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                Jobs and Training at FDA

Jobs and Training at FDA

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          Building a Federal Resume: Tips and FAQsJobs and Training at FDA Building a Federal Resume: Tips and FAQs
  
  	
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    PrintWhether you’re a current federal employee or new to the Federal Government, your resume is the primary way for you to communicate your education, skills and experience. Learn more below on how to tailor your resume and the do’s and don’ts.



**Read the entire job announcement. Focus on the following sections to understand whether or not you qualify for the position. This critical information is found under:**

Duties and Qualifications
	How to Apply (including a preview of the assessment questionnaire)
	How You Will be Evaluated**Make sure you have the required experience and/or education before you apply. Hiring agencies use the job announcement to describe the job and the required qualifications, including:**

Level and amount of experience
	Education
	TrainingWhat to include in your resume:

Federal jobs often require that you have experience in a particular type of work for a certain period of time. You **must show how your skills and experiences meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement**to be considered for the job.

Include dates, hours, level of experience and examples for each work experience.

For each work experience you list, make sure you include:

Start and end dates (including the month and year).
	The number of hours you worked per week.
	The level and amount of experience–for instance, whether you served as a project manager or a team member helps to illustrate your level of experience.
	Examples of relevant experiences and accomplishments that prove you can perform the tasks at the level required for the job as stated in the job announcement. Your experience needs to address every required qualification.**Example**

Management Analyst GS-343-11
January 2009 - Present
40 Hours/Week
$65,000/Year

Experience/Accomplishment
	Experience/AccomplishmentResume Writing Tips:

Customize your resume to each job
	State the facts. Avoid belief or judgement statements
	Provide sufficient detail, but use concise language
	Avoid information that does not add substance
	Use headings to guide the readerResume Writing Do’s and Don’ts

Resume Writing Do's
			Resume Writing Don'tsBe thorough, detailed, and clearly depict experience, qualifications, and accomplishments
			Don’t only state duties; showcase your accomplishmentsUse action verbs
			Don’t attach position descriptions to document your experienceUse relevant words, descriptions and phrases from job announcements, duties, and job classifications
			Don’t assume HR Specialists know who you are and/or what you have done at previous positionsModify the resume to match position requirements
			Don’t use civilian industry jargon, acronyms, or company specific terminology. Military jargon may be okay if relevant to the jobHighlight key points or headings using capital letters, asterisks, and/or dashes
			Don’t use acronyms unless they are spelled out initially

Frequently Asked Questions:

**Q:**  Can I use volunteer experience in my resume?**A:** Don’t limit yourself to only including paid work experience. Include relevant volunteer work or community organizations roles that demonstrate your ability to do the job.

**Q:** Do I need the specific date of when I started a position and when I finished?**A:** Start and end dates should include the month and year.

**Q:** Is there a standard Federal Government job application?**A:** Your resume is your application.

**Q:** Should I use the resume builder on usajobs.gov or upload my resume?**A:** Both options are available to use on www.usajobs.gov. It is up to the applicant as to which one he/she prefers.

**Q:**What is the difference between eligibility and qualifications?**A:** Eligibility, in the federal hiring process, refers to being part of a particular group of people that an agency wants to hire – whether it’s a current federal employee, a veteran, or a recent graduate. Your eligibility has nothing to do with your work experience, skills, and other qualifications. Qualifications include your work experience (years, type of work), skills, education level and your overall knowledge of a particular field of study.

**Q:** Do I need a degree to work at FDA?**A:**No, if you have been in the job market for a while and have accumulated an extensive work history, you may be well qualified for many positions even without a college degree. Except for certain professional and scientific positions, a college education may not be necessary.

**Q:** What is specialized experience?**A:**“Specialized experience” is a type of work experience that is directly related to the position which you are applying. This means, for example, to qualify for a GS-12 grade (or equivalent) level, you must have had a minimum of 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to a GS-11 grade (or equivalent) level.

Additional Resources:

OPM’s Classification & Qualifications
	What should I include in my federal resume?
	How to create a resume on usajobs.gov
	What should I leave out of my federal resume?
	How do I set up notifications for future job announcements?

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      12/11/2018Jobs and Training at FDA

          
                        FDA's Anti-Harassment and Inappropriate Conduct Policy
          Hiring Programs
          Quality of Worklife


                        Jobs at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH)
          Jobs at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)
          Buildings and Facilities
          Career Descriptions
          Equal Employment at FDA
          Ethics
          New Employee Onboarding
          No FEAR Act
          Scientific Careers at FDA
          Scientific Internships, Fellowships / Trainees and Non-U.S. Citizens
 
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