What It’s Like to Work In the Community & Public Service Field
Challenging and rewarding, careers in community and public service are fast-paced, focused, and full of days spent negotiating with various constituencies. From police officers and city planners to non-profit organization executives, community and public service professionals spend a good deal of time working closely with the public, special interest groups, elected officials, and community leaders.Frequently employed and directed by boards, commissions, and elected councils, community and public servants must navigate political considerations, community needs, ambitious agendas, and often-limited funding. A skillfully crafted community and public service resume demonstrates stellar negotiating prowess, outstanding communication talents, and strong stewardship of public or community funds.Benefits of Working in the Community & Public Service Field
Take a look at the community and public service resumes of working professionals and you’ll find frequent and long-standing commitments to improving the lives of others. Whether they’re working in local government or the non-profit field, most in the industry appreciate their ability to contribute to society and democracy in deeply meaningful and rewarding ways.Aside from the altruistic benefits of working in public service, these positions often provide countless opportunities for career development and advancement. These jobs require a great deal of public trust, so newer professionals with strong community and public service resumes and a willingness to work diligently are frequently promoted to increasingly advanced positions.Why You Need a Resume
Whether you’re a recent high school or college graduate or a skilled professional, a deftly crafted community and public service resume can open all the right doors. In addition to highlighting relevant work experience and education, a savvy community and public service resume translates life experiences into required skill sets like communicating with the public and negotiating often-competing interests. With these talents and accomplishments showcased in a community and public service resume, potential employers and interview panels can more easily see how you fit into and benefit their organizations.
Community and Public Service Resume Questions
How do you list education on a community and public service resume?
Create an education section to follow your resume’s experience section. List your educational background, starting with your most recent or advanced degree and working backward in time. Only list the degrees or diplomas relevant to the advertised job, however. Providing your entire educational history adds unnecessary length to your resume, hindering the hiring manager’s review. Our community and public service resume sample collection contains examples of education sections.What goes in the qualifications section of a community and public service resume?
Community and public service professions are diverse, ranging from counselors and educators to fundraising and community health specialists. As a result, qualifications vary from profession to profession. You should only list those relevant to the advertised job. If you’re applying for a counselor position, for example, you may choose to include vocational licenses, one-time or ongoing training courses, and CPR or first aid certification. Browse our community and public service resume sample set for ideas on what to include in your qualifications section.How do you list awards on your community and public service resume?
If you’ve received one or two professional awards, consider listing them along with with a specific job in your experience section. Perhaps you received an employee of the month award during your time as a community health specialist. In tying the award to your professional experience, you’re showing the hiring manager you stand out in the workplace. If you’re a seasoned professional with a long list of awards, consider creating a separate accomplishments section in which to showcase these career peaks. Our community and public service resume sample collection provides some great examples of how to present awards.How can you separate your community and public service resume from other candidates’ resumes?
The most effective resumes contain only the information most relevant to the advertised job. They also use powerful examples to communicate the applicant’s unique professional skills and accomplishments. As you can see from our community and public service resume sample set, simple formatting is also a common denominator. Keep your document short, succinct, and cleanly formatted so that hiring managers can easily scan it. Ready to create your professional calling card? No more writer’s block: use our quick, step-by-step resume builder.How do you list references on a community and public service resume?
It’s no longer necessary to include the phrase “References available upon request” at the end of your professional document. While this used to be a resume-writing best practice, today’s jobseekers use this area of important real estate for illustrating their skills, experiences, and accomplishments. Browse our community and public service resume sample for examples of contemporary documents. If hiring managers request your references, provide this list to them on a separate print or digital document. Format it in the same style as your resume to create a consistent look and feel for your professional documents.
How to write a Community and Public Service Resume
List your accomplishments
Using a separate piece of paper, brainstorm your achievements.Inspect Community and Public Service resume samples to help navigate the resume creation process
Check out our Community and Public Service resume samples to gain insight into the process.Write a header and place it at the top of your Community and Public Service resume
Your header should include your name, phone number, email address, and personal website (if you have one). Make it professional, but attractive.Craft a strong summary statement
Make a brief statement that covers the most important elements of your professional self. Cover your achievements and areas of expertise. Check the job description to make sure it aligns with your statement.Detail your skills in a qualifications or areas of expertise section
Provide a list of your talents in your Community and Public Service resume. Check the job description to make sure the skills you mentioned align with those the employer wants. Place it under your summary statement.Outline your work history on your resume
List the jobs you’ve had in reverse chronological order. Write the dates you worked, the position you held, and the name of the company.Include a concise account of what you did at each job listed
Under each entry, write a bulleted explanation of your responsibilities and accomplishments at those jobs. Review the job description and the list you made in step one as you do so.Provide your education at the bottom
Remember to include the highest degree or diploma you obtained. Include the name of the school and the year you got it (or will get it).