I have applied for a specific position of bank examiner with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City three times, and I cannot even seem to get an interview. The application process is completed through an online submission form, where I upload a .txt version of my resume and cover letter. I feel like my qualifications are top notch. I am a licensed CPA, and have years of experience as an auditor, forensic accountant, and management accountant. I have come to the conclusion that something must be wrong with my resume. I have posted it below (with identifying info redacted) and was wondering if I am completely missing something in my resume that is causing it to get continually rejected? I should note that the last three jobs on the resume were with the same company. Also, my degree is a bachelors in arts and I later obtained the necessary accounting credits to obtain my CPA license at a different college. Could the degree be a reason why I was rejected? I would think that a CPA would indicate the number of accounting/business credit house I have successfully taken (you need at least 33 hours of accounting credits and 24 business credits to get a license).

Also, could it be that I don't have an MBA? Again, I would think that a CPA might trump this especially in auditing-related positions.

John _______, CPA, CFE
### ______ Street
_________, ST ######
(###) ###-####
xxx@xxxxxxx.com

SUMMARY:

Talented, proven forensic accountant and auditor with more than three years of specialized experience in financial fraud detection and prevention. Significant experience in business valuation, internal control design and implementation, and cost accounting. Especially skilled analyst with advanced computer skills. Strong communicator with a talent for applying quantitative methods to problem solving. Extensive knowledge of
financial regulations and principles.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Management Accountant
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Company
City, State
March 2012 - Present

Substantially improved efficiency in accounting processes by conducting operational audits and making recommendations. Performed over 100 business valuations on independent insurance agencies using the income approach. Ensured regulatory and procedural compliance with new legislation and accounting standards through research and analysis. Conducted investigations and audits of cases of embezzlement, premium misappropriation, and co-mingling of assets by members of the agency force. Prepared and analyzed financial statements, reports and financial records for external and internal use. Reviewed operational accounting processes to identify control deficiencies. Performed periodic reconciliations of subsidy ledger accounts. Performed A/R aging to ensure accurate estimates for allowance accounts.

General Investigator
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Company
City, State
October 2007 - February 2012

Performed investigative audits in cases of internal fraud. Provided written reports and evidence to law enforcement, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, and Farmers corporate legal department in criminal or civil actions. Employed accepted analytical principles in reviewing financial data to identify weaknesses and exposure to external fraud. Reviewed internal controls and provided recommendations when deficiencies were identified.

Claims Examiner
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Company
City, State
October 2006 - October 2007

Reviewed estimates of commercial and property losses for accuracy and thoroughness. Conducted periodic audits of the claims handling process to ensure compliance with various state regulations. Investigated potentially fraudulent insurance claims and reported on findings.

Staff Accountant
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Company
City, State
November 2005 - October 2006

Performed recalculations on complex construction bids to check for mathematical accuracy. Assisted in maintaining proper physical controls to ensure appropriate receipt of bids and awarding of jobs. Performed reviews of journal entries and reconciliation of accounts when necessary.

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS:

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
License #___________________
Missouri State Board of Accountancy

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

EDUCATION:

Bachelors of Arts
XXXXXXX University
August, 2005

NICB Fraud Analyst Academy
National Insurance Crime Bureau
March, 2009

Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis Course
ANACAPA Sciences
February, 2011

Hi JohnInKC,

I'm sorry to hear that you applied for this position several times and haven't gotten interviewed yet. I agree that your credentials are top notch, but there are many factors that could be contributing to the lack of calls. It's possible that this position has a long hiring process -- I've worked with clients who received calls for bank examiner positions months after they applied. Another possibility is that you could fall into the higher end of the salary range for this position (there could be budget issues).

Your resume looks excellent. I would review the job ad and see if you can incorporate more of your qualifications based on the requirements in the posting. Even something as minor as being available for frequent travel can be included on your resume.

You have little editing issues you can fix like changing "Bachelors" to singular and removing the comma between months and years.

What was your college major? It could look like you're hiding something by not including your major.

If possible, see if you can connect with an HR person at the FRB -- maybe you can get some insight regarding the status of your application.

I hope this is helpful!

As far as the degree, I don't know how to represent my undergraduate study, and figured that having a CPA indicates to the employer what my educational background is. In every state in the US, you must have 150 semester hours of college education, with at least 30 semester hours in accounting and semester 24-30 in business topics with most states requiring a certain number of auditing and GAAP-related accounting courses to obtain a CPA license.

My original undergraduate degree was in English Literature. I went back and took the accounting hours and business hours from a local college to meet the state requirements. However, I did not get a masters in accounting; I just took 36 semester hours of accounting courses and 24 semester hours of business courses to meet the state requirements. I guess I should probably look into getting a masters before applying so that I can put it on my resume correctly (I am not sure how to properly represent this course of study). I figured by putting the CPA license on my resume, it shows the following: 1) I have the equivalent of a major in business with a focus in accounting, and 2) it has been certified by the state accountancy board and deemed sufficient to meet the stringent education requirements set forth in the rules and regulations of CPA licensing.

Also, it seems like my resume submissions are being rejected right away because it says "Not selected for the position" mere days after I submit the resume, and the posting stays open. I think I am being screened out based on my resume.

Might just be the competition.  Even a 90% skill set match isn't enough, especially in the public sector.

My sister works for the school district and they can get 1,000 apps for a single opening.  People with PhDs applying for receptionist positions now.

Hi JohnInKC,

If your application is being rejected outright, it could be due to an automated system ranking you lower than the minimum requirements for the position. Have you tried completing the online builder vs. uploading your resume? This could give you a better shot at the position because you are directly filling in each field vs. relying on the software to correctly parse your resume (it's not always accurate). But as sameoldsong suggested, competition is brutal -- that's one reason why reaching out to an HR person could give you some insight re: your application.