS® and on other federal employment and federal jobs Websites.

Federal Resume USA® USAJOBS Resume Builder federal resumes  are expertly custom-tailored for Federal HR Specialists and Hiring Managers to see your main credentials within seconds and match your competencies, knowledge, skills, abilities, accomplishments and experience to the required qualifications and responsibilities for your federal job – helping more people  secure federal job interviews and land federal jobs faster.  Our  OPM approved Outline Format Federal Resume for USAJOBS – Builder and Upload  connect more federal job seekers with federal employment across the United States and around the world.

The Federal Government does not have a standard job application – your federal resume is your application – each federal resume for USAJOBS® – Builder and Upload, we create is Office of Personnel Management (OPM) compliant, and incorporates essential job series specific buzzwords and keywords HR specialists and hiring managers look for in a “best qualified” federal job applicant.

Tips for Writing a Federal Resume – Creating a customized federal resume to get hired faster!

Your resume is the primary way for you to communicate your education, skills and experience. Federal resumes must be customized and show how your skills and experiences  meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement  to rank best qualified, and be referred for an interview over your competition. Our custom-tailored federal resumes properly highlight your accomplishments and match your competencies, knowledge, skills, abilities and experience to the requirements for each job.  As hiring officials, our editors know what specific terms hiring agencies and human resources specialists look for in a federal resume to make sure you have the experience they’re seeking.

Our federal resumes concisely provide greater detail for your experience that is relevant to the job for which you are applying, and show all experiences and accomplishments under the job in which you earned it. This helps federal agencies determine the amount of experience you have with that particular skill.

Let our certified expert federal resume writers help you secure a “Recession Proof” Federal government job on USAJOBS® TODAY!

ALL FEDERAL RESUME WRITING SERVICES COME WITH FREE FEDERAL RESUME UPDATING AND REVISING FOR LIFE!

New  Free Lifetime KSA and Occupational Questionnaire Creation included with every federal resume order! (Never write another USAJOBS® KSA or Questionnaire narrative again!)  An invaluable time and cost saving service if you plan to apply to multiple federal jobs on USAJOBS®.  Limited Time Offer

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CURRENT SPECIALS FEDERAL RESUME FOR  ANY USAJOBS® ADVERTISED FEDERAL POSITION  (GS-13 and below) $205.00 Comes with the following free federal resume writing services:

• Lifetime federal resume updating and revising

Lifetime KSA   and Occupational Questionnaire Creation

• Cover letter

Thank you lette r

Complimentary “Veterans/Military Resume or private-sector corporate resume”  ( Limited Time Offer )

Free Military Spouse Resume ( Limited Time Offer )

Senior Executive Service (SES) Resume Writing Service – SES ECQ Writing Services

 Need help with writing an effective SES Application for USAJOBS ® ? Try our proven Senior Executive Service (SES) resume and ECQ Services with CCAR format

Includes SES Application Coaching, ECQ Writing Services, 5-Page SES Federal Resume (CCAR format), Technical Qualifications (TQs) and SES Interview Prep

DOD Veterans – Federal Resumes

Are you transitioning out of the military and attempting to get into a federal career?  Federal Resume USA offers the best Federal Resume Writing Services for Transitioning Military and Veterans – Veteran Federal Resumes – developed by certified military federal resume writers who are specialists in translating military experience into civilian federal job experience – Make the transition from a military to civilian career with confidence with a specialized, professional resume written by a military resume expert. Keyword optimized and formatted to get past Automated Screening Software Systems – Whether you are still in the service, getting ready to transition out, or on a new path in your civilian life, our federal resume writing for veterans helps you get interviewed and hired faster!

Receive a  FREE  “ Veterans – Military Resume ” – for all military personnel with your federal resume order – comes with free translation of military terms, for all military branches – Our Veteran resumes translate military jargon and acronyms for hiring officials

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Find a private sector job that is similar to the Military job you are currently performing and we’ll create a professional “Veterans resume/private-sector corporate resume for you,  FREE!  with your online federal resume order

New Receive a Complimentary professional “ private-sector corporate   resume ” FOR PRIVATE INDUSTRY JOBS included FREE! with your federal resume order – Limited Time Offer

Find a private sector job that is similar to the Federal job you are currently performing or are interested in performing and we’ll create a professional private-sector corporate resume for you,  FREE! with your federal resume order

Home of the MOST EFFECTIVE Certified Federal Resume Writers for USAJOBS® and Certified Federal Resume Writing Services for any advertised U.S. Government Federal Job on USAJOBS® and other Federal Employment and Federal Jobs Sites

FEDERAL RESUME FOR GS-14, GS-15 and SES POSITIONS $299.95

• Lifetime KSA and Occupational Questionnaire Creation
• Technical and/or Desirable Qualifications and the Executive Core Qualifications (i.e., MTQ, PTQ and ECQ Creation) in CCAR format
• Thank you letter
• Complimentary Veterans/Military Resume or Private-Sector "Corporate" resume
• Complimentary Military Spouse Resume - Limited Time Offer

FEDERAL RESUME FOR ANY USAJOBS® ADVERTISED FEDERAL POSITION (GS-13 and below) $205.00

Expedited service (receive your federal resume today) for any usajobs® advertised federal position (gs-13 and below) $254.95.

What a Federal Resume Should Include - Federal Resume Creation

• Federal Resumes are individually developed and custom-tailored by certified expert federal and certified military resume writers and include essential USAJOBS ® occupational job series and classification “buzzwords” Federal Human Resources Specialists look for in "best qualified" federal job applicants
• Federal resumes properly show how your skills and experiences meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement and include keyword match and alignment of “specialized experience” qualifications to your target position or occupational series
• Federal Resumes are OPM and USAJOBS ® - Compliant and “keyword” optimized for automated Federal Human Resources screening software tools
• Automated document review for content development and keyword analysis from OPM Class Standards and Vacancy Announcement for effective results

Top Federal Resume Format - Customized federal resume writing

• Federal Resumes meet current USAJOBS ® federal resume format requirements and our federal resume format is recognized and preferred by Federal Human Resources Specialists
• Leading Provider of the Outline Format Federal Resume for USAJOBS ® - Builder and Upload - recognized by OPM - Office of Personnel Management
• Federal resumes match your competencies, knowledge, skills, abilities and experience to the requirements for each job on USAJOBS ®

#1 Rated Certified Federal Resume Writing Service for transitioning State and local government employees to the Federal government!

Our professional federal resume writing service has helped over 800,000 USAJOBS federal job seekers get interviewed and hired faster

• Over 30 years of Certified Federal Resume Writing experience
• Perfectly crafted and compelling Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs), general and core assessment competencies, Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) for Senior Executive Service (SES) positions
• A near perfect 100% Federal Job Interview Success Rate
• Certified Senior federal government employee (editors and writers) with knowledge and experience in every federal USAJOBS® occupational job series and grade level through Senior Executive Service (SES) positions
• EXPEDITED SAME DAY SERVICE available for RUSH ORDERS!
• Certified military federal resume writers
• Certified expert Federal Resume Writers work and are assigned 7 days a week including holidays and weekends
• Order securely online and upload your resume, relevant military information and target vacancy announcements, certified federal resume writers assigned 7 days a week. All Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is encrypted.
• FREE Lifetime Updating and Revising on all Federal Resume Writing Services
• Lifetime KSA and Occupational Questionnaire Creation included with every federal resume order! (Never write KSAs or Questionnaire narratives again!) Limited Time Offer
• 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
• More satisfied customers with high paying federal government careers than all our competitors combined!  

#1 Federal Resume Writing Service for USAJOBS

If you want to be a federal employee or advance within the federal government, then we can help prove you are the “best qualified” for the position on PAPER by creating a perfectly written federal resume with the right job series “ buzzwords ” federal hiring officials want to see beyond your Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Qualifications and Specialized Experience. We have helped countless USAJOBS Federal jobseekers get into and promoted in the federal government in every federal job series up through the Senior Executive Service (SES) ranks. Our certified federal resume writers and editors are experts in resume writing for both public sector occupations and private sector jobs. We have successfully helped individuals with diverse backgrounds land a lucrative federal career at every federal grade level, including:

• TSA, CBP, ICE, DHS, FEMA employees
• Information Technology (IT) professionals
• Temp, term and CORE federal employees
• Merit Promotions
• Special Appointments and Hiring Authorities
• United States Government Contractors
• State and local Government Contractors
• RIF’ed and A-76 federal employees
• Military personnel
• Spouses of Military personnel
• Civil Servants returning to the United States
• Overseas military personnel returning to the U.S.
• Former Overseas employees
• Intelligence community employees
• Analysts, Program Managers and Specialists
• Private sector employees
• State and local government employees
• Corporate employees
• Students and Recent Graduates
• Pathways Program and Federal Internships
• State, local and Federal Police Officers
• Federal agents (1811s)
• Peace Corps Volunteers
• DOD civilian employees
• Senior Federal Executives seeking SES positions
• Political appointees
• Attorneys…and many more!

Order Securely Online

• ORDER SECURELY ONLINE 7 days a week and upload your existing resume, relevant military records and target federal job vacancy announcements for fastest service (all personally identifiable information (PII) is encrypted automatically) – TO PLACE YOUR ORDER BY TELEPHONE, CALL (202) 731-0222 to speak to a customer service representative
• Once we receive your resume and federal job vacancy announcements - Your assigned expert resume writer is identified and will contact you the very same day, including weekends and holidays
• Normal turnaround time for non-expedited orders is 3-5 days which includes holidays and weekends
• Expert Veteran - Military Resume Writing and Career Coaching included
• Home of the Military Resume - Military Resumes - Military to Civilian Resume and Military Career Transition Experts
• ALL FEDERAL RESUME WRITING SERVICES COME WITH FREE UPDATING AND REVISING FOR LIFE!
• FREE! Veterans - Military Resume and/or professional private-sector corporate resume comes with every federal resume order Limited Time Offer
• Lifetime KSA and USAJOBS Occupational Questionnaire Creation included with every online federal resume order! (Never write another KSA or USAJOBS Occupational Questionnaire narrative again!) An invaluable time and cost saving service if you plan to apply to multiple federal jobs! Limited Time Offer

Federal Resumes that get Results!

Our clients get referred, selected for interviews and hired!

  We are experts in writing USAJOBS ® -Compliant federal resumes that get people interviewed and hired and the only certified federal resume writing service that has all Current Senior Level Federal Government Officials who are also certified federal resume writers, federal resume editors/KSA and ECQ/TQ writers and federal job search expert consultants to work on federal resumes for all federal jobs and federal occupational job series advertised on USAJOBS®

  Federal Resume USA® offers the best individualized service for first-time federal jobseekers through federal government senior executives in the Senior Executive Service (SES)

Your federal career in the U.S. Federal Government starts with us!

Our USAJOBS®-Compliant Resumes are expertly custom-tailored and “ U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)-approved ”. Federal resumes are developed for all WG, GS, and SES federal jobs. Our federal resumes for USAJOBS, CPOL, DONHR, AF Resume Writer, CHART, Avue, Resumix or other Federal Resume Builders are proven to get federal job seekers interviewed and hired faster! Let our certified federal resume writers make your federal resume stand out with the right federal occupational job series specific “ buzzwords ” for any USAJOBS® vacancy announcement.

We work on federal resumes 7 days a week/365 days a year. Call (202) 731-0222 to order by phone 24hrs a day/7 days a week.

Federal Resume USA® is America’s most trusted name and industry leader in writing effective federal resumes for any federal occupational job series and grade level position offered by USAJOBS®, the U.S. Government's official site for jobs and employment information provided by the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM). For any given USAJOBS® federal vacancy job announcement, there may be hundreds, or even thousands, of qualified applicants. The benefits and rewards of a federal job are significant. In today's job market, to land an interview, you need a perfectly polished and effectively written federal resume — an impeccable marketing piece with the right “buzzwords” and the right showcase of your entire work history, education, certifications, qualifications and accomplishments. Our certified federal and military resume writers and editors are knowledgeable, friendly and helpful and possess the federal government expertise in the many laws, executive orders, and regulations that govern Federal employment contained in the United States Code. With more actual federal government work and hiring experience than all our competitors combined, our certified federal resume writers and editors can effectively capture your experience, match it with the position's specific and/or technical competencies and incorporate your knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) directly into your federal resume to meet current OPM requirements for USAJOBS®. This, combined with our specialized industry knowledge and experience across all federal career levels from entry level to Senior Executive Service (SES) positions, provides you with the most effective certified federal resume services, bar none, and ensures we are able to match you with the best certified federal resume writer to help you land the federal job in the federal department and at the grade level you want.

Satisfaction Guarantee

Best Federal Resume Writing Service for USAJOBS:

We guarantee you will be 100% satisfied or we will rewrite your federal resume for free.

We can confidently offer this guarantee based upon a high industry percentage of repeat and referral clientele, and the countless individuals who are now federally employed with our federal resumes.

Upon completing your federal resume, we will work with you and make any revisions you desire to ensure your complete satisfaction!

Begin or further a federal career today! Discover why Federal Resume USA® is the most respected certified federal resume writing service online. No matter the occupational specialty area, Federal Resume USA® can help you achieve your federal career goals.

We offer fast turnaround times 24/7, 365 days a year. Same day (EXPEDITED) service is also available for rush orders. See a USAJOBS® vacancy announcement that closes today? Federal Resume USA® can help you meet the closing deadline.

Need your federal resume, ECQs, TQs, KSAs and/or onlineOccupational Questionnaire narrative written today?…no problem, same day (EXPEDITED) service is available! “Don’t pay thousands of dollars, expensive hourly rates for resume writing services or KSA writing again!” The federal government is the largest employer in the U.S.  and the federal career opportunities, benefits, salaries and opportunities for stability and growth are excellent! Our industry leading and experienced certified federal resume writers know what federal resumes must contain and what job series specific “buzzwords” selecting officials expect to see when deciding whether to place an applicant on the certification list as  the most highly qualified candidate who will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and interview!

Are you tired of applying to countless federal positions through USAJOBS® without success? If you already have a resume, and have not received an interview or federal job offer, Federal Resume USA® can help you.  Federal Resume USA® is different from all other online federal resume writing services because our certified federal resume writers are independent contractors who are current senior level federal employees with hiring experience and expertise in virtually every federal job series on   USAJOBS® !

Unlike other online resume writing services that claim to be experts in writing federal resumes; our certified federal resume writers are actual  current  senior level federal government employees who know exactly what it takes to get hired and to excel in any federal occupational series and job title in the federal workplace. Our certified federal resume writers are experts in the federal application process and know better than anyone else how to effectively word your federal resume to get you an interview for the federal position you want.

Only  Federal Resume USA®  offers all its customers  “free updating and revising” services at NO additional charge for life! Become one of the countless satisfied customers that find success with America’s #1 federal resume writing service for USAJOBS – Federal Resume USA®.

Your career in the U.S. Federal Government starts with us!

Our independent federal resume writers and editors know exactly what federal job series specific “buzzwords” a federal resume should contain and know exactly how a federal resume should be formatted for virtually every federal occupational job series for good reason. Why? Unlike other federal resume writing services, Federal Resume USA® certified editors are actual senior level federal employees within the federal government! Our formula for success is simple – who better to help you write an effective federal resume to get you on the “cert” list to be interviewed for a federal position in the federal department or agency you desire, than someone who possesses specialized knowledge of the relevant federal application process.

No matter whether you’re currently a student, college graduate, private sector employee, current federal employee, professional, executive or member of the military transitioning to the federal civilian sector, our resume writers and editors are federal employment experts who know exactly how to customize your existing resume to get you past your competition, interviewed and hired.

Are you looking to transition out of the military into a federal job? The specific details of your military experience may be difficult to decipher for a federal civilian hiring manager. Our military-transition federal resume expert editors know exactly how to articulate why you’re the best candidate for the job from your Military Service Records (i.e., DD Form 214, Discharge Papers, Separation Documents, and other Military personnel records). Enjoy the highest quality military transition federal resume and military resume cover letter services available and score an interview in today’s ultra-competitive federal job market.

Become one of the thousands of federal applicants that find success with Federal Resume USA®.

FREE FEDERAL RESUME UPDATING AND REVISING FOR LIFE!

As a Federal Resume USA® customer, you’ll never have to pay us or another federal resume writing service again to update or revise your federal resume. Ever!  We’ll take care of it for you, at no additional charge.

As a Federal Resume USA® customer, you get an unparalleled advantage over the competition. Federal Resume USA® understands it’s not always what you know, but who you know that counts. No one knows the federal government like Federal Resume USA® certified federal resume writers.

Invest your money wisely; put the proven power of Federal Resume USA® federal resume services to work for you!

Federal Resume USA® writes effective USAJOBS®-Compliant federal resumes with the right “buzzwords” for any USAJOBS® advertised federal position in any of the U.S. Government departments, agencies and bureaus. We specialize in helping the following federal job seekers below:

The  Military to Civilian Occupation Translator  will help you match your military skills and experience to civilian occupations for us to create the best military to civilian resume for you for any private sector job –  free of charge  – CEO, Federal Resume USA® – our way of saying  THANK YOU for serving!

“Our certified federal resume writers’ hearts are in the right place. We have the nation’s MOST QUALIFIED group of expert Federal resume writers. All our editors are experienced current senior level federal government employees with hiring experience and expertise in every federal job series” –  CEO, Federal Resume USA®

Your career in the  U.S.  Federal Government starts with us!

Our independent federal resume writers and editors know exactly what “buzzwords” a federal resume should contain and know exactly how a federal resume should be formatted for virtually every federal occupational job series for good reason. Why? Unlike other federal resume writing services, Federal Resume USA® certified editors are actual senior level federal employees within the federal government! Our formula for success is simple – who better to help you write an effective federal resume to get you on the “cert” list to be interviewed for a federal position in the federal department or agency you desire, than someone who possesses specialized knowledge of the relevant federal application process.

Are you looking to transition out of the military into a federal job? The specific details of your military experience may be difficult to decipher for a federal civilian hiring manager. Our military-transition federal resume expert editors know exactly how to articulate why you’re the best candidate for the job from your  Military Service Records  (i.e., DD Form 214, Discharge Papers, Separation Documents, and other Military personnel records). Enjoy the highest quality military transition federal resume and military resume cover letter services available and score an interview in today’s ultra-competitive federal job market.

As a Federal Resume USA® customer, you’ll never have to pay us or another federal resume writing service again to update or revise your federal resume. Ever! We’ll take care of it for you, at no additional charge.

Here’s How To Get Started

2. After placing your order online, our patented resume retrieval system will enable you to easily upload your current resume, relevant military records, multiple USAJOBS® vacancy announcements and any additional information safely and securely thru SSL encryption  (all personally identifiable information (PII) is automatically encrypted) . If you do not have a specific USAJOBS® vacancy announcement in mind, simply let us know what your federal career goals and objectives are at the upload page and your assigned lead editor will contact you to get additional information to develop one (1) comprehensive federal resume for you to use to apply to multiple federal positions in which you are best qualified based upon your experience.

3. The appropriate Federal Resume USA® certified federal resume writer with specialized knowledge of your target federal job series, agency and position is then immediately assigned to your customer account. Your assigned lead editor will contact you within 24 hours and work with other editors assigned to your account to create an effective custom-tailored federal resume for your identified target USAJOBS® vacancy announcements and federal job series. Your assigned lead editor is an invaluable federal resource who is there to answer your federal job application and interview questions.

4. Your assigned lead editor will communicate with you throughout the development of your federal resume package.  It’s fast and easy!

5. When you receive your Federal Resume USA® federal resume package via email, your expert federal resume writer will provide you with easy to follow step-by-step instructions to ensure timely receipt of all your federal resume application documents.

6. Once you’re a Federal Resume USA® customer we properly update and revise your federal resume for  FREE  for life! Only Federal Resume USA® offers this invaluable free lifetime service.

Who we've worked with

What clients say

All federal resume writing services come with the following complimentary services, ABSOLUTELY FREE:

All Federal Resume USA® federal resumes are keyword optimized to improve results for documents uploaded to USAJOBS®.

New Lifetime KSA and Occupational Questionnaire Creation included with every online federal resume order.  Limited Time Offer ( Never write another KSA or USAJOBS® Occupational Questionnaire narrative again! )

New Free Military Spouse Resume included with every online federal resume order.  Limited Time Offer

Normal turnaround time 3 to 5 days from date of order (7 days a week) with expedited (same day) service available for rush orders .

Call Website Customer Service 24hrs a day/7 days a week

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Here’s how you know

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

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Tips for Writing a Federal Resume

Creating a federal resume that brings your qualifications to life and shows that you are a perfect fit for the job can be a challenge. Be sure to demonstrate how your skills, experience, training and education match the employer’s needs. Avoid misspelled words and bad grammar. Following are a few ways to make this easier.

Consider what positions you are interested in and review what qualifications or experience they require by reviewing different types of jobs and job opportunity announcements on USAJOBS . Gather information and begin to build out a description of your knowledge, skills and experience to add to your resume. How you present your skills and experience in your resume will help determine whether or not you are invited to interview for a job.

Attend job assistance training prior to departing the service. Contact your Transition Assistance Center as soon as possible and sign up for a Transition Assistance Program Workshop. If you are not near a Military Transition Center, you may use the services at Transition Assistance Offices operated by the other military services. Use your transition counselors. They have the tools and knowledge you need. If available, get their help in creating your first resume or filling out a draft application. Ask them to critique your work and then make the changes they suggest.

One size never fits all. As you apply for jobs, tailor your resume to the position’s requirements. Study the job opportunity announcement and emphasize the parts of your work history that match the qualification requirements listed there. It is important to portray your knowledge and skills as a match to the requirements of the position and demonstrate the ability to do the job. This is easy to do when you include your results, achievements and accomplishments. Minimize the use of technical jargon or specialized terminology (e.g., military abbreviations) in your resume.

Resumes are generally presented in one of three formats: chronological, functional or a combination of both. Which format you choose will depend, in part, on the type of work you have performed and whether or not you are going to continue in the same field.

• Chronological resumes list work experience according to date, with the current job appearing first. Chronological resumes work well if your career has been progressive and you plan to continue in the same line of work.
• Functional resumes are organized by the skills you have used on the job. Functional resumes work well if you are contemplating a new career, do not have a lengthy work history, or have held a number of different positions because they sell your abilities based on the skills you have acquired throughout your career. Be sure to include relevant volunteer experience.
• Combination resumes both describe your work experience and highlight your skills. Combination resumes usually provide the most comprehensive overview of your career.

Unlike resumes used in the private sector, federal resumes require additional information. For each past job, give the standard information found in most resumes. Your federal resume should include the following:

• Job announcement number, job title , and job grade of the job for which you are applying
• Your full name, mailing address , day and evening phone numbers and home e-mail .
• Country of citizenship , if different from U.S.
• Veterans – Ensure that you attach or upload supporting documentation (e.g., DD214 or Statement of Service if still on Active Duty; SF-15, Application for 10-point preference; and Disability Rating Letter of 30% or more from the VA, if applicable).
• Peace Corps / AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers – If you are a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, you will need to provide your Description of Service (DOS) to claim non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs. AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers
• Persons with Disabilities (Schedule A) – To verify eligibility for employment under the Schedule A hiring authority, you must provide proof of disability issued by a licensed medical professions, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any federal agency, state agency, or an agency of the District of Columbia, or U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. Contact the Department’s Selective Placement Coordinators for help with hiring and accommodation requests.
• Veterans – Keep in mind that your military training may count towards qualifications. Use your Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) document (DD Form 2586) to document your training and education.
• Begin with your current position and list all other positions held in chronological order.
• State the job title, starting and ending dates (including month and year), prior employer's name and address (or write "self-employed," if that applies), and major duties and accomplishments. Include any positions temporarily held.
• Show the average number of hours worked per week or simply state "full-time"; salary or wage earned; supervisor's name, address and telephone number; and whether you’re most recent supervisor may be contacted.
• Veterans - Avoid using military job titles or occupational codes. Instead, look at what you did using your Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) as a starting point. Employers prefer proven performers, so make sure you know what employers are looking for in comparison to your military work experience.
• Indicate if your current supervisor can be contacted
• Job-related training courses (title and year).
• self-management skills refer to the way you manage yourself on the job (e.g., dependable, resourceful, etc.);
• functional skills are the skills you use on the job or have used in previous jobs (e.g., operate equipment, supervise, analyze, etc.); and
• technical skills relate to specific skills required to perform a described task (e.g., computer programming, accounting, sales, etc.)
• Current job-related certificates and licenses - Make sure you understand the licensure and certification requirements for your job objective.
• Job-related honors, awards, special accomplishments , leadership activities, memberships, or publications.

Once you have spell checked your resume, take a good look at its overall appearance. Is it appealing and easy to read? Is there enough white space? Are the margins appropriate? Have the headings, font and formatting style been used effectively? Keep in mind that your resume is an employer's first impression of you. Make sure it makes the best one possible.

• Review the job announcements carefully for key words
• Use verbs and adjectives (e.g., managed, implemented, created) that match key words identified in the job announcement.
• Eliminate military lingo (use words such as personnel instead of squad or platoon).
• Include your accomplishments; do not be shy, be truthful.
• Focus on the mission of the agency and translate your experiences.
• Your positive attitude and genuine enthusiasm goes a long way.

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If you are applying to jobs with the US Government, chances are the application will ask you to submit your resume. Resumes submitted to government positions require specific formatting and information be included. Review the USA Jobs Resume Builder for assistance with building your resume for applying to government positions.

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10 Best Resume Builders to Create A Great Resume – 2024 Guide

A re you exhausted from investing endless hours into creating an impeccable CV? This article introduces the top resume builders that will revolutionize your job application approach. Bid farewell to monotonous formatting and greet a remarkable resume that distinguishes itself from the rivalry. Prepare yourself to secure your dream job with self-assurance effortlessly!

>> Unlock Your Career Potential With Super Star Resume

10 Best Resume Writing Services

• Super Star Resume - Best overall
• ZipJob - Best for guarantees
• Resumeble - Best with custom bundles
• Let’s Eat, Grandma - Best for range of career service
• ResumeSpice - Best for job seekers of any level
• TopResume - Best customer service
• Resume Writing Services - Best for affordability
• Craft Resumes - Best for quick turnaround
• Resume Companion - Best value resume writing service
• Resume.com - Best free service

When creating this compilation, we considered different elements such as affordability, ease of use, accessibility, the privacy policies of the companies involved, and more. The highest-rated services offer advice, templates, and tools and allow you to consult with experts who can help you craft an impressive resume highlighting your strengths to potential employers.

Our collection comprises free services and those that make use of professional writers’ skills. Some options require a subscription or one-time payment.

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Super Star Resume - Best Resume Builder Overall

Star Rating: 4.9/5

Super Star Resume is an innovative resume builder that completely transforms creating professional resumes. By offering a user-friendly interface and a range of powerful features, Super Star Resume enables individuals to produce exceptional resumes that effectively showcase their abilities, accomplishments, and work history.

• Skilled and seasoned writers
• Customized strategy aligned with unique career objectives
• Timely delivery of resumes
• More significant expense compared to certain other resume writing services
• Restricted selection of additional services
• Availability may be restricted depending on demand and geographic location
• Intuitive resume builder: An intuitive interface that simplifies the resume creation process, offering modern templates for a professional look.
• Customization choices: Users can personalize their resumes by selecting from various font styles, colors, layouts, and sections to align with their unique style.
• Comprehensive content suggestions: Access to a collection of expertly curated bullet points, action verbs, and industry-specific phrases to craft impactful resume content.
• Real-time previews and editing: Real-time previewing and editing capabilities ensure a visually appealing and error-free final resume.
• Integration with professional networking platforms: Integration with LinkedIn allows users to maintain consistency between their online presence and resume.
• Tailored resumes for different job applications: The duplication feature facilitates the creation of multiple resume versions, each customized for specific job applications or industries.
• Resume analytics and tracking: Users can monitor the views and downloads of their resumes, gaining valuable insights to optimize their job search strategies.
• Professional Resume : $169
• Resume With Cover Letter : $199
• All-Included : $199

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ZipJob - Best Resume Builder for Guarantees

Star Rating: 4.7/5

ZipJob is widely regarded as an excellent option for resume creation, especially for those who value guarantees. Their impressive 60-day assurance ensures that individuals searching for employment will experience a surge in interview invitations within this period.

If this desired outcome cannot materialize, ZipJob proactively offers a complimentary review and revision of your resume. This guarantee highlights their commitment to client contentment and showcases their unwavering belief in the superior quality of their resume writing services.

• The starting package is cost-effective
• Complimentary ATS check included
• 60-day interview assurance with higher-tier packages
• The design and layout made it challenging to read the resume
• The summary section was overly lengthy and filled with clichés
• The formatting of the education and training sections was subpar
• Expert resume writers: ZipJob provides access to a team of expert resume writers with the skills and knowledge to review, evaluate, and optimize your resume for compatibility with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and hiring managers.
• ATS optimization: Meaning they ensure your resume is structured and formatted to navigate and succeed in ATS filters effectively. Employers commonly use these filters to assess and rank resumes during the initial screening process.
• Keyword optimization: The resume builder online offered by ZipJob assists you in identifying and integrating pertinent keywords and industry-specific terminology. This practice heightens the visibility of your resume, making it more likely to capture the attention of hiring managers.
• Job-specific content suggestions: ZipJob provides valuable advice regarding the most relevant and influential content to include in your resume for different job titles and industries. This guidance is invaluable in customizing your resume for specific roles.
• Cover letter writing assistance: ZipJob supports the creation of impactful cover letters that complement your resume, strengthening your overall job application.
• Unlimited revisions: One noteworthy feature of ZipJob is the option for unlimited revisions and updates to your resume. This ensures that your resume not only meets but continues to meet your specific requirements and mirrors your professional growth.
• Collaboration with resume writers: the platform facilitates direct collaboration with the resume writers, enabling you to share additional information, discuss specific requirements, and seek clarifications at any stage of the resume creation process.
• Launch Package: $139 (or $48/mo)
• Fast Track Package: $189 (or $65/mo)
• Premium Package: $299 (or $27/mo)

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Resumeble - Best Resume Builder With Custom Bundles

Star Rating: 4.3/5

Resumeble is a highly efficient and user-friendly resume builder that empowers individuals to create professional and compelling resumes. With Resumeble, crafting a standout resume becomes a streamlined process thanks to its intuitive interface and extensive range of customizable templates.

Whether you’re a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or someone looking to change careers, Resumeble caters to all needs and skill sets. It offers helpful suggestions and expert advice to ensure your resume showcases your unique qualifications and achievements in the best possible light.

• A 60-day interview guarantee is included
• Budget-friendly package deals are available
• It’s more established than some other websites
• Keyword optimization: This feature helps optimize your resume by suggesting relevant keywords aligned with your target industry or job, enhancing your visibility to Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and recruiters.
• Content import: Resumeble allows you to import your existing resume or LinkedIn profile, saving you the time and effort of manual data entry.
• Real-time editing: You have the convenience of editing and modifying your resume in real time, providing the flexibility to experiment with various formats, sections, and content.
• ATS compatibility: Resumeble ensures your resume is ATS-compatible, essential for better visibility and a higher chance of being shortlisted by employers using Applicant Tracking Systems.
• Download options: The platform offers various download formats, including PDF, Word, and plain text, ensuring compatibility with diverse application processes.
• Cover letter builder: Resumeble features an integrated cover letter builder, streamlining the creation of professional and personalized cover letters that complement your resume.
• Career Pro Package : $159.00
• Professional Package : $299.00
• Premium Package : $399.00

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Let’s Eat, Grandma - Best Resume Builder for Range of Career Service

Star Rating: 4/5

Let’s Eat, Grandma is an inventive and progressive tool for creating impressive resumes. The platform streamlines the resume-building process, making it easier for job seekers to craft exceptional resumes. With Let’s Eat, Grandma, individuals can create unique resumes that catch the eye of employers and set them apart from the competition.

This user-friendly platform offers a range of customizable templates that allow users to tailor their resumes to showcase their specific skills and experiences. Let’s Eat, Grandma also provides expert advice and recommendations to help ensure that your qualifications and achievements are effectively highlighted in your resume.

• Complimentary resume evaluation
• Choices available for individuals from entry-level to executive-level positions
• Extensive collaboration opportunities
• Not specialized in academic CVs or federal resumes
• Relatively higher pricing compared to some other services
• Potential for a longer turnaround time compared to competing services
• Expert choice: You can save your resume in multiple formats (PDF, Word, plain text) or easily share it with potential employers via email or a link, simplifying the distribution of your resume.
• Error highlighting: The builder can identify potential errors, inconsistencies, or missing information within your resume and provide suggestions or alerts for improvement.
• Section prompts: Pre-written prompts for various resume sections (e.g., work experience, education, skills) can help you structure your resume effectively and ensure you include essential details in each area.
• Customizable sections: You can add, remove, or rearrange sections to tailor your resume to emphasize your strengths and relevant experiences.
• Keyword optimization: The resume builder can recommend industry-specific keywords based on the job description, enhancing your resume’s chances of passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and grabbing the attention of hiring managers.
• Starter Package : Priced at $439, but there is an anti-inflation sale price of $389.
• Accelerated Package : $549.
• The premium Package : $689, but the anti-inflation sale price is $614.
• Executive Concierge Service : $1,899 or as low as $119/month.

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ResumeSpice - Best Resume Builder for Job Seekers of Any Level

Star Rating: 3.8/5

ResumeSpice , a renowned online resume builder, streamlines crafting professional resumes. This platform provides job seekers with a user-friendly interface and a wide selection of templates, enabling them to create impressive resumes that align with their career objectives.

With ResumeSpice’s seamless experience, users are guided through each resume section effortlessly while receiving valuable tips throughout the process. From personal details and work history to skills and accomplishments, this platform ensures that all crucial aspects of a resume are comprehensively addressed.

• Additional assistance
• Timely service
• ATS optimization
• Guaranteed interviews
• Restricted revisions
• Insufficient customization options
• Restricted refund policy
• User-friendly interface: ResumeSpice boasts an intuitive and user-friendly platform, simplifying the resume creation process and offering a seamless experience to users.
• Extensive template library: The platform offers a vast selection of professionally designed templates tailored to various industries and job positions. Users can explore different styles and layouts to find the perfect match for their needs.
• Import and export options: ResumeSpice enables users to import their existing resumes in formats like PDF or Word for easy editing and updates. Users can conveniently export their finalized resumes in multiple formats, facilitating sharing with employers or uploading to job portals.
• Mobile-friendly design: ResumeSpice is optimized for mobile devices, allowing users to create and modify their resumes using smartphones or tablets.
• Cloud storage: The platform provides secure cloud storage for users’ resumes, ensuring accessibility and updates from any device with an internet connection.
• Resume tracking: ResumeSpice includes tools for tracking the performance of submitted resumes, such as monitoring views, downloads, and application outcomes. These features empower users to evaluate their progress and make data-driven enhancements to their job search strategies.
• Entry Level Resume : $479
• Professional Resume : $589
• Executive Resume : $699

>> Use ResumeSpice to Secure Your Dream Job

TopResume - Best Resume Builder for Customer Service

Star Rating: 3.6/5

TopResume is an outstanding resume builder explicitly tailored for customer service professionals. It offers a seamless and user-friendly experience, enabling users to create exceptional resumes effortlessly. The platform goes beyond just providing a basic resume template, offering valuable suggestions and tips to optimize the content.

This ensures that each resume created on TopResume is unique and attention-grabbing in the highly competitive job market.

Besides its user-friendly interface, TopResume provides expert review services. These services allow skilled professionals to provide personalized feedback on resumes, helping enhance their overall quality further. By leveraging this feedback and incorporating attention to detail, customer service professionals can create compelling resumes that effectively capture the attention of potential employers.

• Streamlined registration process
• Well-designed and formatted one-page resume
• The summary and Job Scope sections were overly extended
• The training section needed to have prominence
• Skill-based sections: The resume builder features dedicated sections highlighting essential customer service skills, including communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and relationship building.
• Expert review services: TopResume provides expert review services where experienced professionals offer personalized feedback and recommendations to enhance the overall quality of your resume.
• ATS compatibility: The platform ensures that the resumes created are compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which employers commonly use for scanning and filtering resumes.
• Download and sharing options: Users can download their resumes in various formats, such as PDF or Word, and easily share them with potential employers or upload them to job portals.
• Industry-Specific Tips: TopResume offers industry-specific tips and guidance to assist users in tailoring their resumes to the customer service field, helping them stand out among competitors.
• Cover letter builder: Besides resume building, TopResume provides a builder that empowers users to craft professional and compelling cover letters customized for customer service roles.
• Mobile accessibility: The platform is mobile-friendly, allowing users to create, edit, and update their resumes while on the go, using their smartphones or tablets.
• Entry level : Up to 200$.
• Professional level : Up to 200$-400$.
• Executive level : Up to $350-$700.

>> Use TopResume to Secure Your Dream Job

Resume Writing Services - Best Resume Builder for Affordability

Star Rating: 3.3/5

While Resumewritingservices.org may be a different size than its competitors, it stands out due to its team of talented and experienced resume writers. The website is user-friendly and provides exceptional service. However, this service’s true strength lies in its writers’ expertise.

Resumewritingservices.org sets itself apart by offering a comprehensive consultation process and goes beyond expectations by providing unlimited calls with its resume writers. This personalized approach distinguishes them from other companies and guarantees each client receives individual attention and support.

• Experienced resume writers of the highest caliber
• Unlimited phone consultations and revisions
• More expensive than rival services
• A limited range of products
• Skilled and experienced resume writers: Resumewritingservices.org takes pride in its team of highly trained and professional resume writers who possess a deep understanding of crafting effective resumes.
• Personalized service: Resumewritingservices.org offers a personal touch by providing unlimited calls with their resume writers. This unique feature allows clients to engage in direct communication and close collaboration with the writers throughout the resume creation process.
• Competitive job market expertise: The writers at Resumewritingservices.org have knowledge of current job market trends. This ensures that the resumes they create are optimized to excel in today’s fiercely competitive job market.
• Quality Assurance: The service maintains a rigorous quality assurance process to guarantee that the resumes delivered to clients meet the highest standards and align with their expectations.
• Timely delivery: Resumewritingservices.org is committed to delivering resumes within the agreed-upon timeframe, ensuring clients receive their documents promptly.
• Client satisfaction guarantee: Resumewritingservices.org offers a client satisfaction guarantee, assuring clients are fully content with the final resume. The service is ready to provide revisions if necessary.
• Affordable pricing: Resumewritingservices.org provides pricing options that are competitive and transparent, making professional resume writing accessible to a wide range of job seekers.

Resumewritingservices.org employs a pricing system that is clear and easy to understand for their resume-building services. The initial package begins at $270 , including a comprehensive consultation with a skilled resume writer and developing an individualized resume.

They offer extra options that enable customers to personalize their packages based on their unique preferences. This adaptable pricing strategy guarantees that clients can choose the services that align with their requirements and financial constraints.

>> Use Resume Writing Services to Secure Your Dream Job

Craft Resumes - Best Resume Builder for Quick-Turnaround

Star Rating: 3/5

Craft Resumes stand out as a well-established writing and editing service known for its ability to deliver effective outcomes. Our dedication to providing a 24-hour turnaround guarantees you’ll receive the initial version of your resume promptly.

Navigating our user-friendly website is effortless, making it easy to use our services. At Craft Resumes, we specialize in crafting customized resumes to match your skills, qualifications, and aspirations for your career.

• Speedy completion
• Customized CVs
• Intuitive site
• Insufficient details
• Absence of assurances
• Quick turnaround: Craft Resumes commits to delivering the initial draft of your resume within 24 hours, ensuring a speedy and efficient service.
• Expert Writers: Craft Resumes prides itself on its team of experienced writers who possess expertise across various industries and stay up-to-date with current hiring trends. They’re dedicated to making your resume stand out and catch the attention of potential employers.
• Unlimited revisions: We provide unlimited revisions to guarantee your complete satisfaction. If you have specific changes or additions in mind, our team will collaborate with you closely to implement the modifications.
• Confidentiality and Privacy: At Craft Resumes, we prioritize the confidentiality and privacy of your personal information. You can trust that your data will be handled securely and with the utmost discretion.
• Tailored resumes: We specialize in tailoring resumes to align with your career objectives, industry, and job requirements. Each resume is personalized to accentuate your unique strengths and qualifications.
• Resume Writing : $229.00
• Basic : $279.99
• Optimal : $339.99
• All-In-One : $499.99

>> Use Craft Resumes to Secure Your Dream Job

Resume Companion - Best Value Resume Builder

Star Rating: 2.8/5

Resume Companion is a virtual platform and service that specializes in aiding individuals in creating resumes that are professional and impactful. It offers an array of resources and tools to assist job seekers in crafting interesting resumes that effectively showcase their skills, experiences, and qualifications.

A prominent feature of Resume Companion is its user-friendly resume builder. This tool allows users to select from various professionally designed templates and personalize them based on their specific requirements.

Users can effortlessly incorporate their personal information, employment history, educational background, skill set, and other pertinent details to produce a customized resume tailored to their needs.

• Intuitive user interface
• High-quality templates
• Efficiency-boosting functions
• Cost-effective choice
• Restricted editing features without subscription
• Absence of extensive customization options
• Limited availability of extra services
• Cover letter builder: Resume Companion goes beyond resumes and provides users with a tool for crafting customized cover letters tailored to specific job applications. This feature guides users through the process, helping them effectively present their qualifications and make a compelling case to prospective employers.
• ATS optimization: In today’s job market, many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. Resume Companion helps users ensure their resumes are ATS-friendly. The platform offers valuable tips and insights on incorporating relevant keywords, formatting the document correctly, and increasing the likelihood of passing through the ATS screening process.
• Educational resources: Resume Companion extends its services by offering an informative blog and educational materials that cover various aspects of resume writing, job search strategies, interview techniques, and career development guidance. These resources provide users with valuable insights and advice to help them create impressive resumes and enhance their job search efforts.
• Download and sharing options: Upon completing their resumes, users can conveniently download their documents in multiple formats, including PDF and Word. Resume Companion also makes it easy for users to share their resumes online or print them offline.
• Customer support: Resume Companion values user satisfaction and offers customer support to assist with users’ questions or concerns while utilizing the platform. Users can access support through email or the platform’s contact form.

Resume Companion provides a cost-effective solution for individuals seeking an all-inclusive service. It’s vital to remember subscription renewal is required to access future editing services. In summary, Resume Companion offers a wallet-friendly option for those who desire a user-friendly resume-building experience without needing advanced writing abilities.

>> Use Resume Companion to Secure Your Dream Job

Our Ranking Methodology for Best Resume Writing Services

To comprehensively and objectively rank the top resume writing services, it is essential to have a thorough methodology. The first step in this process was conducting extensive research and analysis. This involved gathering a comprehensive list of reputable resume-writing services from multiple sources such as online searches, customer reviews, industry directories, and personal recommendations.

• Feature analysis: Evaluate the functionalities provided by each resume builder, considering elements like template variety and quality, customization flexibility, user-friendly editing and formatting options, import/export capabilities, spell check and grammar tools, and integration with job search platforms and professional networks.
• Template collection: Examine the assortment and quality of templates. Look for a wide range that suits various industries, job levels, and design preferences, considering these templates’ aesthetics, readability, and contemporary design.
• Editing and customization: Scrutinize the adaptability and user-friendliness of the editing and customization tools each resume builder provides. Assess the capacity to add or modify sections, reorganize content, and tailor resumes to specific job requirements.
• User interface and experience: Analyze the user interface and the overall user experience each resume builder offers. Evaluate the ease of navigation, instruction clarity, guidance or prompts, and the platform’s responsiveness.
• Integration with job search platforms: Determine whether resume builders offer seamless integration with popular job search platforms and professional networks like LinkedIn or ATS systems. Consider how well the resumes can be transferred and their compatibility with these platforms.
• Additional resources: Evaluate if the resume builders provide extra resources such as sample resumes, tools for creating cover letters, interview tips, or career advice. Consider the breadth and practicality of these supplementary resources.
• Mobile-friendliness: Gauge the mobile-friendliness and responsiveness of the resume builders, recognizing the growing trend of mobile job searching and application processes.
• Customer support: Reflect on the accessibility and quality of customer support services, encompassing options like live chat, email support, or knowledge bases. Assess the responsiveness and helpfulness of the support team.
• Pricing and value for money: Appraise the pricing plans presented by the resume builders in terms of the value they offer based on features, usability, and overall service quality.
• Industry reputation: Consider the standing and trustworthiness of the resume builders, considering factors such as awards, recognition, partnerships, and user feedback from reputable sources.

Buyer’s Guide: Why Use a Resume Builder?

Crafting a well-crafted CV comes naturally to particular job seekers. However, even the most seasoned experts may need help in resume writing. If you find yourself in need of help with creating a compelling resume, here are several ways in which the best online resume builder can be beneficial:

Resume builders provide users with pre-designed templates and helpful tips, streamlining the process of writing a resume and alleviating stress.

Offers Writing Tips

Promoting oneself requires considerable effort. Only some people possess writing skills, even if they enjoy self-promotion. To showcase one’s experience and knowledge effectively, a resume builder can help select the most appropriate words and phrases.

Improves Design

In every field, there are unique standards for an impressive resume. If you need to gain knowledge in design or the tools, resume builders can provide free templates to enhance your resume’s visual appeal and quality.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Recruiters often use ATS systems to scan resumes. A good resume builder will help with formatting to ensure that your resume is easy for these systems to read.

What’s the Best Resume Builder?

The ideal resume builder for each individual may differ according to their specific requirements. If you prefer a tool that offers step-by-step guidance in creating your resume, we suggest using a builder that provides helpful tips and recommendations. If you prefer a resume builder that auto-generates a summary, we recommend using a tool that extracts information from your LinkedIn profile.

For those who enjoy having creative control over their resumes, we suggest using a platform with features. By selecting the resume builder that aligns with your needs and suits your industry and personal style, you’ll significantly increase your chances of capturing the attention of hiring managers.

Resume Builder vs. Resume Writing Service: What Matters for You

When it comes to crafting a resume, there are three options available. You can opt to create it independently, use a resume builder tool, or enlist the services of a professional resume writer. Your best choice will depend on your writing abilities, available time, and financial resources.

Do-It-Yourself

You have the choice to construct a resume entirely by yourself. The benefit of this option is that it costs nothing but requires a significant amount of effort. Along with composing all the information, you must possess graphic design skills.

This approach works well if you have these abilities, but with them, your options for creating a resume are unlimited. To overcome this limitation, you can use a resume builder or enlist the help of a resume writing service.

Resume Builder

A tool for creating resumes allows you to input your details into a template, resulting in an original appearance and layout with no design work. The top resume building tools also offer suggestions on enhancing your resume and tailoring it to match the specific job you are applying for.

While you are still responsible for writing the content, once it is written, you can quickly transfer that information into any other template with just a few simple clicks. Some of these services are free and many like to promote themselves as such, but most require a small payment to download your finished resume.

Professional Resume Writing Service

Professional resume writing services are expensive, but they offer the convenience of handling all the work for you. An experienced writer will gather relevant information about your background and transform it into a unique and engaging resume.

The process typically takes a few days, and the level of originality in the outcome largely relies on your choice of company and writer. However, we will not delve into these services further in this guide.

Are Resume Builders Worth It?

Definitely, without a doubt. An effective resume creator will guarantee that your CV is formatted correctly to navigate Applicant Tracking Systems and ultimately reach the hands of recruiters.

Is It Unprofessional to Use a Microsoft Word Resume Template?

Relying on a template will not set you apart, and there is a high likelihood that your application will be dismissed because your resume is identical to those of other job seekers.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right resume builder is crucial in today’s competitive job market. Creating a professional and impactful resume that stands out from the crowd can significantly impact your job search. With the right tool, you can save time, improve your chances of landing an interview, and ultimately secure your dream job.

When selecting a resume builder, consider your specific needs and priorities. Look for features like customizable templates, industry-specific examples, and the ability to export your resume in different formats. Consider user reviews and ratings to ensure you choose a reputable and reliable platform.

Remember, an exceptional tool for crafting resumes should give you the power to present your skills, experience, and accomplishments effectively. It should simplify and expedite creating a resume without hassle. Investing in a reliable resume builder is investing in your professional future.

Therefore, explore the different options available for resume builders. Test out their free trials or demos and choose the best fit for your objectives. Our top recommendation is Super Star Resume . This meticulously designed resume can open doors to exciting career prospects and be a dependable companion on your journey toward success.

Ahad Waseem is a business, blockchain, and cybersecurity writer who often takes on art, politics, and economics too. As a linguistic engineer who writes to solve problems, he’s written for various tech and business publications. When he’s not writing, he’s probably on horseback, caring for his houseplants, or training Bonsai trees. He can be reached at [email protected] . McClatchy’s newsrooms were not involved in the creation of this content. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links.

©2023 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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What Researchers Discovered When They Sent 80,000 Fake Résumés to U.S. Jobs

Some companies discriminated against Black applicants much more than others, and H.R. practices made a big difference.

By Claire Cain Miller and Josh Katz

A group of economists recently performed an experiment on around 100 of the largest companies in the country, applying for jobs using made-up résumés with equivalent qualifications but different personal characteristics. They changed applicants’ names to suggest that they were white or Black, and male or female — Latisha or Amy, Lamar or Adam.

On Monday, they released the names of the companies . On average, they found, employers contacted the presumed white applicants 9.5 percent more often than the presumed Black applicants.

Yet this practice varied significantly by firm and industry. One-fifth of the companies — many of them retailers or car dealers — were responsible for nearly half of the gap in callbacks to white and Black applicants.

Two companies favored white applicants over Black applicants significantly more than others. They were AutoNation, a used car retailer, which contacted presumed white applicants 43 percent more often, and Genuine Parts Company, which sells auto parts including under the NAPA brand, and called presumed white candidates 33 percent more often.

In a statement, Heather Ross, a spokeswoman for Genuine Parts, said, “We are always evaluating our practices to ensure inclusivity and break down barriers, and we will continue to do so.” AutoNation did not respond to a request for comment.

Companies With the Largest and Smallest Racial Contact Gaps

Of the 97 companies in the experiment, two stood out as contacting presumed white job applicants significantly more often than presumed Black ones. At 14 companies, there was little or no difference in how often they called back the presumed white or Black applicants.

Source: Patrick Kline, Evan K. Rose and Christopher R. Walters

Known as an audit study , the experiment was the largest of its kind in the United States: The researchers sent 80,000 résumés to 10,000 jobs from 2019 to 2021. The results demonstrate how entrenched employment discrimination is in parts of the U.S. labor market — and the extent to which Black workers start behind in certain industries.

“I am not in the least bit surprised,” said Daiquiri Steele, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama School of Law who previously worked for the Department of Labor on employment discrimination. “If you’re having trouble breaking in, the biggest issue is the ripple effect it has. It affects your wages and the economy of your community going forward.”

Some companies showed no difference in how they treated applications from people assumed to be white or Black. Their human resources practices — and one policy in particular (more on that later) — offer guidance for how companies can avoid biased decisions in the hiring process.

A lack of racial bias was more common in certain industries: food stores, including Kroger; food products, including Mondelez; freight and transport, including FedEx and Ryder; and wholesale, including Sysco and McLane Company.

“We want to bring people’s attention not only to the fact that racism is real, sexism is real, some are discriminating, but also that it’s possible to do better, and there’s something to be learned from those that have been doing a good job,” said Patrick Kline, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley, who conducted the study with Evan K. Rose at the University of Chicago and Christopher R. Walters at Berkeley.

The researchers first published details of their experiment in 2021, but without naming the companies. The new paper, which is set to run in the American Economic Review, names the companies and explains the methodology developed to group them by their performance, while accounting for statistical noise.

Sample Résumés From the Experiment

Fictitious résumés sent to large U.S. companies revealed a preference, on average, for candidates whose names suggested that they were white.

To assign names, the researchers started with a prior list that had been assembled using Massachusetts birth certificates from 1974 to 1979. They then supplemented this list with names found in a database of speeding tickets issued in North Carolina between 2006 and 2018, classifying a name as “distinctive” if more than 90 percent of people with that name were of a particular race.

The study includes 97 firms. The jobs the researchers applied to were entry level, not requiring a college degree or substantial work experience. In addition to race and gender, the researchers tested other characteristics protected by law , like age and sexual orientation.

They sent up to 1,000 applications to each company, applying for as many as 125 jobs per company in locations nationwide, to try to uncover patterns in companies’ operations versus isolated instances. Then they tracked whether the employer contacted the applicant within 30 days.

A bias against Black names

Companies requiring lots of interaction with customers, like sales and retail, particularly in the auto sector, were most likely to show a preference for applicants presumed to be white. This was true even when applying for positions at those firms that didn’t involve customer interaction, suggesting that discriminatory practices were baked in to corporate culture or H.R. practices, the researchers said.

Still, there were exceptions — some of the companies exhibiting the least bias were retailers, like Lowe’s and Target.

The study may underestimate the rate of discrimination against Black applicants in the labor market as a whole because it tested large companies, which tend to discriminate less, said Lincoln Quillian, a sociologist at Northwestern who analyzes audit studies. It did not include names intended to represent Latino or Asian American applicants, but other research suggests that they are also contacted less than white applicants, though they face less discrimination than Black applicants.

The experiment ended in 2021, and some of the companies involved might have changed their practices since. Still, a review of all available audit studies found that discrimination against Black applicants had not changed in three decades. After the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, such discrimination was found to have disappeared among certain employers, but the researchers behind that study said the effect was most likely short-lived.

Gender, age and L.G.B.T.Q. status

On average, companies did not treat male and female applicants differently. This aligns with other research showing that gender discrimination against women is rare in entry-level jobs, and starts later in careers.

However, when companies did favor men (especially in manufacturing) or women (mostly at apparel stores), the biases were much larger than for race. Builders FirstSource contacted presumed male applicants more than twice as often as female ones. Ascena, which owns brands like Ann Taylor, contacted women 66 percent more than men.

Neither company responded to requests for comment.

The consequences of being female differed by race. The differences were small, but being female was a slight benefit for white applicants, and a slight penalty for Black applicants.

The researchers also tested several other characteristics protected by law, with a smaller number of résumés. They found there was a small penalty for being over 40.

Overall, they found no penalty for using nonbinary pronouns. Being gay, as indicated by including membership in an L.G.B.T.Q. club on the résumé, resulted in a slight penalty for white applicants, but benefited Black applicants — although the effect was small, when this was on their résumés, the racial penalty disappeared.

Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discrimination is illegal even if it’s unintentional . Yet in the real world, it is difficult for job applicants to know why they did not hear back from a company.

“These practices are particularly challenging to address because applicants often do not know whether they are being discriminated against in the hiring process,” Brandalyn Bickner, a spokeswoman for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said in a statement. (It has seen the data and spoken with the researchers, though it could not use an academic study as the basis for an investigation, she said.)

What companies can do to reduce discrimination

Several common measures — like employing a chief diversity officer, offering diversity training or having a diverse board — were not correlated with decreased discrimination in entry-level hiring, the researchers found.

But one thing strongly predicted less discrimination: a centralized H.R. operation.

The researchers recorded the voice mail messages that the fake applicants received. When a company’s calls came from fewer individual phone numbers, suggesting that they were originating from a central office, there tended to be less bias . When they came from individual hiring managers at local stores or warehouses, there was more. These messages often sounded frantic and informal, asking if an applicant could start the next day, for example.

“That’s when implicit biases kick in,” Professor Kline said. A more formalized hiring process helps overcome this, he said: “Just thinking about things, which steps to take, having to run something by someone for approval, can be quite important in mitigating bias.”

At Sysco, a wholesale restaurant food distributor, which showed no racial bias in the study, a centralized recruitment team reviews résumés and decides whom to call. “Consistency in how we review candidates, with a focus on the requirements of the position, is key,” said Ron Phillips, Sysco’s chief human resources officer. “It lessens the opportunity for personal viewpoints to rise in the process.”

Another important factor is diversity among the people hiring, said Paula Hubbard, the chief human resources officer at McLane Company. It procures, stores and delivers products for large chains like Walmart, and showed no racial bias in the study. Around 40 percent of the company’s recruiters are people of color, and 60 percent are women.

Diversifying the pool of people who apply also helps, H.R. officials said. McLane goes to events for women in trucking and puts up billboards in Spanish.

So does hiring based on skills, versus degrees . While McLane used to require a college degree for many roles, it changed that practice after determining that specific skills mattered more for warehousing or driving jobs. “We now do that for all our jobs: Is there truly a degree required?” Ms. Hubbard said. “Why? Does it make sense? Is experience enough?”

Hilton, another company that showed no racial bias in the study, also stopped requiring degrees for many jobs, in 2018.

Another factor associated with less bias in hiring, the new study found, was more regulatory scrutiny — like at federal contractors, or companies with more Labor Department citations.

Finally, more profitable companies were less biased, in line with a long-held economics theory by the Nobel Prize winner Gary Becker that discrimination is bad for business. Economists said that could be because the more profitable companies benefit from a more diverse set of employees. Or it could be an indication that they had more efficient business processes, in H.R. and elsewhere.

Claire Cain Miller writes about gender, families and the future of work for The Upshot. She joined The Times in 2008 and was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for public service for reporting on workplace sexual harassment issues. More about Claire Cain Miller

Josh Katz is a graphics editor for The Upshot, where he covers a range of topics involving politics, policy and culture. He is the author of “Speaking American: How Y’all, Youse, and You Guys Talk,” a visual exploration of American regional dialects. More about Josh Katz

From The Upshot: What the Data Says

Analysis that explains politics, policy and everyday life..

Employment Discrimination: Researchers sent 80,000 fake résumés to some of the largest companies in the United States. They found that some discriminated against Black applicants much more than others .

Pandemic School Closures: ​A variety of data about children’s academic outcomes and about the spread of Covid-19 has accumulated since the start of the pandemic. Here is what we learned from it .

Affirmative Action: The Supreme Court effectively ended race-based preferences in admissions. But will selective schools still be able to achieve diverse student bodies? Here is how they might try .

N.Y.C. Neighborhoods: We asked New Yorkers to map their neighborhoods and to tell us what they call them . The result, while imperfect, is an extremely detailed map of the city .

Dialect Quiz:  What does the way you speak say about where you’re from? Answer these questions to find out .

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Learn more about the federal hiring process.

Below is an overview of the federal hiring process. This process is in place to make sure all applicants receive fair and equal opportunity.

Create a USAJOBS profile

First, create and complete your profile to apply for any job on USAJOBS.

With a USAJOBS profile, you can save jobs, automate job searches, and manage everything you need to complete your application, including resumes and required documents.

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It's best to sign into your profile before searching. Why? We can use your information to improve your job search results.

You can also use filters such as location, salary, work schedule or agency to narrow your results.

Review the job announcement

If you find a job you're interested in, read the entire announcement to determine if you're eligible and meet the qualifications. It's important to read the announcement because there are required qualifications you must meet and include in your application.

Prepare your application in USAJOBS

Read the How to Apply section of the job announcement before starting your application. Click Apply , and we'll walk you through a five-step process where you'll attach a resume and any required documents.

During the application process, you can review, edit and delete your information. We'll automatically save your progress as you go so that you won't lose any changes.

Submit application to the agency

When your application is ready, you'll be directed from USAJOBS to the hiring agency's system to submit your application. Before you submit, you may need to complete other agency-required steps such as a questionnaire or uploading additional documents.

The time it takes to submit depends on the job you are applying for and the hiring agency's requirements.

You can check your application using the Track This Application link in your USAJOBS profile or contact the hiring agency listed on the job announcement.

Transition to agency

Agency reviews application.

The hiring agency begins reviewing applications when the job announcement closes. The hiring agency will review your application to make sure you're eligible and meet the qualifications for the position.

The hiring agency will place applicants into quality categories. Those placed in the highest category are sent to the hiring official.

The hiring official will review the highest qualified applications and select applicants to interview based on agency policy. The hiring agency will contact applicants directly to schedule interviews.

You may be interviewed by a panel, in-person, video or phone interview, and there may be more than one interview round. For example, an applicant may have a phone interview and then an in-person interview.

Scheduling an interview may take some time, depending on the number of applicants to interview.

Agency selects candidates

After all interviews are completed, the agency will select a candidate(s) and contact them to start the job offer process.

For those not selected, the hiring agency will update the job's status to Hiring Complete .

What jobs can you apply for?

Hiring paths help you understand what jobs you are eligible to apply for and why. You may fall under multiple hiring paths.

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