5 job application tips from USAID's chief of talent

Now halfway through a two-year hiring surge, the U.S. Agency for International Development is creating and filling a pipeline for several hundred positions. It’s a fascinating time for the agency, and there is a real commitment to expand pathways for recruiting, hiring, and promoting diverse talent, said Bob Leavitt, chief human capital officer in USAID’s Office of Human Capital and Talent Management. Competition is tough, though; the agency has received over 20,000 applications for foreign service jobs over the past year. This shouldn’t, however, dissuade passionate people with relevant experience from applying, Leavitt added. Interested in working with USAID? The agency’s chief of talent shares tips for finding relevant roles and standing out as an applicant. Get to know the different job sites Foreign and civil services roles are primarily posted on two sites: USAJOBS is the federal government's “clearinghouse” for all vacancies, while the USAID careers website provides more information on opportunities within the foriegn or civil service. Specialized sites advertise personal service contractor positions and listings with the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. Interested professionals should make sure they are familiar with these sites, particularly USAJOBS and its filter tools, Leavitt said. Using the filters correctly allows candidates to see the most relevant opportunities and apply only for roles they are eligible for, he said. Some positions, for example, are open to the public, while others are for federal employees only. “Writing is important for success in the agency ... and that should be visible in the resume.” --— Bob Leavitt, chief human capital officer, USAID’s Office of Human Capital and Talent Management A broad keyword search for areas of interest or job titles does, however, allow candidates to see a range of positions and dig into those that might be of interest in the future. “Even if it looks like the position is years ahead of where someone is at one point in their career, [they should] look at the eligibility requirements to get a sense of what are the skills needed for the future,” Leavitt said. Check the job requirements In addition to checking the eligibility criteria, candidates should pay close attention to the specific experience requested and clearly spelled out in a job posting, Leavitt stressed. Human resources professionals and subject matter experts look closely at each candidate's resume and the required questionnaire, and those that don’t meet the experience criteria are rejected. When a candidate is hovering around the minimal qualifications, the subject matter experts will home in on the questionnaire and additional information in their resume to see that these align, Leavitt said. Don’t forget key documents The basic components of any job application with the agency are the resume and verification questionnaire, although additional documents can be required. “Pay attention to the documents that are requested to be uploaded into the system, as basic as that sounds,” Leavitt said, “[because] any missing documentation that is specifically requested may result in the removal of the applicant from the subsequent steps.” When Leavitt first applied for a job with the agency 20 years ago, he failed to upload one key document and, as a result, never heard back about that particular role. “I was a knucklehead. I forgot to upload a key document that was right there in my folder waiting to do that, [and] this is a basic mistake that quite a few people make,” he said. Keep your resume concise A candidate’s application, and particularly their resume, should demonstrate the strong writing skills required for a career in both the foreign and civil service. “Writing is important for success in the agency ... and that should be visible in the resume,” Leavitt said. While candidates don’t need to limit their resume to one page, there is an “art” to keeping it succinct and using plain language. Don’t oversimplify your resume, but don’t overcomplicate with jargon that makes it difficult for the reader to understand your experience, Leavitt cautioned. “[A resume] can be several pages, but it should be concise, well written, well framed,” he advised. “[Candidates] should not — and we do see this — look for shortcuts [by] taking information from the position description … and literally using phrases or sentences copy-pasted into a resume.” It’s better to be authentic, Leavitt said, and then check to ensure that the different documents within the application are consistent. It can be a red flag if the experience listed in a candidate’s questionnaire doesn’t align with their resume, and vice versa. The content of the resume must also highlight a candidate’s relevant experience with examples of their successes or results, whether through domestic or international experience, he added. Be patient The full recruitment process can take several months — or sometimes longer for jobs in the foreign service, which require an even higher level of security clearance. While the agency is committed to expediting this process — with batch hiring for civil service positions, for example — Leavitt urged candidates to be patient. He added that landing a role with the agency can sometimes mean being on a waiting list until there is a need for particular skills or looking for border opportunities, such as contracting positions.