Resume Writing for Intelligence Analysts

Resume Writing for Intelligence AnalystsResume Writing for Intelligence AnalystsResume Writing for Intelligence AnalystsWriting a resume parallels writing an intelligence assessment your resume is a well-supported articulation of a bottom line intended to inform the reader. I am the most qualified person for this job, and here is why. You must transform your daily tasks and accomplishments into evidence supporting the resumes narrative that you are the best person for this specific position. Each resume is targeted to a specific audience the person making the hiring decision. Thus, your resume is akin to an intelligence assessment that provides the reader with the information to make an informed decision.Follow the saatkorn steps that intelligence analysts use to produce a finished assessment.1. Collect Raw DataWhen beginning your resume drafting, create a list of accomplishments and daily tasks as you would collect data points for an intelligence assessment. For each of your positio ns, compose two to three statements describing these accomplishments and/or tasks and how each one made an impact.Examples of accomplishments/daily tasksRecognized for leadership of team of intelligence analysts. Monitored and guided team members from start to finish of the intelligence production process.Honed and applied political, military, and social knowledge to judge value of reporting in formulating objective intelligence reports and papers.Recognized by policy makers for insightful, well-supported, and clear intelligence reports and papers that enabled informed decision making.Prepared and delivered presentations that explained and identified opportunities on top foreign policy priorities.Analyzed and synthesized large volumes of disparate information to provide actionable intelligence.Collaborated effectively and routinely with colleagues in all Intelligence Community components to produce timely and insightful analysis that identified intelligence gaps.Developed and mainta ined communication networks between policy and Intelligence Community offices to ensure effective intelligence support to policy makers.2. Organize and Evaluate DataDefine and describe the actions you took to accomplish these daily tasks and activities. Add facts and figures, when appropriate, to quantify this data. Check for accuracy and precision and talk to former colleagues to help gauge and identify the impact.Exceptional interpersonal skills. Effective communication skills.Superior research, writing, and analysis skills.Insightful evaluation of raw intelligence to judge evidentiary value.Delivered numerous detailed briefings to State Department, White House, and DOD customers.Produced 18 reports for senior Intelligence Community officials to enable preparation for high-level executive meetings.Developed and maintained communication networks.Daily exchange of relevant information.3. Formulate Actionable Intelligence Now that you have your accomplishments and daily activities li sted, match them to the key words and phrases in your target job announcement. Analyze and evaluate your raw data (the accomplishments and activities) and refine to show how they meet the specialized experience requested in the job announcement. Use the announcements language and write clearly and concisely as you would draft an intelligence assessment. By using the announcements specific language, you are connecting your skills and proficiencies to the target job so that the reader will easily understand how you are best qualified.SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN INTELLIGENCE LIFECYCLE.IDENTIFY AND COLLECT NEEDED INTELLIGENCE DATA.BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH EXTERNAL COUNTERPARTS.APPLY CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS.REPORT FINDINGS.4. Disseminate Finished Intelligence This is the last step. The delivery of the final copy of the resume and interview. As in an intelligence briefing, present your bottom line up front. The bottom line is I am the best person for this job and this is why. Summarize your superior grasp of the skills and knowledge required for this job. Identify and articulate how your skills and expertise meet the jobs criteria. These are your intelligence data points form step one- the evidence proving your assertion that you are most qualified for this job. Speak clearly and slowly and use words understandable to a general audience.SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN INTELLIGENCE LIFECYCLE. Routinely execute all functions of the intelligence lifecycle to meet Intelligence Community mission needs. Use structured analytic techniques to organize research and develop bottom lines. Cull through large volumes of disparate information organize and evaluate data draft and produce actionable intelligence products. Apply political, military, and social knowledge to judge data and draw conclusions. Timely delivery of reports and papers to appropriate policy makers.IDENTIFY AND COLLECT NEEDED INTELLIGENCE DATA using substantive knowledge, language skills, collaboration with policy maker s, and cooperation with Intelligence Community components.BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH EXTERNAL COUNTERPARTS. Responsible for communication networks between local and state authorities, DOD units, and executive agencies. Fortify networks and information sharing between military, policy, law enforcement, and intelligence components. Maintain routine access to policy makers to ensure effective and timely intelligence support.APPLY CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS to identify and explain complex problems and interactions in highly dynamic environments. Work independently and expeditiously in delivering insightful, well-supported, and clear intelligence reports and papers that enables informed decision making.REPORT FINDINGS using clear and concise language. Intelligence products drove decision making and solidified relationships. Wrote 18 critical documents pertaining to aerospace issues in support of senior air analysts. Delivered findings through articulate and detailed briefings to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.A resume is your intelligence product. Your objective is to convince the hiring authority that you are best qualified for this particular job. So, collect and refine as much data about your professional self as possible and then apply and exploit it as you would when producing an intelligence report or briefing. Communicating intelligence orally and in writing is the daily task of an intelligence analyst so you are ideally suited for executing this process and creating a superior work product about your professional capabilities and deliverables.

3 Ways to Love Your Job Search

3 Ways to Love Your Job Search3 Ways to Love Your Job Search5For most job seekers, having to face the drudgery of looking for a job can be the emotional equivalent of getting a root canal. But what few fail to realize is that your job search can be- and should be- a time of great excitement and limitless possibilities. Just in time for Valentines Day, heres how to change your outlook- and learn to love your job search.Job searching can actually build your self-confidence. When youre looking for a job, it can feel like every other person on the planet is gainfully employed- except you. While that can be a bust for your self-esteem, you can quickly boost it back up by focusing on the positives instead. Take some time to look over your resume and cover letter, and marvel at all that youve achieved during the course of your career. Reflect on the time that you saved the company boatloads by implementing a new initiative or how you earned the Presidents Award for years of amazing service. By shining a spotlight on all that you have to offer to a potential employer, youll feel better about yourself- and your job search as well.Job interviews give you a chance to improve your interpersonal skills.Lets say that youre a numbers kind of person, preferring to spend the day making dollars and sense out of peoples financial portfolios. A social butterfly, youre not. Thats why job interviews bring on a whole new level of stress and anxiety for you. But when youre sitting in front of a prospective boss during an interview for a telecommuting job, you get a new chance each and every time to hone your interpersonal skills, making you a stronger- and more confident- job seeker.Job searching is a chance to reinvent your career.Just because you worked as a legal secretary before having kids doesnt mean that you automatically have to go down the same career path now that youre ready to return to the workforce and find a job that offers workplace flexibility. You can customize your job search any which way that youd like, pursuing a job that youre passionate about- and not just one that will simply cover your kids private school tuition. Embrace the opportunity to envision your career and your life, and potentially reinvent both.Sure, looking for a job can seem like a chore. But with a positive, can-do attitude your job hunt can be a time of great rediscovery and opportunity, allowing you to find a position that you only dared dream of. Look at the experience in a positive way, and you just might learn to love your job search.Readers, have you learned to love your job search? How do you stay positive? Let us know in the comments section below

5 Signs You Need a Pro to Review Your Resume

5 Signs You Need a Pro to Review Your Resume5 Signs You Need a Pro to Review Your Resume5 Signs You Need a Professional Resume ReviewCould your resume benefit from a professional resume review? Your resume is one of the most important marketing tools youll employ during your job search.In fact, a recent Jobvite study found that 93 percent of recruiters rely on resumes to evaluate candidates. The bottom line is that you need a great resume if you want to land the right job nicht weit davon entfernt seinUnsure if your resume can stand up to the competition and catch the eye of an employer? Here are five signs your resume could benefit from a professional resume review.Its been a while since your last job searchIf its been five or more years since you seriously conducted a job search, you may be in for a few surprises when you decide to look for a new job. As technology and recruiting practices continue to evolve, so have the resume writing rules. From formatting and layout to content and keywords, there are many items to take into account when evaluating and updating your resume.Luckily, there are plenty of free resume critique services available to help you determine if your resume is up to snuff or if it needs to be professionally rewritten.Your goals have changedIf youre a few years beyond the entry-level position, its time to update your resume to reflect this status. The same thing goes for anyone whos interested in changing careers or taking on their first leadership role. If your goals have changed or your career has evolved, so, too, should the format and content of your resume.Share behauptung changes with a professional resume-writing service so they can determine if your new goals are clear to the reader and supported throughout your resume.ATS systems, keyword optimization its all Greek to youMost job applications pass through an electronic filter known as an applicant tracking system (or ATS, for short) before they make their way to the hiring mana ger. If your resume isnt formatted properly or optimized with the right keywords, theres a good chance it wont get past these initial screens.Submit your resume for a free evaluation to ensure your online job applications will sail through the ATS and make it onto the hiring manager for review.Related Ask Amanda How Can I Tell If My Resume Is ATS-friendly?Youre unsure what to include (or remove)What contact information belongs on your resume? How important is it to include a resume objective statement? How far back should your employment history go? Can you include information about classes youve taken or volunteer work youve done?A professional resume critique could be just what you need to figure out whats missing from your resume and what needs to go.Your situation is complicatedPerhaps youve been struggling to find steady work in your field for the past few years or your resume has some glaring employment gaps. While you cant change the past, there are some steps you can take to smooth out a bumpy work history. Once youve edited your resume to downplay any shortcomings, request a professional resume critique to see how successful you were at filling in the gaps.In the endDont assume your resume is good enough.Submit your resume today for a free resume evaluation to increase your chances of landing the right job, sooner.Click on the following link for more resume advice.Recommended ReadingIs it Time to Go to the Resume Pros?5 Steps to Writing a Resume When Changing Careers6 Tips for Online Resume Submission