In proposal writing, resumes stand out as a key element of your value proposition. They highlight which personnel meet or exceed the requirements of the RFP and offer specific experience that demonstrate your ability to provide a winning solution.
But proposal writers often create resumes without understanding the solution, and proposal reviewers spend little time reviewing the final product. Here are four tips to help maximize the resumes in your proposals:
- It is important to decide who will write the resumes. A cost-effective approach would be to have the proposed candidate prepare the first draft of the resume, and then have a technical writer format and fill in the gaps where necessary.
- A uniform format helps standardize the process of crafting resumes and helps evaluators navigate them. Each company should develop a format that fits the proposal requirements, usually with traditional sections such as a summary paragraph, education, jobs, and specific skills/certifications.
- Resume writers should tailor the summary paragraph of each resume to the evaluation factors of the RFP. This approach will allow the evaluator to clearly identify the quality of each proposed candidate, as well as highlight any deficiencies in the resume that writers can use to get more up-to-date information or to replace for a better candidate. Writers should also address the RFP requirements within each job they list.
- If the proposed candidate does not possess the required qualifications, you should first look to find a more qualified candidate. You should NOT look to obscure deficiencies by carefully including or excluding certain words. Proposal writers should always develop clear, responsive, and well-formatted resumes.
OST Global Solutions is a professional business development consulting firm. Our capture and proposal consultants have helped our clients win more than $25 billion in funded contracts. We can provide capture and proposal teams to develop a complete, winning proposal, or we can provide consultants on a case-by-case basis to fill gaps on your business development team. Our services include capture management, proposal management, orals coaching, proposal writing, graphics support, editing, desktop publishing, and cost volume development.
Reach out to us to discuss how we can help you win your next bid.
Upcoming Bid & Proposal Academy Classes
Proposal Editing With & Without AI
OST Global Solutions 7361 Calhoun Place, Suite 560, Rockville, MD, United StatesThis class teaches how to edit Government proposals while working with a proposal team. Not another English grammar class, this course teaches proposal-specific professional editing skills to improve your proposals' Pwin.
Proposal Graphics Conceptualization & Design
OST Global Solutions 7361 Calhoun Place, Suite 560, Rockville, MD, United StatesThis course provides the skills necessary to conceptualize proposal graphics that convey your winning solution to Government customers. In addition to brainstorming on a graphic idea, this training shows you how to design an action caption, sketch a graphic concept, deliver a specific visual message to the Government customer, and use professional graphic design principles and resources to make your graphics look attractive.
Desktop Publishing for Proposal Professionals
OST Global Solutions 7361 Calhoun Place, Suite 560, Rockville, MD, United StatesGovernment proposal desktop publishing teaches valuable skills in designing, laying out Government proposals in MS Word. Present your company’s offer in the most professional light to Federal evaluators. The course covers tools and features MS Word offers to the desktop publisher, and shortcuts to increase speed and efficiency. It covers color palette and styles, tables of contents, headers and footers, and elements of design to ensure your proposal is attractive.
