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Government contractor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

7 min read

Quoted experts

Irish Horsey Ph.D.,

Irish Horsey Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical government contractor skills. We ranked the top skills for government contractors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.9% of government contractor resumes contained cost accounting standards as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a government contractor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 government contractor skills for your resume and career

1. Cost Accounting Standards

Here's how government contractors use cost accounting standards:

Reviewed corporate accounting practices to ensure compliance with cost accounting standards and regulations.

2. Financial Statements

A financial statement is a report of an individual or a company that includes all the information about the declared assets, the use of money, income, and also the contribution of shareholders over a certain period.

Here's how government contractors use financial statements:

Reconcile financial statements to ensure carriers Examine and analyze financial documentation for quality assurance purposes.
Prepared financial statements and cash flow analysis.

3. Security Clearance

Here's how government contractors use security clearance:

Processed local law enforcement agency checks on applicants requiring background screenings for a security clearance.
Achieved a security clearance from Department of Homeland Security to enter into government data bases.

4. Logistics

Logistics is a complete organization and implementation of a problem. Logistics are often considered in a complex business operation, as some works need detailed plannings. Logistics are also used in military action.

Here's how government contractors use logistics:

Provide on-site on-time Logistics, documented Operational and Certified Maintenance on Radar, and Navigational Aids with Airfield operations.
Scheduled selected candidates for interviews with hiring managers; supported setup of all logistics regarding interviews.

5. Payroll

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Here's how government contractors use payroll:

Reported on variances in quarterly training reports; making sure military payroll knowledge is properly disbursed to guarantee accurate department transactions.
Performed all company accounting transactions, in-house payroll, tax reports, and bank reconciliations, while supervising an Accounting Assistant.

6. DOD

Definition of Done (DoD) is a set of deliverables that are needed to devise software. These deliverables are valuable to the system and can be exemplified by writing code, coding comments, unit testing, integration testing, design documents, release notes, and so on.

Here's how government contractors use dod:

Provided high level of targeted office assistance to various offices in standards of DoD, NARA, WHS guidelines.
Calculated and processed DD Form 1610 (Request and Authorization for travel of DOD Personnel).

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7. Windows

Windows is a chain of operating systems that controls a computer and is developed by Microsoft. Every version of Windows consists of GUI (graphical user interface), with a desktop that allows the user to open their files.

Here's how government contractors use windows:

Configured and provided administrative services for Windows 98, XP, and Windows 7 workstations and laptops.
Installed Windows 2003 Server and Active Directory domain with a terabyte NAS for the lab environment.

8. Human Resources

Human resources is a set of people in a business or a corporation that are designated to locate, interview, and recruit new employees into the company. They are also responsible to maintain the integrity of the employees and help them sort their problems out. They try to introduce and manage employee-benefit programs.

Here's how government contractors use human resources:

Project Management; Task Management; Business Development; Procurement; QualityAssurance; Human Resources Management, Labor Contract Administration
Specialized in providing temporary placement for Human Resources and Accounting professionals.

9. Government Contracts

Here's how government contractors use government contracts:

Registered company for Federal and State Government contracts nationwide *Handled contract pricing *Negotiated strategies and sale techniques with senior buyers
Researched, analyzed and reviewed all applicable policies, guidance and regulations to support Government Contracting Officer decision-making.

10. SharePoint

Here's how government contractors use sharepoint:

Provided direct end user support to users experiencing difficulties with SharePoint.
Created custom SharePoint solutions for users improving organizational efficiency.

11. Management System

A management system is a set of policies, processes, and procedures taken by an organization or a business to ensure it can fulfill its tasks and achieve its objectives. A management system makes sure that the company excels financially and improves the user experience. The management system also takes care of the worker's and employees' needs and manages their workload and oversees their performance. Apart from interior matters of the company, a management system also deals with exterior matters like legislations, tax matters, and law issues.

Here's how government contractors use management system:

Assisted in the development and definition of knowledge management systems; deployed knowledge management programs knowledge management technologies tools and concepts.
Helped with Veterans Benefit Management System's (VBMS) incorporation of groundbreaking conversion to electronic medical and military filing system.

12. Troubleshoot

Troubleshooting is the process of analyzing and fixing any kind of problem in a system or a machine. Troubleshooting is the detailed yet quick search in the system for the main source of an issue and solving it.

Here's how government contractors use troubleshoot:

Helped to troubleshoot network connectivity issues.
Install and troubleshoot VPN software Juniper and Cisco 10.

13. Federal Government

The fеdеrаl gоvеrnmеnt іѕ a ѕуѕtеm thаt dіѕtrіbutеѕ power between a strong national gоvеrnmеnt and ѕmаllеr lосаl gоvеrnmеntѕ. It consists оf thrее dіѕtіnсt brаnсhеѕ: legislative, executive, аnd judісіаl, whose powers аrе dеlеgаtеd bу thе соuntrу'ѕ constitution, the president, аnd the fеdеrаl соurtѕ, rеѕресtіvеlу.

Here's how government contractors use federal government:

Re-Designed accounting system to comply with Federal Government Accounting practices and standards.
Obtained Federal government clearance to work with military personnel personal information.

14. NASA

Here's how government contractors use nasa:

Lead the team that administers and supports the Agency Drug-Free Workplace Program through the NASA Shared Services Center.
Saved 20% on NASA Tracking Station circuit breaker project through strong price negotiation skills.

15. Corrective Action

Here's how government contractors use corrective action:

Generated and executed project plans and directed corrective actions required to keep projects on schedule and within mandated baselines.
Directed Maintenance Program implementation, corrective action plans to address programmatic deficiencies, and maintain continuous improvement.

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What skills help Government Contractors find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on government contractor resumes?

Irish Horsey Ph.D.

Interim Chair of the Department of Construction Management and Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University

Construction Managers are problem solvers. Employers seek analytical, technical, and effective communication skills from potential employees for construction management positions. Whether building a skyscraper or single-family home, there are always groups of people performing numerous construction activities and tasks simultaneously on a construction site. Therefore, resumes that show time, cost, and, most importantly, safety management skills are most desired by employers.

What soft skills should all government contractors possess?

Irish Horsey Ph.D.

Interim Chair of the Department of Construction Management and Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University

Leadership and communication are among the most essential skills of a construction manager. Construction managers are responsible for ensuring that projects are built safely on schedule, within budget, and to the quality outlined in the drawings and specifications. To fulfill these responsibilities, construction managers must lead multiple teams, including primary, secondary, and third party players, on a construction project through effective oral and written communications.

What government contractor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Neil Opfer

Assoc. Professor - UNLV Civil & Environmental Engineering & Construction Department, Website

First off, know what competitive salaries are in your area of the country for the type of job you want as you never have to recover from a good start. Some companies, for instance, will offer salaries that are simply not competitive. As an example, a few years ago, we had one CM graduate starting at $70K per year at one firm (heavy-highway contractor) whereas another grad had been offered $42K per year for a commercial flooring contractor. That $42K was simply not competitive with the market whether that employer offering that salary knew it or not. Also, compare offers versus area living costs. Use cost-of-living calculators such as at bankrate.com If you, using this bankrate.com tool, were offered one job in Las Vegas NV at $80,000 per year versus another job opportunity in Los Angeles CA, you would need $122,000 per year as a comparable salary. Remember to measure yourself as to earning that salary on a regular basis. Don't take jobs where a bonus is promised to make up for a bad salary. Example here is taking a Superintendent Job where your Job ended up profitable but other jobs run by others overall didn't so taking that lower salary and not getting that bonus didn't work out so well. Again, benchmark yourself against what others in the industry in that same area are actually getting paid. If you truly feel you deserve a raise where you're at but can't get it you may need to change jobs to get to a higher salary scale. But that firm offering above-market salaries may be doing so because of internal problems (bad bosses, poor working conditions, insane hours, insane understaffing, etc.) so look before you leap. It's a given that to be successful as a working professional in construction, one cannot just work a 40-hour week. But you shouldn't be working 7-10s or more on a regular basis either. Again, through networking you perhaps can find out who are the 'bad employers.'

Do you want to know more?

List of government contractor skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a government contractor resume and required skills for a government contractor to have include:

Cost Accounting Standards
Financial Statements
Security Clearance
Logistics
Payroll
DOD
Windows
Human Resources
Government Contracts
SharePoint
Management System
Troubleshoot
Federal Government
NASA
Corrective Action
Veterans

ERP
SQL
Government Agencies
GSA
Deltek
Travel Arrangements
Expense Reports
DCAA
Administrative Functions
Journal Entries
Administrative Tasks
RFP
DHS
FAA
QA
Secret Clearance

ISO
POC
LAN
SME
US Army
Linux
Federal Agencies
CAC
A/P
Deltek Costpoint
GAAP
FOIA
DOE
ADP
DCMA
Contract Modifications

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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