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government resumes

State and Local Government Resumes for New Lawyers

Positions for lawyers are available in both the private, nonprofit, and public sectors. Once you decide to work in the public sector, for state or local government, you will need a resume that meets more stringent requirements than for private or nonprofit jobs, including firm deadlines for applying and details that might not be required for private sector positions.

Harvard Law School has written Careers in State and Local Government to help new lawyers narrow their choices. They advise, “If you are interested in immediate, hands-on responsibility, you should consider working in state and local government.” They also suggest applying for summer internships at the Attorney General’s office at the state level. On the local level, entry requirements can take three forms: entry-level positions are available in big city offices; smaller cities require prior legal experience, as well as local state bar admission; and some cities contract out their legal work to private law firms specializing in public sector law.

For state and local government resumes:

  • Highlight any connection you have with the locality—for example, growing up there.
  • Stress your interest in and commitment to public service, perhaps through volunteer positions.
  • List participation in moot court competitions; summer internships in state or local governments; and similar experiences.
  • List courses related to state and local government; for example, courses on urban planning or environmental issues.
  • Demonstrate a strong academic career (a high GPA and relevant coursework), with stellar verbal and written communication skills, especially research skills.
  • Indicate where you would like to serve; for larger states, you may need to indicate a preference for criminal, trial, child, civil enforcement, general counsel, or policy law.
  • Prepare a cover letter that emphasizes your qualifications in the relevant areas above.

As a new lawyer, you need to gather as much information as possible about the specific application requirements for the state or local governments where you are applying. In smaller cities, this research may require a personal phone call or visit. In any case, your government resumes must be honed to the exact—and exacting—requirements of each government office.

I bring years of experience in government resume writing, including resumes for folks seeking federal jobs. Please contact me today.

Real Resumes, Real Mistakes

In my many years of writing resumes for job seekers in the board room and the mail room, in private industry and in government and the military, I’ve come across some interesting mistakes.

Here are a few mistakes you should not make on your resume.

One recent college graduate wanted to make his resume seem more impressive. He turned a one-page resume into a two-page resume by leaving two-inch margins on every side of the paper. He wasn’t fooling anyone. I write two-page resumes for recent college graduates but I include information that most recent college graduates do not consider putting in their resumes. This information may make the difference in getting you hired or having your resume stall in the Applicant Tracking Systems or on a hiring manager’s desk.

A job applicant assumed she correctly remembered the names of all the companies she worked for. But she didn’t; she misspelled two of them. Mistakes like that make recruiters and hiring managers wonder if the resume is truthful.

A sales executive described his success at landing multi-million dollar contracts for various companies. But each time he listed a dollar amount, he changed the form: $1 million; $2M; $3,000,000. That mistake shows a disregard for detail.

An applicant for a government job saw the requirement for a social security number but ignored it. When you apply for government jobs, you cannot ignore any requirement. (Note that your social security number should never appear on your resume for jobs in the private sector.)

At Robin’s Resumes®, we have seen, caught and corrected countless mistakes you may not see because we have more objectivity and more experience. Let us help you craft a resume that shows you off to perfection.

 

Professional Federal Resume Writer: Why You Need a Professional Writer for Government Jobs

Government resumes and government recruiters are quite different from civilian resumes and recruiters. Resumes for federal government jobs have their own special requirements, and many of them would actually put off a recruiter or hiring manager in business and industry. If you plan to apply for a federal job, you need a resume writer who understands government requirements.

The federal government also has strict rules about eligibility. In fact, some positions are only open to candidates already working in the agency that has posted the job and only open to those already working at a certain grade level in government. Others are open only to military personnel, military spouses or veterans.

The end date for applicants is very specific, often down to the hour, and the method of sending in the application is also specific (email, mail, fax, hand delivery and so on).

Your background and skills must exactly match the requirements in the job posting. There is no flexibility with federal jobs. You may have to write essays based on certain questions. Those essays have to be submitted as part of the application.

You may have to send other documents. But if the announcement does not request other documentation, you should not send it.

A federal resume is difficult to complete even for someone with years of federal government experience. I am a Certified Federal Resume Writer and a recognized military transition expert. I have delivered speeches and seminars on writing federal resumes before professional organizations and conferences. If you are considering applying for a federal government job, contact me today.

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