Resume Prep

Professional Resume Services

If you would like to have your resume professionally written, or have an existing resume reviewed and edited, please contact Virtual Resumes. They are experts at tailoring your resume to the government agency you are applying to. When you order, tell them we sent you and you will receive a 20% discount off the service you choose (not to be combined with other offers/discounts). For more information about Virtual Resumes, click the link below.


Your Resume

A resume is a tool you can use to demonstrate your fit for the job-specific requirements of a career. The majority of people not only have received little instruction on building a resume, they also have very little experience building one. Therefore they don't understand what should or should not be included to present themselves in the best manner that they can.

Resume building does not start at the writing stage. As a professional, you should have a long list of volunteer experience, academic achievements, languages, computer skills and other highlights to place on your resume. If you don't, begin today. Many organizations are desperate for volunteer help, including food banks, charity organizations and Children's Aid Societies. Languages are vital to government agencies, as are computer skills and any other life skills.

The main purpose of your resume is to frame your experiences, skills and knowledge so that they will be relevant to the job that you are applying. You have to not only demonstrate what you've done, but also demonstrate that you have done it well. It is crucial to present information clearly and concisely so a person reviewing it can quickly pick out all of the relevant information. Three principles should be followed:

Principle One: Relevance

Government offices want to fill positions with people who fit their needs. It is important to determine what competencies are required for the job. Make sure that you fully understand the core competencies that are required for your career. Below is a sample list of compentencies that would be useful to Customs Inspectors, but many apply to other government jobs as well.

Analytical Thinking

 

The ability to analyze situations and events in a logical way, and to organize the parts of a problem systematically.

Self - Confidence

 

A belief in your capabilities and recognition of personal limitations.

Communication

 

This is vital in any career. You must have the skills to effectively communicate using listening skills and verbal and written communications skills.

Flexibility / Valuing Diversity

 

With government jobs, you will have to work with a wide cross-section of the community with diverse backgrounds, cultures and socio-economic circumstances. You must have the ability to adapt your approach to each situation.

Self - Control

 

You must establish that you can control your emotions actions when provoked and handle stressful situations.

Relationship Building

 

Developing contacts and relationships both within and outside your work organization is extremely valuable.

Achievement Orientation

 

You must demonstrate a desire for continuous improvement in service and accomplishments.

Information Seeking

 

The ability to seek out and consider information from various sources before making decisions.

Concern for Safety

 

The ability to exercise caution in hazardous situations in order to ensure safety to self and others.

Assertiveness

 

The capacity to use authority confidently and to set and enforce rules appropriately.

Initiative

 

Demonstrated proficiency to be self-motivated and self-directed in identifying and addressing important issues.

Cooperation

 

Willing to act with others by seeking their input, encouraging their participation and sharing information.

Negotiation / Facilitation

 

The ability to influence and persuade others by anticipating and addressing their interests and perspectives.

Work Organization

 

The ability to develop and maintain systems for organizing information and activities.

Community Service Orientation

 

Proven commitment to helping or serving others.

Commitment to Learning

 

Demonstrated pattern of activities that contribute to personal and professional growth.

Organization Awareness

 

A capacity for understanding the dynamics of organizations, including the formal and informal cultures and decision-making processes.

Developing Others

 

Commitment to helping others improve their skills.

Many people squeeze everything into a resume hoping that something will click. Anything on your resume that does not exhibit traits for a core competency is a waste of space.

There is no need to include every employer on your resume unless you are specifically asked to provide that information. Many government agencies may ask you to fill out an employment history application. Pick out the most relevant positions you have had and focus on demonstrating these qualities. Any additional information such as Activities, Volunteer, Education, or Special Skills should also effectively demonstrate these competencies.

Principle Two: Highlight Accomplishments

Accomplishment statements should give your potential employer an indication of how well you performed. It should reveal not only what you did, but also how well you did it. Each statement should include the following:


Each accomplishment should describe skills relevant to the job. Practice writing these statements. Typically, accomplishment statements fall under the work experience, volunteer, or education sections of your resume.

Each statement should use action verbs that emphasize and add power to your accomplishment statements. Quantifying your results when you can will add impact.

Example Action Statements

1) Day Camp Counselor

Core Competency

Situation / Task

Action

Result

Developing Others, Cooperation, Concern for Safety, Assertiveness, Community Service, Communication.

Field trips as a day camp counselor.

Instruction and supervision.

Ensured safety of 60 children with fellow counselors.

"Supervised and instructed 60 young children on field trips ensuring their safety and enjoyment with a team of fellow counselors."

2) Retail / Grocery

Core Competency

Situation / Task

Action

Result

Work Organization, Communication, Negotiation / Facilitation

Controlling Inventory.

Organized units and placed orders (quantified)

Diverse customer's needs anticipated and satisfied.

"Organized shelving units and placed orders in excess of $20,000 ensuring diverse customer needs were anticipated and satisfied."

3) Post-Secondary Education

Core Competency

Situation / Task

Action

Result

Initiative, Achievement Orientation, Analytical Thinking, Commitment to Learning, Communication

Attending post-secondary education.

Studied sociology (or any other major)

Graduated with a strong standing, developing a core set of skills.

"Developed analytical, presentation, computer and XXXX skills, studying sociology and graduating with a 75% average."

4) Volunteer Work

Core Competency

Situation / Task

Action

Result

Initiative, Communication, Cooperation, Work Organization, Developing Others, Self-Confidence, Flexibility / Valuing Diversity, Negotiation / Facilitation, Community Service Orientation

Food drive at work.

Organized and implemented.

Raised $2,000 for needy people in the community.

"Organized and implemented with a team of volunteers a Food Drive at work effectively raising $2,000 for needy people in the community."

Action Verbs to be used for your Accomplishment Statements:

Accelerated, Accumulated, Accomplished, Acquired, Analyzed, Applied, Arranged, Assessed, Authorized, Approved

Began, Bought, Budgeted, Coached, Collected, Combined, Communicated, Conducted, Convinced, Coordinated

Developed, Directed, Discovered, Documented, Effected, Enforced, Engineered, Evaluated, Facilitated, Filed, Financed, Founded

Generated, Hired, Identified, Launched, Learned, Led, Made, Maintained, Managed, Marketed, Minimized, Monitored

Negotiated, Observed, Ordered, Performed, Perpetuated, Planned, Prepared, Presribed, Presented, Processed, Produced, Promoted, Provided

Questioned, Raised, Read, Realized, Reorganized, Repaired, Researched, Revised, Risked, Saved, Scheduled, Selected, Separated, Served, Set

Shared, Showed, Solved, Strengthened, Succeeded, Supplied, Taught, Team Built, Trained, Translated, Tutored, Uncovered, Unified, Utilized, Won, Wrote

Principle 3 - Make it Easy to Read

Recruiters may look at thousands of resumes each year. They do not necessarily spend a lot of time on each one. This means your resume has only a few minutes to prove that you are a good fit for the job. The information presented has to be immediately pertinent and easy to read. Key things you should be mindful of when finishing up your resume are:

  • Keep the resume to one or two pages if possible
  • Use high quality paper
  • Incorporate as much white space as possible so the reader is not overwhelmed
  • Highlight only key words or positions to attract attention
  • Use bullet points rather than paragraphs
  • Keep font sizes between 10 and 12 pt

Language and grammar are very important to a resume and the following should be observed:

  • Make every word count
  • Use short, simple and concrete words that are easily understood
  • Use strong nouns and vital verbs to add action, power and interest
  • Avoid personal pronouns
  • Spell check the document and always have someone else proof read the material
  • Double check the meaning of easily confused words, i.e.:

    • affect (influence) vs. effect (consequence)

    its (possession) vs. it's (contraction it is)

    personal (private) vs. personnel (staff)

    elicit (extract) vs. illicit (illegal)

    then (subsequently) vs. than (used in comparison)

    discreet (tactful) vs. discrete (detached)

    their (ownership) vs. there (a location nearby)

    allude (indirect reference) vs. elude (to evade)

    to (in the direction, toward) vs. too (also, as well)

    fare (charge, ticket, price) vs. fair (just, right)


A few Rules-of-Thumb

  • Months do not need to be included in dates when the length of employment is greater than six months
  • Part-time and full-time descriptors are generally not included
  • Do not include names of supervisors
  • Check with the agency you are applying about disclosing full employment history

Review the copy of the sample resume below.

Resume Components

Name

Address Telephone Number
E-mail

Education

Educational Institution - Date
Location
Degree

Educational Institution - Date
Location
Degree

Work Experience

Company, Geographic Location - Date

Position title
- Descriptive Statement if needed
- Relevant Accomplishment Statement
- Relevant Accomplishment Statement

Company, Geographic Location - Date

Position title
- Descriptive Statement if needed
- Relevant Accomplishment Statement
- Relevant Accomplishment Statement

Examples of Optional Section Headings

- Professional Development - Awards
- Computer Skills - Summary of Qualifications
- Languages - Functional Skills
- Activities and Interests - Publications
- Volunteer Experience - Academic Achievements







John / Jane Doe (EXAMPLE)

123 Main St #1 Xtown Ontario A1A 1A1 (416) 555-1212
jdoe@x.com

Education
 
CITY COLLEGE, Toronto, Ontario (1996-2000)
Psychology Diploma

  • Elected Class President and managed a budget of $5,000 and a team of 15 volunteers to deliver class social activities and educational assistance programs.

MAIN STREET COLLEGIATE, Toronto, Ontario (1991-1996)
OSSD, OAC Certificate, Honour Roll, Senior English Award
 
Professional Experience
 
You Name It Security, Toronto, Ontario (2000-present)
Security Guard

  • Investigated and handled property disturbances arising from a variety of situations, and resulting in reports, cautions or arrests.
  • Organized and implemented a neighbour watch program for clients taking a proactive role to reduce instances of break and enters in a residential complex.
Toronto Parks Department, Toronto, Ontario (1995-1999)
Assistant Activity Implementer

  • Scheduled and implemented with a team of co-workers a variety of after school activities for 50 - 60 children.
  • Assisted children from diverse cultural backgounds with a variety of problems such as schoolwork, bullying and loneliness.
Volunteer

  • Thanksgiving Food Drive - annually delivering food to needy people throughout the community
  • Children's Aid Society - Special Buddy Program (1995-1998)
  • City College Orientation Leader, (1999)

Interests

  • Shodan Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu, running, weight training, snowboarding, rock climbing, white water rafting, sport parachuting, water skiing and SCUBA diving.
  • Piano Royal Conservatory Grade 5. Guitar - Introductory lessons.

Computer Skills

  • Excel, WordPerfect, PowerPoint
  • Internet development, Outlook