Kathryn Troutman, April 14, 2026 Keep It Short and to the Point: Writing Cover Letters That Federal and Private Industry Employers Actually Read Whether you are applying in the federal government or the private sector, your cover letter has one job: make the reader want to interview you. It does not need to be long.…
By Kathryn Troutman, Author, Student’s Federal Career Guide If you are a student or recent graduate, it would be easy to assume this is the wrong time to look at federal careers. The broader hiring environment has tightened. News about agency slowdowns, cuts, and uncertainty has discouraged many applicants. For students in particular, that can…
by Kathryn Troutman, March 12, 2026 ARE YOU USING AI RESEARCH TO FIND THE KEYWORDS FOR YOUR 2-PAGE FEDERAL RESUME? See this sample: It is up to YOU to find the keywords and add them to your resume – for every job announcement. Microsoft Copilot AI Search for Keywords for Instructional Systems Specialist, GS-7, which…
by Kathryn Troutman, March 9, 2026 ARE YOU USING AI RESEARCH TO FIND THE KEYWORDS FOR YOUR 2-PAGE FEDERAL RESUME? See this sample: It is up to YOU to find the keywords and add them to your resume – for every job announcement. Microsoft Copilot AI Search: I am a Contract Specialist seeking a promotion.…
by Kathryn Troutman, Feb. 25, 2026 IF YOU WANT AN INTERVIEW … be SURE to add accomplishments in your Work History. THIS IS THE #1 PROBLEM WITH RESUMES TODAY! Jobseekers MUST write their accomplishments…and then speak them fluently in the interview. Resume Place is the leading Federal Resume, Training, and Publishing books on the 2-Page…
From Kathryn Troutman, Author, Federal Resume Guidebook, 8th Edition, Edited by Sarah Blazucki, JD, February 23, 2026 Resume Place: Does Your Federal Resume Tell a Story? What’s Your Story? Want your resume to stand out? Tell your story. When you are writing your federal resume, you only have 2 pages to make an impression. First,…
From Kathryn Troutman, Author, Federal Resume Guidebook, 8th Edition, February 19, 2026 Which Resume “Job Block” is Boring vs Impressive and Interesting? Why? Target: Human Resources Specialist, GS-11 1. Manager, Employee Engagement and Retention St. Joseph’s Hospital, Denver, Colorado Aug 2016 – Aug. 2020 Responsible for overseeing an engagement budget for the health system, including…
By Kathryn Troutman January 7 2026 TOP TIPS FOR FEDERAL CAREER ADVANCEMENT IN 2026 Resume Place President, Kathryn Troutman is seeing that the competition for Federal jobs is more than ever. You will have to do more than apply for the job on USAJOBS to get promoted and change your position. Here are the top…
Sept. 27, 2025 – Deadline for 2-Page Federal Resumes in USAJOBS. Federal Resume Expert Kathryn Troutman Unveils Essential Strategies for Crafting Winning 2-Page Federal Resumes in Competitive Federal Jobs Market New guidance addresses critical challenge facing federal job seekers: How to condense comprehensive work histories into powerful, targeted applications that meet agency requirements and stand out…
