Kathryn’s Top Ten Accomplishments.
This list is mapped into the five ECQs: Leading Change, Leading People, Results Driven, Business Acumen, and Building Coalitions. On a resume these would appear as key accomplishments, clearly distinguished from daily activities. To expand each one into an ECQ, you add Context, Challenge, Actions, and Results. You can write your own CCARs with the RP CCAR Builder.
The method
The Top Ten list
Ten accomplishments, five ECQs.
Each accomplishment carries the ECQ it maps to.
Founded the first federal resume writing business in the US
Kathryn Troutman founded The Resume Place, the United States’ first federal resume writing and coaching business, more than 30 years ago. Its website, resume-place.com, is one of the first 1,000 websites on the Internet, from 1996. The firm coaches, writes, or edits more than 2,000 federal applications per year.
Designed the federal resume format
She is the pioneering designer of the Federal Resume format, created after the federal government eliminated the SF-171 form in 1995, and wrote the first-ever book on federal resume writing.
Wrote the first federal resume book for military spouses
In 2019, Kathryn wrote The Stars Are Lined Up for Military Spouses®, with a resume format that counts a spouse’s volunteer military services as a job block, giving credit for the knowledge and skills of an Active Duty military spouse.
Documented the hiring authorities military spouses can use
The next edition of The Stars Are Lined Up for Military Spouses® features the little-known and important seven Direct Hire Authorities available to military spouses, along with preferences and non-competitive hiring authorities.
Published the No. 1 resume book in America
The Federal Resume Guidebook is the No. 1 resume book in America in online sales. In 1996, Kathryn took a $50K risk to self-publish the first edition. The format is now accepted throughout government, used on USAJOBS.gov, and the book is the curriculum for federal resume writing classes at multiple agencies worldwide.
Created Ten Steps to a Federal Job®
In January 2002, Kathryn created the Ten Steps to a Federal Job® training and coaching method, after 9/11 created massive interest in federal positions to help protect America.
Built the first train-the-trainer federal career certification
In 2002, Kathryn created the first-ever train-the-trainer certification for military transition and state employment agencies. The Ten Steps curriculum is licensed to the 503 Certified Federal Job Search Trainers teaching it today and taught at 150+ military bases as part of the Transition Assistance Program.
A 100% VA SES coaching success rate for the last two years
Kathryn and her training team are SES ECQ trainers and writers for multiple federal agencies through their GSA Schedule, with a 100% success rate for Veterans Administration SES ECQ coaching and writing over the last two years. She has trained at 200+ federal agencies, with clients including the Department of Justice, NIH, Navy, BLM, and USACE.
Recognized with the NRWA Industry Hero Award
In 2022, the National Resume Writers Association recognized Kathryn’s significant contributions to the field of federal resume writing with the Industry Hero Award, given to career service providers who promote excellence, advance industry standards, and are passionate about their work.
Co-wrote The New SES Application
In 2015, Kathryn Troutman and Diane Hudson Burns wrote The New SES Application, now a popular SES ECQ writing curriculum with an effective strategy: write your own Top Ten List of Accomplishments to begin the ECQ writing.
02
Beyond the ten
RP / Notable
Additional notable accomplishments.
1970
The law-student beginning
Established Resume Place initially specializing in law student resumes. Sample resumes are now included in law school career center resume writing guides.
1996
The self-publishing risk
Took a $50K risk to self-publish the first Federal Resume Guidebook. The federal resume format is now accepted throughout government and used on USAJOBS.gov.
503
Certified trainers teaching today
Developed the Ten Steps to a Federal Job® curriculum, licensed to the 503 Certified Federal Job Search Trainers and taught at 150+ military bases in the Transition Assistance Program.
200+
Federal agencies trained
A leading contractor for federal resume writing, KSAs, Resumix, ECQs, and interviews. Clients include the Department of Justice, NIH, Navy, BLM, and USACE.
Dummies
Resumes for Dummies
Co-authored Resumes for Dummies, serving as designer and producer of the private industry resume samples in the renowned guidebook, now in its 5th edition.
03
The books
RP / Firsts
A shelf of firsts.
Military
The Military to Federal Career Guide
The first book for military personnel, republished in its 2nd edition featuring veteran federal resumes, written for personnel returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo searching for government jobs.
Post-9/11
Ten Steps to a Federal Job
Published two months after 9/11 for private industry jobseekers seeking first-time positions in the federal government, where they could contribute to the nation’s security. Now in its second edition.
Military bases
The Jobseeker’s Guide
Started as the companion course handout to the Ten Steps book, then captured its own following as the handout text at over 200 military installations worldwide for transitioning military and family members.
Students
The Student’s Federal Career Guide
Co-authored with Kathryn’s daughter, MPP graduate Emily Troutman, the first book for students pursuing a federal job, written as baby boomers began retiring from government.
Private industry
Resumes for Dummies, 5th Edition
Joyce Laine Kennedy’s renowned guidebook to resume writing. Kathryn and The Resume Place staff designed and produced all of the private industry resume samples.
In the press
The awards, podcasts, and press coverage.
From the Independent Press Awards to The Baltimore Banner, see where Kathryn and The Resume Place have been featured.