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Grantham University Career Center

Military-to-Civilian

Transition Manual2012

Dear Service Member, I would first like to thank you for your service to our Great Country in the form of your dedicated Military Service. A new world is opening up for you now. I am honored to receive the opportunity to assist you with this process. You will find that your military service and experience is highly sought after in the civilian world. Many employers attempt to recruit their employees directly out of the military because of the quality of training, work experience, ethic, and professionalism that are linked with your military experience. With great pride, Grantham University considers itself a “military friendly” institution. This manual is another way that we are able to give something back to you, a service member of our Great Military. Today, there are four major barriers to soldiers getting employed quickly within their chosen professional field:

• The branding information that they put forth into their resume does not match their career tools or their professional goals.

• Many soldiers’ job search tools tend to be outdated and non‐functional

• Many soldiers do not build a professional civilian network ahead of time; therefore, they are unable maximize the use of their connections to obtain information about the “hidden job market”

• Many soldiers do not utilize civilian job search sites to their fullest potential

It is the intent of this manual to assist you in combining your military training, experience, achievements and awards with your education to create functional job search tools, and to arm you with information so that you are able to conduct a productive and successful job search within your chosen profession. Grantham University has been serving the needs of working adults and military members for over 60 years. We pride ourselves on being a military friendly institution. We want to help our military members and veterans in any way that we can. Therefore, please feel free to keep my contact information and contact me any time with questions. Sincerely, Shanna M. Fowler Career Services Manager Grantham University Phone: 1-800-955-2527 ext. 280 Fax: 1-866-752-6028 E-mail: [email protected]

Table of Contents

Topic: Page Number:Transition Process 1

Separation Checklist 2 Career Testing 3-4 Professional Branding 5-6 Creating an Online Professional Presence 7-9 Building Your Online Profile Using LinkedIn 10-13

Sample LinkedIn Profile 14-15 Joining Professional Associations 16-17 Civilian Resumes 18-26

Sample Civilian Resumes 27-30 Civilian Cover Letters 31-34

Sample Cover Letters 35-37 Federal Resumes 38-44

Sample Federal Resume 45-47 Federal Cover Letters 48-51

Sample Federal Cover Letter 52-53 Professional Portfolios 54-58

Sample Electronic Professional Portfolio 59-74 Worksheets 75-82

KASE 76 Career Qualifications Research Worksheet 77 Career Planning Worksheet 78 Branding Worksheet 79 Application Tracking Form 80 Interview “Cheat Sheet” 81 Personal and Professional Reference Sheet 82

The Transition Process within the Military

There are many steps in the transition process, especially within the individual military branches. The process changes from branch-to-branch, and is different for each individual. In many cases, the service member is asked to make a list of where they would like to transition out of, and then the military will review its own needs and transfer the military member according to those needs. This is one way that the military helps the service member get ready for their civilian job search with little out of pocket expense to the service member. Depending on the branch, this transfer can take place years prior to the service member’s separation date.

The Transition Assistance Programs (TAPs) are one way that the military can assist you in preparing for your civilian transition. Each branch has a unique version of their TAP program, and there is a chart below for you to refer to the appropriate branch’s TAPs program:

Branch� TAPs�Program� Website�Army� ACAP�(Army�Career�and�Alumni�

Program)�http://www.acap.army.mil/aww/transition_assistance/tran

s_assist.cfm�Air�Force� TAP�(Transition�Assistance�

Program)�http://www.afcommunity.af.mil/transition/�

Coast�Guard� TAP�(Transition�Assistance�Program)�

http://www.uscg.mil/worklife/transition_assistance.asp�

Navy� TAP�(Transition�Assistance�Program)�

http://www.cnic.navy.mil/CNIC_HQ_Site/WhatWeDo/FleetandFamilyReadiness/FamilyReadiness/FleetAndFamilySupp

ortProgram/TransitionAssistance/index.htm�Marine� TAMP�(Transition�Assistance�

Management�Program)�http://www.usmc�mccs.org/tamp/index.cfm?sid=ml�

DoD� TAP�(Transition�Assistance�Program)�

http://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/transition�assistance/�

While the military does all it can to assist in positioning you for a successful civilian job search, there are some items that you will need to start doing up to two and a half years prior to your separation date. Below, you will find a checklist of items that you will need to complete up to 36 months prior to your separation date.

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Separation Checklist

Military Separation Date: MM/DD/20YYTask Recommendations Actual Start Date Completion Date

Take Career Test 36 Months prior to your separation date

Begin creating your brand 36 Months prior to your separation date

Establish an online professional presence 36 Months prior to your separation date

Create a LinkedIn Profile to build your professional network

36 Months prior to your separation date

Join professional groups and associations for networking purposes


Create and Maintain your Career Warehouse (Master Portfolio)


Research the civilian requirements for your chosen field.


Research companies associated with the field and create a “Top 5” list


Create a clear and measurable Job Search Plan


Begin creating/building your professional brand on your social networking sites


Complete and Maintain your Qualifications Inventory (KASE)


Create your Federal Resume 18 Months prior to your separation date

Create a matching Federal Cover Letter to match your resume


Create your profile on USAJobs 18 Months prior to your separation date

Create your Civilian Resume 15 Months prior to your separation date

Create a matching Civilian Cover Letter to match your resume


Create your profile on selected civilian job search sites


Begin networking with individuals that are employed by employers on your “Top 5” employers list


Begin your passive Federal Job Search 13 Months prior to your separation date

Begin your passive Civilian Job Search 12 Months prior to your separation date

Begin your aggressive Federal Job Search 6 Months prior to your separation date

Begin your aggressive Civilian Job Search


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Career TestingCareer Testing is not a new concept. Career Testing is widely utilized by many companies as part of their hiring process, and many staffing firms utilize them in order to properly place individuals. Transitioning military members and veterans are very unique because you tend to be highly skilled in multiple areas; therefore, the question is ‘where will you be the happiest at’. In order to effectively answer this question, many times you will need outside resources, such as career tests. There are many career tests, and many are at no cost, whereas others have a small fee associated with them.

The purpose of the career tests is to find out what your strengths are, how those strengths will help you in social settings, settings that are good for you, and based on your strengths the types of fields that you would likely enjoy. There are many career tests that are online, and not all tests are reputable; therefore, I have included a listing below of some common career tests that I have had experience utilizing:

Test�Name� About�the�Exam� Fee�(If�Known)� Link�to�Exam�Page�CareerTest.net� Test�determines�

personality�type�and�correlates�careers�based�on�your�personality�type�results.�

No�Fee� http://www.careertest.net/��

CareerPath.com� Correlates�careers�based�on�colors�or�other�indicators,�which�represent�interests,�values,�and�skills�with�available�positions�on�CareerBuilder.��

No�Fee;�however,�there�are�a�few�more�advanced�tests�that�do�have�fees.�

http://www.careerpath.com/career�tests/��

MyNextMove� Sponsored�by�O*NET�(Department�of�Labor),�the�test�is�an�interest�profiler�that�correlates�interests�with�career�fields,�and�provides�the�individual�with�results�that�are�by�educational�attainment.�

No�Fee� http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip��

StrengthsFinder� The�test�looks�for�your�professional�strengths�by�asking�you�about�professional�situation.��The�results�are�generally�five�professional�strengths,�and�the�corresponding�book�expands�upon�the�strengths.��

No�fee�if�you�purchased�the�book;�however,�if�you�have�not�purchased�the�book,�there�is�a�small�fee.�

http://www.strengthsfinder.com/home.aspx�

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Remember, your career test results are only as accurate as the information that you put into the test; therefore, remember that the test is a tool for you to utilize to begin planning your career path, and is not something that has to be advertized within the workplace.

As our interests change, so will our career test results, which is why we can be happy for years in one position, and then suddenly the position no longer brings us the same happiness. Career tests are a tool that we utilize to gauge our interest and skill level within a specific career field; however, it is up to the individual to create a clear plan to get to the career goal listed (if that is something that the individual is interested in pursuing).

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Professional Branding

In today’s job market, an employer wants to know the applicant before they are hired, and they want to know the applicant’s skill level. Applicants have to do things that will set them apart, and applicants must be able to market themselves effectively in order to quickly obtain a position. This professional marketing is called Branding, and Branding is the name of the game in the current job market.

Branding is not something that is done quickly, your brand is something that has to be nurtured continuously, and it must be continuously added upon. You want your brand to have a clear message about you, professionally, and your professional knowledge. You want to build and expand your brand so that it is recognized by professionals within your field and by employers.

Branding is at the heart of professional networking; therefore, the first task that you want to complete is to modifyall of your social networking sites to ensure that all your sites are sending out consistent messages about you, professionally. The last thing that you want to happen is to have an employer confused due to the personal messages that you are sending out on social networking sites like: Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace; therefore, you want these sites to be consistent with your other branding tools (professional networking sites, web pages, blogs, etc.).

In addition to sending out consistent messages, you will want the content of each social networking profile to be professional in nature. This is very important, as there have been several cases where current, and in one case recently a future employee, wrote disgruntled messages about a company, and they were then terminated by said company, or the offer of employment was withdrawn. Don’t include any content, including pictures and wall postings that you would not want a current or future employer to view at their leisure. You want your professional brand to say that you are professional, knowledgeable, educated, and a skilled individual that has extensive experience within your chosen professional field.

It has long time been said that it is not what you know or how many people you know, it is all about who you know. This same principle pertains to people and associations that you choose to affiliate yourself with; therefore, make sure that the people that you formally associate yourself within in your professional networking groups are professional and respectable, and make sure that you are affiliated with associations that are going to benefit you and your brand. Associations are great tools that will assist you in developing your professional brand an expanding your network.

A great example of how a professional association assists in the development of a professional brand and expanding an individual’s professional network is SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management). SHRM assists professionals in the development of their brand because it is a highly respected association within the Human Resources field, especially because of all of the professional development opportunities that it provides its members. In addition to all of the professional development opportunities and career specific information that the association provides its members, the association also has an internal social networking tool that allows human resources professionals to expand their professional network online, as well as through live in-person events.

Branding is more than having an online presence; it is also about being able to network and being able to communicate your skills, experience, and knowledge to other professionals in a very short amount of time. You want the content that you convey verbally to other professionals to coincide with the content that you have put out for the world in the form of social networking sites, and other online tools.

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In order to effectively create and maintain your brand, you should create the following statements that should also be mentioned in detail within your online presence:

� 30�35�second�explanation�of�what�you�do�� 30�35�second�explanation�of�your�professional�goals�� 30�35�second�explanation�of�your�current�plans�to�attain�your�professional�goals�stated�� 30�second�explanation�of�your�professional�history�(The�Highlights�relating�to�how�you�got�to�where�you�

are�now)�� 10�second�statement�of�your�current�projects�

The above statements are called Elevator Statements, which means that you should be able to get through the content of the explanations within a short elevator ride, and you should be able to get the same information from the party in which you are sharing the elevator ride within the same elevator ride. These statements also come very useful in an interview setting because you rarely want your answers to exceed 35 seconds within a first interview, unless the interviewer is asking for a detailed explanation.

It is important that you keep the messages conveyed in your Elevator Statements consistent with the messages that you are sending out in your online presence. Consistency is the key, and consistency will make you more memorable and many people will consider you more of a professional if the messages that you send out are consistent with your written messages. This skill directly correlates with your verbal and written communication skills, which are highly sought after skills by many employers.

Branding will take time to complete, and it is up to the professional to decide how they are going to proceed. The remaining portions of this section will focus on how to create and maintain an online professional presence, and how to create profiles and how to be active in professional networking communities like LinkedIn. The previous three items are crucial in the development of your professional brand, and they should be tools that you utilize frequently to maintain your professional brand.

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Creating an Online Professional Presence

Most people have some sort of online presence; however, they tend to have a personal online presence, not a professional online presence. When looking for a job, employers will view your personal online profiles as well as your professional online profiles; therefore, it is important that your general online presence is giving the same message whether the profile is professional or personal.

In order to maintain a professional online presence, it is important that you remove any content from all of your social networking sites that you do not want a potential employer to see. Please keep in mind that your photos are generally viewable to employers, as well; therefore, don’t forget to remove any pictures that you don’t want an employer to see. Prospective employers will review your personal and professional profiles to get a general idea of how you will fit in with their company and/or departmental culture.

When you are branding yourself and creating an online professional presence, you want to have the same message for each of your social networking sites, including: Twitter, MySpace, and Facebook. To better create a professional presence, it is good to have a professional website and a professional blog that attaches to your social networking sites. You can link your website and blog to your social networking sites, especially if you begin to write articles that are related to your career field. The purpose of the blog and website is to show the world that you are a true professional within your field.

Creating a website is incredibly easy, especially with all of the website builders online. The most common method is through Yahoo because of their advanced webpage builders, and their previous association with GeoCities. I have included a list of some of the more common web hosting sites and services below:

Hosting�Site� Pricing�Information�

Includes�Domain?�

Link�

JustHost.com� $4.45�(Promotional�Price)�

Yes� http://www.justhost.com/�

iPage� $4.25�(Promotional�Price)�

Yes� http://www.ipage.com/ipage/index.html�

FatCow�Green�Hosting�

$4.67�(Promotional�Price)�

Yes� http://www.fatcow.com/fatcow/special�promo.bml?offer=INMAN&LinkName=No_Name�

Inmotion�hosting�

$5.95�(Promotional�Price)�

Yes� http://www.inmotionhosting.com/�

Hub� $4.95�(Promotional�Price)�

Yes� http://www.webhostinghub.com/�

BlueHost� $6.95� Yes� http://www.bluehost.com/�IXWebHosting.

com�$4.95�(Promotional�

Price)�Yes� http://www.ixwebhosting.com/�

HostMonster� $5.95� Yes� http://www.hostmonster.com/�Yahoo�Small�

Business�$7.45� Yes� http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting��

IPower� $4.95�(Promotional�Price)�

Yes� http://www.ipower.com/ipower/index.bml�

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Building a website increases your online professional presence, and it allows you to further build your professional brand. You can utilize blogging features, email domain features (if the webhosting company offers that feature), and you can even send out newsletters to help further build your brand. Remember, the better your brand is built and the more well known you are amongst your peers within your field, the easier it will be to get a job within the “hidden job market”.

There are other methods to building your professional online presence other than social networking, building a website, and maintaining a professional blog, and one of those methods is to join professional associations. Many professional associations have online social networking tools and applications that are hosted within their Members Pages. This tool allows you to connect with association members, and the association members are generally other professionals within your career field. Many hiring managers will post positions within the Member Only Pages of a professional association, and will utilize the social networking tools provided within the site to review association members in order to locate potential candidates for their open positions; therefore, the utilization of the association social networking tools provides you with another method to tap into the “hidden job market”.

Building your brand is not just limited to the building of web pages and consistent information on your personal social networking pages; it is also for your professional networking pages as well. The most well known professional networking site is LinkedIn; however, there are many more professional networking sites that you could benefit from, and I have included a list of those below:

Site�Name� Purpose� Link�Biznik� Community�of�entrepreneurs�and�

small�businesses�http://biznik.com/��

Cofoundr� Community�for�entrepreneurs,�programmers,�designers,�investors,�and�individuals�who�are�involved�in�the�process�for�starting�up�new�ventures.�

http://cofoundr.com/��

E.Factor� Online�marketplace�comprised�of�entrepreneurs�for�entrepreneurs.�

http://www.efactor.com/��

Ecademy� Business�network�for�professionals�to�create�and�maintain�contacts�while�sharing�knowledge.�

http://www.ecademy.com/��

Entrepreneur�Connect�

Online�communities�for�entrepreneurs�to�connect,�communicate,�and�share�their�knowledge.�

http://econnect.entrepreneur.com/��

Fast�Pitch� A�business�network�and�platform�where�professionals�can�market�business�and�connect.�

http://www.fastpitchnetworking.com/��

Networking�for�Professionals�

A�professional�business�network�that�provides�the�platform�for�online�networking�with�the�in�person�networking�through�events.�

http://www.networkingforprofessionals.com/��

LinkedIn�(Most�Common)�

Online�professional�networking�platform�that�allows�collaboration�and�connection.�

http://www.linkedin.com/��

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You do not have to limit yourself to one networking site, as you can create and maintain multiple online profiles. Please keep the following in mind: the more profiles that you have, the more work you must do to ensure that the information is up to date and the more work you have to do to stay active within the online communities.

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Building Your Online Profile Using LinkedInMany people think of LinkedIn as an electronic resume, and some even consider LinkedIn as an electronic portfolio. People consider it an electronic resume because all of the information provided is the same type of information provided on a resume submitted to a potential employer. Many people consider it to be an electronic portfolio because it includes affiliations (generally in the form of groups) and professional recommendations. Because it does contain similar information to a resume, many employers will recruit from LinkedIn, and they will review applicant’s LinkedIn pages if they are able to.

Remember, if you have a LinkedIn page, you have a public presence online; therefore, when building your online LinkedIn profile, there are several items that you must keep in mind:

1. The�profile� is� visible�publically,�meaning� that�anyone� that� “Googles”� your�name�could�potentially� find�your�profile.�

2. Many� recruiters� and� hiring� managers� are� turning� to� professional� networking� sites,� like� LinkedIn� as�potential� recruiting� arenas;� therefore,� keep� this� as� professional� as� you� would� your� resume� and�professional�portfolio,�as�this�is�considered�your�professional�reputation.��

There are many professional networking sites, as you saw in the previous section; however, the most common is LinkedIn because it is cost effective and widely utilized within the United States, as well as internationally. Because LinkedIn is the most widely utilized professional networking site, the information going forward will be specific to your professional profile on LinkedIn.

The first thing that you will need to know about creating a profile on LinkedIn is that there is not a fee for creating and maintaining a professional profile, nor is there currently a fee for being actively taking a part within the professional networking groups. There is a cost to have more “advanced profiles”. Having an “advanced profile”generally means that your profile meets one of the following criteria: has exceeded a specified number of group memberships (50 is generally the limit), and/or you have signed up (generally when you created your profile) to utilize their employment center where they market you by sending your information throughout their network and having your information appear higher than non-paying members in employer searches.

Creating the profile on LinkedIn is quite easy, you will sign up much the same way you would any other social networking site; however, please bear in mind that employers will see your email address and other information. Because potential employers will see this information, please make sure that all information, including your email address, is professional in nature and supports the professional brand and message that you are portraying.

The initial LinkedIn sign-up process is very easy; however, making your profile 100% is a little more complicated. The easiest place to start is at the beginning; therefore, gather your employment history.

You will need the following items regarding each employer:

� The�employer’s�name�� The�City�and�State�of�the�employer�� Your�starting�and�ending�dates�� The�Career�Field�� A�summary�of�your�duties�and�accomplishments�� Your�professional�goal�or�mission�statement�� A�summary�of�your�employment�

o Number�of�years�within�a�specific�field�o Know�your�specialties�

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Entering your employer’s information is the easy part; however, when you detail your summary of duties and accomplishments, make sure that you are painting a positive professional portrait of yourself. You will want there to be a reoccurring theme of work ethics, values, accomplishments and even duties in your position summaries. For instance, if you are employed within the Labor Relations field of Human Resources, you will want the labor relations theme to run within the applicable job summaries. You may also want themes, such as: honesty, integrity, enforcement of regulations, company culture, communication, etc.

Just like with your resume, you will want to enter your employment information in reverse chronological order. This means that your present employer will be the first employer seen closest to the top of the section, and your oldest employer will be closer to the bottom of your profile.

After you have entered your employment information, you will want to enter your formal education. You should start with your current degree that is in-progress, and then enter the completed degrees in the order of highest attained degree to lowest attained degree. If you wish, for networking purposes, you can include your high school graduation information on your LinkedIn profile. When listing your education, don’t forget to include associations and activities that you participated in; however, I would recommend not including professional associations that give away your sexual orientation and your religious practices, as these are private and have no place on a professional public profile.

After you have entered your employment and educational history within LinkedIn, you should begin your profile summary. Remember, the profile summary will be the first item that an individual sees (just below your name) upon viewing your public profile; therefore, think of this as your Qualifications/Skills Summary on your resume. You will want to highlight your professional experience and the number of years of experience within a specific field that you have. You will also want to enter your professional goals and aspirations here to let the world know what you are setting out to do, professionally. Listing specialties is designed to assist you in being viewed/found in key word searches conducted by other LinkedIn members and even in “Google” searches completed by non-members. Including the specialties brings another level of professionalism to your profile; therefore, I would recommend including specialties within your profile.

Remember, this is an electronic resume; therefore, you do want to include any honors or awards received. Those that are in the military should have a very extensive Honors and Awards section because each award, commendation, and medal should be listed in this section.

Each profile has a “Settings” area at the bottom of the profile. These settings can be very tricky because employers have different thoughts on different settings. For the most part, your settings should not change. The only settings that could change several times are whether or not someone should contact you regarding “CareerOpportunities” and “Job Inquiries”. These are also the settings that many employers disagree on. Many employers will only recruit a potential candidate if they are not looking for career opportunities; however, others will not contact a potential candidate unless they state that they want to be contacted for “Career Opportunities”or “Job Inquiries”. There have been instances where individuals have received more offers and contacts if they are not looking for another position; however, the reverse has also been true.

There are many other sections that are optional because they pertain to specific career fields; therefore, please feel free to add them if they pertain to you. Adding additional fields like Achievements and Experiences may help you in the long run; however, make sure that you are as specific as possible regarding the information entered. Generally speaking, if you add these fields, they are managed by LinkedIn applications; therefore, make sure that you are utilizing the applications in a way that is going to present you in the best professional light.

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Many individuals have extreme difficulty getting their profile to 100%; therefore, I have included some basic information that a LinkedIn member will need in order to bring their profile to 100%:

� Have�your�current�job�listed�� Have�at�least�two�previous�positions�listed�in�your�employment�history�� Have�your�educational�history� listed� (you� should� list�degrees� in�progress�or� institutions� that�you�have�

attended�and�have�transferrable�credit�from�if�you�do�not�have�any�completed�degrees)�� You�need�to�have�a�completed�Profile�Summary�� Upload�a�professional�photo�(this�photo�will�be�able�to�be�viewed�by�anyone�who�views�your�profile)�� Include�your�professional�specialties�� Have�at�least�3�recommendations�from�other�LinkedIn�members�(You�will�generally�request�these�from�

your�professional�connections,�and�it�is�appropriate�for�you�to�reciprocate�a�recommendation�when�one�is�written�for�you.)�

The purpose of LinkedIn is for professionals to connect with each other, and even share information. In order to do this, professionals need a forum; therefore, LinkedIn has the Groups feature. Anyone, including associations, can create a group within LinkedIn for professionals to connect and discuss relevant issues related to their career field. Each group will have differing membership settings; therefore, if you join a group and your “Groups Page”shows that the membership is “pending”, this not abnormal.

It is best to join groups that are going to allow you to network with other individuals within your career field. You can locate these groups through key word searches within the “LinkedIn Search Feature”. Once you find a group that is of interest to you, you will click on “Join” and it will take you to a group settings page. You will want to make sure that your settings are appropriate for the group and for the type of notifications that you’d like to receive.

If you are a member of professional organizations, you will want to make sure that you join their LinkedIn groups. Joining their groups allows you to interact with group individuals and be privy to information that may not be on the association site yet, which gives you an edge over other professionals that are not part of the field. Joining the group is also another way for you to network with other members and be active within the group setting.

Groups offer a variety of benefits. One benefit is the networking capabilities and the social interactions between you and other group members within the discussion forums, events, and webinars. Another great benefit is that many hiring managers will post open positions within a group for individuals within the group to apply for. This is part of what many recruiting professionals call “the hidden job market”. An advantage of applying for a job this way is that you are a familiar individual because you are a member of the same group as the hiring manager. That hiring manager can not only view your profile, but they can also review your discussion postings and responses to get a “feel” for your skill level and level of professional knowledge. In a case where you are a member of the same LinkedIn group as the hiring manager that you have applied with provides the potential employer with several writing samples and a general “feel” for the type of verbiage that you utilize on a regular basis, which potentially speaks for whether or not you’d fit within the company culture.

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Participating within groups is highly important. If the information that you provide is accurate and helpful, many individuals may decide to follow you within the group, or even connect with you. This “following” tactic allows you to build and expand your professional network very quickly. This practice of participating in discussions and events also is branding opportunity for you. The content that you post within LinkedIn, or any social networking site, should coincide with the professional image that you want portrayed about yourself. If you want to be known as a professional within your field, you must participate in discussions and show the professional field that “youknow your stuff”. You can prove that through interactions, webinars, networking events, and even your public profile.

Many groups and associations will have local chapters within specific areas that have regular meetings. If you join a local group within LinkedIn that does have regular meetings within an area, you will want to use your judgment regarding safety and make sure that you take measures to ensure your own safety, such as notifying someone at home where you will be and what time you will be back.

LinkedIn is a type of electronic resume, and it does have features that allow you to utilize your profile in such a way. For example, the profile does have a tool that will allow you to view and download your profile in a .PDF file format. You will notice that the document that is downloaded is similar to a resume, and it does have your recommendations on a separate page, as it tells the reviewer that “# recommendations available upon request”. I have included a copy of the PDF File from my public profile at the end of this section. The profile also has a feature that allows you to share your profile with other users of LinkedIn to help you increase your connections and to remind your existing connections to update and maintain their profiles.

LinkedIn does have features that allow you to utilize it like an electronic professional portfolio. For instance, it has the letters of recommendations that are available for anyone to see that is visiting your public profile. There are features that allow you to post projects and items that you may include in a Creative Portfolio. There are also applications that allow you to collaborate on documents. There are many applications that you can add to the profile to truly make your profile an electronic portfolio, and each item that you add allows a connection, or outside reviewer in some cases, to view more of your work, knowledge, and experiences.

Remember, LinkedIn is a professional social networking tool; therefore, it is important that you are responsible when adding information and files to your profile. Once content is added to the site, it is difficult to remove because the item is often cached into the site and will not be removed until the cache is cleared. You should only include information and files that you would want a potential, or even current, employer to see.

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Shanna FowlerCareer Services Manager

Summary5 Years of Human Resources and Employment Recruiting experience5 Years of Retail Management experience5 Years of Higher Education experience5 Years of Student Services Experience3 Years of Career Services Management experience

It is my goal to provide quality information to students to make them successful in utilizing theircredentials within their own job search.

SpecialtiesStudent Services, Career Services Management, Student Retention, Employee Recruitment,Customer Service

ExperienceCareer Services Coordinator/Manager at Grantham UniversityJanuary 2006 - Present (5 years 3 months)

Currently manages Grantham University's Career Services Program. Duties include: reviewing andupdating Career Services' materials and resources on a designated schedule, make changes to thematerials as needed, reviewing the usage of all services to determine the services used the mostand to determine the reason that other services are not being used, creating and updating alltraining materials for the program on a designated schedule. In addition to creating andmaintaining all Career Services' materials, I also create, market, and facilitate all Webinars forcurrent students and graduates to attend for their own professional development.5 recommendations available upon request

Cash Manager at Barnes and NobleSeptember 2007 - March 2009 (1 year 7 months)

Balanced all drawers and store safe. Tracked shortages and overages to review whether or nottrends are appearing for specific employees and customers to ensure shrink is managed, and evenreduced. Managed and trained a staff of 10. Handled any store complaints and managed storereturns.

Customer Service Representative at T-MobileJune 2005 - January 2006 (8 months)

Answered incoming customer service calls regarding the following: billing inquiries, technical

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problems, service issues, phone upgrades, and plan/usage reviews.

Cash Manager at CompUSAAugust 2003 - June 2005 (1 year 11 months)

Managed a staff of 20. Balanced all drawers and safe. Directly responsible for reducing storeshrink through proper training and vigilance. Handled all chargebacks between credit cardcompanies and the store. Responsible for training all new hires. Managed applicant database andwas responsible for phases one through three of interview process (application, applicationreview/call backs, and first interview).

Rides Lead/Office Clerk at Worlds of FunApril 2002 - October 2003 (1 year 7 months)

Managed a crew of 37 for three seperate rides. Responsible for disciplinary action, training, andcommunicating processes to team. Also responsible for interviewing, hiring, and terminating parkemployees in the Park Operations Department. In this position, I was responsible for maintainingan employee and applicant database.

EducationGrantham UniversityBachelors of Science, Multi-Disciplinary Studies, 2009 - 2011

Grantham UniversityAssociates of Arts, Multi-Disciplinary Studies, 2006 - 2009

LIBERTY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLHigh School Diploma, General, 1998 - 2002Activities and Societies: Future Business Leaders of American (FBLA), Advanced Debate,Advanced Forensics, and Student Council

Honors and AwardsGrantham University Service Award July of 2006Grantham University Chairman's Award December of 2008Grantham University Student Advising Award June 2010

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Joining Professional AssociationsWe discussed professional associations previously in the online networking and branding sections of this manual; however, we did not discuss how to select professional associations and what goes into joining professional associations. We will be addressing these subjects and other subjects within this section.

Selecting the professional associations that you would like to be a member of can be tricky, especially if you are not sure how to find the associations. Looking for a listing of associations can be as easy as a Google search; however, selection on which association to select can be a little more difficult. Most associations will have a member cost associated with them; therefore, you will want to review the cost of the membership versus the benefits that you will receive as a member.

Before joining a professional association, will want to know if they offer some of the following benefits:

� Discounts�on�professional�certifications�� Professional�development�opportunities�� Access�to�discounted�professional�certifications�� Webinars�� Member�only�resources�and�publications�� Access�to�member�only�content�pertaining�to�your�profession�and�news/changes�that�are�occurring�in�

the�profession�currently�� Networking�opportunities�� Networking�tools�� Annual�conferences�� Conventions�and�Symposiums�� Mailed�publications�

Generally speaking, your membership fee will not be significant; however, the fee will generally merely grant you access to member-only content and provide you discounts on events, certifications, conventions, etc. The purpose of joining professional associations is to obtain the most up-to-date information pertaining to your profession and to give you the opportunity to attend events and conferences that can easily turn into excellent networking opportunities.

Many universities, including Grantham University, have student chapters of professional associations. These provide an invaluable resource to students, as they provide a forum where association members can have professional development opportunities facilitated by professionals of that field and even have another engagement opportunity with their instructors.

If a professional cannot join a student chapter of a professional association, most cities have local professional chapters that one can join. Most of these local chapters will also have a membership fee, and they will generally meet on a monthly basis, maybe more frequently depending on the organization. Most associations will have professional development opportunities available to attendees at each meeting. These opportunities are not only great opportunities to professionally develop within your field, but they are also great networking opportunities, as these professional local chapters are a large window into the hidden job market. Many times, potentially vacant positions are discussed and even unveiled at these events prior to the positions being formally posted on an organization’s website or even a local online job board, like Monster and CareerBuilder.

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There are many professional associations associated with every career field imaginable; however, I have made a small listing of larger associations associated with common degree programs and professions below:

Human�Resources� Financial� Computer�Science� Engineering� Criminal�Justice�SHRM� ABA� ISACA� ACM� IACP�NHRA� AFP� CHMBA� ASEE� ACA�PIHRA� AAA� ACM� ASME� NAPPO�

CUPA�HR� FPA� CCIA� IEEE� AJA�HCI� SFSP� ICCA� � FEDcia�ERA� IMA� CompTIA� � IPA�ASTD� AAFA� AITP� � NSA�

��

� � � �

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Civilian Resumes

The first step to writing a resume is to decide who and what you are writing your resume for, your “TargetMarket”. You must consider your audience and consider the type of experience that the receiving party would like in their ideal candidate, you can find this information in the job description. For many military service members, this means translating your training, awards, achievements, and experience into verbiage and terminology that the civilian world can relate to.

The key item that you must keep in mind when writing your resume is time. A typical recruiter and hiring manager will receive 900 or more resumes for a posted position, and that number can be higher if the job was posted on a job board site like Monster or CareerBuilder. Because of the sheer number of resumes received, it is highly important that your resume be organized, concise, and easy for the reviewer to skim through, as the average reviewer only spends 5 seconds skimming any given resume received for an open position. Throughout the process of writing your resume, keep the matter of time in mind: 5 seconds is all you have to impress a potential employer.

The first step to doing this is to electronically record all of your awards, accomplishments, training and experience (If Applicable) in one document (Example: KASE Worksheet). This document could be a Word or Excel document. We will use this document later when creating your actual, career-specific, resume. You should keep the information short (Example: Supervised up to 30 employees, Proficient with de-escalating situations, Expert in Microsoft Office Programs, Experience coaching employees in a team environment, etc ). Within this same document, you will want to record all of your supplemental skills that you possess (Example: HighlyOrganized, Good People Skills, Professional Demeanor, Fair, Courteous, etc). The last set of information that will be kept in this document are descriptive action verbs that describe some of your duties within your employment history (Examples: analyzed, budgeted, chaired, coached, edited, established, improved, introduced, motivated, organized, persuaded, reported, researched, reviewed, saved, solved, supervised, trained, translated, wrote, etc).

The second step is the fun part! You get to decide the type of career that you want to break into. This is the fun and creative part of the job search, so think “outside of the box”. You need to first decide on the career field, which will probably be a field linked to the type of degree program that you are currently completing or may have already completed. You are able to utilize your results from the career test that you previously took for guidance in this area, should you choose to. The next step is to narrow down the actual career that you want to seek within that broad career field. For instance, Computer Science is a very large career field that contains careers like: Computer Programming, Computer Networking, Information Technology, Information Security, Project Management, etc. You will want to narrow down to a range of three to five careers within a given career field. You will be working with one of these careers at a time from this point forward.

Once you have decided on your desired career(s) within the given career field, you will want to begin determining why you want to get into that particular field. If it is merely to utilize your military experience and training within the civilian world, or even a specific company, then write that down (Example: I want to break into the Human Resources Field because I want to utilize my people skills to make an organization the one of the best places to work in the area). We are going to use this information to create your objective statement later on.

The next step is to decide which awards, accomplishments, training, and military experience are relevant to the career that you have chosen to target your resume towards. Remember, your resume is not your application, it is merely a reflection of your skills and experience within a specific career or career field. The goal of the resume is to get you in the door for an interview with a specific company, hiring manager, or a specific job. You will complete the actual application, which will contain your employment history, during the initial employment screening process (initial interview) with your potential employer.

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We will now begin writing objective statements. You will want to brain storm statements that are linked to the career field using the statements that you recorded earlier regarding why you want to break into the specific career. Remember, your objective statement is telling the employer the career field that you are breaking into and what skills you bring to that field and to the employer. In employer specific resumes, you will want to tell the employer exactly why you want to work for them and the skills that you uniquely possess that would be a remarkable asset to their organization and its mission.

The objective statement is the first sentence that an employer will read about you; therefore, it needs to catch their eye so that they will want to read what other skills you possess that could potentially be assets to their organization. This statement should be short and should, in some ways, mirror the job description’s overall theme and purpose. When writing this statement, you will want to add some powerful action verbs that you recorded in your document discussed at the beginning of this process (KASE Worksheet). Many employers will merely complete database searches with some of their desired key words; many times these key words do include the company name and position title. Often times, the database search will only pull up your resume if the desired key word is in the objective statement.

Objective Statement Example:

“To utilize my ten years of labor relations and recruiting experience combined with my formal education to attract the right talent and retain existing employees in the role of Human Resource Supervisor at XYZ

Company.”

There is an alternative to writing an objective if you are uncomfortable writing an objective statement at this time; however, in today’s market it is not a bad thing to have the objective statement and the alternative on your resume. The alternative objective is merely listing the career field/job title below your name on the resume.

Objective Alternative Examples:

Shanna Fowler Shanna Fowler Shanna Fowler Shanna Fowler Project Manager Computer Programmer Recruiter Trainer

I highly recommend doing both objective types because the objective statement is a great way to personalize your resume towards a specific job and company, and the alternative quickly lets the recruiter decide who to forward your resume to.

We will now begin compiling a list of skills that you have to bring to your future employer. To do this, you must understand what skills the employer is looking for. According to recent Career Builder Hiring Manager and Employer Surveys, employers are seeking the following skills: Communication (Oral and Written), Honesty, Integrity, Interpersonal Skills, Motivation, Initiative, Strong Work Ethic, and Team Work Skills.

Professional Skills Profile Example 1:

� 11�years�of�human�resources�experience� � Excellent�organizational�skills�� Over�5�years�of�retirement�benefits�experience� � Familiar�with�regulations�relating�to�benefits�� Over�3�years�of�employment�benefits�experience� � Polished�verbal�and�written�communication�skills�

Education is one of the most important parts of your resume because it can solidify your knowledge and experience, but it can also hurt your application if you provide too much information. Many times applicants will provide too much information by providing their high school graduation date, which allows the recruiter and hiring manager enough information that they can accurately calculate your age within two years, which can leave you open to agism.

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Education Section Example 1:

Grantham University Kansas City, MO Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Expected Completion Date: 04/2011 Sample High School Kansas City, MO High School Diploma Completed

Your Education section should only include your formal education completed at an accredited college and/or university. The section should not include professional training and certifications, as these should have their own sections within your resumes. In many fields, professional training and certifications are just as important as your formal education and experience; therefore, these need to be proximately listed in your resume.

Professional Certifications Section Example 1:

Professional Certifications Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Completed: 01/2011 Professional Human Resources (PHR) Completed: 12/2008

Professional Certifications Section Example 2:

Professional Licensures and Certifications � Firearms�License� � Conceal�and�Carry�License � Peace�Officer�License�

Professional Associations � Missouri�Peace�Officers�Association�

� Professional�Law�Enforcement�Association�(PLEA)�

� American�Federation�of�Police�and�Concerned�Citizens�(AFP&CC)�

If you have military experience, that experience already gives future employers a good idea that you meet the before preferred skills, because Leadership and Communication skills are skills that the military prides itself on. These are also skills that should be listed in this section. Other examples of skills that could be listed are as follows: Advanced Excel, Advanced Word, Advanced Outlook, Advanced Access, Advanced Power Point, Programming C, Programming in C++, Programming in HTML, Oral Presentation, Organization, Computer Networking, Written Communication, etc. Begin compiling all of your skills in an Excel document.

The final step is to select a template. Most employers like to see resumes within a template format within Word because it organizes the information more efficiently. There are many ways to locate a template. The first, and preferred way is to create your own template using the template tool within Microsoft Word. The second way is to complete a resume search within Microsoft Office Online (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/) and download a pre-made template. The third, and final way, is to complete a search online and select a template at one of the many resume sites. Some templates found online are free, others will charge a fee for each template that you want to view and download.

No matter the template that you select, make sure that your job duties and your accomplishments associated with each position are highlighted appropriately. Many times, applicants do not give a complete image of the job, which confuses the potential employer. Make sure that your job duties put your position accomplishments in context, as this helps answer the employer’s question of ‘what’s in it for me’.

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Professional Experience Example Entry 1:

Labor Relations Manager 01/2007-Present XYZ Technologies Kansas City, MO Directly responsible for ensuring that the XYZ Technologies was in full union compliance, as well as federal and state compliance. To ensure compliance with all three entities, became highly entrenched within compliance regulations, and created several systems designed to update and verify that company polices were directly in line with union rules, as well as federal and state labor regulations.

Accomplishments Duties �Created�a�continuous�schedule�for�policy�creation�and�updates,�and�created�clear�policy�approval�process�to�ensure�compliance�with�regulations.�

�Created�and�maintains�a�positive�relationship�with�union�representatives�to�maintain�consistent�communication�between�all�parties.�

�Created�a�Human�Resource�Manual�for�managers,�in�order�to�assist�them�with�their�questions�about�internal�policies�and�procedures.�

�Advised�managers�on�handling�individual�personnel�issues�in�manner�that�was�legal,�ethical,�and�in�line�with�established�rules.�


Employee Benefits Administrator 05/2007-Present ABC Technologies Kansas City, MO �Worked�with�financial�organizations�and�insurance�companies�to�put�together�the�employee�benefits�package�for�current�employees,�and�created�procedures�for�COBRA�with�insurance�carriers.�

�Quickly�resolved�any�employee�problems�with�the�retirement�package�or�the�insurance�plans�with�the�individual�venders,�and�that�the�resolution�was�fair�to�the�employee�and�within�agreed�upon�policies.�

�Coordinated�all�annual�reviews�and�directly�processed�all�employees’�timecards�with�ADP,�changes�in�pay,�processing�new�employees,�terminations,�and�employee�changes�to�tax�filing�status.�


Highway Patrol Officer 12/2008-Present Missouri State Highway Patrol Kearney, MO

Accomplishments and Awards Duties �1�of�3�officers�selected�to�train�recruits�in�the�on�the�job�training�component�of�Highway�Patrol�Academy.�

�Coordinates�with�state�and�federal�law�enforcement�agencies�to�locate�and�detain�persons�of�interest.�

� Liaison�between�MO�Highway�Patrol�and�Federal�Agencies�due�to�polished�communication�skills��

�Enforces�state�and�federal�highway�laws�to�ensure�the�safety�of�citizens�and�motorists.�

�Received�a�commendation�for�accurate�reporting.� �Often�the�first�responder�to�highway�accident�scenes.�

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If you download a template to use, remember that thousands of people have likely downloaded that same template; therefore, make sure that you make the template your own by changing aspects of it. You can change the font, you can add tables, and you can even change the order of the sections. Again, keep in mind that yourresume is a unique professional portrait of you; therefore, your unique skills and experience shouldn’t fit within just any resume template, so make a resume template that fits to your personal skills and experiences.

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Anatomy of a Civilian Resume

Contact Information:

1. Full Name (You can only include your middle initial if you’d like)2. The type of professional that you are (Example: Human Resources Professional) - This really helps the

reviewer quickly know where to forward your document prior to reading your objective statement.3. Mailing Address (Recruiters often verify this information in a specialized verification tool; therefore,

make sure that you list the address where you receive your mail.)4. Telephone number (Day Time Phone Number) – Never include your desk phone at your current job,

unless you are applying for a promotion within your current organization.5. Email address (Primary email address) - Do not include your employer’s email, this should be a personal

email address; however, the exception to this rule is again if you are applying for a promotion within your current organization. The email address that you provide should be professional (Example: [email protected]).

Objective:

This should be one sentence, and the Objective Statement should be position, even company specific. The statement should include Key words and Action words that may show up on an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) search.

There are two primary parts of an Objective Statement, and they are as follows:

1. General Qualifications a. Could be Experience b. Could be Skills c. Could be Education

2. Professional Goals and/or Aspirations a. Could be as simple as attaining the job that you are applying for b. Could be as complex and specific as having an goal that you’d like to accomplish in the position,

if hired.

Note: You can find those key words and action words in the job description, and employers often use the company name and position title as Key Words for the ATS System.

Skills Profile:

Just like the objective statement, you will want to use key words linked to the position that you are applying for. This is an ideal section for you to include computer skills and other technical skills. The employer will likely have a skill-set of their perfect candidate in mind; therefore, you can utilize the job description itself to uncover these ideal skills for their perfect candidate. By doing this, you show that you could potentially be very close, in skills, to their perfect candidate.

Note: You should only include 6-8 skills/qualifications in this section.

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Education:

Your education should be listed in reverse chronological order, or highest attained degree to lowest attained degree. If you are currently working on a degree, you will want to list that information at the top with your “expected graduation date”. To prevent age discrimination, do not list your high school graduation date, unless the employer requests the information. Requesting high school graduation information is not uncommon for companies that handle confidential or government information.

Make sure that you include the following information related to each educational milestone achieved:

1. Name of institution 2. City and State 3. Degree (Example: Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration) 4. Graduation Date or Expected Graduation Date

1. As an alternative to the date, you can just state the word “Completed” for this section

Note: To prevent age discrimination, do not list your high school graduation date. If you believe that a graduation date leaves you open to ageism, you can just list the word “Completed” in place of the graduation date.

Professional Training:

You can have a major Training heading or you can have an Education and Professional Training heading, and then have Education as a subheading and Professional Training as another subheading. Both methods are highly utilized; therefore, it is a matter of which method best compliments your skills and experiences.

If you have a lot of training, make sure that you are only listing the training that is relevant to the position. Try to limit the training that you list to 3-6 training entries.

The training entries should mirror your Education entries in certain ways; therefore, the entries should include the following sections:

1. Training Title2. Completion Date

If you earned a certificate, you will put the name of the certificate in place of the training title and will want to adjust to “Professional Training” subheading to the following: “Professional Training and Certificates”.

Note: The training and certifications listed in this section should be relevant; therefore, try to include professionally related training and certifications, and try to make sure that the information listed is within 10 years. There are exceptions to the 10 year rule depending on the type of training and certification; therefore, use your best judgment.

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Experience:

This is traditionally where one would list their professional work experience that is relevant to the position that they are applying for. This is the section of your resume where you are telling the employer that you know your field well by showing the positions that you have held that have prepared you for the duties and responsibilities of the position in which you are applying for.

There are three acceptable ways to list this information:

1. Employment/Work History: If you utilize this heading, the reviewer is going to expect to see every position that you have held and have been paid for. This heading is generally only seen on some types of federal resumes; however, sometimes a job description will ask for this specific information on all resumes submitted to them. The order should be reverse chronological order.

2. Professional Experience: If you utilize this heading, the reviewer is going to expect to see every position that you’ve held that is relevant to the position that you are applying for. Relevancy is usually determined by similar duties and how long ago the position was held. Generally speaking, the positions listed in this section should only go back 5-7 years and no more than 10 years. The order should be reverse chronological order.

o If you have military and civilian professional experience, you may want to have two sub-headings under your “Professional Experience” heading: Related Civilian Experience and Related Military Experience.

� The first sub-heading should be the one with the most recent professional experience. 3. Experience: Prior to utilizing this header, please note that this is the broadest of all of the acceptable

headers. Within this header, you can list your professional experience, and experience gained through other avenues, such as: Military Experience, Contracting Experience, Professional Work Experience, Internships, Volunteer Experience, Course Work, Course Projects, etc. Because this section is so broad, if you include experience attained by avenues other than professional experience, you will want to “sign-post” these to make it easier for the reviewer to understand where the experience was attained from. Allentries should be listed in reverse chronological order.

o Note: If you include course projects in this section, it is a good idea to include a copy of the final project in your portfolio.

Achievements:

Detail specific milestones that you achieved that can be quantitatively measured. For Example: Increasedrevenue by 35% by instituting an electronic communication process.

There are two ways to highlight your achievements:

1. Have a specific section for it just under your Skills Profile. The problem with this method is that it could leave the recruiter/hiring manager guessing where the achievement occurred, which can likely land your resume in the “round file”.

2. Have a sub-heading for achievements/accomplishments under each employment heading within your experience section on your resume. This method shows the recruiter/hiring manager where the achievements occurred and allows them to have a visual image on your resume that you consistently go above and beyond your assigned duties.

a. Note: If you use this method, I recommend utilizing the Table Tool in word processing application to create two columns- the first one to the left would be for Accomplishments and the second one to the right would be for duties. You want the accomplishments on the left because we read from left to right; therefore, the reviewer will notice your accomplishments prior to your job duties.

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Membership, Affiliations, and Certifications:

You can adjust the section title accordingly (Examples: “Memberships and Affiliations”, “Certifications”, “Affiliations and Certifications”, “Memberships and Certifications”. etc); however, this section should give an employer the perception that you are connected within your profession, and that you are consistently trying to improve yourself professionally by corresponding with individuals within your profession and obtaining further professional certifications.

Because employers do want their employees connected to others within their profession, many employers will review your professional social networking profile to see what groups you belong to, how active you are in those groups, and to merely view your profile to see who you are connected to and what you state that you are doing.

Often times, especially if you have certifications, this section will be with education or professional training. Many times, people will rename their Professional Training subheading to Professional Certifications, and this is an acceptable alternative.

Again, the presentation of this section varies by how this section best puts your unique skills and experience in context to your reviewer (recruiter /hiring manager).

Note: Make sure that you exclude any information that may be used to discriminate against you in this section.

References:

Remember, you don’t have to list your references in the References section unless the job description specifically asks for your references. Keep in mind, you want to protect the personal information of your references; therefore, it is inadvisable to keep the contact information of your references with their names on a generic resume stored online.

To avoid listing their personal information, but to keep the References heading, it is more common to find the below statement in this section instead of references because it lets the reviewer know that you do have references and they need to ask you for the contact information of those references:

“References will be furnished upon request.”

Tips on Formatting the Resume Document:

�Use your space effectively and maintain alignment �Remember, your margins are not set in stone �Use the table tool in Word to maximize your space �Use bullets to keep information easily “skimable”

Length:

Remember; think of your resume as a marketing flyer to potential employers. If you think of the document this way, remember that flyers should only be one page because people don’t spend a lot of time reading them. These same basic concepts also apply to your resume. Try to keep your resume to one page because the reviewer will only likely spend 5-15 seconds reviewing the document.

If the resume is longer than two pages, the recruiter will not read it, and your resume is likely to be filed in the “round file”.

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Jane�DoeHuman�Resources�Management�Professional�

7200�NW�86th�Street� Kansas�City,�MO� 64153 (816)�595�5759 [email protected]

Objective�To�utilize�my�ten�years�of�human�resources�experience�to�bring�about�a�positive�culture�and�increase�the�employee�retention�to�above�85%�within�XYZ,�Incorporated�in�role�of�Human�Resources�Manager.��

Summary�of�Skills��10�years�of�human�resources�experience� � Intermediate�MS�Office�skills��Attained�PHR�and�SPHR�Certifications� �Polished�verbal�and�written�communication�skills�

Education�Grantham�University� Kansas�City,�MOBachelor�of�Arts�in�Human�Resource�Management Graduation�Date:�01/2010Grantham�University� Kansas�City,�MOAssociate�of�Arts�in�Business�Administration Graduation�Date:�03/2007

Professional�Certifications�Senior�Professional�in�Human�Resources�(SPHR) Completed:�01/2011Professional�Human�Resources�(PHR)� Completed:�12/2008

Related�Human�Resources�ExperienceLabor Relations Manager 01/2007�PresentXYZ�Technologies� Kansas�City,�MODirectly�responsible�for�ensuring�that�the�XYZ�Technologies�was�in�full�union�compliance,�as�well�as�federal�and�state�compliance.��To�ensure�compliance�with�all�three�entities,�became�highly�entrenched�within�compliance�regulations,�and�created�several�systems�designed�to�update�and�verify�that�company�polices�were�directly�in�line�with�union�rules,�as�well�as�federal�and�state�labor�regulations.� � �

Accomplishments� Duties��Created�a�continuous�schedule�for�policy�creation�and�updates,�and�created�clear�policy�approval�process�to�ensure�compliance�with�regulations.�

�Created�and�maintains�a�positive�relationship�with�union�representatives�to�maintain�consistent�communication�between�all�parties.�

�Created�a�Human�Resource�Manual�for�managers,�in�order�to�assist�them�with�their�questions�about�internal�policies�and�procedures.�

�Advised�managers�on�handling�individual�personnel�issues�in�manner�that�was�legal,�ethical,�and�in�line�with�established�rules.�

Employee�Relations�Representative� 03/2004�01/2007CBA�Technologies� Kansas�City,�MOPosition�was�created�to�increase�communication�with�employees�and�to�reduce�the�employee�turnover�by�15%�within�one�year.��Created�and�maintained�relationships�with�employees�and�managers,�and�instituted�two�information�gathering�processes:�Employee�Survey�and�Exit�Interview�process.�

Accomplishments� Duties��Through�improved�communication�with�organizational�staff�and�management,�reduced�turnover�by�23%�within�the�first�year.�

�Worked�directly�with�individual�employees�to�resolve�any�issues�with�management�and�co�workers�through�mediation�methods.�

� Instituted�informational�gathering�processes�(Surveys�and�Exit�Interviews)�that�pushed�the�company�into�the�area’s�Top�10�Employers.�

�Worked�with�individual�employees�on�how�company�policies�could�positively�benefit�them�in�their�situation,�and�explained�policy’s�use.�

Personnel�Recruiter� 01/2001�03/2004ABC�Company� Kansas�City,�MOCompany�wanted�to�expand�current�staff�by�35%�and�wanted�a�employee�retention�rate�of�85%;�therefore,�I�utilized�online�job�posting�boards�and�put�into�place�assistance�and�discount�programs�so�that�employees�saw�value�in�their�employment�at�ABC�Company.�

Accomplishments� Duties��Created�and�maintained�an�EAP�Plan� � �Posted�open�positions�on�online�job�boards.��Created�communication�methods�that�increased�employee�morale�and�employee�retention�to�87%.�

�Screened�applicants�to�ensure�that�they�met�minimum�qualifications�and�scheduled�on�site�interviews.�

References�References�will�be�furnished�upon�request.

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27

mailto:[email protected]

Jane�Doe 7200�NW�86th�Street�Kansas�City,�MO�64153�

Human�Resources�Benefits�Professional (816)�595�5759�[email protected]��

Objective�To�apply�my�human�resources�and�benefits�experience�to�create�a�quality�benefits�package�for�XYZ�Technologies’Employees�and�to�ensure�compliance�with�federal�and�state�human�resource�regulations�in�the�position�of�HR�Generalist.�

Skills�Profile�� 11�years�of�human�resources�experience� � Excellent�organizational�skills�� Over�5�years�of�retirement�benefits�experience� � Familiar�with�regulations�relating�to�benefits�� Over�3�years�of�employment�benefits�experience� � Polished�verbal�and�written�communication�skills�

Education�Grantham�University� Kansas�City,�MOBachelors�of�Arts�in�Human�Resource�Management Graduation�Date: 02/2011�Grantham�University� Kansas�City,�MOBachelors�of�Science�in�Business�Administration Graduation�Date: 03/2009�

Professional�Certifications�Human�Resources�Generalist�Certification� Completed:�02/2011

Relevant�Professional�ExperienceEmployee�Benefits�Administrator� 05/2007�PresentABC�Technologies� Kansas�City,�MO�Worked�with�financial�organizations�and�insurance�companies�to�put�together�the�employee�benefits�package�for�current�employees,�and�created�procedures�for�COBRA�with�insurance�carriers.�

�Quickly�resolved�any�employee�problems�with�the�retirement�package�or�the�insurance�plans�with�the�individual�venders,�and�that�the�resolution�was�fair�to�the�employee�and�within�agreed�upon�policies.�

�Coordinated�all�annual�reviews�and�directly�processed�all�employees’�timecards�with�ADP,�changes�in�pay,�processing�new�employees,�terminations,�and�employee�changes�to�tax�filing�status.�

Employee�Retirement�Administrator� 06/2005�05/2007XYZ�Financial� Kansas�City,�MO�Created�ZYX�Technologies’�retirement�package,�and�managed�all�communications�regarding�the�retirement�package�to�employees.�

�Worked�with�individual�employees�to�explain�the�guidelines�and�regulations�of�the�retirement�plan�to�them,�and�how�the�benefit�plan�that�they�are�on�will�benefit�them�now�and�in�the�future.�

�Worked�with�individuals�that�had�notified�Human�Resources�that�they�were�retiring,�and�explained�how�they�could�maximize�the�use�of�their�plan,�and�how�to�benefit�from�the�plan�at�retirement.�

Employee�Relations�Representative� 04/2003�06/2005BBB�Industries� Kansas�City,�MO�Worked�directly�with�individual�staff�members�on�quickly�resolving�problems�with�co�workers�and�members�of�the�management�team�through�a�mediation�process.�

�Advised�management�on�techniques�to�protect�the�company�in�employee�disputes,�especially�any�disciplinary�action�or�any�situation�involving�payment�(timecard�issues,�project�pay,�bonus’,�etc)�

�Trained�employees�on�the�company’s�new�benefit�packages,�and�provided�instructions�to�employees�on�how�to�join�the�company’s�group�in�the�packages�presented.�

Personnel�Recruiter� 02/2000�04/2003ABC,�Incorporated� Kansas�City,�MO�Coordinated�with�departmental�managers�on�their�staffing�needs�and�their�vision�of�an�ideal�candidate,�and�posted�all�departments’�open�positions�on�online�job�boards.�

�Utilizing�key�word�searches�within�the�ATS�System�and�within�the�online�job�boards,�located�qualified�candidates�for�open�positions�within�the�company.�

� Initiated�contact�within�qualified�applicants�via�telephone,�and�facilitated�initial�phone�interview�and�then�proceeded�to�schedule�on�site�interview�with�the�hiring�manager(s).�


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28


Jane Doe�Business�Analyst

7200�NW�86th�Street� Kansas�City,�MO� 64153 (816)�595�5759� [email protected]

Objective� �

I�am�seeking�a�position�where�I�can�utilize�my�ten�years�of�project�management�and�analysis�experience�to�assist�in�the�development�of�quality�systems�and�general�procedures�as�a�Business�Analyst.��

Professional�Profile�

Skills��Over�13�years�of�IT�experience� �Excellent�verbal�and�written�communication�skills��Retired�U.S.�Air�Force�� Excellent�leadership�abilities��Skilled�with�programming�languages�� Extensive�reporting�and�project�management�experience�Technical�Skills�and�Expertise�

Languages� Reporting Software

� HTML� � C�and�C++� � MS�Office�Applications�(Including�Access) � Microsoft�Visio�� JavaScript� � PL/SQL� � Crystal�Reports � ERwin

Professional�Education�and�Training��

Education:�

Grantham�University� Kansas�City,�MO�Bachelor�of�Science�in�Computer�Science� Expected�Graduation�Date: 09/2011�

Professional�Certifications�and�Training�� CompTIA�A+� � CompTIA�Project+ � MCP�

Professional�Experience�

Project Manager 12/2006�PresentXYZ�Technologies� Kansas�City,�MO�� Reviewed�and�utilized�Crystal�Reports�to�track�successes�of�new�applications�on�productivity.� Utilized�Microsoft�Project�to�track�all�projects�and�to�ensure�all�tasks�were�completed�on�time�and�correctly.�� Managed�all�projects�relating�to�launching�new�applications�from�inception�through�the�implementation�process.

Sr.�Help�Desk�Analyst� 10/2003�12/2006AAA�Software�Development� Kansas�City,�MO�� Received�incoming�internal�calls�regarding�software�problems� Closed�existing�tickets�related�to�software�problems�by�resolving�the�issue�and�collaborating�with�the�individual�who�called�in�the�originating�problem�to�ensure�the�resolution�was�successful.�

� Utilized�Crystal�Reports�to�track�production�and�common�issues� Consulted with senior management regarding the implementation of new software applications, and the effect of theimplementation�on�existing�programs.�

Help�Desk�Analyst� 12/2002�10/2003ABC�Software�Development� Kansas�City,�MO�� Received�incoming�calls�regarding�software�and�hardware�problems.� Completed�basic�trouble�shooting�with�the�reporter.� Created�individual�tickets�for�each�issue.��Closed�the�tickets�that�were�resolved�by�trouble�shooting�and�escalated�tickets�that�were�not�resolved�by�trouble�shooting.�

Hardware�Technician� 11/1998�12/2002United�States�Air�Force�(Honorable�Discharge)� Knob�Noster,�MO�� Received�hardware�trouble�tickets�from�help�desk,�and�traveled�to�each�building�to�resolve�hardware�issue.�� Worked�with�soldiers�to�set�up�new�computers�and�to�resolve�known�hardware�and�software�issues,�including�software�set�up.

References�

References�will�be�furnished�upon�request.�

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29


John�ExampleLaw�Enforcement Professional

7200�NW�86th�St� Kansas�City,�MO 64153 (816)�595�5759 [email protected]

Objective�To�apply�my�eleven�years�of�law�enforcement�experience�combined�with�my�proven�leadership�abilities�to�ensure�the�safety�and�security�of�the�citizens�in�XYZ�City�as�an�XYZ�Police�Officer.�

Skills�Profile��11�years�of�law�enforcement�experience� �Polished�verbal�and�written�communication�skills��Retired�US�Army�(Honorably�Discharged)� �Excellent�leadership�abilities�� Successfully�completed�POST�Training� �Proven�track�record�in�successfully�training�recruits�

Education�Grantham�University� Kansas�City,�MOBachelor�of�Arts�in�Criminal�Justice�� Expected Graduation�Date:�04/2011Grantham�University� Kansas�City,�MOAssociate�of�Arts�in�Criminal�Justice� Graduation�Date:�02/2007

Professional�Licensures�and�Certifications� Firearms�License� � Conceal�and�Carry�License � Peace�Officer�License�

Professional�Associations�� Missouri�Peace�Officers�Association�

� Professional�Law�Enforcement�Association�(PLEA)�

� American�Federation�of�Police�and�Concerned�Citizens�(AFP&CC)�

Related�Professional�Law�Enforcement�ExperienceHighway�Patrol�Officer� 12/2008�PresentMissouri�State�Highway�Patrol� Kearney,�MO

Accomplishments�and�Awards Duties��1�of�3�officers�selected�to�train�recruits�in�the�on�the�job�training�component�of�Highway�Patrol�Academy.�

�Coordinates�with�state�and�federal�law�enforcement�agencies�to�locate�and�detain�persons�of�interest.�

� Liaison�between�MO�Highway�Patrol�and�Federal�Agencies�due�to�polished�communication�skills��

�Enforces�state�and�federal�highway�laws�to�ensure�the�safety�of�citizens�and�motorists.�

�Received�a�commendation�for�accurate�reporting.� �Often�the�first�responder�to�highway�accident�scenes.�

Related�Military�Law�Enforcement ExperienceUnited�States�Army�(Honorably�Discharged) 01/2000�12/2008Military�Police�Instructor�

Accomplishments�and�Awards Duties��Created�and�updated�modern�Military�Police�training�curriculum�for�enlisted�soldiers.�

� Letter�of�commendation�for�Military�Police�Curriculum�

�Created�and�maintained�Military�Police�Officer�Curriculum�in�accordance�with�current�laws,�rules,�regulations,�and�military�procedures.�

�Re�Created�all�Military�Police�training�curricula�in�both�English�and�Spanish.��

�Facilitated�instruction�of�classroom�courses�related�to�the�Military�Police�Officer�Training�Curriculum.�

�United�States�Army�Achievement�Medal��2�United�States�Army�Good�Conduct�Medals��3�Meritorious�Service�Medals�

�Through�clear�and�communicated�metrics,�determined�which�soldiers�would�progress�to�be�a�Military�Police�Officer,�and�who�would�need�alternative�training.�

Military�Police�Specialist�Accomplishments�and�Awards Duties�

�Rifle�Marksmanship�Medal��Pistil�Marksmanship�Medal�

�Communicated�disturbances�to�team�of�6�specialist�and�led�team�through�the�entirety�of�the�resolution.�

�United�States��Army�Good�Conduct�Medal��2�Meritorious�Service�Medals�

�Enforced�the�laws,�rules,�regulations�of�the�Army�and�of�the�United�States�with�military�personnel.�

�Received�letter�of�commendation�from�Commander�for�implementing�procedures�for�misconduct�on�base.�

�Maintained�peaceful�living�community�for�those�soldiers�living�on�base�through�regular�presence.�


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30


Civilian Cover Letters

Throughout this process, remember the following: written communication skills are one of the most sought after skills by potential employers. With that being said, the Cover Letter that you submit with your resume is the very first writing sample that a potential employer sees of you, and they will assess your writing skill level utilizing this document.

Writing a successful cover letter is not just one step. Just like writing a resume, there are multiple steps that must be followed in order for the project to be completed.

The first step to writing a cover letter is determining the delivery method of the cover letter. Are you going to send the cover letter via mail, email, or utilizing the “submit” button of a job search engine? Each of these methods has some basic guidelines to follow, especially involving the format of the actual cover letter. It is advisable to have an easily changeable template for each of the methods of submission.

Just like your resume, your cover letter should be targeted to a specific career field, and even position within a specific company/organization. Unlike your resume, the cover letter should be so granular that it not only targets a specific career field, it should target a specific recruiter and hiring manager (reviewers). Your cover letter should compliment your resume, and make the hiring manager want to take 45 additional seconds to review your actual resume. This means that you must pinpoint specific skills that the hiring manager wants in your cover letter.

Just like writing your resume, you should take an inventory, or a qualifications matrix in the case of the cover letter, of your specific knowledge and skills that would make you an ideal candidate for the job. It would be advisable to keep this inventory information in a Word document or Excel document (Qualifications Matrix document is in the Worksheets Section of this manual). The skills that you include in your cover letter should be something that is unique to you, something to make you stand out amongst all of the other applicants, and something that shows that you have exceeded their minimum qualifications listed in the job posting. Save this Qualifications Matrix and make sure that you keep the matrix with your other position specific files. You will use this matrix for when you are selecting skills and knowledge that an employer has indicated that they want their ideal candidate. This will hone in on the specific skills that make you the ideal candidate for the job.

Your next task is to create or select a cover letter template. While it is true that a cover letter should be unique to not only the career field, but to the company, hiring manager, and position, there are aspects of the cover letter that can remain consistent. For instance, you may want to highlight your specific years of experience and education within a given career field to all employers that you apply with that are within a specific career field. There are other advantages to utilizing a template, such as organization and the professionalism of the document lay out. One of the most common places online to locate a cover letter template is Microsoft Office Online; therefore, be aware that if you download a template from this site that other applicants have also downloaded these templates as well. To make your document stand out, make sure that you change the information, and even add some formatting to the document to make it uniquely fit you. I always recommend that the Resume and Cover Letter should be a matching pair when it comes to formatting; it helps give credence to your attention to detail skills.

On your template, you will want to complete the information that will be consistent. For instance: your name, your contact information, information that you want all employers to know about (Example: education and experience within a specific field), your closing, and attachment information. All of this information can be set up so that is remains relatively consistent by saving your general cover letter in a template format within your word processing program.

31

If you are uncomfortable with using a template, there are some guidelines regarding the submission method that you may want to keep in mind:

Mailing the Cover Letter:

� Date should be located at the top � Applicant’s address should be above the recipient’s address � Recipient’s address should be below the applicant’s address � Address the letter to a specific individual � 2 Styles

o Block Paragraphs � Your address and contact information should be against your left hand margin and at the

top of the page below the date � Consider your envelope type. If there is a window, make sure that your address

and the address of the potential employer are clearly viewable within their respective windows.

� One blank line should separate the individual paragraphs o Indented Paragraphs

� Your address and contact information should be below the date in the right hand margin � The first line of the paragraph should be indented one inch by pressing the “Tab” key

once for each new paragraph � Must have a physical (“Wet”) signature in the signature area � List attachments below signature

Emailing the Cover Letter:

� Make sure that your email address is professional in nature. I always recommend utilizing your first and last name in your email address to maintain the professional element of the message.

� Subject Line should include the position title � No need for a physical return address at the top of the letter (This should be with your contact information

in your signature and information can vary based on the individual template being used) � Block paragraphs or indented paragraphs are acceptable; however, block paragraphs are more widely

used.� No need to use an inside recipient’s address; however, some hiring managers do like to see this

information on the letter, so always recommend including at least the recipient’s mailing address on the electronic communication- it keeps the letter formal and professional in nature.

� Use a self populating date � Should use a Mr/Ms salutation � Use a typed signature (“Wet” signature is not needed) � Contact information (address, phone number, email address, etc) should be found in your signature

32

Electronically submitted Cover Letter through a job search engine:

� No need for a physical return address at the top of the letter (This should be with your contact information in your signature and information can vary based on the individual template being used)

� Just like with email communication, it is not required to utilize the recipient’s mailing address; however, many managers like to see it and it does add a level of professionalism to the document.

� Date the Cover Letter (self populating date is acceptable) � Should use a Mr/Ms salutation for the contact person listed in the vacancy announcement/posting � Block or indented paragraphs are acceptable; however, block paragraphs are more commonly used. � Use a typed signature (“Wet” signature is not needed) � Contact information (address, phone number, email address, etc) should be found in your signature � Use the key words listed in advertisement in your cover letter, as many cover letters are sent through the

ATS system with the resume and are often times graded on the usage of these key words.

The Cover Letter should include the following:

� Date � Applicant’s Address � Recipient’s Address � Recipient’s name (Mr/Ms)

o If you don’t know the individual’s name, “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable. � Introduction (Position applied for and list the company name here) � Main body (list your specific skills and experience that are relevant to the position- use key words from

job description or advertisement) � Closing (Thank the recruiter for their time and indicate a date that you will follow up on the interview

request)o If you state a specific date, follow through on that date because this is the first promise that you

are making to your potential employer and positively affects your credibility. � Signature (Name and pertinent information)

o Name and career field (example: Customer Service Professional) � Attachments/Enclosures (List any attachments that you are including, such as: your resume)

33

The Anatomy of the Civilian Cover Letter:

Applicant’s Information Name Street Address City, State Zip

Date

Employer’s Information Hiring Manager Street Address City, State Zip

Dear Hiring Manager (use this only if you don’t know the hiring manager’s name),

Introductory Paragraph (Introduce yourself and your interest to be employed by the prospective employer. State the position that you are applying for here.)

Body (Briefly review your unique skills and experience and how these skills and experiences make you the ideal candidate for the position and employer)

Closing (Thank the employer for taking the time to review your cover letter and resume. Provide a follow up date here as well)

Sincerely,

Applicant’s Name Job/Position Title

Attachments (1) Resume (2 Pages)

34

Civilian Cover Letter ExampleJOHN�DOE�65432�Sample�Circle��Apt.�201��Kansas�City,�MO�64153�816�595�5759��[email protected]��

December�15,�2010�

Mr.�Harry�Sample�Technology�Director�XYZ�Technologies�12345�Example�Avenue�Kansas�City,�MO�64153��

Dear�Mr.�Harry�Sample,�

I�located�your�Help�Desk�Manager�position�on�XYZ�Technologies�website�on�12/01/2010,�and�I�believe�that�my�technology�knowledge,�education,�and�my�extensive�skill�set�makes�me�an�excellent�candidate�for�this�position.�

In�addition�to�my�ten�years�of�technology�and�help�desk�experience,�I�also�have�6�years�of�military�experience�and�a�Bachelor’s�Degree�in�Computer�Science�from�Grantham�University.�

I’m�also�enclosing�copies�of�the�following�documents:�

� Cover�Letter�� Professional�Resume�� 3�Letters�of�Recommendation�

If�you�have�questions,�please�call�me�at�816�595�5759.��I�would�like�to�follow�up�with�about�this�opportunity�on�12/29/2010.��

Thank�you�very�much�for�your�time,�and�I�am�looking�forward�to�working�with�you!��Have�a�wonderful�afternoon!��

Sincerely,�

JOHN�DOE�INFORMATION�TECHNOLOGY�MANAGEMENT�PROFESSIONAL�

ENCLOSURES:�

COVER�LETTER�(1�PAGE)�RESUME�(1�PAGE)�

LETTERS�OF�RECOMMENDATION�(3�PAGES)�

35

Jane�DoeHuman�Resources�Management Professional�

Jane�Doe�7200�NW�86th�Street�Kansas�City,�MO�64153�(816)�595�5759�[email protected]��Wednesday,�February�09,�2011��John�Example�Human�Resources�Manager�XYZ�Technologies�12345�Example�Avenue�Kansas�City,�MO�64153��Dear�Mr.�John�Example,��I�located�your�Human�Resources�Manager�(Job�ID:�00�123456AZBV)�position�on�XYZ�Technologies’�website�on�02/08/2011,�and�I�believe�that�my�combined�education�and�experience�would�be�a�great�asset�to�your�organization,�especially�in�the�form�of�a�Human�Resources�Manager.��According�to�the�job�vacancy�on�your�website,�you�indicated�several�requirements�for�the�ideal�candidate,�and�I�have�listed�those�below�along�with�my�own�skills�and�experience�for�comparison:��

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37


Federal Resumes

The first step to writing a resume is to decide who and what you are writing your resume for. You must consider your audience and consider the type of experience that the receiving party would like in their ideal candidate, as over the last few years with application process changes in the federal government, your audience has also changed. When writing for the federal government, you must be as detailed and budget orientated as possible, and you must keep the key words that are located in a vacancy announcement in your mind at all times, as this is how the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) rates your resume.

Before you begin writing your Federal Resume, it is important to inventory all of the information that you could potentially include within your resume. The first step to doing this is to electronically record all of your awards, accomplishments, training and military experience in one document (RE: KASE Worksheet located at the end of this packet). This inventory document could be a Word or Excel document; however, I have found Excel to be the easiest system to use for this purpose. We will use this inventory document later when creating your actual, career-specific, “skeleton” resume. You should keep the information presented in your inventory short (Example: Supervised up to 30 employees, Proficient with de-escalating situations, Expert in Microsoft Office Programs, Experienced with coaching employees in a team environment, etc ). Within this same document, you will want to record all of your supplemental skills that you possess (Example: Highly Organized, Excellent People Skills, Professional Demeanor, Fair, Courteous, etc). The last set of information that will be kept in this document are descriptive action verbs that describe some of your duties within your employment history (Examples: analyzed,budgeted, chaired, coached, edited, established, improved, introduced, motivated, organized, persuaded, reported, researched, reviewed, saved, solved, supervised, trained, translated, wrote, etc). You will be utilizing this information to include some of the key words utilized to target your resume towards a specific USAJOBs vacancy posting.

The second step is the fun part! You get to decide the type of career that you want to break into. This is the fun and creative part of the job search, so think “outside of the box”. You need to first decide on the career field, which will probably be a field linked to the type of degree program that you are currently completing or may have already completed. The next step is to narrow down the actual career that you want to seek within that broad career field. For instance, Computer Science is a very large career field that contains careers like: ComputerProgramming, Computer Networking, Information Technology, Information Security, Project Management, etc.You will want to narrow down to a range of one to three careers within a given field. You will be working with one of these careers at a time from this point forward.

You will also want to decide on a particular career goal and personal mission statement. You be utilizing this information to decide on which department of the federal government you prefer to work within. You will also be utilizing this information later when creating your professional portfolio.

When creating Federal Resume, you must remember that the Federal Resume is vacancy specific; therefore, think of the vacancy information almost like your objective statement. You will need the USA Jobs Announcement Number, Position Title, and the position’s rating on the GS Pay scale.

You will also need to include your personal information. As you may know, the amount of personal information included is much more detailed then a civilian resume. You will be included much of the same contact information present on a civilian resume; however, you will be adding your social security number (proves US Citizenship and enables the Human Resource Specialist to run a background check on you during the application process), your citizenship status (most federal positions require the incumbent to have United States’ Citizenship), whether or not you qualify for the Veteran’s Preference Program, and if you are a returning federal employee, you will need to include the following: your reinstatement status and the highest GS position you have held as a federal employee.

38

Due to some of the new regulations that have gone into effect January of 2011, there is a higher probability that your resume may land in front of the hiring manager for review; therefore, you want to increase the professionalism of your resume. One way of increasing the professionalism is by listing the career field/job title below your name on the resume through the use of the Objective Alternative method mentioned in the Civilian Resumes section of this manual.

Objective Alternative Examples:

Shanna Fowler Shanna Fowler Shanna Fowler Shanna Fowler Project Manager Computer Programmer Recruiter Trainer

The next step is to review your educational attainment. Unlike a civilian resume, you will need to include your high school graduation date or the date that your GED was conferred to you. In addition to this date, you will need to include your high school’s name, the city, the state, and the zip code of the institution. Also unlike a civilian resume, you will need to list every institution of higher learning that you have attended. The reason for the inclusion of all institutions is for your background check, which will likely occur during the middle stages of the application process. You will need to include the following information for each institution: the institution’s name, the type of degree awarded (Example: Bachelor’s of Science), your major (Example: Business Administration), your cumulative GPA, and your graduation date. If you did not graduate from the institution, instead of listing the degree that was awarded, list the number of credit hours that were awarded, and instead of your graduation date, list the dates that you attended the institution.

Educational Section Example Entry:

Grantham University Graduation Date: 01/2012Kansas City, MO 64153 Bachelors of Science 117 Credit Hours Completed Major: Business Management 3.14 GPA on a 4.0 Scale

Starting January of 2011 and unlike civilian resumes, the federal resume will act as your initial application with the federal government; however, you will likely complete another formal application that will likely be longer and more detailed than your resume if selected for an interview. Because of this, information found on the federal resume will be different and more detailed than that of a civilian resume. Think of your federal resume as a formal application with all of the details that a formal application will ask for, especially when considering your educational and work histories. Because of your resume is treated as your application, you will want to include the same information about your previous positions as you would on a formal application, such as: job title, organization’s name, dates employed, number of hours a week worked (average), supervisor’s contact information, city, state, location name (if applicable), job duties, and accomplishments.

You will notice that each of the example entries below mimics the same information that one would find on a job application in the top of the entry, and then each entry divides the job duties into key words, which are then expanded upon. This is to hit the key words of the job description, but also to show experience in the areas discussed in the job description. Each entry also has key accomplishments listed that are above and beyond the mere duties listed in the job description. When listing your accomplishments, you give the accomplishments context.

Remember The Following:

Your listing of job duties gives context to your key accomplishments. With your duties, you can make your accomplishments be viewed as exceptional or mundane. The choice is yours through the words that you use in your job duties areas.

39

Military Professional Experience Example Entry:

Staff Sergeant E-6 12/2002-06/2006 United States Army 40 Hours/week Supervisor’s Information: John Sample Phone: (816) 555-1234 Human Resources Specialist Supervisor Fort Leavenworth Leavenworth, KS

Supervision� �Supervised�8�Human�Resources�Specialists�within�the�Human�Resource�Office.��Personally�managed�and�initiated�all�transfer�request�and�pay�scale�changes.�

Development� �Communicated�process�and�policy�changes�to�Human�Resources�Specialist�through�the�development�of�training�materials�and�communication�memos.�

�Proactively�put�each�Human�Resources�Specialist�on�a�career�plan�with�measurable�tasks�and�goals.��

Training� �Proactively�developed�continuing�education�training�relating�to�EEO,�FMLA,�Compensation,�and�other�related�regulation�and�compliance�topics�to�be�compliant�with�federal�and�state�guidelines.�

Compliance� �Ensured�that�all�policies,�procedures,�training,�and�general�practices�were�within�federal�and�state�mandated�guidelines.�

Key Accomplishments:�Consistently�recognized�with�Good�Conduct�Medals�for�managing�and�maintaining�a�well�trained�and�developed�Human�Resource�Office.�

�Human�Resource�Office�received�Army�Meritorious�Unit�Commendation�for�cohesiveness�of�the�team,�the�level�of�training�and�professionalism,�and�the�accuracy�of�the�information�and�documentation�processed�during�operations.�

Civilian Professional Experience Example Entry:

XYZ Technologies 06/2006-Present Labor Relations and Recruiting Manager Kansas City, MO Annual Salary: $46,000 United States of America Hours Worked Perk Week: 40+ May this employer be contacted? Yes Supervisor’s Name: John Smith Supervisor’s Phone Number: (816) 555-6543 Federal Position? No Series: N/A

Pay Grade: N/A

�Recruiting� Worked with management regarding available vacancies. Worked with management team to create a clear matrix of qualifications to ensure qualified candidates were being recruited by the Human Resources Department Developed and created job postings Posted open vacancies CareerBuilder, Monster, Snag-a-Job, and with local college career centers.

� Labor�Relations� Met with individual employees to resolve matters relating to labor relations Worked with individual managers to ensure that they were establishing proper expectations, as mandated by federal and state regulations. Conducted mediation meetings between management and employees that directly resulted in a quick and mutually beneficial resolution for both parties.

� Supervision� Supervised 2 recruiters Conducted bi-weekly coaching sessions with each recruiter

�Training�and�Development�

Created and developed labor relations and EEOC training for recruiters and managers. Created regular training for recruiters to ensure that all practices were being properly followed.

Key Accomplishments:�Created�a�management�training�program�that�directly�resulted�in�an�increase�in�morale.��Created�a�clear�matrix�for�each�position�for�evaluation�and�for�recruitment�to�ensure�that�all�practices�and�decisions�were�conducted�in�a�fair�and�equitable�manner,�and�within�federal�and�state�regulations.�

40

The next step is to decide which awards, accomplishments, training, and military experience are relevant to the career that you have chosen to target your resume towards. As you may recall, many of these items should be present in your inventory that you created in the first step of the process. These items are a key component in your federal resume. Remember, your resume is not your application, it is merely a reflection of your skills and experience within a specific career or career field. The goal of the resume is to get you in the door to interview with a specific department or for a specific specialty area. You will complete the actual application, which will contain your employment history, during the employment screening process with your potential employer.

Because of the Veteran’s Preference Program, and to call attention to your military experience, make sure that you list any military work experience first and any other experience gained within the federal or civilian job market last. Just like a civilian resume, the positions should be entered in reverse chronological order. Much of the same information should be present with each employment entry; however, you will be adding the following information: your salary information, the number of hours worked per week, your supervisor’s name, your supervisor’s phone number, and whether or not the hiring manager can contact each individual employer. Due to the changes that are taking effect this year (2011), the Federal Resume is treated like an application; therefore, make sure that you are detailed and that you are providing the appropriate information within each entry.

For those military members that qualify for The Veteran’s Preference Program, remember that the program does not guarantee you a position within the Federal Government; however, it does move your resume up in the ranks of other applicants due to your veteran’s status. The Veteran’s Preference Program increases your resume’s rating in the ATS system during the initial application process with the federal government, which can potentially increase the chance that you are called in by the hiring manager for an interview. The way this program increases your resume’s rating in the ATS database is by adding bonus points to your resume’s rating; therefore, pushing veteran’s resumes further up the list towards the top portion that may be called in for an interview. If you utilize the program, you will be asked to provide specific proof that you qualify for the program. To review the documents needed to prove that you qualify for the Veteran’s Preference Program, please log into the Office Of Personnel Management’s website (http://www.opm.gov) and pull up form OF-612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment). The OF-612 form has specific instructions on what form needs to be submitted.

The final section of your Federal Resume is the most open for you, the applicant, to specialize. This final section is titled “Other Qualifications”. As you can infer from the title, there are many items that could potentially be included in this section. This is an ideal section to include your career specific skills and experience, your computing and office skills, any technical skills that you have attained, career specific licensure and certification (including your security clearance, if applicable), your military awards, professional recognition (Public Speaking events, publications, civil awards, professional awards, etc).

When deciding what skills and accomplishments should be included, review the inventory (KASE) that you completed and review the vacancy announcement. The skills and experiences that overlap between your inventory and the vacancy announcement are the items that you want to focus on. Even though you want to include your professional skills and traits, don’t forget to include some of your personal traits as well. Due to the focus on ethics and integrity in the business arena, including the federal market, many employers, including the government, are seeking the following skills: Communication (Oral and Written), Honesty, Integrity, Interpersonal Skills, Motivation, Initiative, Strong Work Ethic, and Team Work Skills. Because you have military experience, that experience already gives future employers a good idea that you meet the before mentioned skills because these are skills that the military prides itself on.

41

Some examples of career specific skills include the following: Advanced Excel, Advanced Word, Advanced Outlook, Advanced Access, Advanced Power Point, Programming C, Programming in C++, Programming in HTML, Excellent Oral Presentation Skills, Organization, Computer Networking, Written Communication, etc.You should have a complete listing of all of your personal and professional skills within your inventory document (RE: KASE form).

The final step is to create a template. Most word processing systems have a tool that allows you to save a document as a template. When creating your template, create a career specific resume and then leave specific sections open so that you can include the vacancy specific information. One advantage of the template is organization, and one way you can organize your information is through the utilization of tables and bullet features in your word processing program. When creating your federal template, the following information should remain stable as long as you are applying for jobs within the same field: your contact information, education, work experience, certifications and licensure, awards, and professional recognition. Once you complete these areas and leave a blank area for your vacancy information and related skills, experience, and qualifications, you can save the document as a federal template. Once it is a template, each time that you want to apply for a specific federal position, you can pull up the template and only complete the vacancy information and related skills, experience, and qualifications, as the rest should be staple information as long as you are applying for positions within a similar field with similar qualifications.

To provide you with a better picture of what exactly should be included in your federal resume, the Anatomy of the Federal Resume is located below.

For�More�Information�Relating�to�Federal�Positions�and�Resumes,�please�review�the�following�sources:�

1. U.S.�Office�of�Personnel�Management.�(2010).�Hiring�Reform.�Retrieved�12�01,�2010,�from�U.S.�Office�Of�Personnel�Management:�http://www.opm.gov/HiringReform/HiringReformRequirements/Resume/index.aspx�

2. US�Department�of�State:�Bureau�of�Human�Resources.�(2010).�State.gov�Careers.�Retrieved�12�01,�2010,�from�State.gov:�http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/107863.pdf�

3. Young,�A.�(2008).�Money�Watch.com.�Retrieved�12�10,�2010,�from�CBS:�http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HTO/is_2_37/ai_n30985131/�

42

Anatomy of the Federal Resume

Personal Information: 1. Full Given Name 2. Mailing addresses (Where you get your mail, as this will likely be verified via the Applicant Tracking

System)3. Telephone number (Evening and Day Time Phone Number- Do not list your employer’s phone number)4. Email address (Primary personal email address, unless you are a current a government employee)5. Social Security Number 6. Country of Citizenship (Majority of federal and state government jobs require US citizenship)7. Whether or not you qualify for the Veteran’s preference program 8. If Applicable: Reinstatement to a federal position eligibility 9. If Applicable: Highest federal pay grade position held

Job Posting Information:1. USAJOBs ID 2. Job Title 3. Position Pay Grade (GS Scale)

Education:List the highest degree that you have attained or that you are working on. You will then list your next highest attained degree. Normally, it is not advisable to list your high school graduation date; however, the federal government requires this information on a federal resume.

1. Name of Institution 2. Field of Study/Major/Degree (Example: Business Administration)3. Your cumulative GPA at the institution 4. The degree that you attained and graduation date

1. If you did not graduate, only list the number of credit hours that you earned while attending the institution and the dates that you attended the institution (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY).

Military Experience:Due to the Veteran’s Preference Program, any military experience should be listed first and separately of any civilian or other federal professional experience.

� Official Job Title with military specialization code � Military Branch � Rank and Enlistment Status (E-#)� City, State � Dates stationed, and be as specific as possible (mm/yyyy)� Number of Hours Worked Per Week � Annual Salary � Base Name � Supervisor’s Name � Supervisor’s Contact Information (Active Phone Number)� Job duties (not the job description)

o Pick several key words from the job posting and tie everything that you say in your job duties back to those key words

� Significant Accomplishments � Whether or not the hiring manager can contact this supervisor

43

Non-Military Experience:

Because you want to separate any military experience from federal and civilian experience, the federal and civilian professional experience should come after the military experience in a separate section. The information being presented in this section is not all too different the information presented in the Military Experience section.

� Designated Job Title that the employer would recognize on a verification call o If this is a federal position, make sure that you include the series and GS pay grade with the job

title.� Employer’s Name � City, State � Dates employed, and be as specific as possible (mm/yyyy)� Number of Hours Worked Per Week � Annual Salary � Supervisor’s Name � Supervisor’s Contact Information (Active Phone Number)� Job duties (not a description)

o Just like with the military experience, pick several key words from the job posting and tie everything that you say in your job duties back to those key words

� Significant Accomplishments � Whether or not the hiring manager can contact this employer/supervisor

Other Qualifications:

This section is closest related to your Skills Profile, Certifications and Licensure, Formal Training, and Awards and Recognition sections within a civilian resume. Just like a civilian resume, it is best to sign-post these various sections. Examples of sub-headings for this major section include:

� Skills Profile � Language Skills � Computing and Software Skills � Licensure and Certifications � Professional Training � Awards and Recognition

Length:

The 1 page recommendation for civilian resumes does not apply to Federal Resumes. The length can range from 3-5 pages because of the amount of detail that should be present. With the new changes effective in 2011, many job postings will not accept Federal Resumes that exceed 3 pages.

In addition to the length changes, please note that with the new changes, there is more of a chance that an actual person will be reviewing your resume; therefore, keep your audience in mind: You are writing for a person, not a computer.

Note:If you cited specific projects or examples, it is best for those examples and projects to be present in your portfolio. If you cannot obtain a copy of the project or example, a letter of recommendation from the project leader or your supervisor relating to the project or example is also a good replacement.

44

7200�NW�86th Street

Jane�Doe� Kansas�City,�MO�64153(816)�595�[email protected]

Human�Resources�Recruiting�Professional�

SSN: XXX�XX�XXXXCountry�of�Citizenship: United�States�of�AmericaQualifies�for�Veteran’s�Preference�Program:� YesReinstatement�to�a�federal�position�eligibility: N/AHighest�federal�pay�grade�position�held:� N/A

USAJobs�Posting�Information:�

USAJobs�Posting�ID: WFMO�CSD�2011�0053Job�Title:� Supervisory�Human�Resources�Specialist,�ZA�0201�4,�(DEU)Position�Pay�Grade: GS�13/14�(ZA�4)

Education:�Grantham�University� Graduation�Date:�01/2011Kansas�City,�MO�64153� Masters�of�Science36� Credit�Hours�Completed� Major: Business�Administration�3.22� GPA�on�a�4.0�Scale�

Grantham�University� Graduation�Date:�03/2009Kansas�City,�MO�64153� Bachelors�of�Science80� Credit�Hours�Completed� Major: Business�Management�3.14� GPA�on�a�4.0�Scale�

XYZ�State�University� 01/2003�05/2005Kansas�City,�MO�64158� Some�College42� Credit�Hours�Completed� Major: Psychology3.25� GPA�on�a�4.0�Scale�

AAA�High�School� Graduation�Date:�05/2000Kansas�City,�MO�64151� High�School�Diploma

Professional�Experience:Military�Experience:�Staff�Sergeant� E�6� 12/2002�06/2006United�States�Army� 40� Hours/weekSupervisor’s�Information:�� John�Sample Phone: (816)�555�1234Human�Resources�Specialist�Supervisor� Fort�Leavenworth Leavenworth,�KS

Supervision� �Supervised�8�Human�Resources�Specialists�within�the�Human�Resource�Office.��Personally�managed�and�initiated�all�transfer�request�and�pay�scale�changes.�

Development� �Communicated�process�and�policy�changes�to�Human�Resources�Specialist�through�the�development�of�training�materials�and�communication�memos.�

�Proactively�put�each�Human�Resources�Specialist�on�a�career�plan�with�measurable�tasks�and�goals.��

Training� �Proactively�developed�continuing�education�training�relating�to�EEO,�FMLA,�Compensation,�and�other�related�regulation�and�compliance�topics�to�be�compliant�with�federal�and�state�guidelines.�

Compliance� �Ensured�that�all�policies,�procedures,�training,�and�general�practices�were�within�federal�and�state�mandated�guidelines.�

Key�Accomplishments:

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�Assisted�Recruiters�in�placing�soldiers�within�training�and�the�advisement�of�potential�MOS�codes.�

�Assisted�Recruiters�in�the�development�of�marketing�materials�that�were�within�EEO�compliance.�

�Worked�with�potential�soldiers�that�were�still�in�the�recruitment�process�on�informing�them�of�the�process�and�documentation�needed�to�complete�the�application�process.��

�Received�applications�from�potential�recruits�from�the�website,�and�forwarded�qualified�candidates�to�the�proper�recruiter.�

Compliance� �Ensured�that�all�recruitment�processes�were�conducted�within�current�compliance�standards.�

�Trained�Recruiters�on�recruiting�processes�and�procedures�that�were�within�updated�federal�and�state�guidelines.�

�Researched�new�federal�and�state�regulations�to�ensure�that�all�practices�were�within�compliance.�

Leadership� �Took�on�a�leadership�role�with�the�recruiters�within�the�area�to�train�them�on�updated�guidelines�and�practices.�

�Proactively�recorded�all�changes�in�practices,�procedures,�and�policies,�and�developed�training�for�the�changes.�

�Presented�developed�training�to�the�office�and�served�as�the�subject�matter�expert�within�the�office�for�recruitment,�compensation,�and�labor�regulations.�

Communication �Prepared�and�created�marketing�campaign�documents�for�recruiters�utilizing�polished�written�communication�skills.�

�Created�and�disseminated�memos�to�recruitment�offices�relating�to�regulation�changes,�policy�changes,�and�procedural�changes.�

�Utilizing�effective�verbal�and�written�communication�skills,�frequently�presented�updated�information�to�recruiters�and�office�personnel.�


�Consistently�and�proactively�created�resources�for�office�personnel�and�recruiters�to�ensure�federal�and�state�compliance.�

�Received�a�letter�of�accommodation�from�supervisor�relating�to�my�leadership�abilities�and�recognizing�the�training�and�written�resources�created�relating�to�a�variety�of�issues�relating�to�Human�Resources�and�recruiting.�

Non�Military�Professional�Experience:XYZ�Technologies� 06/2006�PresentLabor�Relations�and�Recruiting�Manager� Kansas�City,�MOAnnual�Salary:� $46,000� United�States�of�AmericaHours�Worked�Perk�Week:� 40+� May�this�employer�be�contacted?� YesSupervisor’s�Name:� John�Smith� Supervisor’s�Phone�Number:� (816)�555�6543

Federal�Position?� No� Series: N/APay�Grade: N/A

�Recruiting� Worked�with�management�regarding�available�vacancies.Worked�with�management�team�to�create�a�clear�matrix�of�qualifications�to�ensure�qualified�candidates�were�being�recruited�by�the�Human�Resources�Department�Developed�and�created�job�postings�Posted�open�vacancies�CareerBuilder,�Monster,�Snag�a�Job,�and�with�local�college�career�centers.�

� Labor�Relations� Met�with�individual�employees�to�resolve�matters�relating�to�labor�relations�Worked�with�individual�managers�to�ensure�that�they�were�establishing�proper�expectations,�as�mandated�by�federal�and�state�regulations.�

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46

Jane�Doe� Primary�Phone:� (816)�595�5759USAJobs�Posting�#:� WFMO�CSD�2011�0053 SSN:� XXX�XX�XXXX�

Conducted�mediation�meetings�between�management�and�employees�that�directly�resulted�in�a�quick�and�mutually�beneficial�resolution�for�both�parties.�

� Supervision� Supervised�2�recruiters�Conducted�bi�weekly�coaching�sessions�with�each�recruiter�

�Training�and�Development�

Created�and�developed�labor�relations�and�EEOC�training�for�recruiters�and�managers.Created�regular�training�for�recruiters�to�ensure�that�all�practices�were�being�properly�followed.�


�Created�a�management�training�program�that�directly�resulted�in�an�increase�in�morale.��Created�a�clear�matrix�for�each�position�for�evaluation�and�for�recruitment�to�ensure�that�all�practices�and�decisions�were�conducted�in�a�fair�and�equitable�manner,�and�within�federal�and�state�regulations.�

Other�Qualifications:�Professional�Training:�Name�of�Course/Certificate:� Date�CompletedOrganizational�Behavior�(Grantham�University) 09/2010Employment�Law�(Grantham�University)� 03/2009Human�Resource�Management�(Grantham�University) 01/2009Training�and�Development�(Grantham�University) 01/2009

Skills�and�Related�Qualifications:Skills�Profile:��Over�10�years�of�Recruiting�experience� �Polished�verbal�and�written�communication�skills��Over�9�years�of�Recruitment�Supervision�experience� �Proven�leadership�and�supervisory�skills��Retired�U.S.�Army�(Honorable�Discharge)� �Excellent�organizational�and�time�management�skills��Qualifies�for�Veteran’s�Preference�Program� �Proven�ability�to�maintain�confidentiality�

Computer�Proficiencies:�Microsoft�Access� IntermediateMicrosoft�Excel� AdvancedMicrosoft�Word� IntermediateMicrosoft�PowerPoint� IntermediateMicrosoft�Outlook� Intermediate

Licensing�and�Certifications:�PHR� Mm/yyyySPHR� Mm/yyyy

Awards�and�Recognition:�Military�Awards:�Army�Achievement�Medal� 12/2005Good�Conduct�Medal� 08/2005Army�Achievement�Medal� � 03/2004Meritorious�Service�Medal� � 09/2003Good�Conduct�Medal� 01/2002

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47

Federal Cover Letters

Throughout this process, remember the following: written communication skills are one of the most sought after skills by potential employers, and especially with the federal government. With that being said, the Federal Cover Letter that you submit with your Federal Resume is the very first writing sample that the hiring manager sees of you.

Writing a successful cover letter is not just one step. Just like writing the Federal Resume, there are multiple steps that must be followed in order for the project to be completed.

The first step to writing a cover letter is determining the delivery method of the cover letter. Are you going to send the cover letter via mail, email, or utilizing the “submit” button on the USAJobs site? Each of these methods has some basic guidelines to follow, especially involving the format of the actual cover letter. It is advisable to have an easily changeable template for each of the methods of submission.

Just like your resume, your cover letter should be targeted to a specific vacancy listed on the vacancy announcement. Unlike your resume, the cover letter should be so granular that it not only targets a specific vacancy, but it should target a specific recruiter and hiring manager (reviewers). Many times, the recruiter and hiring manager’s information is not available; therefore, you can address the letter to merely “The Hiring Manager”. Your cover letter should compliment your resume, and make the Human Resources Specialist and hiring manager want to take the 45 additional seconds to review your actual resume. This means that you must pinpoint specific skills that the hiring manager wants, found in the vacancy announcement, in your cover letter.

Just like writing your resume, you will want to utilize your KASE inventory to highlight the skills, qualifications, and experience that you want the hiring manager to specifically know about you. These skills should be something that is unique to you, something to make you stand out amongst all of the other applicants. You will use this inventory when selecting skills and knowledge that an employer has indicated that they want their ideal candidate. This will hone in on the specific skills that make you the ideal candidate for the job.

Your next task is to create or select a cover letter template. While it is true that a cover letter should be unique to the vacancy, there are aspects of the cover letter that can remain consistent. For instance, you may want to highlight your specific years of experience and education within a given career field to all employers that you apply with that are within a specific career field. There are other advantages to utilizing a template, such as organization and the professionalism of the document lay out. If you choose to download a cover letter template from the a third party, make sure that your document stands out, by changing the information, and even adding some additional formatting to the document to make it uniquely fit you.

On your template, you will want to complete the information that will be consistent. For instance: your name, your contact information, information that you want all employers to know about (Example: education and experience within a specific field), your closing, and attachment information. All of this information can be set up so that is remains relatively consistent through saving your general cover letter as a template in your word processing program.

If you are uncomfortable with using a template, there are some guidelines regarding the submission method that you may want to keep in mind:

48

Mailing the Cover Letter:

� Date should be located at the top � The Vacancy Information (Announcement Number and Position Title) must be included at the top � Applicant’s address should be listed above the recipient’s address � Recipient’s address should be below the applicant’s address � Address the letter to a specific individual � 2 Styles

o Block Paragraphs � Your address and contact information should be against your left hand margin and at the

top of the page below the date � Consider your envelope type. If there is a window, make sure that your address

and the address of the potential employer are clearly viewable within their respective windows.

� One blank line should separate the individual paragraphs o Indented Paragraphs

� Your address and contact information should be below the date in the right hand margin � The first line of the paragraph should be indented one inch by pressing the “Tab” key

once for each new paragraph � Must have a physical (“Wet”) signature in the signature area � List attachments below signature

Emailing the Cover Letter:


� The vacancy information (Announcement Number and Position Title) must be included at the top � Block paragraphs or indented paragraphs are acceptable; however, block paragraphs are more widely

used.� No need to use an inside recipient’s address � Use a self populating date � Should use a Mr/Ms salutation � Use a typed signature (“Wet” signature is not needed) � Contact information (address, phone number, email address, etc) should be found in your signature � Subject Line should include the position title

Electronically submitted Cover Letter through a job search engine:


� The vacancy information (Announcement Number and Position Title) must be included at the top � Block or indented paragraphs are acceptable; however, block paragraphs are more commonly used. � No need to use an inside recipient’s address � Date the Cover Letter (self populating date is acceptable) � Should use a Mr/Ms salutation for the contact person listed in the advertisement � Use a typed signature (“Wet” signature is not needed) � Contact information (address, phone number, email address, etc) should be found in your signature � Use key words listed in advertisement in your cover letter

49

The Cover Letter should include the following:

� Date � Vacancy Announcement Number � Position Title � Applicant’s Address � Recipient’s Address � Recipient’s name (Mr/Ms)

o If you don’t know the individual’s name, “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable. � Introduction (Position applied for and list the company name here) � Main body (list your specific skills and experience that are relevant to the position- use key words from

job description or advertisement) � Closing (Thank the recruiter for their time and indicate a date that you will follow up on the interview

request)o If you state a specific date, follow through on that date because this is the first promise that you

are making to your potential employer and positively affects your credibility. � Signature (Name and pertinent information)

o Name and career field (example: Customer Service Professional) � Attachments/Enclosures (List any attachments that you are including)

50

Anatomy of the Federal Cover Letter:

Job Posting ID Position Title

Applicant’s Information Name Street Address City, State Zip

Date

Employer’s Information Hiring Manager Position Title AgencyStreet Address City, State Zip

Dear Hiring Manager (use this only if you don’t know the hiring manager’s name),

Introductory Paragraph (Introduce yourself and your interest to be employed by the prospective employer. State the position that you are applying for here.)

Body (Briefly review your unique skills and experience and how these skills and experiences make you the ideal candidate for the position and employer)

Closing (Thank the employer for taking the time to review your cover letter and resume. Provide a follow up date here as well)

Sincerely,

Applicant’s Name Job/Position Title

Attachments (1) Resume (3 Pages)

51

Federal Cover Letter Example:[USA JOBS TITLE] [USA JOBS ID] [POSITION PAY GRADE] APPLICANT NAME[Street Address] [Phone Number] [E-mail Address]

[Pick the date]

[Recipient Name] [Title] [Agency Name] [Street Address] [City, ST ZIP Code]

Dear [Recipient Name]:

I am a [position type] professional with [# of years] years experience within the field of [enter career field]. I am writing you regarding the position of [position title] ([USA Jobs ID]), which I saw on the USA Jobs site on [enter date that job was seen online].

I’m also enclosing copies of the following documents for your review and consideration:

� Cover Letter � Federal Resume � OF-612 Form � Listing of References � Letters of Recommendation � College Transcripts

If you have questions, please call me at [your primary phone number]. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

APPLICANT NAME

ENCLOSURES:

COVER LETTER (1 PAGE) FEDERAL RESUME (5 PAGES) OF-612 (2 PAGES) LISTING OF REFERENCES (1 PAGE) LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (3 PAGES) COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS (2 PAGES)

52

�SUPERVISORY HUM��

AN RESOURCES SPECIALIST, ZA-0201-4 (DEU)

GS-13/14 (ZA-4)

JANE DOE7200 NW 86th Street (816) 595-5759 [email protected]

March 25, 2011

James Example Director of Human Resources National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 12345 Example Avenue Kansas City, MO 64153

Dear Mr. James Example,

I am a Human Resources Management Professional with more than ten years experience within the field of Human Resources. I am writing you regarding the position of Supervisory Human Resources Specialist (WFMO-CSD02011-0053) which I saw on the USA Jobs site on March 25, 2011.

I’m also enclosing copies of the following documents for your review and consideration:

� Cover Letter � Federal Resume � OF-612 Form � Listing of References � Letters of Recommendation � College Transcripts

If you have questions, please call me at 816-595-5759. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

JANE DOE

ENCLOSURES:

COVER LETTER (1 PAGE) FEDERAL RESUME (5 PAGES) OF-612 (2 PAGES) LISTING OF REFERENCES (1 PAGE) LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (3 PAGES) COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS (2 PAGES

53


Professional Portfolios

The portfolio is by far one of the easiest tasks to complete in your job search process. The portfolio is very important, primarily because it is a “lost art”. The portfolio proves to the employer that you can actually do the tasks that you “bragged” about in your resume. It is a sampling of your best work, and your most unique work.

One way to help organize the documents that you have that may be worthy enough to make an appearance in your professional portfolio is going back to the KASE form that you created when you were creating your resume. Much of the information on this form will likely have some documentation that you can use in your portfolio.

Since you have already created a resume and a cover letter, you already have items that belong within the portfolio. There is no right way or wrong way to create a portfolio, all that matters is that the portfolio is professional in appearance and that it shows the great quality of work that your are capable of.

Even though there is no right way or wrong way to create a portfolio, there is a plethora of ideas of items that should/could be included in a portfolio. I have listed these items below:

� Resume � Cover Letter � Cover Page � Professional Philosophy Statement � Letters of Recommendation � Samples of your work (this could be projects completed within your course work) � Honors and Awards � Copy of College Transcripts � Photocopy of actual diplomas � Professional Licenses and Certifications � Professional Development activities/certificates of completion � Any research that you completed � Any publications that you have made � Any Reports that you have made that may be helpful (this is especially helpful in the technical fields) � Listing/Proof of Volunteer Work (Letters of appreciation from the organization work very well for this, as

do photos) � Letters of appreciation from employers, customers, even co-workers � Professional References � Personal References

The portfolio should be organized; however, there is no right way or wrong way to do this. The most common way is to put the information in a professional binder and use professional looking tabs to separate the information for the potential employer to quickly review.

Remember, just like your resume, the portfolio is geared towards one career field/job type. Some people prepare their portfolios for individual employers.

Some employers do ask for a copy of the some of the information included in your portfolio; therefore, it is a good idea to have a photocopy binded together for your potential employer.

There are no templates for a portfolio because it is a reflection of you and your work; therefore, make sure that your portfolio is a clear reflection of you and is proof as to why you truly are a superior candidate.

54

The Anatomy of the Professional Portfolio

Cover Page:

This page should be professional in appearance, and should not be “busy”. Many people utilize the “Cover Page” tool within Microsoft Word.

Table of Contents:

This is a tool for the employer, as many employers are looking for something specific when “flipping-through” a portfolio. This feature also adds another level of professionalism to your portfolio.

Cover Letter:

A copy of the Cover Letter should be included just after the Table of Contents because it should be almost an introduction to you and your professional accomplishments.

Resume:

A copy of your Resume should be included as it is likely what the employer will use as a map. If there is a project that you list in your resume that they find particularly intriguing, then the hiring manager will likely look for documentation on the project within your portfolio.

Letters of Recommendation:

One of the most powerful pieces of your portfolio is what other people have said not only about you, but the work that you have done in the past. You document this not just through professional references, but also through Letters of Recommendation.

If you cannot include a copy of a project that you want in your portfolio, then it is a good idea to ask for a letter of recommendation, and ask for that letter to be put in your permanent file.

One reason that the Letters of Recommendation are so important is because you are trying to sell yourself through every aspect of the hiring process and these letters state that “not only do you believe that you are the right person for the job, but here are X amount of other people that think that I am great, as well.”

Professional Documentation:

This is the area that is the most flexible, and this area greatly depends on your career area and the employer’s requirements. If they require a copy of a certification that you have completed, you will want to include a copy of that certification here.

You can also included training certificates, copies of awards, copies of diplomas, etc.

Examples of Your Work:

This is the area of the portfolio where you are proving that what you have listed as skills and abilities within your resume is correct. If you wrote a program in C++ and programming in C++ is essential to the job function, you should include copies of that project in this section. This shows the employer that you are not afraid to prove what you said about yourself is true.

56

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation are one of the most important parts of your portfolio and they can be the hardest part if you are not consistently asking for Letters of Recommendation from your co-workers and management team.

Letters of Recommendation can be recommending you for a specific position or praising your performance and/or professionalism in a specific area or on a specific project.

Obtaining a Letter of Recommendation has one step: ASK! This one little step can be very hard; however, most managers and co-workers will not have a problem writing a letter recognizing your good work on a specific project or within a specific position.

There are several methods to “ASKING”, one would be verbally asking for the letter from a co-worker or manager, and the other is a piece of your networking skills- utilizing LinkedIn (or other professional networking sites) and asking for recommendations utilizing their recommendations tool.

Asking for recommendations on LinkedIn is very powerful because it is a public site that an employer can search you on and see the recommendations that have been posted for you, and what positions you were recommended for. This is another way of proving that what you say is true about yourself; therefore, do not be afraid to include the link to your profile on your resume or cover letter. A word of caution on this, though, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PROFILE IS PROFESSIONAL IN APPEARANCE AND IN VERBIAGE!

57

The Portrait of You- Your Professional Portfolio

You will be hard-pressed to locate sample portfolios online or templates for portfolios online because portfolios are so individualized. No two portfolios should look alike because everyone has different experiences and even skill sets.

An overwhelming majority of people are very visual; therefore, there is a portfolio example below that you can view so that you can see how the portfolio does paint a very clear picture of you and your work to a potential employer.

58

GRANTHAM UNIVERSITY�

Human Resources Professional Portfolio�

John Doe��

�

8/27/2010��

�

�

� �

5059

�

Table of Contents

I. Resume II. Part 1: Academic Transcript III. Part 2: Letters of Recommendation IV. Part 3: Awards V. Part 4: Course Completion Certificates

VI. Part 5: Project Examples� �

5160

John DoePersonnel�Recruitment�Professional

�

7200�NW�86th�St� Kansas�City,�MO� 64153� (816)�595�5759� [email protected]��

Objective�To�apply�my�ten�years�of�personnel�recruitment�experience�with�my�formal�education�to�reduce�the�employee�turnover�of�XYZ�Technologies�by�at�least�15%�in�the�role�of�Personnel�Recruiter.��

Skills�Profile��

�Ten�years�of�personnel�recruitment�experience� �Excellent�verbal�and�written�communication�skills��Strong�knowledge�and�understanding�of�Affirmative�Action�Guidelines�and�regulations�

�Strong�knowledge�of�Recruit�Wizard,�ADP,�Employease,�and�Accessed�based�ATS�System�

�Strong�knowledge�of�Fair�Wage�regulations� �Advanced�MS�Office�Skills��

Education��

Grantham�University� Kansas�City,�MO�Bachelor�of�Arts�in�Human�Resource�Management� Expected�Graduation�Date:�05/2012��

Grantham�University� Kansas�City,�MO�Associate�of�Arts�in�Business�Management� Graduation�Date:�02/2011��

Human�Resources�and�Recruiting�Experience�

Recruitment�Manager� 01/2004�PresentABC,�Inc� Kansas�City,�MO�

Accomplishments� Duties��Reduced�turnover�by�21%�through�updating�the�hiring�process�to�include�a�phone�interview�and�a�job�shadow.�

�Worked�with�department�heads�individually�on�their�quarterly�expected�staffing�needs,�and�on�the�qualifications�of�their�“ideal�candidate”.��

�Created�a�matrix�for�annual�evaluations�to�ensure�that�all�evaluations�were�fair,�and�to�ensure�evaluation�metrics�were�communicated�to�staff.�

�Worked�with�department�heads�on�auditing�and�updating�each�of�the�job�descriptions�every�six�months.�

�

Recruitment�Coordinator� 02/2003�01/2004Dream�Example,�Inc� Kansas�City,�MO�

Accomplishments� Duties��Created�an�interview�matrix�to�ensure�fairness�throughout�the�interviewing�process,�which�saved�the�company�thousands�of�dollars�during�an�affirmative�action�audit.�

�Posted�positions�on�internet�job�seeker�databases,�such�as:�CareerBuilder,�Monster,�and�Snag�A�Job,�and�reviewed�resumes�to�locate�qualified�candidates�for�each�position.�

�Created�an�ATS�form�the�company�to�ensure�that�all�application�documents�were�maintained�electronically�for�at�least�one�year.�

�Proactively�met�with�department�coordinators�and�departments�heads�regarding�their�staffing�needs�for�the�following�quarter.�

�

Human�Resources�Assistant� 01/2001�02/2003CDE�International� Kansas�City,�MO�

Accomplishments� Duties��Managed�and�updated�Employment�requisition�database�according�to�business�needs.�

�Maintained�corporate�office’s�ATS�Database,�and�ran�ATS�queries�to�locate�qualified�applicants.�

�Proactively�scheduled�conference�rooms�and�followed�up�with�hiring�managers�for�on�site�interviews.�

�Proactively�facilitated�all�phone�interviews�for�qualified�candidates,�and�scheduled�on�site�interviews�with�the�hiring�manager.�

�

Professional�Associations��

� NHRA� � SHRM� � ACP��

References��

References�will�be�furnished�upon�request.��

54

5261

53

Part 1: Academic Transcript

��

�

***Transcript type: Unofficial Web Transcript is NOT Official *** John Doe DEGREE AWARDED

Awarded: Associate of Arts

Degree Date:

Mar 09, 2010

Curriculum Information

Program: AA Multidisciplinary Studies Major: Multidisciplinary Studies Sought: Bachelor of

Science Degree Date:

Curriculum Information

Program: BS Multidisciplinary Studies Major: Multidisciplinary Studies TRANSFER CREDIT ACCEPTED BY INSTITUTION -Top-

.: Metropolitan Community College Subject Course Title Grade Credit

Hours Quality Points

EN 102 English Composition II

TB 3.000 0.00

SS 1** Social Science Elective

CR 3.000 0.00

Attempt Hours

Passed Hours Earned Hours

GPA Hours Quality Points

GPA

Current Term: 6.000 0.000 6.000 0.000 0.00 0.00

Unofficial Transcript

�

� �

62

54

�

.: Central Missouri State University Subject Course Title Grade Credit Hours Quality Points

CJ 101 Intro to Criminal Justice TB 3.000 0.00 CO 1** Communications Elective TC 3.000 0.00 EN 101 English Composition I TC 3.000 0.00 �

GP 210 American Government I

TC 3.000 0.00

MA 105 College Algebra TC 3.000 0.00 PS 240 Fundamentals of

Psychology TA 3.000 0.00

SO 101 Introduction to Sociology I

TC 3.000 0.00

Attempt Hours

Passed Hours

Earned Hours

GPA Hours

Quality Points

GPA

Current Term: 21.000 0.000 21.000 0.000 0.00 0.00


INSTITUTION CREDIT -Top-

September 2006 Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit


Start and End Dates

CEU Contact Hours

BA 150 UG Principles of Business Management

C 3.000 6.00

BA 181 UG Foundations of Marketing

A 3.000 12.00

CS 133 UG Computer Information Systems

B 4.000 12.00

CS 163 UG Microcomputer Applications

C 4.000 8.00

DE 100 UG Success at Grantham

B 0.000 0.00

DE 100 UG Success at Grantham

A 0.000 0.00

Term Totals (Undergraduate)

Attempt Hours

Passed Hours

Earned Hours

GPA Hours

Quality Points

GPA

Current Term: 14.000 14.000 14.000 14.000 38.00 2.71 Cumulative: 14.000 14.000 14.000 14.000 38.00 2.71 � �

63

55


March 2007 Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit


Start and End

Dates

CEU Contact Hours

BA 201 UG Microeconomics W 3.000 0.00 BA 206 UG Macroeconomics W 3.000 0.00 BA 250 UG Personal Finance W 3.000 0.00 A CS 192 UG Programming

Essentials W 3.000 0.00


Attempt Hours Passed Hours

Earned Hours

GPA Hours

Quality Points

GPA

Current Term: 12.000 0.000 0.000 3.000 0.00 0.00 Cumulative: 26.000 14.000 14.000 17.000 38.00 2.24


October 2007 Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit


Start and End

Dates

CEU Contact Hours

BA 101 UG Introduction to Business

A 3.000 12.00

BA 260 UG Business Law I C 3.000 0.00 Term Totals (Undergraduate)


Earned Hours

GPA Hours

Quality Points

GPA



July 2008 Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit


Start and End

Dates

CEU Contact Hours

CS 165 UG Advanced Microcomputer Applications

W 4.000 0.00



Earned Hours

GPA Hours

Quality Points

GPA



64

56

October 2008 Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit


Start and End Dates

CEU Contact Hours

EN 102 UG English Composition II

W 3.000 0.00

�

GS 102 UG Introduction to Life Science

C 3.000 6.00



Earned Hours

GPA Hours

Quality Points

GPA



February 11 - April 7, 2009 Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit


Start and End Dates

R CEU Contact Hours

GS 103 UG Introduction to Physical Science

C 3.000 6.00

HS 101 UG World History I C 3.000 6.00 Term Totals (Undergraduate)


Earned Hours

GPA Hours

Quality Points

GPA



May 13 - July 7, 2009 Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit


Start and End Dates

CEU Contact Hours

CO 210 UG Business Communication

C 3.000 3.00

HS 102 UG World History II C 3.000 3.00 Term Totals (Undergraduate)


Earned Hours

GPA Hours

Quality Points

GPA



� �

65

57

Aug 19, 2009 - Oct 13, 2009 Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit


Start and End Dates

CEU Contact Hours

HU 260 UG Strategies for Decision Making

A 3.000 12.00



Earned Hours

GPA Hours

Quality Points

GPA



Oct 28, 2009 - Dec 22, 2009 Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit


Start and End Dates

CEU Contact Hours

BA 250 UG Personal Finance

B 3.000 9.00 I

PS 260 UG Abnormal Psychology

A 3.000 12.00



Earned Hours

GPA Hours

Quality Points

GPA



201002-Jan 13,2010-Mar 09,2010 Last Academic Standing:

Passed Evaluation

Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit Hours

Quality Points

Start and End Dates

CEU Contact Hours

BA 260 UG Business Law I A 3.000 12.00 BA 301 UG Business &

Society C 3.000 6.00



Earned Hours

GPA Hours

Quality Points

GPA



� �

66

58

201013-Mar 31,2010-May 25,2010 Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit


Start and End

Dates

CEU Contact Hours

BA 330 UG Marketing Communications

C 3.000 6.00

BA 340 UG Human Resource Management

C 3.000 6.00


Attempt Hours

Passed Hours

Earned Hours

GPA Hours

Quality Points

GPA



TRANSCRIPT TOTALS (UNDERGRADUATE) -Top-

Attempt Hours

Passed Hours

Earned Hours

GPA Hours

Quality Points

GPA

Total Institution:

75.000 53.000 53.000 63.000 137.00 2.17

Total Transfer: 27.000 0.000 27.000 0.000 0.00 0.00 Overall: 102.000 53.000 80.000 63.000 137.00 2.17


�

� �

67

�

Part 2: Letters of Recommendation

�

“John is amazing! his effort to build a very important part of XYZ, Inc, and to get the rest of her work load done is proof of her amazing work ethic. He is always in the top 5% of all Recruiters in quality, and he is driven towards success at all levels. If any company was to get him as an employee, they would get a person that would get their company to be the best. XYZ, Inc is better because of him.” April 19, 2010

Chris Example, Labor Relations Manager, XYZ, Incworked with John at XYZ, Inc

“I have found John Doe to be one of the most concerned and responsive employees at XYZ, Inc. He works hard for the managers and the employees’ success. John is a capable manager and an excellent communicator. I do not hesitate recommending John to any employer interested in a loyal employee with diverse talents Joe McHale” April 21, 2010

Joe�Example, Human Resources Manager, XYZ, Incmanaged John indirectly at XYZ, Inc

“John Doe is quite possibly one of the best co-workers I have had the pleasure to work with. He is incredibly giving of his time and expertise to his employees and his internal customers. He is very organized and knowledgeable, and he is always prepared and well informed. He is an extremely hard worker and will go the extra mile to make sure something is done right the first time.” July 27, 2010

Cassie�Example, Departmental Manager, XYZ, Incworked directly with John at XYZ, Inc

�

“It has been my pleasure to have known and worked with John during my tenure at XYZ, Inc. John has demonstrated that he is a hard working, conscientious and dedicated professional who consistently strives to better himself as well as assist other employees and clients in obtaining their goals and objectives. John always performed above and beyond the general requirements of his position with enthusiasm and a can-do attitude. John has always been eager to learn and has proven to be a quick study.” August 4, 2010

Robert Example, Vice President of Human Resources, XYZ, Incworked with John at XYZ, Inc

�

�

�

� � 5968

�

Part�3:�Project�Samples�

Project�1:�Human�Resources�Recruiting�Practices�

� �

6069

Human Resources’ Talent Acquisition

Manual 2010

XYZ, Inc7200 NW 86th St, Kansas City, MO 64153

816.595.5759816.595.5757

This document contains all information needed for hiring and recruiting practices for the Human Resources Department in 2010.

6170

The Hiring Process1. A Hiring Need is identified by Hiring Manager 2. Job Description is written out based upon previous job description audit or multiple job functions

that need to be the responsibility of the chosen candidate. 3. VP approves the position to be posted and the job description 4. VP sends position request and job description to HR 5. HR approves the job description 6. HR posts the position internally and externally (If requested) for seven days 7. The post will ask the following documents from all candidates: Cover Letter, Resume or CV, and

Salary Requirements 8. The HR Recruiter will do the initial phone interview for all external candidates 9. Recruiter will recommend the candidates that met the minimum criteria on the phone interview to

the Hiring Manager to complete “Face to Face Interviews” with 10. Hiring Manager will interview desired recommended external candidates and all internal

candidates.11. Recruiter will schedule all interviews with Hiring Manager and let applicants know what they are

to bring to the interview. a. Presentation: Note-cards are allowed and PowerPoint should be utilized b. Portfolio

12. Recruiter will make copies of resumes of candidates for Hiring Manager 13. Hiring manager will conduct the “Face to Face Interview”

a. Rate the presentation b. Rate all materials brought to the interview c. Rate applicant in areas covered in the interview itself

14. Hiring Manager uses the matrix and notes to rate candidates 15. If a tie exists between top candidates, the Hiring Manager will call back those that are tied for a

second interview. 16. Hiring Manager Rates the candidates on the second interview 17. Hiring Manager selects the top candidate 18. Hiring Manager sends decision to HR Recruiter 19. HR Recruiter completes the background check 20. HR Recruiter sends chosen candidate the Offer Letter 21. Candidate ideally accepts the Offer 22. HR Recruiter sends denial letters to other candidates and Hiring Manager meets with internal

candidates that did not get the position individually.

6271

Face to Face InterviewPart 1: Applicant’s Presentation Part 2: Resume Review Part 3: Career Services Interview Questions

1. Why did you choose the topic that you for your presentation today? a. Why: Icebreaker

2. What is your favorite interviewing method, as the interviewer? a. Why: Puts the applicant on the spot to determine if they have done actual “Hiring” in the

past.3. Can you walk an individual through creating a resume?

a. Why: Major function of the job 4. Walk me through creating a resume as if I am a client.

a. Why: Major function of the job 5. What was your favorite interviewing experience and why?

a. Why: To get a feeling for their individual preferences. 6. If aliens landed tomorrow and offered you any job on their planet, what would those duties

include?a. Why: To see if candidate can think on their feet and to see where their passions truly lie.

7. What does your current office look like? a. Why: To determine organizational skills

8. What was a piece of advice that has stuck with you that your College Career Services Personnel gave you?

9. What advice would you give a student applying for a job now that you have gained experience in the current market and HR/Recruiting?

a. Why: To find out if they have used Career Services from another organization and to find out if they can correlate their experiences to assist a client using our services.

10. Where do you see yourself in five years? a. Why: To determine if they are going to make a career here or if this is merely a stepping

stone to their actual career goals. 11. Why should I hire your, specifically?

a. Why: To determine confidence and to see if they can “Sell Themselves”. 12. Tell me about a presentation you have made or a meeting that you have lead that was in front of a

group of people. Tell me about the topic, the reactions you received, and was this the scariest moment of your life?

a. Why: To determine public speaking skills and how comfortable they are speaking in front of a group of people.

13. Are you familiar with Webinar software? a. Why: Presentations using Webinar Software will be frequent.

14. What are three strengths and three weaknesses? a. Why: To Determine how self aware the applicant is.

15. How comfortable are you helping another individual with cover letters, resumes, interview, portfolios, etc over the phone or via other electronic/remote methods?

a. Why: Major Job Function 16. In the “Education” section of the resume, which graduation date is ill-advisable to list?

Answer: HS Graduation Date because the interviewer can figure out age of applicant when can lead to age discrimination.

a. Why: To determine how current their knowledge on resumes is. 17. Rate your proficiency with Microsoft Access. 18. Rate your proficiency with Microsoft Word. 19. Rate your proficiency with Microsoft Excel. 20. Rate your proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint. 21. Rate your proficiency with Microsoft Publisher. 22. Rate your proficiency with Adobe Professional.

a. Why: These are software applications that are used frequently 23. Tell me about a time where you changed someone else’s life.

a. Why: It is the purpose of the job 65 6372

Presentation Matrix:1. Was the subject of the presentation relevant to the job within Human Resources? 2. Was a PowerPoint presentation utilized as a tool, as directed? 3. Did the candidate engage the audience with a clear introduction? 4. Did the candidate speak clearly? 5. Did the candidate stumble over any words? 6. Were the words of the candidate enunciated? 7. Were there distracting “filler words” like “Um”, “And”, “Ok”, etc? 8. Were there distracting motions like arm motions, pacing, etc? 9. Did the candidate refer back to their PowerPoint presentation during their presentation or was it

merely there to fulfill the “PowerPoint” requirement? 10. Was the presentation relevant and professional? 11. Did the candidate to anything special to make the presentation more professional or to make it

unique? 12. Overall rating of the presentation on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best).

Interview Matrix1. Relevant Recruiter experience:

a. Recruiting Experience (in Years): b. Hiring Management Experience (in Years):

2. Presentation Skills (As discussed in the interview, not the presentation): a. PowerPoint experience/skill level: b. Public Speaking experience:

3. Professionalism: a. How was the applicant dressed? b. Verbiage used when answering questions: c. Was a portfolio brought to the interview?

i. Were enough copies brought for all interviewers? ii. Were the interviewers allowed to keep at least one copy of the portfolio?

d. Were interviewers asked for their business cards? e. Did the candidate ask relevant questions at the end of the interview?

4. Essential Skills: a. Years of experience in HR/Recruiting/Hiring: b. Was a cover letter present when the applicant applied? c. Did the applicant submit salary requirements when they applied? d. Was the resume in a professional template?

i. What format was the resume in? ii. How many pages was the resume?

e. Was the portfolio presented at the interview? i. Was the portfolio put together correctly with the correct information and

documents? f. Was a Thank You letter received the same day as the interview?

i. If No, when was a Thank You letter received? ii. Was the Thank You letter put together properly with correct components?

iii. How was the Thank You letter received? g. Rate the applicant’s overall computer skills: h. Overall Rating of Communication Skills:

i. Rate Verbal Communication Skills on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best) ii. Rate Written Communication Skills on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best)

iii. Rate Public Speaking abilities on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best) 5. Rate the candidate overall on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best)

6473

Overall Career Services Candidate Matrix

Applicant Name:Position:

Date of Interview:

Presentation Matrix: 75 Points PossibleComponent Possible Points Earned Points Overal Notes From Presentation

Topic of presentation was relevent to HR: 5PowerPoint Presentation was used as a tool: 5Introducation was clear and engaged the audience: 10Speaking Abilities: 255 pts Candidate Spoke Clearly:5 pts Candidate did not stumble over words:5 pts Candidate ennunciated10 pts Candidate did not appear nervousSpeech Habits: 1510 pts Candidate did not have distracting habits:5 pts Candidate had a clear speaking voice:Professionalism of the Speech and Presentation: 5Uniqueness of presentation: 5Overall Rating of Presentation: 5

Total Points Earned during Presentation: 75 0

Interviewing Matrix 125 Points PossibleComponent Possible Points Earned Points Overal Notes From Interview

Relevant Experience 1510 pts Human Resources5 pts Hiring ManagementPresentation Experience 105 pts Power Point Skill Level5 pts Public Speaking ExperienceProfessionalism 105 pts Dress5 pts Verbiage used when answer interview questions"Thinking on their Feet" 5Rate the Cover Letter 105 pts Was one submitted?5 pts Was Salary requirements listed?Rate the Resume: 105 pts What type of resume was submitted?5 pts How many pages was the resume?Rate the Portfolio: 105 pts Was a portfolio presented?5 pts Was the portfolio put together correctly?Rate the Thank You Letter: 105 pts Was one received the same day as the interview?5 pts When was the Thank You Letter received?

How was the Thank You Letter received?Computer Skills: 101 pt Rating on Access:1 pt Rating on Excel:1 pt Rating on Word:1 pt Rating on PowerPoint:1 pt Rating on Publisher1 pt Rating on Adobe Professional:4 pts Overall Computer Competency Rating:Communication Skills: 103 pts Rate Verbal Skills:4 pts Rate Written Skills:3 pts Rate Public Speaking Abilities:Rate the Overall Applicant: 25

Total Points Earned during Interview: 125 0Applicant Totals: Presentation: 0 Interview: 0 Total Points Earned: 0 200 Points Possible

Worksheets

6574

Military�To�Civilian�Transition�Manual�

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Professional�Message:Features�and�Uniqueness:

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Major�AchievementsAchievement�1Achievement�2Achievement�3Achievement�4Achievement�5

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Interview�Cheat�SheetInterview�Details:

Company�Name: Position�Title:Date�of�Interview: Time�of�Interview:

Interview�Location�(Address) Interviewing�Dept:Contact�Person:Floor�of�Interview:Suite�of�Interview:

Website: Type�of�Interview:

General�Company�Information:Company's�Mission:

Clientele:Company�Products:Year�Established:

Benefits:Other�Information

What�qualifications�and�unique�skills�that�I�bring�to�the�organization:Qualification�1 Skill�1Qualification�2 Skill�2Qualification�3 Skill�3Qualification�4 Skill�4Qualification�5 Skill�5

Questions�to�ask�during�the�interview:Question�1Question�2Question�3Question�4Question�5

Notes:

Don't�forget�to�ask�for�a�business�card�so�that�you�can�send�a�'thank�you'�email�to�the�interviewer

81

Phone Number:Phone Number:

Personal�and�Professional�Reference�SheetProfessional�References Personal�References

Reference�Name: Reference�Name:Years�Known: Years�Known:

Relationship�to�you: Relationship�to�you:Phone�Number: Phone�Number:Mailing�Address: Mailing�Address:

Email�Address Email�AddressCurrent�Title: Current�Title:

Current�Employer: Current�Employer:






Relationship�to�you: Relationship�to�you:Phone Number:� Phone Number:�Mailing�Address: Mailing�Address:











82

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