The Write Stuff

Further, common federal online systems such as USAJOBS, QuickHire and Avue Central have trouble with text formatting such as bold, bullets and various font sizes. As a result, online applications can become dense, featureless, forgettable tomes when printed. This can turn off the folks who have to read them, hiring managers say.

Even worse, some online systems convert invalid characters into gibberish before delivering applications to hiring managers. "I've seen online applications that were peppered with upside-down question marks or chunks of misplaced text because the applicant had inadvertently used invalid characters," says McDonald. "It's a shame, because those applications might have been from qualified applicants."

If your target organization only accepts online applications, avoid invalid characters by using only numbers and letters, creating bullets with asterisks and spaces instead of tabs. (To find out if your target organization accepts hard-copy, check the "How to Apply" section of the job announcement. It will identify the documents required for your application and explain how to submit them.)

Simple Steps to Success

The federal government used to require all applicants to take the Civil Service Test; it's history now, though some agencies do require specialized exams. Now federal applications more closely resemble private sector applications.

"For me, the application process was deceptively easy," says federal program analyst Julie Hyman, a recent college graduate. Her first federal application earned her an interview that lead to her current job as a program analyst analyzing budgets for environmental programs.

Here are some tips that can help you ace the common components of federal applications and, perhaps, duplicate Hyman's quick success:

Cover letters: Hit hiring managers with your best shot right away with a concise, lively summary of your best credentials and how they match the skills and tasks demanded by your target job.

In a few paragraphs, emphasize what you offer the employer and why you want to help advance its agenda rather than why "this job would be the perfect next step for me," advises McAllister.

In other words, your letter should ask not what the employer can do for you but what you can do for the employer.

Resumes: Each federal job announcement inventories the information required from applicants. Because applicants for federal jobs are usually required to provide very specific details, such as the exact starting and ending dates of each job they have held, functional resumes -- which generally speaking, highlights skills rather than achievements -- aren't a good idea.

Instead, sequence your jobs and degrees in reverse chronological order. Present each job description as a list of relevant, terse bullets that starts with an action verb and describe concrete achievements. An example: "Managed invitations for a conference attended by 500 professionals."