Resume

Veterans’ Preference: A Tangible Expression Of Appreciation And Support

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When I think about the many ways our country shows gratitude to our veterans, the most tangible is found in ‘veterans’ preference.’

The roots of veterans’ preference can be traced back to the aftermath of World War I. As soldiers returned home from the grueling battles abroad, the nation recognized the need to reintegrate these brave men and women into civilian life. Beyond parades and memorials, there was a genuine understanding that these individuals deserved opportunities to build their post-war lives. Hence, the preference policy was born, giving military veterans a leg up when seeking government employment.

‍Veterans’ Preference Evolution Through Time

Congress continued to update and provide veterans’ preference to those who served beyond World War I. On March 3, 1865, just prior to the end of the American Civil War, Congress updated veterans’ preference to ensure those who served in the Army and Navy were given preference in civil appointments.

“Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, [t]hat persons honorably discharged from the military or naval service by reason of disability resulting from wounds or sickness incurred in the line of duty, should be preferred for appointments to civil offices, provided they shall be found to possess the business capacity necessary for the proper discharge of the duties of such offices” (Veteran Hiring in the Civil Service: Practices and Perceptions, August 2014).

Today, under the current the veterans’ preference policy, eligible veterans who apply for federal jobs are given preference over non-veterans. This means that if a veteran and a non-veteran have the same qualifications for a position, the veteran will be given preference and awarded the job. In some cases, veterans may even receive additional points on their application scores.  

The policy has been expanded over time to include not only those who served during wartime but also those who served during peacetime. In addition, the policy applies to not just federal jobs but also some state and local government jobs.

‍The Importance of Veterans’ Preference

One of the main reasons for implementing veterans’ preference was to provide opportunities to veterans who may have been disadvantaged due to their time serving in the military. Many veterans face challenges when transitioning back to civilian life, including finding employment. Veterans’ preference helps to level the playing field and provide veterans with an advantage in the job market.

Another benefit of veterans’ preference is that it helps to ensure that the government has a diverse workforce. Veterans come from all walks of life and have a variety of skills and experiences. By giving them preference in employment, the government is able to tap into a diverse pool of talent.

There are some who argue that veterans’ preference can be unfair to non-veterans who are equally qualified for a job. However, supporters of the policy argue that veterans have made sacrifices for their country and deserve to be given preference in employment opportunities.

While veterans’ preference is an important policy, it is not a guarantee of employment for veterans. Veterans still need to meet the qualifications for the job they are applying for and compete with other candidates. However, veterans’ preference can give them an advantage and help them to better compete in the job market.

In conclusion, veterans’ preference is an important policy that recognizes the sacrifices made by veterans and provides them with opportunities for employment. While some may argue that it is unfair to non-veterans, supporters argue that it helps to ensure that the government has a diverse workforce and provides opportunities to those who may have been disadvantaged due to their time serving in the military.

Learn more about Veterans’ Preference:

‍‍This post was written by Nancy Segal in collaboration with Federal Career Connection, Inc., an independently organized educational nonprofit organization who are grounded in community service and commitment to helping individuals in career transition. Learn more about the partnership by clicking here!

I Showed My Resume To (Whoever) And They Said (Whatever)

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While it can be a good idea to get feedback on your resume, who you ask and what you ask are important. Everyone has an opinion about your resume, especially if you ask them for their opinion.

It’s important to be strategic about who you ask to review your resume.

There are a couple of people you should ask for feedback, and specific tasks for each of them.

The first is someone who knows you — and your work — well.

This might be a close friend, a spouse or significant other, or a past colleague. (Why not a current colleague? Be careful who you let know you’re looking for a new job. Some bosses presume you’ll stay with your current employer forever and may perceive it as disloyal that you’re looking. You can’t count on your current co-workers to keep your job search completely confidential.)

You want this person to review your resume and answer the following three questions:

  • Do you see anything I need to change or correct?
  • Does this sound like me?
  • Is there anything I should add?

The second is someone who hires for jobs in your field or industry.

This might be a past supervisor (perhaps someone you’re using as a job reference). It should be someone who is currently hiring, not someone who used to hire candidates. The job search process changes rapidly, and the advice that you may get from someone who hasn’t reviewed resumes in a while might be dated. (For example, the one-page resume is no longer a big deal in the age of electronic resume submission—and is totally inappropriate for federal resumes, which easily range 4-6 pages.)

Remember, though, that the person involved in hiring likely sees resumes only after they have made it through the applicant tracking system (ATS) software or made it past Human Resources (HR).

Don’t ask just anyone for feedback. Too many opinions can lead to “analysis paralysis” where you become obsessed with perfection instead of getting started using your resume in your job search.

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Resume Myth Busters

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True or False…

Resumes with facts and and myths signs in the forefront.
The purpose of a resume is to get a job.
  • FALSE: The purpose of your resume is to get an interview. And hiring managers use the resume to determine who not to interview as well. The information you choose to include—or exclude—from your resume can make the difference on whether you will get an interview.
I need to include my entire work history on my resume.
  • FALSE: These days the standard for resumes is to focus on your last 10 or so years of experience. Most employers want to know what you have done recently—not what you did in the early 2000’s, 1990’s, or even earlier.
My resume should be 1 page.
  • FALSE: This is a pretty common misconception. For private sector resumes, 2 pages is entirely appropriate (assuming you have something to say). For the federal government, 4-6 pages is standard. The key thing is that the information is provided in an organized format and offers the level of detail necessary to help the reader determine whether the applicant is a good fit for the role.
Readers of my resume will understand what I do.
  • FALSE: Oftentimes the first reader of your resume is from Human Resources. They are unlikely to be subject matter experts in your technical area. This means that your resume should not be overly technical, and all acronyms must be spelled out. If the first level reviewer does not understand what you have written, your resume is unlikely to be passed on to a hiring manager.
It is important to show my education at the top of my resume.
  • FALSE: Unless you are within 3 or so years of graduation and seeking an entry level role or are preparing an academic curriculum vitae (CV), your education belongs at the end of your resume. In most instances, you are “selling” your experience, not your education. And in both the federal and private sector arenas, there is a renewed emphasis on competencies, rather than education.
I need to include my objective and references on my resume.
  • FALSE: Using an objective and mentioning references is old fashioned. Instead create a skills summary to show the value you can bring and leave off any mention of references.
Reviewers spend time reading my entire resume.
  • FALSE: Private sector studies have shown that most reviewers spent between 5 and 15 seconds looking at a resume. Federal reviewers spend more time, but the point is the same—you need to ensure that your resume immediately demonstrates your value, and all content is relevant to the job you are targeting.

There are other myths circulating about resumes too but at the end of the day, your resume is a marketing document, one that strategically presents your work experience and education as a way to showcase how you can make a contribution to your next employer.

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Does Your Resume Say, “Responsible for…”?

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There are words you should use in your resume—and words you definitely should not. If your resume uses the words “responsible for,” you have work to do! Just because you’re responsible for something doesn’t mean you did it—it only means that you are supposed to do it! Other phrases that you should banish from your resume include: duties include, hardworking, objective, references available upon request, detail-oriented (unless included on the job posting you’re targeting), team player, phone (and email)—although you should certainly include your contact information, there’s no reason to label it. There are more but you get the idea.

Instead of using passive language—or words that are so generic as to be meaningless, your resume should use action verbs.

Here are some strong words to show your value:

  • Delivered
  • Identified
  • Resolved
  • Led
  • Directed
  • Oversaw
  • Conducted
  • Focused
  • Reconciled
  • Organized
  • Presented
  • Coordinated
  • Delegated
  • Orchestrated
  • Built
  • Planned
  • Spearheaded
  • Created
  • Designed
  • Formed
  • Decreased
  • Furthered
  • Saved
  • Clarified
  • Modernized
  • Streamlined
  • Upgraded
  • Aligned

There are many additional words to choose from; make sure the language you use on your resume is strong and represents what you bring to the table!

If you’re needing assistance with your resume feel free to reach out about our Resume Writing Services!

It’s That Time Again…September is Update Your Resume Month!

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You know you should keep your resume updated but do you actually do it? If not, September is the perfect time to do so. Designated “Update Your Resume Month,” you can get in the spirit by updating yours!

So, what should you do?

Here are 10 easy things for you to do:

  1. Review your existing resume; ensure that your current job is on your resume
  2. Remove jobs that are more than 10 or so years old; or at least put them in a category called Earlier Professional Experience (or something similar)
  3. Update your achievements; what have you done in your current position that had an impact on your employer? Did you save money? Increase productivity? Create a new way to do something?
  4. Add any new educational achievements; did you get a new degree? A new license of some sort? Professional certifications? Something else?
  5. Note any significant awards or industry honors. It adds to your credibility when you are recognized outside your organization.
  6. Include updated numbers. Did your staff size increase? What about your budget? Size of your territory/responsibility? Numbers help give your work context.
  7. Delete the words “responsible for;” just because you are responsible for something, it doesn’t mean you actually do it. It means that you should do it. It tells the reader nothing.
  8. Eliminate personal pronouns from your resume. Resumes should be written in first person implied—no personal pronouns. Started your sentences with active verbs (and no “s” at the end of them either!)
  9. Assess your Qualifications Statement; does it still reflect what you’re targeting? Include keywords? Make a compelling case for your candidacy? If not, tweak it.
  10. Check for typos you may have missed the last time you reviewed your resume.

Doing the above should take less than an hour. If you spend the time to keep your resume updated, you’ll be ready to go when that dream job becomes available!

You can check out some other Update You Resume Month posts from previous years below:

References On Your Resume?

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A person's hand connecting icons of people that represent References.

Instead of listing references on your resume, or even noting “references available upon request,” all job seekers should have a professional reference page to provide when asked for references. Identifying and preparing a reference page is about more than listing your supervisor—or your best friend.

Choosing References

Make sure to choose at least 5 references. Typically, employers ask for three business references. Some ask for one or two personal references, excluding family members. Prepare more professional references and choose the best for each application.

Appropriate references are usually previous bosses, supervisors, and employers or leaders of volunteer organizations with which you are affiliated. If these choices are not available, consider customers, vendors, professors, and/or professional colleagues from networking, professional, or community organizations.

Select only articulate individuals who will give a positive, professional reference. If there are doubts, it is best for you not to consider that person as a reference. If you have worked in a variety of career fields, the best strategy is to obtain references that can speak with knowledge about your performance in areas relevant to your current job search.

Preparing References

Before you add a reference to your list or use the reference in an online application, obtain the reference’s permission by emailing, telephoning, or meeting with them.

To prepare professional references, you should provide copies of your resume and a summary of your current career goals. You can email the job description of the position for which you are applying or share three to four of the most important points mentioned in the job announcement. This helps the reference understand how to describe you in terms that are relevant and specific to the goal at hand. 

Remind the reference of relevant projects or tasks in which they were both involved. Offer to answer questions or have a conversation regarding the specific qualifications relevant to the desired position. This conversation can refresh the reference’s memory of your qualifications and help you to understand what pieces of information would be most helpful in a letter of reference or when discussing you with the hiring manager.

In addition to vetting talents and skills, good references can speak with knowledge about your work ethic and personal characteristics such as integrity, honesty, dependability, punctuality, and attitude.  

Following up with References

Maintain contact and a good business rapport with your selected references. Each time you apply for a new position, the references who will be asked to speak on your behalf should be contacted and emailed the job description for the position.

Saying thank you is VERY important to the relationship with your references and to ensure they do not become disinterested in continuing to provide references for you. Do not take references for granted.

Don’t be caught off-guard. Now is the perfect time to update your references so you’re ready for that next opportunity!

For more information about References check out these blog posts:

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