Working on Your Resume? FFSC is Here to Help!

By MCSN Triniti Lersch, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs reating a document that explains all of your past job

Creating a document that explains all of your past job experiences and skills can seem daunting, but Naval Air Station Sigonella’s Fleet and Family Support Center has the right kind of workshops to help you with creating your resume.

“The resume is the best way for job seekers to show off their skills and ability to communicate,” said Cate Murphy, Work and Family Life Specialist onboard NAS Sigonella, and a Certified Federal Job Search Trainer® (CFJST)/Certified Federal Career Coach® (CFCC), The Resume Place, Inc.®.

What Is a Resume?

A resume is an important tool that helps employers make hiring decisions. How it is structured and what information you provide are important for marketing yourself. A resume should outline your background, skills, and education, all tailored to the job you are applying for.

Resumes need to have a header that includes your name, phone number and email address, as well as a mailing address if the resume was not submitted online.

The most traditional format lists your education in one section and your work experiences in another, usually in reverse chronological order with bullets underneath explaining your specific responsibilities and accomplishments. Some resumes include a separate skills section as well.

If you are in the early stages of your career, you may not have much work experience. In this case, a stronger emphasis on your skills can convince an employer that you can function effectively in the position while also highlighting a solid understanding of the job requirements.

Resumes should generally be 1-2 pages long, so it is important to highlight the most relevant information and skills. This might mean omitting irrelevant work experiences or changing the way you describe your experience to show connections.

If there are gaps in your resume from years when you were not in the workforce, especially while stationed abroad, you are not alone.

“Spouses who may not be able to find employment here at NAS Sigonella or other duty stations often have gaps in resumes,” said Murphy. “Volunteering, furthering education, and focusing on career development are great ways to fill in any gaps in your resume. Use this time as an opportunity to try something new, refine your skills, and develop new ones.”

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes (With Apologies to David Bowie)

Your resume should change and grow with you.

Updating your resume regularly lets you add skills and experiences as they develop so any important information is not forgotten, including all the necessary details that display your qualifications. It also eliminates the researching of these details.

“A resume is an ever-changing document and should be updated on a continuous basis,” said Murphy. “At a minimum, it should be updated and tailored to each specific job you are applying for. Best practice is to update any time there is something new to include. Therefore, with every PCS, job promotion, new training/ skill/accomplishment, etc., you should re-visit your resume. Updating your resume frequently will save you time and energy in the end and make it easier when you are applying for jobs.”

Even if there is not much to update, it is still important to review your resume to reflect the world around you.

“Since the job market is always changing, it is important to ensure that your resume reflects the most up-to-date terminology, information, and desired skills in your career field. Ideally, you should tailor your resume to each job that you are pursuing.”

One type of job that requires a very specific resume is anything in the federal government.

“If you are applying for a federal job, I recommend attending the “10 Steps to a Federal Job” workshop as we go into detail on a specific structure for federal jobs,” said Murphy. “In the Business Resume Writing workshop, we focus on the common resume formats in the business/civilian fields and how to determine which structure works best for you.”

Overwhelmed? There’s Help!

Fleet and Family offers many resources for building your resume as well as tips on how to best prepare for an interview. “We offer monthly resume classes as well as one-on-one consultations to assist with resumes, job interview preparation, job search strategies, networking and more,” said Murphy. “In addition, for the Fleet and Family employment classes/ resources, service members who are transitioning out of the military are eligible to attend additional employment workshops offered through Transition Assistance Program (TAP).”

“10 Steps for a Federal Job” is a three-hour workshop that helps you write and format your resume so that it follows to the federal standards and guidelines as you navigate the federal hiring process.

The Business/Civilian Resume Writing Workshop teaches you how to select and compose the most suitable format of resumes that best represents you and the job that you are targeting in the business/civilian sector.

For more information or assistance, the Family Employment Readiness Coordinator at FFSC is here to help. Please contact Cate Murphy at DSN: 624-4291 / Comm: (+39) 095-56-4291 or Catherine.murphy@eu.navy.mil. You can also check out Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ffsc.sigonella/ for the calendar of upcoming classes.