WRITING A GREAT RESUME

Created by the Senate Office of Education and Training

Revised September 2012

Table of Contents
The Three R’s Of Resume Writing ...................................................................................................................... 3 
Accomplishment Statements ................................................................................................................................ 4 
Resume Formats ................................................................................................................................................... 5 
Section Headings .................................................................................................................................................. 6 
Header .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 
Objective ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 
Professional Summary/Summary of Qualifications ..................................................................................... 9 
Work/Professional Experience ................................................................................................................... 10 
Skills and Accomplishments ...................................................................................................................... 11 
Education .................................................................................................................................................... 12 
Additional Professional/Related/Relevant Experience .............................................................................. 13 
Relevant Coursework ................................................................................................................................. 14 
Academic Accomplishments ...................................................................................................................... 14 
Publications ................................................................................................................................................ 14 
Volunteer Work .......................................................................................................................................... 15 
Languages ................................................................................................................................................... 15 
Security Clearance ...................................................................................................................................... 15 
Computer Skills .......................................................................................................................................... 16 
Professional/Technical Certifications......................................................................................................... 17 
Awards and Affiliations ............................................................................................................................. 17 
Hobbies and Activities / Personal Interests ................................................................................................ 18 
Keywords.................................................................................................................................................... 18 
Grammar and Proofreading ................................................................................................................................ 19 
Publishing ........................................................................................................................................................... 20 
Senate Career Resources .................................................................................................................................... 21 
To Seek Employment within the Senate ............................................................................................................ 21 
Sample Resumes................................................................................................................................................. 22 

2
 The Three R’s Of Resume Writing
Recent
No longer is a resume a list of every task you ever performed in every job. It is a marketing tool that must
catch an employer’s attention and quickly show that you are a good fit for the job. Most employers focus on
your skills and work experience from the past 10 years. Therefore, you should provide more details for jobs
you have held within the past 10 years and less details for jobs you have held 10 years ago or more.

The only exception to this “rule of recency” is if a job from over 10 years ago is extremely relevant to your
current job target. It would only make sense to highlight that job, regardless of how long ago it was, because
of its relevancy.

Relevant
Your resume should list the skills, tasks, and accomplishments most relevant to the job target. Other, less
relevant jobs, skills, and experience, may be stated briefly or left off the resume altogether. Most job seekers
should aim for a 1-2 page resume. Many hiring managers state that they will not read more than two pages
with the exception of executive level resumes.

To be seen as relevant, you must use the same keywords as the job description. For example, while the Senate
serves constituents, in private industry, they are called customers. While it may not be possible to change
every instance of ‘constituent’ to ‘customer’ in your resume, you should use phrases whenever possible about
customer service throughout your resume to highlight that your skills are relevant to the desired skills for your
job target.

Results
Your resume should focus on accomplishments rather than just tasks. When you list only tasks, you are
simply listing what is required and should be performed by anyone in your job. However, when you list
accomplishments – things you have done that improved something or have gotten tangible results for your
office – you show the unique value that you have brought to your job. There is a fine line between stating real
results and embellishing a simple task; remember to always be truthful in your resume.

Example 1:
Task-oriented statement: “Answered telephones in front office.”
Results-oriented statement: “Handled over 100 calls daily while serving as initial contact to visitors.”

Example 2:
Task-oriented statement: “Coordinate with local governments and other organizations.”
Results-oriented statement: “Coordinated dialogue between FEMA and local governments, resulting
in a local government cost recovery manual, which is still in use today.”
3
 Accomplishment Statements

STEP 1: Identify the desired and relevant skills for the job by:
 Considering obvious skills
 Reviewing the job posting/description
 Researching sources like professional associations and the organization’s website
 Talking to someone in a similar position or organization
STEP 2: Identify what you have done to demonstrate those skills
Include paid work, internships, volunteer work, work with community or other organizations, as well as
personal events and experiences.

STEP 3: Write accomplishment statements that include action, context, and result.
Accomplishments are often specific times that you solved a problem, improved a product/process, or
overcame a challenge. However, there are times when your accomplishment is more general than that – a
collection of actions you take on regular basis – that leads to tangible results. Either one is acceptable.

You should include as many relevant accomplishments as possible in your resume.

They Want: I Have:
Build and maintain relationships with Six years’ experience on the Hill. I know lots
congressional offices to further organization’s of people on the Hill. I understand how to get
agenda. people on board with ideas/policies.
Accomplishment Statement (Problem – Action – Result):
1. “Extensive network of colleagues on Capitol Hill and experienced in building coalitions to
promote ideas and bring them to completion.” (general)
2. “Leveraged key Congressional contacts to overcome opposition to and build support for the
ABC amendment resulting in the amendment being pass which impacted…” (specific)
They Want: I Have:

Accomplishment Statement (Problem – Action – Result):

They Want: I Have:

Accomplishment Statement (Problem – Action – Result):

4
 Resume Formats

One resume format does not fit all. One job seeker may be looking to change jobs while another job seeker
wants to highlight how they have progressed through their career. The goal is to choose a format that will
appeal to a potential employer and effectively highlight your skills and accomplishments.

Chronological resume format

Use when…  You have a linear career path that shows
progression in your job or field.
 The job you want is similar to the jobs you have
had.
 You wish to focus on recent tasks and
accomplishments.
 You are unsure of the resume format and style most
liked by your industry or organization.
 Preferred format of Senate offices and committees
Functional resume format
Use when…  You are changing careers and want to focus on
skills instead of work history or job titles.
 You have recently graduated.
 Your work history has been repetitive or could be
viewed as “hopping around”.
 You want to highlight skills and accomplishments
from non-professional sources including:
internships, volunteer work, work with community
or religious organizations, and personal events and
experiences.
Combination resume format
Use when…  You want the advantages of both the chronological
and the functional resume.
 You want to draw the employer’s attention to
special competencies such as communication,
leadership, etc.

5
 Section Headings
Resume headings allow you to categorize particular skills and experience in a way that catches a potential
employer’s attention. While there are standard resume headings that most job seekers will use in their resume,
there are also additional headings that can be used as well.

Generally the order of your section headings will be: header, professional summary, work experience, and
then education. Other section headings can be included throughout the resume. Since most employers scan
resumes from the top to the bottom, you should place section headings in the order of their relevance to the
employer or job target.

Header
Objective
Summary/Summary of Qualifications/Professional Summary
Professional Experience/Work Experience
Skills and Accomplishments
Education
Additional Professional/Related/Relevant Experience
Relevant Coursework
Academic Accomplishments
Publications
Volunteer Work
Languages
Security Clearance
Computer Skills
Professional Certifications
Awards and Affiliations
Hobbies and Activities / Personal Interests
Keywords

6
Header
 Use space judiciously; it is more important to use space to highlight your skills and experience.
 Consider omitting your mailing address if seeking out of state employment.
 Repeat the header on all resume-related documents for a cohesive look.

This header takes up too

much space.

Beware of
unprofessional email
addresses. Consider
creating one specifically
for your job search.

Figure 1: Header - Before

Use tabs to help
condense the header
information onto fewer
lines.

Figure 2: Header - After

7
Objective
 Considered by many hiring managers to be passé
 The same information is usually included in a cover letter
 Can be effective for those seeking to change careers and for students.
This objective is vague and
focuses mainly on the job
seeker.

Figure 3: Objective - Before 1

This objective is too
simplistic and would be
better included in a cover

Figure 4: Objective - Before 2

This objective shows knowledge of

the required skills and experience and
focuses on the employer.

Figure 5: Objective - After

8
Professional Summary/Summary of Qualifications
 Quickly summarizes your most relevant skills and accomplishments
 Gives the employer a quick way to decide if you are a good fit for the job
 Can be quickly customized for different job postings
 Viewed by some as repetitive of your cover letter, however, cover letters are sometimes discarded
 Paragraph or bulleted list containing three to five statements, and may include: years and depth of
experience; relevant accomplishments and awards; personal traits; and a unique perspective or
knowledge of job.

Avoid clichéd phrases that do not highlight specific

accomplishments, skills, and experience.

Figure 6: Summary - Before

Figure 7: Summary - After

9
Work/Professional Experience
 Includes a mixture of responsibilities, accomplishment statements and tasks
 Be specific; stay away from vague works like “managed” and “responsible for”
 Quantify time/money/resources/etc. to give an accurate picture of your work
 Focus on results and include accomplishments statements whenever possible

Use accurate and confident language. Try to neither

underestimate nor overestimate your contributions.
Include your relevant legislative issue areas, especially
when applying for Senate jobs.

Accomplishment statements should give the context of

Figure 8: Professional Experience
the work, detail the actions, and quantify the results.

Figure 9: Professional Experience

If you have little professional experience, you will not
always be able to list accomplishment statements.
Quantify and give the context of your work whenever
ibl
10
Skills and Accomplishments
 Use if you have chosen the functional or combination resume
 Focuses the employer’s eye on skills rather than job titles
 Highlights skills and experience gained from paid and un-paid work, internships, and volunteer work
 Can be difficult for employer to assess how long you have done certain tasks
Skills and accomplishments can be listed in one list, like this example. Or they
can be broken down into subheadings like the next example on this page.

Figure 10: Skills and Accomplishments

The “Managerial Experience” and “Public Relations” headings highlight
each competency and reduce redundant information from various jobs.

Figure 11: Skills and Accomplishments

11
Education
 Place the at the top of your resume if you are a recent graduate or your education is particularly
relevant to your job target
 Place at the bottom of your resume if your professional experience outweighs the relevance of your
education or you have five or more years of professional experience.
 List GPAs of 3.5 or higher if you are a recent graduate; do not list lower GPAs
 If you have several years of experience and would prefer not to “date” yourself, consider omitting your
date of graduation, unless this would create time gaps in your

This education section uses too many lines on the resume. Use
commas, tabs and other formatting options to maximize space.

Figure 12: Education

Recent graduates should list a GPA of 3.5 or above. Include any

relevant minors or additional coursework.

Figure 13: Education

In this example, if you are in the process of completing a degree, you
would type “Expected” or “Anticipated” followed by the date of
graduation.

12
Additional Professional/Related/Relevant Experience
 Can be used to list unpaid experience such as internships, campaign work and volunteer work
 Some employers prefer to see unpaid experience separated from paid experience
 May also be used to list work that is not relevant to your current job target
Less experienced staffers may need to list all jobs on their resume. Be sure
to describe the job in terms of relevant skills and accomplishments that
would be of interest to your job target.

Figure 14: Other Relevant Experience

If you have an extensive amount of campaign or other un-paid political work,

consider creating a separate section called Relevant Political Experience or
Campaign Experience. Use relevant headings that will catch the employer’s
attention.

Figure 15: Relevant Political Experience

13
Relevant Coursework
 Appropriate for current students or recent graduates
 May be a stand-alone section or included in the education section of the resume
 List only the few courses relevant to your job target – most employers prefer experience to classes
Students and recent graduates, who may not have enough to fill out a one
page resume, may consider formatting this section as a bulleted list to take
up more space.

Figure 16: Education

Academic Accomplishments
 Appropriate for current students or recent graduates
 May be a stand-alone section or included in the education section of the resume
 May be reduced or omitted after acquiring more professional experience

Figure 17: Academic accomplishments

Publications
 Highlights research and writing skills

Figure 18: Publications

14
Volunteer Work
 May help break a tie between you and other equally qualified candidates
 Can highlight additional skills and experience
 Include accomplishments as much as possible
You may wish to include dates for your volunteer
activity. (Organization, title, date)

Figure 19: Volunteer Work

Languages
 The ability to speak other languages can be an advantage to you and a potential employer
 Include levels of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing

Figure 20: Languages

Security Clearance
 List all levels of clearance you possess and whether it is active or inactive
 Even an inactive clearance can show that you once had the clearance and therefore could most likely
pass any necessary background checks again

Secret and top secret security clearances can be very valuable in your job
search. Clearly display your clearance by listing it at the top of your

Figure 21: Security clearance

15
Computer Skills
 List all relevant computer skills, especially if your job is in administration
 Include Senate specific constituent management systems and legislative and legal research tools

Figure 22: Computer Skills

Consider elaborating on special skills that you possess

within each software program.

Figure 23: Computer Skills -detailed

System Administrators and other IT professionals may
want to separate their computer skills into categories like
in the example below.

Figure 24: Computer Skills -categorized

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Professional/Technical Certifications
 Recommended for System Administrators, IT professionals and other whose careers depend on
certifications
If a bulleted list takes up too much space on your resume,

consider listing certifications in a comma-delineated list.
Example, “Apple Certified Technical Coordinator (ACTC),
Apple Certified Helpdesk Specialist (V.10.4 Tiger),”

Figure 25: Technical certifications

Awards and Affiliations

 Being recognized for their work differentiates a job candidate from other candidates
 Consider explaining what the award signifies and how prestigious it is

If space permits, write 1-2 sentences explaining why you received

the award (a specific accomplishment, perfect attendance, etc.)

Figure 26: Awards

17
Hobbies and Activities / Personal Interests
 Provide a personal connection with a potential employer
 List hobbies that are unusual, interesting or exemplify skills and experience relevant to the job

This personal interest highlights this candidate’s teamwork and

dedication.

Figure 27: Personal interests

Figure 28: Hobbies and activities

Keywords
 Essential for scanned resumes
 May use 11 point font or smaller since this section is only for a computer’s “eyes”

This personal interest highlights this candidate’s teamwork and

dedication.

Figure 29: Keywords

18
 Grammar and Proofreading
This section will provide you with the most common grammar issues on resumes. For other grammar issues,
there are reliable online sources including Gregg’s Reference Manual and The Associated Press Style Guide.

Number form
Spell out numbers one through nine and use numerals for 10 and above
If a number is the first word in the sentence it should always be spelled out (Example: Twelve years of
experience…)
Present financial information as: $250 million, not 250 million; and, 135%, not 135 percent

Punctuation
Do not insert a colon after headings (Incorrect: Work Experience:)
You may use periods at the end of bulleted sentences, or you may omit them; the key is consistentency

Person
Pronouns in a resume are implied and not actually written
First person or third person is acceptable

Examples:
(I) Meet with constituents, special interest groups, lobbyists, and political figures to…
(He/She) Meets with constituents, special interest groups, lobbyists, and political figures to…
Active voice
Always use active voice in a resume

Examples:
Passive - “Responsible for office management and travel planning.”
Active - “Managed office of 15, and planned all executive travel.”
Font size
Use 11 point font or larger to enhance readability
Decide if your resume will be read mostly in print on a screen

Serif fonts – best for print resumes Sans serif fonts – best for on-screen resumes
Arial Times New Roman
Tahoma Georgia
Verdana Palatino Linotype
Proofreading
Read from the bottom up and read sentences backwards to find typos

19
 Publishing
Paper Include plenty of white space for readability.

Scanned Save in ASCII or plain text format before scanning. Lines and formatting can cause
problems in scanning.

Online Do not copy and paste. Convert to plain text, paste the text, and then clean up any
extraneous characters.

Email Save as a pdf document so that the resume is treated like an image and can be opened on
any computer. The cover letter may be pasted into the body of the email with the resume
attached and cover letter attached for ease of saving the documents.

20
 Senate Career Resources
The Senate Office of Education and Training and its partners provide a variety of live classes and self-paced
training options on the following career-related topics:

 Developing Your Career Plan

 Writing a Great Resume
 Powerful Cover Letters
 Ace the Interview
 Networking at Its Best
 MBTI & Career
 Senate Retirement with FERS and TSP
…and many more

For more information on these and other career-related resources, please visit the Senate Office of Education
and Training’s Learning Center at http://lms.senate.gov/. Click the ‘catalog’ link at the top of the page. Then
click the down arrow to the right of the ‘all topics’ drop down list, choose ‘career’, then click the ‘search’
button.

To Seek Employment within the Senate

Go to Webster (http://webster.senate.gov) and click on the ‘employment/jobs’ link on the left-hand side to
view job openings within Senate offices and committees, the Sergeant at Arms, and the Secretary of the
Senate.

Make an appointment with the Senate Placement Office to have a brief resume review and to submit your
resume into the resume database. Some offices do not advertise job openings, but rather, pull qualified
candidates’ resumes directly from the resume database.

Some staff has recommended the Brad Traverse website (http://www.bradtraverse.com/) to help identify job
openings on Capitol Hill. This is a fee-based site and not an official Senate resource.

21
Sample Resumes

22
Ima Scheduler
555 Street Address * City, State Zip * (555) 555-5555 * ima_scheduler@ANYEMAIL.com

Summary of Qualifications
 Detail-oriented professional with nearly five years of experience in United States Senate office.
 Strong leadership skills, excellent written and oral communication skills, problem resolution skills and a high level
of confidentiality.
 Work energetically and creatively in a team setting and fast paced environment.
 Effectively manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Professional Experience
State & National Scheduler, U.S. Senator John Doe, Washington, D.C. 4/2007 - Present
 Manage and organize strategic plan for Senator’s North Dakota and national schedules, including all travel
arrangements, while coordinating briefing materials with 50 plus staff.
 Oversee approximately 200 invitations per month and correspond with letters of acknowledgement, pre-taped
video greeting messages, and live satellite feeds for a wide range of issue areas.
 Research state events of interest relevant to the Senator’s legislative agenda.
 Support four state offices as a liaison to the Senator on time sensitive matters.
 Work with key staff to implement messaging strategies in Senator’s events.
 Demonstrate ability to communicate with sound judgment to a diverse range of people, including constituents,
business leaders, members of Congress, and Executive Branch dignitaries.

Front Office Coordinator, U.S. Senator John Doe, Washington, D.C. 9/2006 - 4/2007
 Greeted and assisted guests while managing a large volume of constituent and VIP calls as well as executing daily
administrative responsibilities.
 Responded to all constituent requests for local and regional tourism information.
 Communicated with large legislative staff to ensure constituent inquiries were properly addressed.
 Served as Assistant to the Chief of Staff for business travel and meeting arrangements.

Executive Assistant to the President, e-Copernicus, Washington, D.C. 9/2005 - 9/2006

 Assisted in organizing and soliciting donors to sponsor the 9-1-1 Honor Awards Ceremony, a premier event
attended by several members of Congress.
 Co-managed a public awareness campaign for traumatic brain injuries, including media outreach and event
planning.
 Scheduled meetings and travel itineraries for two partners, prepared staff meetings agendas, and organized monthly
board meetings for various clients.

U.S. Senate Internship, U.S. Senator John Doe, Washington, D.C. 5/2005 - 9/2005
 Conducted research for legislative staff on various legislative issues.
 Answered constituent telephone calls and distributed large quantities of mail daily in Senate office.
 Conducted tours of the U.S. Capitol.

Education
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, University of State, City, State May 2005

University involvement: Served as Off-Campus Senator, member of Appropriations Committee, and Emerging
Leaders Mentor on UND’s Student Government; Student Senator on University Senate; held various leadership
positions in ABC Sorority.
Ima Research Assistant
555 Anywhere Avenue, City, State 55555 | (555) 555-5555 | ima_research_assistant@anyEmail.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Analytical and detail-oriented professional with six years of foreign policy experience and academic training. Well-
versed in Congressional research methodology and strategic planning. Strong leadership and communication skills to
explain policy positions to a diverse range of audiences. Excellent written and oral communication skill, problem
resolution skill and a high level of confidentiality.
EXPERIENCE
Office of Senator John Doe Washington, DC
Advanced through a series of increasingly legislatively focused positions, contributing to the overall cohesion of the
Senator’s legislative agenda.
Director of Research August 2009-present
 Monitor Senator’s legislative agenda and staff’s strategy for adherence to Senator’s state priorities
 Develop, implement and oversee strategic legislative and crisis management plans
Assistant to Legislative Director June 2008-July 2009
 Represented the Legislative Director at all Senate Legislative Director meetings and prepared briefings for the
Senator on Senate agenda and party strategy
 Liaised between Legislative Director and 70+ staff to set agenda and ensure all legislation, remarks, and personal
correspondence was consistent with the Senator’s priorities
 Supervised constituent correspondence staff and 30+ undergraduate and graduate-level interns
Research Assistant February 2008-June 2008
 Managed Senator’s personal papers and transcripts
 Liaised with Generic University to create oral history project to preserve Senator’s interviews
Foreign Policy Fellow September 2007-February 2008
Regional specialization: Middle East, South America, western and eastern Europe
 Prepared floor statements, briefing materials and vote recommendations on foreign policy issues
 Attended hearings, briefings and issue-related meetings with advocacy groups
Representative John Doe Washington, DC
Legislative Fellow April 2007-August 2007
 Compiled and analyzed research date to create state-specific legislative strategies
 Monitored legislative development and Congressional activity of interest to the organization
 Established and maintained key relationships with local politicians, businesses, donors and individuals
EDUCATION
M.A., Political Science, Concentration in International Relations, Generic University December 2006
Honors: 3.85 GPA (4.0 scale); Thesis: “……………………………..”
B.A., International Relations December 2003
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Fundamentals of Federal Legal Research
Overview of the Federal Budget Process
Congress: An Introduction to Process and Resource
LANGUAGES
Spanish – proficient verbal, comprehension and writing skills
 IMA PRESS SECRETARY
5555 Anywhere Avenue (555) 555-5555
City, State, 55555 Ima_press_secretary@anyEmail.com

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Ten years press experience for the US Senate on Capitol Hill writing press releases and coordinating efforts to carry
Senator’s messages through comprehensive media campaigns using television, print and internet mediums.

SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Press and Public Relations
 Write press releases that get the attention of print and television media.
 Increased media coverage by 37% through the institution of a media relations program, which included serving as
media contact; pitching stories to local and national media, including online services; writing press releases;
providing print and broadcast interviews; and developing media materials such as fact sheets and press kits.

Legislative Writing and Research

 Aide in the coordination of the Senator’s legislative messages on natural resources
 Draft legislation focusing on natural resource issues
 Conduct meetings with special interest groups on issues for renewal energy sources and nation park interests.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Press Secretary, Senator Jane Doe, Washington D.C. 2005-present
 Educated members of Congress about the role and importance of the National Park Service (NPS) by
participating in a public affairs campaign that promoted the agency. Developed policy bulletins and an
educational packet that was distributed to members of Congress, as well as the media and NPs employees.
 Expanded public participation in the NPs cherry blossom interpretive program by 20% through the
implementation of a public relations campaign that publicized the program to local print and broadcast media.

Deputy Press Secretary, Senator John Doe, Washington D.C. 2003-2005

 Amplified Senator’s message on healthcare through revitalized website.
 Assisted with Senator’s largest media campaign, increasing the state’s number of registered voters by 20%.

Legislative Assistant, Senator John Doe Smith, Washington D.C. 2001-2003

EDUCATION
George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

PROFESSIONAL ALLIANCES
Member, International Association of XXX, Washington, DC chapter 1997-present Member
 IMA EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
555 Anywhere Avenue
City, State, 55555
555-555-5555

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Top-notch assistant with 10 years’ experience managing business relationships and projects at
the senior management level. Serve as primary point of contact for and liaison between senior
manager and development team and vendors. Maintain excellent written and oral communication
skills, problem resolution abilities, and a high level of confidentiality. Provide quick and
effective support in all Microsoft applications including ability to create dynamic PowerPoint
presentations.

SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 Organize details of special events and travel arrangements.
 Manage vendor relations, outside purchases and billing.
 Collaborate with departmental managers on weekly postings for master reports to facilitate
the accurate and timely writing, editing, and preparing of final copy from draft to
distribution.
 Played vital role in assisting other administrative assistants to make a smooth transition from
an old software system to new, upgraded system.
 Provide document management support to 50+ employees including spreadsheets,
presentations, merged mailings, correspondence, and unique special projects.

EMPLOYMENT
Sergeant at Arms for the U.S. Senate, Washington D.C. 10/1998 - present
Executive Assistant

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington D.C. 5/1990- 10/1998

Administrative Assistant

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 1990

COMPUTER SKILLS
Microsoft Office 2010
Word Create publications including flyers and brochures with graphics. Perform quick
and accurate mail merges for customized form letters.
Excel Perform advanced formulas; create pivot tables and complex graphs.
PowerPoint Create effective slide shows with advanced animation features.
Outlook Manage multiple calendars and use tasks to track projects with multiple deadlines
 
IMA LC
555 Anyplace Avenue 555.555.5555
City, State 55555 ima_lc@anyemail.com

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
 Defense Department Secret Clearance.
 Experienced in evaluation, critical analysis, and reporting on defense policies and intelligence operations.
 State and Defense Department correspondence, background papers, and database development used to detail and
display information to senior management, government officials, and military leadership.
 Conducted graduate review of the defense acquisitions process, objectively reviewing the logistics of military
procurement and defense spending.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
U.S. Senator John Doe (D/R-State), Washington, DC
Legislative Correspondent (May 2008-June 2010)
 Manage research and correspondence in areas of defense, foreign policy, homeland security, and veterans’ affairs.
 Assist in balancing contracting needs with appropriations allocation for senior member of the Appropriations
Committee.
 Attend briefings/hearings regarding the annual international affairs budget in support of the Ranking Member of the
State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.
 Close working relationship with committee staff and military personnel maintained while demonstrating a thorough
knowledge of domestic and international policymaking.

Someplace International Corporation, City, State

Congressional Policy Analyst (May 2007-September 2007)
 Assisted in the critical analysis and evaluation of DoD weapons systems for the Office of the Director of Operational
Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), relaying systems recommendations to Congressional and DoD officials.
 Monitored benchmark achievement in individual weapons systems as well as the client’s overall defense portfolio.
 Consistently recognized by supervisors and client for independent problem solving, creativity, initiative, and ability
to maintain accuracy while meeting strict deadlines for project completion.

Someplace Incorporated, City, State

Development Manager (June 2006-May 2007)
 Established relationships between professional sports teams/athletes and Fortune 500 companies essential to
company profitability as the company’s primary corporate liaison.
 Displayed workable knowledge of strategic planning and proposal development in organizing professional events.

RELATED EXPERIENCE
John Doe for Senate Campaign, Washington, D.C.
Volunteer (August 2009-November 2009)
 Assisted in developing campaign strategy, interest group outreach, and fundraising initiatives.
State Institute of Politics, City, State
Ambassador (October 2005-May 2008)
 Appointed to top undergraduate position in State Institute of Politics, working with political figures and dignitaries
to enhance State’s domestic and international political posture.
 As a political analyst, examined various policy issues and their implications both nationally and internationally.
State Republican/Democratic State Committee, City, State
Project Coordinator (Fall 2006)
 Employed time management skills to distribute information, update databases, schedule meetings, and design press
releases to meet campaign objectives.
EDUCATION
Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College, Washington, D.C. (May 2011)
 
 

Ima LA
555 Anywhere Avenue, City, State 55555 (555) 555-5555 ima_la@anyemail.com

WORK EXPERIENCE
U.S. Senator John Doe, Washington, DC February 2007- present
Military Legislative Assistant
 Analyzed defense and veterans’ legislation and provided vote recommendations for the Senator.
 Advanced the Senator’s legislative priorities and initiatives such as the Webb-Hagel GI Bill and veterans’ benefits
 Secured $23 million of funding requests for defense projects in Nebraska for fiscal year 2009
 Prepared briefing memos for Senator’s meetings
 Participated in meetings with constituents, special interest groups, Federal officials and high-level military
 Attended legislative strategy meetings, policy briefings and hearings
 Coordinated logistic for events in which the Senator participated
 Accompanied the Senator to his speaking engagements such as the Army War College and Air University
Assistant to the Chief of Staff
 Arranged the Chief of Staff’s meetings and managed her schedule, trips and travel arrangements
 Processed the Chief of Staff’s correspondence
Staff Assistant
 Facilitated meetings and photos with the Senator and/or staff and visitors including ambassadors, foreign
dignitaries, policymakers, and government officials
 Coordinated tours and activities for constituents visiting Washington, DC
 Co-managed daily activities in the front office
 Prepared daily memos for the Senator regarding constituent visits and special events
Generica and Company, Washington, DC May 2005-February 2007
Research Assistant
Assisted the Director of Research and principals with legislative research
Monitored bills, hearings and political nominations relative to clientele
Edited presentations on Congressional races and legislative reports
Provided IT support for client presentations
Managed schedules for principles and the Director of Research
U.S. Congressman John Doe, Washington, DC Summer 2003
Intern
 Wrote over 50 press releases announcing county grants for the Press Secretary
 Attended key House hearings for the Congressman’s legislative staff and provided synopses
 Guided constituents on tours of the Capitol building

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC December 2004
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Public Relations Sequence, Spanish concentration

UNC Summer in Seville, Spain Study Abroad Program Summer 2004

Estudios Universitarios y Superiores de Andalucia (EUSA)

ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Member of National Society for Collegiate Scholars
Dean’s List
Proficient in written and spoken Spanish

VOLUNTEER WORK
Youth group leader volunteer, Falls Church, VA September 2007-present
Teach for English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, Falls Church, VA September 2005-2007

 
IMA COMMITTEE STAFFER
5555 ANYWHERE AVENUE, CITY 55555 (555) 555-5555 IMA_COMMITTEE_STAFFER@ANYEMAIL.COM

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ABC, D/R STAFF, UNITED STATES SENATE, WASHINGTON, D.C
CHAIRMAN JANE DOE, (FORMER) UNITED STATES SENATOR, D/R-STATE
DEPUTY POLICY DIRECTOR JUNE 2010 — PRESENT
 Worked to successfully advance Committee’s legislation and amendments; organized various Committee hearings and
business meetings on specific issues; monitored all bills and amendments that impact constituents; coordinated
Committee’s legislative efforts among other Senate offices; responsible for any legislative activity or outreach on issues
related to homeland security, economic development, banking, financial literacy, small business, telecommunications,
budget, appropriations, veterans’ affairs, international issues, ethics and lobbying issues, and Senate process and
procedure
 Submitted weekly Committee legislative activity reports to the Chairman; provided weekly legislative outlook for
Committee staff; organized Legislative Assistant issue briefings for staff in other Senate offices; coordinated
Committee’s legislative efforts among other Senate offices; worked with the Policy Director to formulate long-term goals
and analyze trends in legislative activity for the Committee based on the Chairman’s initiatives; advised Staff Director on
Committee outlook and legislative needs

RESEARCH DIRECTOR AUGUST 2008 — JUNE 2010

 Managed special projects and provided logistical support for the Committee working collaboratively through a network of
Congressional offices, tribal leaders and outside organizations and academics, including on-the-ground research on
multiple projects across the United States; assisted in the Senate floor management and passage of ABC legislation;
responsible for issues related to homeland security, economic development, law enforcement, banking, financial
literacy, and international issues; provided website content management

RESEARCH ASSISTANT APRIL 2005 — AUGUST 2008

 Investigated the activities of Jack Abramoff, constituent organizations, other lobbyists and outside actors, reviewing and
analyzing approximately 750,000 confidential documents and the transcripts of 25-30 depositions and interviews for the
two-year investigation entitled Oversight Hearings on In…, et al; assisted in the preparation for three congressional
oversight hearings for the investigation; helped in the drafting and editing of the final 373-page report for the
investigation, entitled ABC; and coordinated with the press

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, WASHINGTON, D.C. OCTOBER 2004 — APRIL 2005
RESEARCH INTERN, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAM (ISP)
 Analyzed European defense integration and efforts to address the shortfalls in defense capabilities for a publication
entitled European Defense Integration: Bridging the Gap Between Strategy and Capabilities
 Supported evaluation of alternative approaches to greater defense integration through general assessment or case
studies, emphasizing the pooling of national/supranational assets, specialization of forces, or through common
procurement of defense-related goods

CREDENTIALS AND TRAINING

TOP SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE, UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT (2007)

CONGRESSIONAL TRAINING: Fundamentals of Federal Legal Research (2006); Legislative Process Institutes (2006-2007),
including “Congress: An Introduction to Process and Resources,” “The Advanced Legislative Process Institute,” and “The
Graduate Institute” (week-long seminar held in Washington, DC and Richmond, VA); Budget Process Institutes (2008),
including “Overview of the Federal Budget Process,” “Budget Resolutions and Reconciliation,” “Appropriations Process,”
and “The President and the Budget”

EDUCATION
M.A. POLITICAL SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF ABC, City, State APRIL 2005
UNIVERSITY OF ABC COMPETITIVE GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP (2003-2005)
Graduate Focus: International Affairs, European Union Law and Policy, Export Controls
Thesis: “Security Shifts and Power Plays: The Case of European Union Dual-Use Export Control Regime Development”
Ima Caseworker
5555 Anywhere Avenue, City 55555 (555) 555-5555 ima_caseworker@anyemail.com

SUMMARY: Eleven years U.S. Senate experience specializing in casework coordination, grants coordination, community
involvement, and casework.

Office of U.S. Senator John Doe, City, State July 2002- Present
Director of Constituent Services, July 2009- Present
 Established the Constituent Services department for state office operations that included creating a staff policy manual
 Supervise 9 full-time caseworkers handling over 1100 cases monthly by assigning work, reviewing progress and assessing
performance
 Implemented procedures to decrease turnaround time on open cases from 99 to 22 days
 Organized over 114 federal service workshops that served almost 4,500 constituents by partnering with federal agency
representatives to educate the public about identity theft, foreclosure prevention, first-time home buyer programs, passport
services, small business export programs and education and employment fairs
 Worked on high-priority immigration cases including the release of a state resident that was imprisoned without cause for one
year in Vietnam
 Managed constituent correspondence generated by 7 district offices for quality and content

Grants Coordinator, July 2009 –February 2007

Serve as liaison with federal and local agencies for constituents seeking federal grant funds. Respond to written correspondence
and oral communications from constituents.
 Schedule, organize and manage the Senator’s federal grant seminars
 Research federal grants and write 1330 letters of support from the Senator to federal agencies for constituents
 Helped secure over $1.6 billion in federal grants for businesses and organizations
 Create and manage a detailed database of grant activity to track constituents’ requests
 Establish and maintain public and private sector contacts
 Develop networking system to keep the Older Americans’ outreach group informed of legislative work
 Attend high profile events and meet with top community officials
 Prepare weekly activity reports, briefing material, and assist in staffing the Senator’s official visits
 Train, manage and provide leadership to four staff assistants and four office interns

Constituent Liaison, January 2005 – February 2007

 Served as a liaison for over 500 constituents who experienced an immigration problem
 Coordinated the quarterly Hispanic Advisory Board meetings which consisted of 25 community leaders
 Provided over 100 community presentations about casework services

District Staff Assistant, January 2005 - July 2002

Served as Assistant to the Northwest State District Representative in advising the Senator on all business, government, and
community developments in the region
 Communicated with government, community and constituent groups and leaders in NW State
 Researched key issues in northwest State and assisted in report writing
 Presented informational material to senior citizens at senior facilities and community events
 Translated complex legislative items for constituents on a regular basis
 Facilitated constituent requests, opinions and inquiries
 Prepared briefing material for the Senator and assisted in staffing his official visits
 Trained, managed, and provided leadership to three office interns. The internship program provides opportunity for college
level applicants to participate in office meetings and assist with office routine tasks so that by the end of the internship, the
intern will have an insight into the workings of a Senate office.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
 ABC County; phone bank for various candidates
 Leadership Academy, 2008, Regional Chamber of Commerce, course included topics such as Building Sustainable
Communities, Communicating & Working with Citizens, and Technology in Local Government

EDUCATION
 Masters Degree in Public Administration, ABC University
 Congressional Research Service Seminar on Grants Work in a Congressional Office, training included topics such as on how
to respond to grants and funding requests for projects, and how to identify and use key sources
Ima Administrative Director
555 Street Address * City, State Zip * (555) 555-5555 * ima_administrative_director@ANYEMAIL.com

EXPERIENCE
Administrative Director, U.S. Senator John Doe, Washington, DC, July 2008 – Present
 Oversee administrative operations in one office in DC and five state offices; approximately 60 staff.
 Prepare and manage the annual budget of $2.5+ million; oversight of office accounts and expenditures, including
payroll.
 Implement components of staff education, training and professional development, including full staff retreats. Ensure
that office policies and procedures are followed. Update the office Emergency Action Plan and Continuity of
Operations Plan (COOP).
 Manage 5 administrative staff, interns, front office and mail operations.

Executive Scheduler/Office Manager, U.S. Representative John Doe, June 2003 - July 2008
 Maintained all scheduling for events and appointments in Washington and New Jersey.
 Served as office manager regarding personnel paperwork, reimbursements, and budget and expense reports.
 Acted as a liaison to outside groups, businesses, and other organizations in order to foster professional relationships
for the Congressman.
 Coordinated meetings and planning for constituent and staff events.

Communications Director, ABC Organization, Washington, DC, March 2002 - March 2003
 Responsible for coordination and execution of the Summer Intern Seminar and the ABC Public Policy Seminar.
 Coordinated press releases, media packets, informational and promotional packets and other public relations material.
 Meeting/event planning and management for Board of Trustees as well as ABC Organization as a venue.

Administrator, ABC University, Washington, DC, June 1999 - March 2002

 Recruited to orchestrate the start-up and general administration of a new Washington office for one of the five largest
universities in the United States.
 Supported the implementation of successful federal legislative initiatives concerning higher education and for
research and appropriations projects on behalf of the university.
 Coordinated, planned and managed annual congressional receptions in addition to other DC events.

Legislative Assistant, U.S. Representative John Doe, Washington, DC, January 1998 - May 1999
 Monitored policy/legislation regarding education, veterans/military retirees, agriculture, crime, civil rights, drug
enforcement, women’s issues and small business. Updated the Congressman on issues pertaining to his legislative
agenda and responsible for drafting pertinent legislation.
 Heavy emphasis on written correspondence including position/briefing papers, talking points for the Member in
addition to issue oriented constituent mail.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
 Executive Committee Member, ABC charity event, 2004-2006
 Vice-Chair, ABC committee, 2003
 President, Florida State Society 2002 through 2004; currently an active board member.
 Subcommittee chair, 1999-2000 Junior League of Washington’s Women’s Center project committee.

EDUCATION
M.S., Administrative Management, ABC University
B.A., Sociology/Psychology, ABC University