How to Make your (Federal) Resumé Unforgettable

“We do not remember days, we remember moments.” – Cesare Pavese.

I came across the above quote in a book recently, and it occurred to me that this life advice also applies to resumés (both federal and private) as well as cover letters.

?When I consult with my clients across the African continent (virtually) from my office in Gaborone, Botswana, one of the first questions I like to ask is: “what was the most memorable moment in your professional life? Your “aha!” moment. Or, if this makes more sense, what is the most ironic moment in your professional life?”

Every time I ask this question, I feel like it opens the floodgates for clients and allows me (as their Global Employment Advisor) a peep through a window into their personality and professional depth. I’ve heard some incredible answers which I can’t share to protect privacy, but I will share mine.

One of the most ironic moments of my career as a young broadcast journalist was: I sitting as a young journalist on a hill in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo with a group of M-23 rebels who had just captured a United Nations/ DRC government position. I could hear church bells ringing below, and it was a Sunday morning. They were proudly showing me the heavy and light weaponry they had seized, when I realized I had no idea what I was looking at, and (honestly) what I was reporting on. That prompted me to enroll in King’s College London’s “War in the Modern World” master’s program and took my life in a very different direction.

While I might not be able to put all of the above into a resumé, it’s that storytelling narrative that you want to shine through. The MOMENTS, not the days. That is what will distinguish you from other candidates seeking the same position.

?For example, if I was applying for a Facilities Administrative Assistant job online, in the job description and/or "vacancy/ eligibility questions" there are hints and keywords that your employer is looking for you to demonstrate, through your own experience. For example - customer service. (In this case – have you negotiated with, and convinced customers? Have you directed customers to the appropriate individual or resource? Have you explained non-technical information to customers? Can you demonstrate whether you have worked on deadlines and dealt with time sensitive customer requests?) Then I would answer something like this:

****CUSTOMER SERVICE:

As a journalist reporting on a rebel siege in the Eastern Democratic of Congo in 2013, I negotiated with, and convinced M23 rebels to allow my cameraman and I to cross the border from Rwanda into the DRC. When the spokesman of the rebels demanded that they view our footage and story before it air on the nightly news, I directed him to the appropriate individual or resource, in this case our news manager by phone, who explained that that that was an unacceptable demand to ask of independent journalists, and we reached a compromise that left both the rebels satisfied, and our integrity as journalists preserved.

When we were taken to a (DRC) government and United Nations post that the rebels claimed they had overrun, I had to very quickly ascertain the validity of the rebel group’s claims without antagonizing them, document the technical information they were explaining to me including what heavy weaponry they had seized and using what military tactics, and then simplify this technical information for a 1 minute, 30 second broadcast for our television audience under a tight deadline. When the leader of that group offered me a Heineken at 9AM in the morning, I had to utilize my interpersonal skills, employ my experience working in numerous different cultures, as well as very quickly analyze our security situation, and politely decline the offer. ***

While the above scenario might seem a little dramatic, (although all true, as per my memory) this is an example of how you can make your resume stand out.

If you, perhaps, are a financial executive applying for the same job, you could say something along the lines of this:

***CUSTOMER SERVICE:

As vice president for XXX, I supervised 15+ people in cross-functioning teams including building and facilities operations, and technology and data. I cultivated a positive working environment, prioritizing staff development, mentorship, and mental health. I have managed and guided fellow accountants, convincing them to continually develop their skills professionally, and directing them to the appropriate resources when needed. When our building suffered a catastrophic flood, I partnered with C-suite and heads of departments to negotiate an emergency building loan of up to $4M under a strict deadline.***

What is the most ironic moment of your professional career? How would you quantify that, or put it in a resumé or cover letter to catch a recruiter or a Human Resource Officer’s eye?