are worthy of a promotion. Also, that you’re a federal employee who can resolve problems, take care of customers very well, and achieve and exceed support to the mission.

Mistake 9: I didn’t realize that my five or 10 point preference really made a big difference.

Yes, most military personnel will have five point preference for service within the last three years. Military personnel with disabilities may have 10 point preference for their application. Your five or 10 point preference can give you an advantage over a candidate that does not have preference points.

Mistake 10: I can’t take personal credit for the work of my team, so what should I write?

The “team mentality” of federal employees and supervisors is not going to get you hired. It’s time to take credit for your contributions as a leader. Before you apply, ask yourself the following questions: Would the project have been successful without you? Did you set the agenda? Establish priorities? Assign tasks? Solve the problems as they occurred? Brief senior executives on status? Manage resources throughout? Create reports and analyze progress? Lead the team members to meet deadlines and review the quality of their work?  Did you “babysit” the group on occasion? Then you need to take credit for leadership, innovation, new ideas, methodologies, policies, procedures, project management strategies that YOU developed and implemented. You are the leader of the team, program, project or group. Write about your leadership and the outcome of the group you lead.

The government has on average 100,000 jobs everyday posted on the main website: USAJOBS.GOV. Consider these positions seriously. They are worth your time and patience. There are good books on federal resume writing and federal job search strategies. Samples of federal resumes and KSAs can help you master the federal job search process and result in a career that can change your life.

*To search for federal jobs or to connect with veterans that work in the public sector, visit Military.com's Careers Channel.