Kathryn Troutman designed the federal resume.
Kathryn founded The Resume Place, the United States’ first federal resume writing and coaching business, more than 30 years ago. When the government eliminated the SF-171 form in 1995, she designed the format that replaced it. In January 2002, after 9/11 created massive interest in federal service, she created the Ten Steps to a Federal Job® method.
30+
Books on federal careers
300
Federal resumes advised and written per month
95%
SES ECQ success rate, last five years (VA)
503
Trainers currently certified in Ten Steps
01
Industry recognition
RP / The founder
Recognized as the pioneer of federal resume writing.
01
Industry Hero Award
Honored by the National Resume Writers’ Association
In 2022, the NRWA recognized Kathryn’s significant contributions to the field of federal resume writing with its Industry Hero Award, given to career service providers who promote excellence, advance industry standards, and are passionate about their work.
02
The practice
A team of 20 Certified Federal Resume Writers
The Resume Place now advises and writes more than 300 federal resumes per month for military, private industry, and federal clients worldwide.
03
SES results
A 95% SES success rate over five years
Resume Place SES writers have written and consulted on Senior Executive Service ECQs with a 95% success rate over the last five years for the Veterans Administration and Veterans Executive Review Board.
02
Author and publisher
RP / The books
The No. 1 author of federal resume books.
Troutman has written and published more than 30 successful books on federal resume writing over the last 20 years, earning the title Federal Resume Guru. Her books are regularly recognized as the best in Careers and Reference: in 2021 the Federal Resume Guidebook, 7th Edition, took the top Gold Award for Reference in IBPA’s Ben Franklin Awards, and Creating Your First Resume has been honored with four awards over the years.
Her books are innovative. The Student’s Federal Career Guide, now in its 4th Edition, was the earliest book for students seeking federal careers and internships. For The Stars Are Lined Up for Military Spouses, Troutman created a new federal resume format built around the experience of military spouses. The New SES Application presents a proven method for writing the complex SES application, including the Executive Core Qualifications.
Federal Resume Guidebook, 8th Edition
From $21.95
Jobseeker’s Guide, 10th Edition
From $21.95
Student’s Federal Career Guide, 4th Ed.
From $15.95
The Stars Are Lined Up for Military Spouses®, 4th Ed.
From $15.95
03
Trainer and Federal Career Coach®
RP / Ten Steps
She trained the trainers.
Troutman has trained as a Government Woman Small Business Contractor for more than 50 federal agencies over the last 30 years. She established a worldwide certification for federal employment and transition counselors, the Certified Federal Job Search Trainer / Certified Federal Career Coach program, built on her Ten Steps to a Federal Job® approach.
- 503 career counselors and workshop leaders currently licensed to teach the Ten Steps curriculum.
- The Ten Steps to a Federal Job® method is taught at more than 250 military bases around the globe.
- A regular radio, TV, and online guest, making federal resume writing and job searching clear and understandable.
04
The Resume Place story
RP / Since 1971
From a DC print shop to the leading federal resume firm.
1971
A print shop and an idea
Kathryn sees her first resume at a print shop one block from George Washington University, realizes she can typeset one in twenty minutes, and starts a law-student resume service.
1996
The $50,000 gamble
A single mom of three, Kathryn mortgages her house to publish the Federal Resume Guidebook when the SF-171 is eliminated. The book sells half a million copies and sets the standard.
Today
Still the original
The Resume Place remains the leading federal resume writing firm in the US, crafting about 1,500 resumes a year and teaching in more than 50 federal agencies.
Work with the original
Read the accomplishments, then write yours.
Kathryn’s Top Ten Accomplishments are mapped into the five ECQs, the same method our writers use for your resume and SES application.