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After reading Down to the Core, the cover story of the May issue of Government Executive, you'll want to read this column. Thousands of federal employees will have to compete for their own positions in the coming years. Many will find themselves looking for a job. You may be one of them.

This is the second part of my series on looking for a job outside of government. I asked Dick Irish, a career transition specialist, to tell us about how public service can translate into a job in the private sector. The basic tool for moving out of the government is a concise, impressive two- to three-page resume.

For example, if you have to compete for your position in the next few years, your federal job may be converted into a private industry position. You might have to apply for your own job, but as a private contractor to government. You will have to write an appropriate resume for the application.

Dick Irish is an expert in career transitioning. He has trained and counseled more than 10,000 returning Peace Corps volunteers in getting jobs here in the United States after years in other countries.

Q: How do you translate public service experience to the private sector?

A: A big question deserves a lengthy answer.

Government managers who recycle themselves into the private sector need to focus on how to translate public service accomplishments into private sector terms. They must show how their abilities fit a private employer's needs.

You must stress accomplishments - what you did in government that made a difference to your agency. Simply copying your job description into your resume won't work. That turns off an employer, who will think you don't fit. They probably wouldn't even try to understand the government-speak you've written.

Accordingly, I recommend that you start new. Make a list of 25-50 accomplishments both in government and on the outside. No more than one or two sentences for each accomplishment. Cite what you did, how long it took, how much it cost and - above all - what effects it had. Here are four examples:

• "Revised department programming manual, reducing size by 50 percent, simplifying text from 12th to 9th grade level, and winning plaudits from department heads. Manual's format was copied by two other departments."
• "Worked 36 hours straight during computer meltdown crisis to reprogram codes. Supervisor commended me and my three hardworking subordinates for work well done. Received merit salary increase at next annual review."
• "Chaired church Outreach Committee, mounted round-robin telemarketing campaign with all parishioners, and raised $12,000 for Kosovo relief. Entire effort was done over one weekend and involved more than 150 calls."
• "Developed and conducted first internal wage survey and revised pay scale, eliminating the need for external consultant, saving the agency thousands of dollars."

Well, you get the idea.

Once you have done your list, study each accomplishment. Give it a name. For example, the first example above is an editorial, writing, or communication skill. Put all such accomplishments under one heading, i.e., Communication. The second example is a Crisis Management skill. Finally, the third is a Fundraising or or Marketing skill.

Use this exercise as a device to think through your accomplishments, skills, values, abilities, experience, training and objectives, and how they can benefit a private sector employer. Your resume will take shape.

Investigate the vocabulary of the trade, craft, or profession in the private sector, state or local government, or university where you wish to find employment. Translate your federal accomplishments into descriptions that relate to the new employer. The resume, how it reads, the words you use, and what it says will show how acceptable you are to a private sector employer.

Remember: Resumes are only marketing instruments. The aim of a resume is to win a chance to interview. No employer, government or private sector, ever hired a resume!

Career Change Workshop

Dick will be co-teaching with me a private industry resume writing workshop at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington on May 11th. We will be teaching federal employees how to translate their experiences and accomplishments into a private industry resume. You can see the details at www.resume-place.com There is a fee for this workshop.

Kathryn Kraemer has been the president of The Resume Place, Inc. for 27 years. Kathryn helps people get promoted and change jobs. She is the pioneer designer of the new "federal resume." She wrote and published the first book on federal resume writing and is a popular resume writing workshop leader in government.

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