The Federal application package is designed to demonstrate that a
candidate is qualified for a vacant position and is among the most
qualified applicants eligible to be interviewed. As the government is
downsized, more people are competing for fewer positions and the
application package becomes the first step in screening. To be successful,
an applicant must demonstrate not only that he/she meets the minimum
qualifications, but that his/her knowledge, skills, and abilities match the
ranking factors listed on the vacancy announcement.
Applying for a Specific Position
If you are applying for a specific Federal position, carefully
read the vacancy announcement or the program
announcement. The announcement gives a general
description of duties and specifies the type and amount of
experience required in order to qualify for the position. It
also lists the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other
characteristics (KSA’s) needed to perform the job
successfully.
Review the appropriate job series listed on the
announcement (i.e., GS-341, 201, 560, etc.) in Operating
Manual for Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions
available from the Government Printing Office.
A complete application package will include an application form plus the
following:
• Supplemental qualifications statement addressing each ranking
factor;
• Current personnel appraisal;
• Personnel Actions (SF-50’s);
• Other requested documents; and
• A cover letter.
Federal Application Forms
Before 1995, there was one Federal application form, the Standard Form
171 (SF-171). Lengthy and detailed, it provided all the information
164—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
Federal
Application
Package
CHAPTER 9
Applications and Resumes
required to apply for Federal employment. Now there are several choices:
the Federal Resume (OF-510), the Optional Form (OF-612), or the SF-
171. Some positions may ask for the SF-1950 which is a machine readable
application. The first step in preparing a Federal application package is to
read the vacancy announcement carefully to determine which forms will
be accepted by the selecting office.
Federal Resume. The Federal Resume is not the same thing as a private
sector resume. Instructions for preparing the Federal Resume are
contained in the publication, Applying for a Federal Job (OF-510). The
Federal Resume is printed on plain bond paper but must include all the
information requested in the vacancy announcement.
In addition, the Federal Resume must include the following information
which determines if the legal requirements for Federal employment have
been met and to evaluate the applicant’s qualifications.
Personal and Educational Information for the Applicant
• Full name, mailing address (with ZIP code), and day and evening
telephone numbers, including area code.
• Social Security number.
• Country of citizenship (most Federal jobs require U.S. citizenship).
• Veteran’s preference (proof of eligibility required).
• Reinstatement eligibility.
• Highest Federal civilian grade held, including series, beginning and
ending dates.
• Name, city and state of last high school attended and date of
diploma or GED.
• Name, city, and state of colleges and universities attended, major
fields of study, type and year of any degrees received (if no degree,
show total number of credits earned and indicate whether they are
in quarter or semester hours).
Work Experience and Other Qualifications
The Federal Resume must contain the following information on each paid
or non-paid work experience related to the job being applied for during
the past 10 years:
• Job title (series and grade if Federal employment)
• Duties and accomplishments
• Employer’s name and address
• Supervisor’s name and telephone number
• Permission to contact supervisor
• Starting and ending dates
Chapter 9—165
• Hours per week
• Salary
• Job-related training courses (title and year)
• Job-related skills (e.g. languages, typing speed, computer
software/hardware, tools, machinery)
• Job-related certificates and licenses (current only)
• Job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments (e.g.
publications, memberships in professional or honor societies,
leadership activities, public speaking, performance awards)
Important Note
The Federal Resume does not request references.
References will be given by the job supervisors contacted.
OF-612. This is a scaled-down version of the SF-171 (only one page). It is
deceptive, however, because an applicant must list all previous job
experience on extension pages. A complete OF-612 ends up looking a lot
like an SF-171.
SF-171. Although officially out of hard copy print, the SF-171 exists on
software programs. The form’s major advantage is that human resources
personnel are used to it and it provides all the information necessary to
determine whether an applicant is qualified.
The preparation of a good, competitive Federal Application takes
considerable thought, time, and effort on your part. The material should
be organized and the writing accurate, clear, and concise. Remember that
you will be evaluated on what you write, and your statements will be
verified.
First, gather all the material that will be useful in preparing your
application: any previous SF-171’s, copies of your position descriptions,
performance appraisals, notices of awards and special recognition,
personnel actions (SF-50’s), letters of recommendation, school
transcripts, training certificates. Have available a dictionary, thesaurus, list
of action verbs, and a typewriter or word processor.
166—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
General
Preparation
of the Federal
Application
Tips for Preparing a Federal Application
1. Read the instructions on the job announcement carefully. This
will assist you in avoiding costly mistakes.
2. A neat, clean, typed form communicates professionalism.
3. Be concise and well-organized. Edit your writing so that every
word counts.
5. Use a strong, clear writing style. Your descriptions should be
interesting and easy to read.
6. Be positive. Focus on accomplishments when describing work
experience.
7. Include relevant volunteer experience.
8. Proofread carefully, then ask someone else to proofread it.
Spelling and grammatical mistakes communicate negative
messages to employers.
9. Emphasize the most important information: put it first,
underline it, capitalize it, or bullet items. Avoid excessive
emphasis.
10. Sell yourself! Don’t be modest. If you organized something
(even if others were involved), write “Organized ...” not
“Assisted in the organization of ....”
The way you describe your work experience — both salaried and volunteer
— on your application can make the difference between being rated
qualified or not. It can also have a significant impact on whether you are
evaluated as a highly qualified candidate in competition with other
applicants.
Describe your most recent or present job first and work backwards. When
describing experience, write about responsibilities and accomplishments
— not duties. For each accomplishment, try to answer the following
questions:
• What did you do?
• How did you do it (alone, as part of a team, etc.)?
• How many times/products?
Chapter 9—167
Describing
Work Experience
• How much of your time did it take?
• For whom was it done?
• What was the end result?
If you received an award for work described, list it as an accomplishment.
Good Idea File
You should keep a “praise file” of everything you
accomplish on a weekly basis. Not only will this help you
remember your accomplishments when writing up the
job, it will also provide the information needed by your
supervisor to write your efficiency report.
The following definitions may help you to describe your jobs:
Duty. Activity which is expected of you in the day-to-day performance of
your responsibilities. Be specific. Don’t copy words from your job
description. Example: you type, you file, you write correspondence, etc.
Responsibility. Area of work in which you have the authority and the
opportunity to be in charge and which requires independent thought,
action, and judgment. You may have responsibilities even though you
report to someone else. Example: you are responsible for making travel
arrangements for your supervisor.
Accomplishments. Activity that contributes something out of the ordinary
to the goals of the organization, department, bureau, or office. Whether
an accomplishment was done independently or as part of a team, use verbs
that describe your exact role. Try to emphasize this area over the others.
Example: you designed a new filing system that saved time and is more
efficient for the office.
Skill. Ability or physical competence that you demonstrate in discharging
your responsibilities, performing your duties, or making your
contributions. Example: skill in typing; skill in running a movie projector.
Knowledge. Mastery of a subject matter area. Example: knowledge of
office management; knowledge of accounting.
Ability. Potential to use a knowledge or skill when needed. Example:
ability to produce reports in final form; ability to implement new office
procedures.
168—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
The following list will help you complete the work experience section.
Do-- describe your experience so that you emphasize the knowledge
and skills required by the vacant position. Use action verbs to
describe what work you actually did. Be specific.
Do-- describe your accomplishments in each job. If possible,
quantify. (Example: wrote 10 articles on employment for
newsletter.)
Do-- include all experience, whether paid or voluntary, including
church, community, and club work. Show actual amount of
time spent on such work.
Do-- arrange your experience in chronological order.
Do-- account for all periods of unemployment exceeding three
months. Describe any volunteer service, education, or training
done during periods of unemployment.
Do-- include and describe major experience in the military or
reserves.
Do-- indicate the number of hours you worked per week whether you
worked full-time or part-time.
Do-- estimate and indicate the approximate percentage of time spent
in each type of work. If your job contains more than one type
of experience (for example, personnel and budget), place the
percentages in parentheses at the end of each description.
Do-- indicate any supervisory experience, even if it was only
occasionally and even if it was not in your job description.
Indicate the number of employees you supervised.
Do-- indicate if you worked with little or no supervision.
Do-- describe your work accurately (not the work of the organization
or of colleagues) without exaggerating or being humble.
Chapter 9—169
Recalling Accomplishments
• Did you solve a problem?
• Did you take charge of an emergency situation?
• Did you develop an idea?
• Did you show leadership during a challenging situation?
• Did you achieve a goal by following instructions?
• Did you discover a need and meet it?
• Did you help others reach their goals?
• Did you influence the direction, efficiency, or productivity of
your immediate work group?
• What do you do better than your coworkers and why is this an
advantage to your agency?
Note: These questions are often used in interviews, so it is useful to
have answers to them.
Following the guidelines above, describe your environment, your title, to
whom you reported, and a description of the duties and responsibilities
you assumed in each job you had. Describe any specialties and special
assignments, your authority and responsibility, your relationship to others,
and your accomplishments.
Education should be described as carefully as experience, because a
college degree is considered qualifying experience for many positions.
Include the names of schools, locations, dates attended, subjects studied,
and number of credit hours you have accumulated toward a degree if you
have not yet graduated. A college year represents 30 semester, 54
trimester, or 45 quarter hours. Most schools require 120 semester hours,
210 trimester, or 180 quarter hours for graduation. You may use these
figures in your computation.
Be sure to identify major courses. These may be needed to qualify for a
specific job.
170—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
Describing
Your Education
Presenting Your Experience
• Determine how your experience compares with position
requirements.
• Write simple direct sentences using your own words.
• Use action verbs to describe the work you actually did.
• Draft, edit, and rewrite until you are satisfied.
• Don’t abbreviate unless you have already spelled out the term
and want to refer to it. For example, Foreign Service Institute
(FSI).
• Use “I” sparingly.
• Mention job-related awards.
• Show your salary at the annual rate.
• If you have a great number of accomplishments in one job, break
it down into more than one experience block, showing your
increased responsibility.
Education received in a foreign country may be accepted, provided an
organization recognized by the U.S. Office of Education or the Council on
Post Secondary Accreditation has evaluated your coursework. A
certification of courses accepted for advanced credit by an accredited U.S.
college or university is also acceptable. If you have these evaluation
certificates at the time you prepare your application, attach them. You will
be asked to furnish them before your application can be considered
complete. For a list of organizations that evaluate foreign credentials, see
Chapter 13, Resources and Bibliography.
Important Note
Federal applications require information on your high
school even if you have a degree from a college or
university. Provide the name of the school, the city,
state, and zip code, and the date of diploma or GED.
Chapter 9—171
The important thing to remember is that Other Qualifications listed
should all be job-related. Other qualifications include the following:
Job-related training courses: personal development courses (e.g., time
management, skills building, supervisory training). Don’t forget any
training you have received from the Office of Personnel Management, the
Foreign Service Institute (FSI), business or trade schools, the military, or
career specialty courses.
Job-related skills: languages, computer skills (including software
packages), accounting, public speaking, typing speed, machinery or tools
knowledge;
Job-related certificates and licenses: certified public accountant (CPA),
pilot, nurse, real estate agent, drivers license, if applicable, etc.
Job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments: fellowships,
letters of commendation, publications, membership in professional,
scientific, or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, and
performance awards.
The supplemental qualifications statement (SQS) can be the most
important part of your application package. It may be requested in the job
announcement, but even if it is not, you should submit one. The purpose
of this statement is to highlight those parts of your experience that are
relevant to the job announcement. A good statement makes it easy for the
personnelist to qualify you for the position.
Veteran’s Preference
If you served on active duty in the U.S. military after October
15, 1976, and received a Campaign Badge, Expeditionary
Medal, or a service-connected disability, and were honorably
discharged, you may receive a veteran’s preference. To claim 5
point veterans’ preference, attach a copy of your DD-214,
Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty or proof of
eligibility. To claim 10 point veterans’ preference, attach an SF-
15, Claim for 10-Point Veterans’ Preference, plus the proof required
by that form. For more information about the veterans’
preferences, call the OPM Hotline at 912-757-3000. Select
“Federal Employment Topics” then “Veterans.”
172—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
Describing
Other
Qualifications
Supplemental
Qualifications
Statement
Supplemental statements should always be written specifically for a job
announcement. You should address each ranking factor and explain in
detail the experience (paid or unpaid), education, or special training that
relates to the qualifications listed in the announcement. Your name,
Social Security number, and the job title of the position for which you are
applying should appear on each page. If you are switching from one GS
job series to another, you should explain in detail your qualifications for
the new job series.
Good Idea File
Keeping your application and all supplemental statements
written for specific jobs on a word processor makes it easy to
tailor each application to the needs of the job. Just make
sure that you carefully read the final product so that it
doesn’t sound like it has been “pasted together.”
UNITED STATE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
MERIT PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Announcement No.: 00-0090
Position Title: Investigations Data Administrator
Office & Location: DS/CR/PF, SA-2
Series & Grade: GS-1801-9
Promotion Potential: None
Opening Date: 03-15-2000
Closing Date: 03-29-2000
Supervisory: No
Security Clearance Required: Critical-Sensitive
Comments: Travel Required
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Limited to Eligible Department of State
Employees Per 3 FAM 2314
DUTIES: This position is located in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security,
Office of Investigations and Counterintelligence, Criminal Investigations
Division, Passport Fraud Branch. Incumbent will: provide technical
support of investigations of passport and visa fraud; review and verify
arrest warrant information submitted by DS agents; ensure program
integrity of warrants entered into the FBI’s National Crime Information
Center (NCIC) databases and compliance with NCIC regulations; assess
NCIC information concerning DS cases; formulate policy and procedures
Chapter 9—173
Job
Announcement
for the DS Warrant Validation Program; travel to field and resident offices
to review warrant files and provide guidance and training for DS agents
and administrative personnel regarding NCIC policies and requirements;
coordinate requests for sensitive information relating to warrants posted
in database from other agencies; and serve as technical expert on NCIC
and other databases used by the Branch.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM qualification Standards for
General Schedule Positions): Applicants must have the required
experience or education as described below and meet any selective factors,
when specified.
Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to
the GS-7 level. Examples of qualifying specialized experience will
demonstrate ability to apply investigative methods in order to discern
appropriate data for entry in various databases; knowledge of statutory
authorities, policies and regulations pertaining to investigative activities;
ability to use a variety of automated systems in order to extract or interpret
information for use in compiling case histories; and ability to use
automated systems to write or analyze moderately complex statistical
reports.
EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION: Master’s or equivalent graduate degree
or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to
such a degree. Graduate education must demonstrate the knowledge,
skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
APPLICANTS MUST MEET ALL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS,
INCLUDING TIME-IN-GRADE AND TIME-AFTER-COMPETITIVE
APPOINTMENT REQUIREMENTS, BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THE
ANNOUNCEMENT.
RANKING FACTORS: Applicants who meet the qualification
requirements described above will be further evaluated by determining
the extent to which their education, experience, training, awards and
supervisory appraisal indicate they possess the knowledge, skills and
abilities described below.
1. Ability to plan and organize work and set priorities to meet deadlines.
2. Ability to analyze and evaluate automated data..
3. Ability to interact with individuals at all levels.
4. Ability to communicate in writing.
174—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY THE CLOSING DATE
OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
SELECTIONS WILL BE MADE WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION AS TO
POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS, UNION OR NON-UNION AFFILIATION,
MARITAL STATUS, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RACE, SEX, AGE,
OR DISABILITIES WHICH ARE NOT DISQUALIFYING.
This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with
disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the
application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on
granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
HOW TO APPLY
You may apply for advertised vacancies with a resume, the Optional
Application for Federal Employment (OF-612), or any other written
format you choose. Although we do not specify the format in which
information is presented or require the use of any particular application
form, there is certain information that we must have to determine if you
meet the legal requirements for Federal employment and to evaluate your
qualifications for a specific vacancy. If your application package does not
provide all the information requested, you will lose consideration for the job.
JOB INFORMA
TION
In order to apply for Department of State vacancies all applicants must
provide the information outlined below:
1. Announcement number
2. Title and grade(s) of the position for which you are applying.
PERSONAL AND EDUCA
TIONAL INFORMATION
1. Full name, mailing address (with zip code) and day and evening
phone numbers, including area code
2. Social Security Number
3. Country of citizenship (most federal jobs require U.S. citizenship)
4. Veterans’ preference (proof of eligibility required)
5. Highest Federal civilian grade held, including series, beginning and
ending dates
6. Name, city and state of last high school attended and date of diploma
or GED
7. Name and state of colleges and universities attended, major fields of
study, type and year of any degrees received (if no degree, show total
number of credits earned and indicate whether they are in quarter
Chapter 9—175
or semester hours). If requested in the vacancy announcement,
please provide proof of eligibility (e.g. transcripts, Form 1170/17,
List of College Courses).
Applicants with foreign education must submit an evaluation of their
course work by an organization recognized for accreditation or by an
accredited U.S. college or university.
WORK EXPERIENCE AND OTHER QUALIFICA
TIONS
In addition, applicants must provide information on their work
experience, both paid and non-paid, that is related to the position for
which they are applying, including:
1. Job title (series and grade if Federal employment)
2. Duties and accomplishments
3. Employer’s name and address
4. Supervisor’s name and telephone number (Indicate if we may
contact your current supervisor.)
5. Starting and ending dates of employment (month and year)
6. Hours worked per week
7. Salary
8. Any other qualification, including job-related: training (title and
date of course); skills (e.g., languages, typing speed, tools,
machinery, computer software/hardware); current licenses; or
honors, awards and special accomplishments (e.g., honor societies,
publications)
ADDITIONAL INFORMA
TION
1. All current Federal employees and reinstatement eligibles must
submit their most recent performance appraisal and a SF-50
showing proof of competitive status. (If a current performance
appraisal does not exist, a form DS1812 (Applicant Appraisal) or
equivalent form from another agency, signed by the current
supervisor is acceptable, or if the performance appraisal of record
does not fully address the ranking factors, the DS1812 may be
submitted.)
2. All non-competitive eligibles must submit proof of eligibility.
3. All applicants claiming veterans’ preference must provide proof of
eligibility.
4. All other applicants (non-status) must submit information identified
above.
5. All applicants must submit information that addresses the ranking
factors.
176—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
6. All applicants should submit SF-181, Race and National Origin Form
(for statistical purposes only).
APPLICATIONS WHICH ARE INCOMPLETE OR MAILED IN
POSTAGE-PAID GOVERNMENT ENVELOPES WILL NOT BE
CONSIDERED. ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY
THE CLOSING DATE AND ARRIVE IN PER/CSP BY COB ON THE
FIFTH WORKING DATE AFTER THE CLOSING DATE. ALL
MATERIAL SUBMITTED WILL BECOME THE PROPERTY OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
WHERE TO APPL
Y
Mail applications to: U.S. Department of State, Office of Civil Service
Personnel Management, P.O. Box 58040, Washington, DC 20037-8040.
Department of State employees may hand deliver applications to:
PER/CSP/S, 2401 E Street N.W., Washington D.C. 20522, Suite H-1104.
For additional information and copies of forms, call (202) 647-7284.
All applicants will be notified in writing of the results of the consideration
given their application approximately six to eight weeks after the closing
date of the announcement.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPOR
TUNITY
The Department of State is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Selections
will be made without discrimination as to political, religious, union or
non-union affiliation, marital status, color, national origin, race, sex, age,
or disabilities which are not disqualifying.
PRIV
ACY ACT INFORMATION
The Office of Personnel Management and other Federal agencies rate
applicants for Federal jobs under the authority of sections 1104, 1302,
3301, 3304, 3320, 3361, 3393, and 3394 of title 5 of the United States Code.
We need the information requested to evaluate your qualifications. Other
laws require us to ask about citizenship, military service, etc.
• If you are claiming Executive Order 12721 eligibility, attach a copy of
the performance appraisal or the SF-50 verifying service
requirement. Be sure that it is signed.
• If you have previous government service, attach a copy of your last
performance evaluation.
Chapter 9—177
Other
Attachments
• If currently working for the government, attach most recent
personnel action form (SF-50).
• Only attach other items specifically requested for the job you are
applying for, such as a college transcript as proof of required course
or degree or to qualify for the Outstanding Scholar Program.
Use the checklist below to check your completed application. Better yet,
have a friend or colleague check it for you.
Remember your Federal application is a living document. As you change
jobs, receive more training, and assume new responsibilities, incorporate
this information into your application.
Checklist for Completed Application Package
Use the following checklist to review your completed Federal application
package for both form and content.
____ Typed neatly and accurately--no stray marks or smudges.
____ Proofread for spelling and grammatical errors.
____ “White space” between paragraphs used effectively.
____ Active verbs, proper tenses, correct punctuation used.
____ Written clearly and concisely. Simple, straight-forward sentences.
____ Acronyms explained and put in parentheses.
____ Jargon, generalizations, flowery adjectives, superlatives avoided.
____ Pages arranged in logical, sequential order.
____ Original or clear, clean, easily read copy.
____ Qualifications clearly shown. Wording carefully chosen.
____ Qualifications related directly to specific job evaluation factors.
____ Performance evaluations attached (if to be submitted).
____ Entire application reviewed carefully for flow, content, and form.
____ Application submitted before closing date.
178—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
Final Notes
Summary
1. The Federal application package gets you through personnel
to the ranking panel.
2. The Federal application and the supplemental statement
gets you to the interview.
3. In the interview, you get yourself the job.
A cover letter is a personal communication written to a specific person in
an organization. The letter’s purpose is to show your uniqueness and
encourage the employer to look at your resume or application. The letter
should always relate your appropriate skills to the specific needs of the
employer.
Federal Application Cover Letter
For any Federal job application, you should write an individual cover letter
that includes the following information:
• Special experience or skills;
• Eligibility under executive orders, veterans preference,
noncompetitive eligibility for Peace Corps, etc.;
• Security clearance status if applicable;
• Inclusion of a supplemental statement;
• Contact information.
Resume Cover Letters
The cover letter that must accompany a resume should be considered a
marketing tool rather than a transmittal document. The kind of cover
letter you send should depend on why you are sending the resume (i.e., in
response to an advertisement or job announcement, at the suggestion of
someone else; as part of a thank you for a meeting or telephone call, or an
unsolicited effort). In any case, the following points should be considered.
• The resume cover letter should be a formal business letter written on
paper that matches the resume paper. Typing, grammar, and
punctuation must be perfect. Your name and appropriate contact
information should be on the letter.
• The letter should be addressed to a specific person at a specific
organization. You may need to do some research to find out the
spelling of the person’s name and title. (If you are answering a
newspaper ad with only a Post Office box number, call the Post
Office to find out who has rented the box.)
Chapter 9—179
The Cover Letter
The cover letter should contain about three paragraphs. The first
paragraph should explain why you are writing (“In response to your ad. . .”
“At the suggestion of . . .;” “Thank you for . . .;” ). If possible, include the
name of a mutual contact.
The second paragraph should stress your selling points: how your
qualifications meet those of the job; how your association with the
company will benefit both parties. If your objective is not on the resume,
include it in the cover letter. If you are responding to a job
announcement or advertisement, make sure you address the requirements
and key phrases listed.
In the last paragraph, ask for a brief meeting (do not use the word
interview). Write as though you expect the meeting to occur. Indicate that
you will call to arrange a time.
Good Idea File
If you are answering a newspaper ad, blow it up on a
copy machine until it is large enough to read easily and
you can mark the key phrases.
It is a good idea to save copies of cover letters and use relevant paragraphs
or bullets for future letters.
FAXing a Cover Letter and Resume
If you are asked to FAX your resume, do not use a FAX
cover sheet instead of a cover letter. The cover letter
should be considered as part of the resume and the
cover or transmittal sheet should be separate. The cover
sheet should include your name and FAX number, the
number of pages being transmitted, and a telephone
number to call if the transmission doesn’t occur or is
faulty. Do not use “cute” cover sheets.
It is a good idea to FAX your resume and cover letter to
yourself so that you can ensure that it is readable.
180—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
The resume is the universally recognized job-hunting tool. The word
means “a summing up or a short history,” but in the modern context, it is
considered an advertisement or a selling device. Job-seekers who believe
that a resume is simply a listing of work experience probably have resumes
that do not do them justice.
A good resume should make the reader want to meet and interview you.
The resume should be a logical, well-phrased, and concise presentation of
benefits you could bring to a potential employer. It is not necessary to
include non-relevant or dated experience.
Of course, it should be perfect -- neat, clean, and written in readable
English with no typographical or grammatical errors. It should be printed
by the laser method on high quality paper in a neutral color (white, buff,
or gray). See Resume Layout later in this chapter.
The way you structure your resume depends on your background. Brevity
is important, but not at the expense of accuracy and completeness. The
resume of an experienced candidate should be no more than two pages
unless he/she has many relevant publications or if the resume is for a non-
American reader.
To Pay or Not to Pay. . .
Should a job-hunter pay to have his/her resume written
professionally? Many experts say you should prepare
your own resume. Professional resume writers usually
follow a formula that may or may not be appropriate to
your case. One young man who studied to be a paralegal
and paid his bills by waiting on tables had a professional
resume written. Instead of concentrating on his
education and training, the resume highlighted his
“career” as a waiter!
Writing the resume is not, as commonly thought, the first step in a job
search. Self-assessment (see discussion in Chapter 2, The Employment
Action Plan) needs to be done or repeated if your values, interests, skills,
and the importance of different aspects of work have changed. Research
about prospective jobs and the skills needed for them is necessary so that
you can target your objective and highlight the most pertinent
accomplishments. Documentation (education, training, and work
records) must be updated as new skills are learned.
Chapter 9—181
Preparing
a Resume
Objective. When preparing a resume, the first thing to do is to develop
an objective statement. This objective statement is the “theme” that will
help organize your information so that everything in your resume
supports your objective. Then, for each job/functional area on the
resume, describe action-oriented accomplishments that support the
objective statement. Supporting data (education/training, affiliations,
publications, honors and awards, special interests, etc.) should be selected
specifically to support the objective and the accomplishments.
Example of Job Objective
An employment counseling position in a large
international organization where an extraordinary
record of outplacing clients, exceeding placement
targets, and enthusiastic client relations would be
needed.
Highlights of Qualifications
Summarizes the most important skills, experience, and personality traits
you have to offer for a specific job. It should be comprised of three to five
statements in either paragraph or bullet form. In order to determine what
you should include ask yourself the following questions: Why do you think
you’d be a good candidate for this job? What do you have to offer the
employer? How much experience do you have and what are your
credentials? If you don’t have experience or credentials, then how do you
know you’d be good at this? and What does the employer need to know
about you, to realize you are the right one to hire?
Example of Highlights of Qualifications
Broad background in public relations, marketing and journalism,
including 20 years as a reporter. Twelve years devoted to business
and international trade reporting on Capitol Hill. Have provided
radio and television commentary on legislative action and policy.
Have organized and implemented national media and public
relations campaigns.
OR
More than five years as an organizational training design consultant
with a track record of producing exceptional programs for more
than twenty national and international non-profit organizations. A
commitment to human development and community service.
182—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
Accomplishments Statements
Whether using a chronological, functional or combination format you will
need to write accomplishment statements demonstrating your skills. In a
chronological format the accomplishments will follow each specific job
held and in the functional format they will follow specific skill headings.
Each accomplishment statement should use an action verb and be written
in the active voice. Use keywords that are appropriate to the targeted job.
Avoid using the personal pronoun “I” and quantify statements with
specific numbers and/or percentages to demonstrate your performance
on previous jobs. You can strengthen the accomplishment statements by
adding quotes from previos performance evaluation. Be sure to be
consistent in the way you handle each description or summary and avoid
all negative references.
Example of Accomplishment Statement
Wrote grant proposal for research on number of women
in university pre-med programs. Received $500,000
funding. Coordinated and administered research
program which had major effect on university
recruitment.
Resume Contents
Regardless of format, every resume must include the following:
• Contact information — Your name, address (permanent and
temporary if applicable), and telephone numbers must appear on
the resume. Include FAX numbers and/or e-mail addresses if you
have them. Your name should appear on every page of the resume.
• Experience — The main purpose of a resume is to get you a job
interview. For this reason, your summary of work experience,
marketable skills, accomplishments, and education should be
relevant to the job and written in terms of the prospective
employer’s needs. Full-time, part-time, cooperative learning
positions, and significant volunteer, practicum, internship, or field
experience should be included only if relevant. Job descriptions
should be brief, concise, and clear. They should detail your level of
responsibility and breadth of exposure. You may group related
experiences together.
Chapter 9—183
• Education — You should include undergraduate and graduate
schools, major and minor academic areas. Include other academic
information if it relates to your job objective. Scholarships and
honors, special projects (research, teaching, etc.), and nonacademic
activities in college can be included if relevant and supportive of
objective.
What Employers Care About
(and You Should Have in Your Resume)
Employers want to see results quantified.
Accomplishment and experience statements should be
written to show the following:
• How much money was handled/saved/earned?
• How much productivity was increased?
• Who was affected (and how many)?
• What was created?
• What was the scope/impact/result?
References should not be listed on a resume. The interview is the place to
produce a list of references, carefully selected for the particular job you
are seeking. Always notify your references and give them specific
information about the job for which you are applying. See Chapter 10,
Interviews and Job Offers.
Resume Layout
Since the person doing an initial screening takes only a few seconds per
resume, a carefully planned layout can attract the reader’s attention to the
most powerful parts of the resume.
• The resume should be one page (two pages maximum). Longer
resumes will not be read.
• The contact information should appear at the top of the first page.
Your name should appear on every page.
• If the resume is two pages, do not staple or paper clip the resume
pages. Instead, number the pages “One of two,” and “Two of two.”
• Plenty of white space makes a resume more readable and less
cramped-looking. Use at least one inch margins.
• Choose a readable font type and size. Avoid the gimmicky.
184—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
• Use high quality, neutral-colored paper. Use a laser printer or have
resume professionally reproduced. Avoid photocopies unless
FAXing the resume.
• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation must be perfect. Have someone
else proofread the resume.
• Emphasize key headings, titles, or points using upper case letters,
underlining, italics, indenting, or bullets. Do not overuse and be
consistent. (See special rules for scannable resumes below.)
• Never print on the back of the resume.
• Put the most relevant information first. Resumes are seldom read
from beginning to end. Do not include irrelevant information.
• Avoid “I” and other personal pronouns. Don’t use a narrative
format.
• Make sure that your objective is neither too general (which makes
you appear unfocused) nor too specific (limits the use of the resume
or may eliminate you from consideration). Many career counselors
suggest that the objective belongs in the cover letter.
You should choose whichever resume format puts your experience in the
best light. A chronological resume presents work experience within the
time frames spent on each job, in a reverse-time sequence. Use it when you
have a strong career background in some field and want to advance in the
same field. A functional resume clusters relevant skills and abilities into
functional areas with no mention of dates or organizations. It should be
used when you lack experience in a field you are interested in, you are
changing careers, or you are reentering the job market after an absence.
A combination resume uses the best elements of both chronological and
functional resumes. It generally starts with skill areas and then lists work
history. Use it when you wish to change careers but have substantial
skills/work experience to use in the new occupational field, or if you have
had many jobs and want to emphasize skills.
General Resume Outlines
Chronological Functional
Objective (optional) Objective (optional)
Highlights of Qualifications Highlights of Qualifications
Work History: Skill Areas:
Current/last job title, place, years Skill
• Accomplishment • Accomplishment
• Accomplishment • Accomplishment
• Accomplishment • Accomplishment
Chapter 9—185
Resume Formats
Chronological Functional
Previous job title, place, years Skill
• Accomplishment • Accomplishment
• Accomplishment • Accomplishment
• Accomplishment • Accomplishment
Previous job title, place, years Skill
• Accomplishment • Accomplishment
• Accomplishment • Accomplishment
• Accomplishment • Accomplishment
Education Education
Highest degree, institution, Highest degree, institution,
place, year place, year
Degree, institution, place, Degree, institution,
place, year
Languages (if relevant) Languages (if relevant)
Affiliations (if relevant) Affiliations (if relevant)
Use a curriculum vitae when applying for a job in a non-U.S. environment
(overseas or for a foreign institution) or when seeking a higher education,
writing, or speaking/training job in the United States.
Chronological Resume. This traditional type of resume lists experience in
reverse chronological order with dates and job titles. Highlight several
accomplishments under each entry. For example:
Program Manager, University of Maryland, 1988-92
Developed and supervised all phases, including budget and
personnel, of collection and computerization of national
personnel database for Federal mental health contract. Wrote
evaluative study of ongoing multiagency education and community
services program.
Functional Resume. This type of resume de-emphasizes dates, positions
and responsibilities and emphasizes qualifications, skills, and related
accomplishments. Three to five skill areas are used as headings, then
accomplishments in each area are noted. The most relevant skill should
be listed first. For example,
186—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
Research, Writing, Editing. Prepared report of community issues and
presented recommendations to the Commanding General of large
military installation.
Combination Resume. Combination resumes use the best elements of
chronological and functional resumes. It begins with the skill areas and
then lists work history (title, place, dates).
Curriculum Vitae. A curriculum vitae is the preferred resume format in
academia as well as in other parts of the world. It contains much more
information and detail than the resumes described above. It usually begins
like a chronological resume but has additional pages of supporting detail.
Functional Resume Headings
These headings might be used to describe those abilities and potential that
are in line with a job target.
Accounting Office Support
Acquisition Operations
Administration Operations Analysis
Advertising Organizations
Advising Personnel Administration
Agency/Professional Relations Personnel Training
Budgeting Planning
Business Management Presentations
Career Development Problem Solving
Communication Product Development
Community Affairs Production
Construction Program Coordination
Consulting Program Development
Counseling Program Funding
Crisis Intervention Programming
Culinary Arts Project Management
Customer Service/Relations Promotion
Data Processing Public Relations
Design Public Speaking
Employment Publicity
Engineering Purchasing
Evaluation Recruitment
Facilities Maintenance Research
Finance Retailing
Fundraising Sales
Graphic Design Scheduling
Human Resources Secretarial
Instruction Social Work
Interviewing Staffing and Directing
Investigation Supervision
Investment Systems and Procedures
Legal Teaching
Market Research Testing
Materials Handling Training
Needs Analysis Volunteer Management
Chapter 9—187
Chronological Resume Sample
Jane Doe
123 Hopeful Avenue
Pleasantville, KY 22222
345-678-9876
E-mail: [email protected]
Job Objective: Position as program coordinator in human services
HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS
• Twenty-one years professional experience in the field
• Confident and skilled at organizing start-up of new programs
• Talent for effectively balancing needs of staff and program
• Maximize multicultural team’s effectiveness by monitoring work flow and
communications
• Minimize problems through careful analysis of program design
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1998-1999--Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Beijing, China (PRC)
Human Resources Development Specialist. Conducted large-scale analysis of human
resources development projects in China among multinational organizations (UNDP,
World Bank, EC) and national bilateral agencies; analyzed future trends in PRC
educational policy; findings applied to future CIDA programming.
1996-1998--International Consultant, Beijing, China
• 1990 Sino-American Conference on Women’s Issues. Beijing liaison between
Global Interactions (U.S.) and China Women’s Federation.
• AT&T China. Evaluator of management trainees for AT&T International
Management Program.
• Special Olympics, Washington, D.C. Beijing liaison.
• China Disabled People’s Federation. Adviser for institutions for the disabled;
started Very Special Arts (VSA)/China organization; host/announcer for the
Second National China Arts Festival of Disabled Performers (televised nationally).
• Beijing International Volunteers (BIV). Founded organization of international
volunteers working with disabled children in Beijing. (Awarded the “Secretary’s
Pin” by Secretary of State.)
1982-1988--John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. Director, Very
Special Arts International. Organized VSA programs in 55 nations and regional
conferences in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia; organized training conferences
throughout the United States; produced television programs on arts for disabled;
administered grants from U.S. Department of Education, National Endowment for the
Arts, and the American Federation of Teachers.
EDUCATION
• Harvard University, M.A.
• University of California, Berkeley, Teaching Certificate
• University of Wisconsin, Madison, B.A.
188—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
Functional Resume Sample
Mary Doe
123 Hopeful Avenue
Pleasantville, KY 22222
345-678-9876
E-mail: [email protected]
Accomplishments
• Designed and secured funding for 3-year vocational education program for a
rehabilitation camp for 250 orphans (Ethiopia).
• Monitored an $8 million, 5-year primary health care project, conducted process
evaluation of project, and coordinated subsequent revision of implementation plan
(Philippines).
• Formal language training in French, Amharic, Tagalog, and Bicol, and cross-
cultural training
International and Domestic Experience
Program Design and Development
• Established county-wide nutrition education program for over 700 children from
low-income communities.
• Created and implemented first multicounty public relations plan for 4-H
(Washington metropolitan area).
• Founded and developed parent volunteer program for elementary school with
student body representing 18 nations (Tunisia).
Program Management
• Managed operation, development, and evaluation of major county-wide youth
program with enrollment of over 3,500 members and 300 volunteer leaders.
Personnel Administration
• Managed and supervised work of 12 program assistants; responsible for
implementing youth programs in low-income communities.
• Successfully analyzed and justified upgrading 2 senior-level positions to supergrade
level (of which only 20 existed worldwide) in major international organization
(Tunisia).
Work History
• Coordinator, Volunteer Programs, Dogwood Elementary School, Reston, Virginia
• Consultant, U.S. Agency for International Development, Tunisia
• Vice President, Board of Governors, American Cooperative School of Tunis
• Implementation Consultant, USAID/Philippines
• Teacher, U.S. Peace Corps, Ethiopia
Education
M.S., Adult Continuing and Extension Education, University of Maryland
B.S., Extension Home Economics, University of Maryland
Chapter 9—189
Combination Resume Sample
Richard Doe
123 Hopeful Avenue
Pleasantville, KY 22222
345-678-9876
E-mail: [email protected]
OBJECTIVE: A management position in Information Services where administrative
and technical expertise, initiative and interpersonal skills will be used
to increase sales and improve customer relations.
AREAS OF EFFECTIVENESS
SALES/ $200,000 worth of sales increased quota by
CUSTOMER RELATIONS: 15 %. Established new system for solving
customer complaints and recruiting new clients.
Instituted inventory control for product and displays.
PLANNING/ Reorganized word processing center
ORGANIZING: resulting in reduced labor costs (34 %) and
increased efficiency. Set up new tracking and filing
system for Mag cards, resulting in improved
turnaround time utilizing less personnel
TECHNICAL: Eight years experience operating Mag card
and high speed printers: IBM 6240, Mag A, I, II, IBM
6640, and Savin word processor.
Software: Microsoft Word, Excel, Equation
Editor, Access, Filemaker Pro, WordPerfect,
Lotus 123.
EMPLOYMENT: ABC Corporation, St. Louis, MO
EXPERIENCE: DEF Computer Services, Jacksonville, FL
GHI Systems Inc., Nashville, TN
JKL Corporation, Dulles, VA
EDUCATION: B.A. in Communications, 1983
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Courses in interpersonal communication,
psychology, and public-speaking. Worked full-time
earning 100% of educational and personal expenses
PERSONAL: Certified MSHA instructor. Member Association of
Information Scientists. Interested in increasing
efficiency and reducing workloads.
190—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
Online Resumes
Online resumes can be either sent by e-mail in reply to
individual job announcements or posted on a resume database.
Before sending an online resume in response to a job
announcement, read the instructions carefully. Some
employers want the resume sent by mail or FAX, others will
specify the e-mail address (which may be different than the one
for other inquiries).
Online resumes should be typed in Simple Text or ASCII so
that they can be read by various word processing software.
A regular (or mail) resume can be converted to an e-mail format. First,
save the mail resume in a “text only” file. The formatting can then be
reproduced using the spacebar and characters to highlight skills. Margins
will also need to be altered. Count 65 characters across the screen and
end the line with a return. Plain text cannot use boldface, underlining or
bullets. As substitutes, try asterisks (*) or plus signs (+) for bullets, a series
of dashes for underlining, and upper case letters or asterisks for boldface.
Only highlight the headers or titles of each section.
For more information about posting resumes online, see Chapter 3, Using
the Internet in the Job Search.
Federal Government Scannable Resumes. The Federal Government uses
SF-1950 when screening a large number of applicants (such as those
applying to be a Foreign Service Officer). SF-1950 is designed to be
scanned electronically. The format must be completed precisely in order
to meet the machine readable test.
Private Sector Scannable Resumes. More and more private sector
companies are using computerized scanning systems to wade through
large numbers of resumes for a position. When a position opens, the job
requirements are determined and then a list of “key words” is developed
based on the requirements. The computer scans all resumes for the key
words and rank orders the resumes based on the number of key words
found (called “hits”).
Key Words Summary. A scannable resume can be written in a
chronological, functional, or combination format but should begin with a
key word summary — a list of nouns and noun phrases that describe your
skills and experience as they relate to the job. Separate the phrases with
Chapter 9—191
E-Mail Resumes
Scannable
Resumes
periods, commas, or semi-colons. Make sure that your resume includes all
the key words listed in the job announcement or advertisement.
To find out what key words are likely to be used, read the advertisement
or job announcement carefully. Check trade journals and publications for
appropriate terms. If possible, talk to people in the field to find out what
key words they are using. When describing skills and experience, use
similar words or accepted abbreviations (e.g., English as a foreign
language; English as a second language; EFL/ESL) instead of repeating
words.
In order to take advantage of computer scanning, you should produce two
versions of your resume — one for people to read and one for computer
scanning. When applying for a job, submit both types and explain in your
cover letter the purpose of each.
For information on how to prepare a scannable resume, check the
following web sites:
www.resumix.com/resume/resume_tips.html
www.chr.ucla.edu/resume/resume_tips.html
Scannable Resume Layout. Simplicity is the key to a computer-readable
resume.
• Use basic, sans serif fonts such as Arial, Helvetica, or Geneva.
• Use only white paper and black ink; colors do not scan well.
• Do not use underlining, bold, italics, or bullets.
• If possible, do not FAX a scannable resume. FAXes do not scan well.
• Do not submit a photocopied resume; photocopies do not scan well.
• If the resume is to be e-mailed, follow the directions in the ad or
announcement exactly. Usually, it is better to include the resume in
the message rather than as an attachment.
• Length is not as important in a scannable resume. Use a third page
if necessary to include additional experience or training that uses
key words.
192—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
Good Idea File
To check the readability of a scannable or e-mailed
resume, scan it yourself into a computer or e-mail it to a
friend so that you can see the results.
Note: The information given below is also useful in describing work
experience in the Federal application (see Chapter 6, Federal
Government Employment).
Action Sentences. Many job applicants fail to adequately describe their
past work experiences. Using the model on the next page may enable you
to describe your work duties more completely. Use most of the elements
when you want to emphasize an experience. You are not expected to use
every element in every sentence you develop.
Sentence development begins with the verb. (See the end of this chapter
for a list of action verbs.) Qualifiers are added to tell how much or how
many, descriptors of level of work, or anything else that clarifies. The last
part is the results: who used it, how were people affected, what was it used
for.
Chapter 9—193
194—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
Developing
Work Experience
Descriptions
Action Sentence Elements
Action Verb
Object (what was done)
quantity or size
subject, type, or kind
For Whom
Purpose
Final Results
Model Sentence Examples
• Initiated new filing system for hospital surgical
(verb) (type) (object) (for whom)
department to simplify record keeping/retrieval procedures.
(purpose)
• Organized 20-member youth group to canvass suburban
(verb) (size) (kind) (object) (purpose)
community to increase support/collect funds for
(purpose)
political candidates. Resulted in pledges of $5,000 after
(for whom) (final results)
only 3 days of canvassing.
(final results)
• Wrote 16-page booklet on “How To Conduct Leadership
(verb) (size) (object) (subject)
Training Programs” for coordinators of volunteers to
(for whom)
promote staff development in the agency. Received an
(purpose)
award from headquarters for superior writing quality.
(final results)
Action Verbs
abstracted
accelerated
accepted
accompanied
accomplished
achieved
acquainted
acquired
acted
adapted
added
addressed
adjudicated
adjusted
administered
advanced
advised
advocated
affected
aired
allocated
allotted
allowed
analyzed
answered
anticipated
appeared
applied
appointed
appraised
apprised
approved
arbitrated
arranged
asked
assembled
assessed
assigned
assisted
assumed
assured
attained
attended
attracted
audited
augmented
authorized
avoided
awarded
balanced
bargained
based
bought
briefed
broadcast
broadened
brought
budgeted
built
calculated
called
canceled
canvassed
catalogued
caused
celebrated
centralized
certified
chaired
championed
changed
checked
chose
clarified
classified
closed
coded
collaborated
collated
collected
combined
commemorated
commended
commented
commissioned
committed
communicated
compared
competed
compiled
completed
composed
computed
conceived
conceptualized
concluded
conducted
confirmed
considered
consolidated
constructed
consulted
contacted
contained
continued
contracted
contributed
controlled
convened
converted
conveyed
convinced
cooperated
coordinated
corrected
correlated
corroborated
counseled
counted
covered
crafted
created
credited
critiqued
crusaded
curbed
cut
dealt
debated
Chapter 9—195
debited
debugged
decentralized
decided
declared
decorated
decreased
dedicated
deduced
deemed
defeated
defended
defined
delegated
delineated
delivered
delved
demanded
demonstrated
described
designated
designed
detailed
determined
developed
devised
diagnosed
directed
disbursed
discharged
disciplined
discovered
discussed
dispersed
displayed
disseminated
distributed
divided
documented
doubled
drafted
drew
earned
edited
educated
effected
elected
elevated
eliminated
emerged
employed
empowered
enabled
enacted
encompassed
encouraged
endeavored
endorsed
enforced
engaged
engineering
enlarged
enlisted
enlivened
ensured
entered
equipped
established
estimated
evaluated
examined
exceeded
excelled
executed
exercised
exhibited
expanded
expedited
experienced
experimented
explained
explored
expressed
extended
extracted
faced
facilitated
fashioned
featured
filed
filled
filmed
financed
finished
fixed
focused
forecast
forged
formed
formulated
fostered
fought
found
founded
freelanced
fulfilled
functioned
funded
furnished
furthered
garnered
gathered
gave
generated
ghostwrote
governed
graded
graduated
granted
guaranteed
guided
halved
handled
headed
helped
hired
hosted
identified
illustrated
implemented
improved
improvised
incorporated
increased
indexed
196—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
indicated
influenced
informed
initiated
innovated
insisted
inspected
inspired
installed
instituted
instructed
insured
integrated
intensified
interacted
interpreted
interviewed
introduced
invented
inventoried
invested
investigated
invited
involved
issued
joined
judged
justified
kept
knew
launched
learned
leased
lectured
led
let
levied
licensed
linked
listed
listened
lobbied
located
logged
made
maintained
managed
mandated
manipulated
manufactured
mapped
marketed
mastered
matched
measured
mediated
mentioned
met
mobilized
modeled
moderated
modified
molded
monitored
motivated
moved
named
negotiated
nominated
observed
obtained
offered
officiated
opened
operated
ordered
organized
originated
outlined
overcame
oversaw
packaged
paid
participated
passed
perceived
perfected
performed
persevered
persuaded
phased in
phased out
piloted
pioneered
placed
planned
polled
portrayed
practiced
prepared
presented
presided
prevented
priced
printed
prioritized
processed
procured
produced
programmed
prohibited
projected
promoted
prompted
proposed
prosecuted
protected
provided
publicized
published
purchased
pursued
put
qualified
raised
ranked
rated
reacted
reasoned
recast
received
recognized
recommended
reconciled
recorded
Chapter 9—197
recruited
redesigned
reduced
reevaluated
referred
refined
reflected
regulated
rejected
related
released
removed
renegotiated
reorganized
replaced
replied
reported
represented
reproduced
requested
required
requisitioned
researched
resolved
responded
restored
restricted
restructured
revamped
reversed
reviewed
revised
revitalized
rewrote
risked
salvaged
saved
scheduled
screened
scripted
sealed
secured
selected
served
serviced
set
set up
settled
shaped
signed
simplified
sold
solicited
solved
sorted
sought
sparked
specified
spoke
staffed
staged
started
stimulated
streamlined
strengthened
stressed
stretched
structured
studied
styled
submitted
substituted
succeeded
suggested
summarized
superseded
supervised
supplied
supported
surpassed
surveyed
symbolized
synthesized
systematized
tabulated
tackled
tailored
tapped
targeted
taught
terminated
tested
testified
toured
traced
tracked
traded
trained
transferred
transformed
translated
transported
traveled
treated
tried
trimmed
tripled
turned
tutored
typed
uncovered
unified
unraveled
updated
upgraded
used
utilized
vacated
validated
verified
visited
visualized
volunteered
waged
widened
was promoted
went
won
worked
wrote
198—Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members
Power Nouns
ability
background
capability
capacity
competence
Power Adjectives
academic
administrative
capable
competent
complete
consistent
creative
demonstrated
effective
efficient
enlarging
evident
executive
expanding
Power Words
building
completely
developing
enlarging
contributions
effectiveness
management
maturity
performance
experienced
imaginative
increasing
knowledgeable
major
mature
pertinent
positive
potential
productive
professional
proficient
profitable
proven
expanding
increasing
particularly
repeatedly
potential
preference
record
scope
specialist
qualified
resourceful
responsible
significant
sound
stable
substantial
successful
technical
thorough
versatile
vigorous
well-educated
well-rounded
significantly
substantially
thoroughly
Chapter 9—199
