$260 – One-Hour Two-Page GS-14/15 or SES Resume Consultation
For aspiring GS-14, GS-15, and SES Federal Government Leaders and those seeking other executive roles
A strategic approach is required to navigate the new 2-page resume process for experienced job seekers aiming to secure higher grade-level roles, and those facing the new SES hiring and OPM vetting process. OPM’s website provides overall guidance for federal hiring using the new 2-page federal resume. Meanwhile, the new SES hiring and vetting process is covered in OPM’s August 2025 SES Guide.
Do higher level candidates need detailed support?
Yes. Here’s why:
For GS-14 and GS-15 candidates:
- The 2-page rule does not apply to everyone. Moreover, hiring agencies may provide inconsistent guidance. In response, The Resume Place offers competent, professional support, helping candidates identify and comply with application requirements.
- GS-14 and GS-15 resumes require candidates not merely to list their education and job chronology, but also to clearly document the specialized experience matching or exceeding the job’s minimum requirements, while also providing accomplishment summaries that document their knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) or competencies matching those required for the job.
For SES Candidates:
- While separate narratives are no longer required, all 2-page SES resumes submitted the hiring agency and then to to OPM must competently address a whole new set of Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).
- In addition, SES job applicants must address the Technical Qualifications (TQs) specified by the hiring organization’s Job Opportunity Announcement.
- First, SES job candidates are vetted and selected for interview by the agency’s hiring panel. The agency interview process varies, depending upon whether the candidate is already SES certified.
- Then agency selectees who are not already SES-certified must undergo a separate review process, facilitated by OPM. First, candidates must sign and comply with a new confidentiality agreement. A further interview takes place, under the auspices of OPM, governed by new Qualifications Review Board (QRB) procedures. During this highly-structured interview process, aspiring Senior Executives must answer questions within specific timeframes, meeting specific response requirements.
For Previously Certified SES Candidates:
- Though you need not be re-certified, you should demonstrate recent leadership accomplishments aligned to the new ECQs, along with the TQs. SES announcements require all SES job candidates to show they are “committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.”
Where to start: Our introductory, 1-hour consultation. During this consult, one of our experienced resume SES strategists will walk you through the process, from content development to how best to format your resume. GS-14 and GS-15 candidates will receive guidance on the best types of accomplishments and language to use in documenting the job’s required experience levels and KSAs/competencies. SES candidates will receive guidance for responding to the job’s TQs, and if not already certified, the ECQs, within the 2-page format.
Based on candidate needs and questions raised during the consult (via Teams, Zoom, or by phone, as the candidate prefers) the consultant will cover some or all of the following subjects:
- Discussing “CCAR” accomplishments. While narrative ECQs are no longer required, and most jobs do not require KSA or competency narratives for GS-14s and GS-15s, concise accomplishment summaries must be strategically framed and condensed for placement within the resume.
- What does the resume look like? USAJobs provides limited guidance for federal resumes generally, applicable to candidates at all levels. A very different (and highly reductive) sample resume for SES candidates is contained in the new SES Guide. So how do you ensure your resume helps you move forward in the selection process? We walk you through that process.
- How should SES candidates address the TQs and the new ECQs? Not just the new ECQ1 (“Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding”), but also the other four ECQs and their required competencies. The hiring agency’s TQs must also be addressed in the new 2-page resume, yet OPM’s new SES Guide and sample resume makes no mention of them. What can or should you do if your ECQs and TQs overlap?
- If selected for an interview, what should you expect? The hiring agency will have its own candidate selection and interview process. The process for SES candidates differs from that carried out for GS-14/15 candidates. The CCAR preparation and discussion process sets all candidates on the right path, whether in preparation for an agency’s hiring interview or that carried out for new SES candidates by OPM’s QRB.
Next Steps:
Following the initial consult with your Resume Place executive strategist and resume writer, a detailed quote for supplemental services will be prepared, tailored for your specific needs. Are you a Criterion A, B or C candidate? Do you have existing ECQ content? Or are you starting from scratch? These and other considerations will be taken into account. You will also be provided with a realistic, 2-page SES resume sample.
The quote may also cover the following levels of support, based on the candidate’s individual expression of need:
A. Follow-up consultation to get you started with your Top Ten CCAR accomplishment summaries, if you haven’t prepared them yet.
B. If you are an SES candidate, review your Top Ten leadership accomplishment summaries, based on the new ECQs, and determine where the accomplishments address and/or fail to address the new ECQ competencies and sub-competencies.
C. Provide guidance should you need supplemental CCARs or added content in the existing summaries.
D. Discuss and provide support for CCAR summaries to address the hiring agency’s TQs.
E. Prepare a new 2-page resume, based on your grade level and any need for SES formatting, or, revise an existing resume for a new application. Or, if coming to us after you have been selected for an SES role, make post-selection tweaks to meet the QRB’s needs, ensuring any internal agency “shop-talk” is understandable (or even necessary) for these external reviewers.
F. Later on, based on need, we can also quote services for SES interview preparation, either in brief form (75 minutes) or to include a second, follow-up session, to include a recorded mock interview and critique (3 hours, total – typically for SES or equivalent roles).
B. If you are an SES candidate, review your Top Ten leadership accomplishment summaries, based on the new ECQs, and determine where the accomplishments address and/or fail to address the new ECQ competencies and sub-competencies.
C. Provide guidance should you need supplemental CCARs or added content in the existing summaries.
D. Discuss and provide support for CCAR summaries to address the hiring agency’s TQs.
E. Prepare a new 2-page resume, based on your grade level and any need for SES formatting, or, revise an existing resume for a new application. Or, if coming to us after you have been selected for an SES role, make post-selection tweaks to meet the QRB’s needs, ensuring any internal agency “shop-talk” is understandable (or even necessary) for these external reviewers.
F. Later on, based on need, we can also quote services for SES interview preparation, either in brief form (75 minutes) or to include a second, follow-up session, to include a recorded mock interview and critique (3 hours, total – typically for SES or equivalent roles).
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