{"meta":{"slug":"resume-place","name":"Resume Place","version":"1.1.0","lastUpdated":"2024-09-26","canonicalUrl":"/brand/resume-place","summary":"The Resume Place, Inc. was the first-ever federal resume writing service. Since 1973 we've seen a fair share of competitors and imitators, but there is only one original.","changeNote":"v1.1 (September 2024). Tangelo Orange palette, Messina type family adopted across Sans / Serif / Mono, wordmark and circle-checkmark logomark, Ten Steps and the proposed CCAR Accomplishment Builder sub-brand systems."},"foundation":{"name":"Resume Place","established":1973,"homepageLine":"Writing our next chapter. Honoring our legacy. Recommitting to our purpose.","descriptor":"Federal resumes. Books. Training. Certification.","valueProposition":"We wrote the book on federal resumes. The Resume Place, Inc. was the first-ever federal resume writing service. Since 1973 we've seen a fair share of competitors and imitators, but there is only one original.","origin":"When The Resume Place was founded, we were essentially a design and print studio that employed storytellers to help people tell their unique career stories within the confines of a federal resume. The internet did not exist, everything was done on paper, and people literally showed up at our door to get help. Some of us still remember the smell of ink, paper, and sweat when many eager job seekers would walk into our K Street office on a hot DC summer day.","position":"The first-ever federal resume writing service.","tagline":"We wrote the book on federal resumes.","elevatorPitch":"The Resume Place has been the preeminent federal job experts for several decades. We are unmatched in our expertise, insight, and future-forward thinking within the realm of federal careers, agency talent consulting, and publishing.","mission":"","brandPromise":"","differentiator":"","voiceSummary":""},"heritage":{"$description":"Resume Place. Heritage. Canonical content from the v1.1 brand book (September 26, 2024), file AAB1MOtAxkDzo3GHY1n0Le. Carries the origin story, brand character, three brand pillars, and the manifesto pull-quote. This is the canon for any surface that needs to tell who Resume Place is and where it came from.","coverPullQuote":{"headline":"We wrote the book on federal resumes.","subhead":"Turning obstacles into opportunities for almost 50 years.","body":"The Resume Place, Inc. was the first-ever federal resume writing service. Since 1973 we've seen a fair share of competitors and imitators, but there is only one original."},"openingChapter":{"eyebrow":"Brand Identity Guidelines","headline":"Writing our next chapter.","subhead":"Honoring our legacy. Recommitting to our purpose.","body":"The Resume Place has been the preeminent federal job experts for several decades. We are unmatched in our expertise, insight, and future-forward thinking within the realm of federal careers, agency talent consulting, and publishing."},"originStory":{"headline":"When The Resume Place was founded.","paragraphs":["When The Resume Place was founded, we were essentially a design and print studio that employed storytellers to help people tell their unique career stories within the confines of a federal resume.","The internet did not exist, everything was done on paper, and people literally showed up at our door to get help. Some of us still remember the smell of ink, paper, and sweat when many eager job seekers would walk into our K Street office on a hot DC summer day."],"footnote":"Passing Fashion. When you have been around since the 1970s, you get fabulous fashion and daring design moments to reflect on.","imagery":["/media/resume-place/archive/kathryn-portrait-1970s.jpg","/media/resume-place/archive/team-k-street-1980s.jpg","/media/resume-place/archive/ad-1972.jpg","/media/resume-place/archive/ad-1974.jpg","/media/resume-place/archive/ad-1978.jpg","/media/resume-place/archive/ad-1981.jpg","/media/resume-place/archive/ad-1988-workshop.jpg","/media/resume-place/archive/ad-1993.jpg"]},"background":"We are charismatic storytellers, innovators, and leaders committed to helping people see the best in themselves and find meaning and purpose in their work in the federal government. We know that a thriving federal workforce is vital for the health of the country and we are determined more than ever to support our government and its citizens in providing resources and tools to keep our federal agencies staffed with the best and brightest.","characterTagline":"The Resume Place is cut-and-dried but certainly not dry or dull.","characterTraits":[{"trait":"Honest"},{"trait":"Charismatic"},{"trait":"Empowering"},{"trait":"Invigorating"},{"trait":"Irreverent"},{"trait":"Timeless"},{"trait":"Visionary"},{"trait":"Authentic"},{"trait":"Intelligent"}],"pillars":[{"id":"legacy","label":"Building on a Legacy","subtitle":"Originators and Innovators","body":"Over 50+ years of responding to Washington's changing rules, regulations, and culture."},{"id":"institution","label":"The New Institution","subtitle":"Educators and Resource Center","body":"Giving people the tools to transform their careers and their lives. Guiding leaders in finding the most qualified candidates."},{"id":"empowering","label":"Empowering + Inspiring","subtitle":"Advocating for Changemakers","body":"Empowering people to advance themselves by properly highlighting their talents, skills, accomplishments, and being their best selves."}],"manifestoQuote":"The Resume Place helps people write new chapters in their story of service and commitment to America."},"audience":{"$description":"Resume Place. Audience. The brand book does not enumerate personas. It defines audience through the three brand pillars: the people whose careers the brand advances (changemakers), the agencies the brand serves (resource center), and the legacy the brand carries forward.","primary":"Federal job seekers, federal agencies, and the trainer community that teaches the work.","descriptors":["People advancing their careers in service of the country, properly highlighting their talents, skills, and accomplishments.","Leaders inside federal agencies finding the most qualified candidates.","Educators and resource-center users transforming their careers and their lives."]},"voice":{"$description":"Resume Place. Voice. Drawn from the v1.1 brand book (Sept 2024). The book does not contain a discrete 'voice' section; voice is carried by the brand character (nine traits + the 'cut-and-dried but not dry or dull' line). Surface-level rules, sample copy, and prompt kits are not in canon and are not asserted here.","tone":["Charismatic","Empowering","Plainspoken"],"characterTagline":"Cut-and-dried but certainly not dry or dull.","characterTraits":["Timeless","Authentic","Intelligent","Visionary","Honest","Charismatic","Empowering","Invigorating","Irreverent"]},"logo":{"$description":"Resume Place. Logo. Wordmark, logomark, and lockups documented in the v1.1 brand book.","narrative":{"eyebrow":"Brand Identity Guidelines / Logo","headline":"Wordmark. Logomark. Lockup.","subhead":"The marks that hold the system together.","body":"The Resume Place wordmark is the primary mark. The checkmark logomark is shorthand. They are documented as separate elements, and should rarely be paired together."},"marks":[{"name":"Wordmark","description":"The primary brand mark. Use for the largest and most recognizable applications.","variants":[{"label":"Wordmark, Orange","src":"/media/resume-place/logo/wordmark-horizontal-orange.svg","fg":"#F94D00","bg":"#FFFFFF","format":"svg"},{"label":"Wordmark, Blue","src":"/media/resume-place/logo/wordmark-horizontal-blue.svg","fg":"#1C3664","bg":"#FFFFFF","format":"svg"},{"label":"Wordmark, Reverse on Midnight","src":"/media/resume-place/logo/wordmark-horizontal-reverse.svg","fg":"#FFFFFF","bg":"#223240","format":"svg"}]},{"name":"Logomark","description":"The circle-checkmark logomark. Shorthand for the identity. Used at small sizes and on collateral where the wordmark would crowd the layout.","variants":[{"label":"Logomark, Orange","src":"/media/resume-place/logo/logomark-orange.svg","fg":"#F94D00","bg":"#FFFFFF","format":"svg"},{"label":"Logomark, Blue","src":"/media/resume-place/logo/logomark-blue.svg","fg":"#1C3664","bg":"#FFFFFF","format":"svg"},{"label":"Logomark, Reverse","src":"/media/resume-place/logo/logomark-reverse.svg","fg":"#FFFFFF","bg":"#223240","format":"svg"}]},{"name":"Logomark + Wordmark Lockup","description":"Use the documented lockup files when both marks need to appear together.","variants":[{"label":"Lockup Horizontal, Orange","src":"/media/resume-place/logo/lockup-horizontal-orange.svg","fg":"#F94D00","bg":"#FFFFFF","format":"svg"},{"label":"Lockup Stacked, Orange","src":"/media/resume-place/logo/lockup-stacked-orange.svg","fg":"#F94D00","bg":"#FFFFFF","format":"svg"}]}],"clearSpace":"Clear space around the wordmark equals the height of the 'R' in Resume Place, regardless of production size. Clear space around the logomark equals the size of the checkmark negative space, regardless of production size.","misuse":[{"rule":"No element of the logo artwork may be recreated, deleted, cropped, or reconfigured."},{"rule":"Logo artwork must be uniformly scaled. Non-uniform scaling distorts the proportions of the artwork and the relationship between the icons and letterforms."},{"rule":"Logo artwork should always appear upright."},{"rule":"Logo artwork should appear against a solid background to ensure maximum and proper contrast. When placed on an image, an 80% opacity Midnight Blue can be applied to the background if contrast is poor."},{"rule":"Do not put a white box around the logo when placed on a dark background."},{"rule":"Do not reproduce the logo in colors other than those specified in these guidelines."},{"rule":"Do not stack logomark and wordmark. For instances that the logomark and wordmark need to appear together, use the correct logo file."},{"rule":"Do not combine marks with other elements such as text if they can be mistaken for fully realized compositions."}],"hierarchy":["The Resume Place wordmark is the primary mark.","The checkmark logomark should be used as a separate element, a shorthand for the identity, but should rarely be paired with the wordmark.","Programs and initiative names can be set in the brand serif at the appropriate weight and size to be used in places where it may be the only visual brand asset seen, such as on third-party platforms."]},"color":{"palette":[{"name":"tangelo","group":"orange","label":"Tangelo Orange","hex":"#F94D00","role":"Primary","notes":"Tangelo Orange · Primary · Pantone 1655 C"},{"name":"mahoganyWood","group":"orange","label":"Mahogany Wood","hex":"#C04000","role":"Pantone 8923 C","notes":"Mahogany Wood · Pantone 8923 C"},{"name":"spicedTea","group":"orange","label":"Spiced Tea","hex":"#B35C44","role":"Pantone 8925 C","notes":"Spiced Tea · Pantone 8925 C"},{"name":"deep","group":"blue","label":"Deep Blue","hex":"#1C3664","role":"Pantone 8783 C","notes":"Deep Blue · Pantone 8783 C"},{"name":"evening","group":"blue","label":"Evening Blue","hex":"#0F264C","role":"Pantone 2767 C","notes":"Evening Blue · Pantone 2767 C"},{"name":"midnight","group":"blue","label":"Midnight Blue","hex":"#223240","notes":"Midnight Blue"},{"name":"richGray","group":"neutral","label":"Rich Gray","hex":"#010203","role":"Pantone 433 C","notes":"Rich Gray · Pantone 433 C"},{"name":"darkGray","group":"neutral","label":"Dark Gray","hex":"#5B5E60","role":"Pantone 8403 C","notes":"Dark Gray · Pantone 8403 C"},{"name":"lightGray","group":"neutral","label":"Light Gray","hex":"#D2D9DB","role":"Pantone 9423 C","notes":"Light Gray · Pantone 9423 C"},{"name":"white","label":"White","hex":"#FFFFFF","notes":"White"}],"narrative":{"eyebrow":"Brand Identity Guidelines / Color","headline":"Inspired by a colorful cast of characters.","subhead":"Finding our true colors.","body":"For almost half a century, we've helped people further their careers and build a legacy in the service of our country. The brand's colors are as warm, vibrant, and sharp as the people who have come through our doors over the decades."}},"typography":{"families":[{"name":"Messina Sans","role":"primary","fontFamily":"'Messina Sans', 'Inter', ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif","notes":"Messina Sans. Workhorse face. Black for headlines, SemiBold for subheads, Book for body. Designed for large editorial projects and corporate identities."},{"name":"Messina Serif","role":"editorial","fontFamily":"'Messina Serif', 'Newsreader', Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif","notes":"Messina Serif. Long-form publishing and federal-aesthetic moments. French Renaissance proportions translated into 21st-century needs."},{"name":"Messina Sans Mono","role":"mono","fontFamily":"'Messina Sans Mono', 'JetBrains Mono', ui-monospace, SFMono-Regular, Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, monospace","notes":"Messina Sans Mono. Data, kickers, version stamps. All-caps with extra tracking is the house treatment."},{"name":"Messina Sans Condensed","role":"condensed","fontFamily":"'Messina Sans Condensed', 'Manrope', 'Messina Sans', 'Inter', ui-sans-serif, sans-serif","notes":"Messina Sans Condensed. Short labels, dense headlines, acronyms (ECQ, SES, CFJST)."}],"scale":[{"name":"display","value":"4.300rem","use":"69px. Display headlines"},{"name":"h1","value":"3.583rem","use":"57px. Hero / page title"},{"name":"h2","value":"2.986rem","use":"48px. Section headline"},{"name":"h3","value":"2.488rem","use":"40px. Sub-section"},{"name":"h4","value":"2.074rem","use":"33px. Card heading"},{"name":"h5","value":"1.728rem","use":"28px. Small heading"},{"name":"h6","value":"1.440rem","use":"23px. Eyebrow / kicker"},{"name":"lead","value":"1.200rem","use":"19px. Lede / large body"},{"name":"body","value":"1.000rem","use":"16px. Default body"},{"name":"small","value":"0.833rem","use":"13px. Secondary text"},{"name":"xs","value":"0.694rem","use":"11px. Labels, meta, mono"}],"narrative":{"eyebrow":"Brand Elements / Typography","headline":"A fresh but familiar face.","subhead":"Balancing novelty and familiarity.","body":"We have designed the secondary brand elements to give people a simple bridge from the old identity to the new, helping avoid confusion and giving them an opening to refamiliarize themselves with our brand."}},"spacing":{"scale":[{"name":"1","value":"0.25rem","use":"4px. Micro"},{"name":"2","value":"0.5rem","use":"8px. Tight"},{"name":"3","value":"0.75rem","use":"12px"},{"name":"4","value":"1rem","use":"16px. Base"},{"name":"5","value":"1.25rem","use":"20px"},{"name":"6","value":"1.5rem","use":"24px. Comfortable"},{"name":"8","value":"2rem","use":"32px. Spacious"},{"name":"10","value":"2.5rem","use":"40px"},{"name":"12","value":"3rem","use":"48px. Section gap"},{"name":"16","value":"4rem","use":"64px. Large section"},{"name":"20","value":"5rem","use":"80px"},{"name":"24","value":"6rem","use":"96px"},{"name":"32","value":"8rem","use":"128px. Hero breathing room"}],"containers":[{"name":"narrow","value":"720px","use":"Reading / form / long-form article width"},{"name":"max","value":"1140px","use":"Standard content width"},{"name":"wide","value":"1440px","use":"Marketing hero / dashboard width"}],"grid":{"columns":12,"gutter":"24px","container":"1140px"},"breakpoints":[{"name":"sm","value":"640px","use":"Mobile portrait. Single column, stacked nav."},{"name":"md","value":"768px","use":"Tablet. Two-column where appropriate."},{"name":"lg","value":"1024px","use":"Desktop standard. Full grid in use."},{"name":"xl","value":"1280px","use":"Wide desktop. Marketing hero and dashboard surfaces."},{"name":"2xl","value":"1440px","use":"Editorial wide. Brand-book and archive layouts."}],"principles":["Use the 4-pt base scale. Avoid arbitrary pixel values inside components.","Vertical rhythm follows the type scale. Section gaps step from `space.12` (48px) on mobile to `space.16` (64px) on desktop.","Reading surfaces (article, newsletter, applicant-facing forms) use `container.narrow` (720px). Marketing and dashboard use `container.max` (1140px). Reserve `container.wide` (1440px) for hero photography and editorial spreads.","Mobile gets generous padding. Federal applicants are often on phones in transit; protect the touch targets."]},"motion":{"easing":[{"name":"default","value":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1)","use":"Standard ease. Most transitions"},{"name":"in","value":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 1, 1)","use":"Ease-in. Exits"},{"name":"out","value":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, 0.2, 1)","use":"Ease-out. Entrances"},{"name":"linear","value":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, 1, 1)","use":"Linear. Progress and continuous motion only"}],"duration":[{"name":"instant","value":"0ms","use":"No animation (reduced-motion fallback)"},{"name":"fast","value":"150ms","use":"Hover, focus, micro-interactions"},{"name":"normal","value":"300ms","use":"Standard transitions"},{"name":"slow","value":"500ms","use":"Reveals, page transitions"}],"reducedMotion":"Respect `prefers-reduced-motion: reduce`. When enabled, all `duration.fast` and `duration.normal` transitions become `duration.instant`. Entrance reveals fall back to instant opacity. Hover states still apply (they are interaction feedback, not motion)."},"imagery":{"narrative":{"eyebrow":"Brand Identity Guidelines / Photography","headline":"Less Talk, More Walk.","subhead":"Photography selection, made simpler.","body":"The following are some basic guidelines to help guide art direction decisions when planning a photo shoot, procuring stock photography, or browsing our back catalog of images."},"themes":[{"name":"Washington, DC","description":"General use for all federal-career related content."},{"name":"Classes and Conferences","description":"Training and consulting."},{"name":"Studying and Online Learning","description":"General use, publishing, and online learning."},{"name":"Families","description":"General use for all career-related content. Military families and spouses."}],"principles":["The subjects in our image selection should reflect the federal workforce population. Consider demographic factors, keywords, and composition when selecting images.","Let the picture speak for itself, but always make sure it is in conversation with surrounding content and not clashing.","Photography creates a shortcut for the audience to see themselves in the message. Choose subjects that look like the audience."],"questions":["Does this reflect our audience?","What is this image saying?","How do we want our audience to feel?"]},"subBrands":[{"slug":"ten-steps","name":"Ten Steps to a Federal Job®","role":"Curriculum + Certification Program","status":"shipped","description":"The Ten Steps shelf is one of the most prominent ways customers engage with The Resume Place, through the many book editions, training sessions, and the sheer wealth of information and opportunity associated with the brand. Familiar design elements from the previous Ten Steps brand (banners, stars, flags) are combined with new brand elements (color, logomarks) to enforce the connection between the Resume Place's legacy and its future.","motifs":[{"label":"Banners, stars, flags","description":"Legacy elements such as banners, stars, and flags are subtly utilized to invoke familiarity with the brand."},{"label":"Certification badges","description":"Badges are streamlined to be more of a solid design element that can be more easily utilized. Two tiers: Master Certified Trainer & Coach, and Certified Trainer & Coach."}]},{"slug":"ccar-builder","name":"CCAR Accomplishment Builder","role":"Proposed brand addition","status":"proposed","description":"Part of the proposed Resume Toolbox family. A simple encapsulation of the brand typography used for other familiar products and programming. The straightforward box motif around 'BUILDER' links the product back to the family of tools.","lockups":[{"label":"CCAR Builder","description":"Set in Messina Sans Condensed (CCAR) paired with Messina Serif Italic (Builder)."},{"label":"CCAR Accomplishments Builder","description":"Extended form in the same condensed-sans + serif-italic pairing."},{"label":"Resume Toolbox parent mark","description":"RESUME TOOLBOX set in the brand mono treatment as the family-of-tools wordmark."}],"typeTreatments":[{"family":"Messina Sans Condensed","use":"Allows for acronyms and long titles."},{"family":"Messina Serif Italic","use":"Connects to the federal aesthetic and to other Resume Place programs."}],"motifs":[{"label":"Toolbox = Box","description":"A straightforward box remains as the primary motif around 'BUILDER' in the extended system, linking it back to the family of tools."},{"label":"RP Monogram Badge","description":"The main Resume Place logo letters serve as a simple encapsulated circle monogram, using a sturdier version of the brand's font."}],"considerations":["Are we providing enough familiarity with our brand?","Are we providing enough distinction from our other products and/or services?","Does this feel like an intuitive growth of our brand?"]}],"applications":[{"label":"Business Identity Set","category":"print","description":"Full-color business identity system. Print specs to be added."},{"label":"Certificate","category":"print","description":"Issued for Resume Place certification programs."},{"label":"Presentation Template","category":"digital","description":"Brand-aligned presentation template for workshops, training, and agency-facing decks."}],"_provenance":{"version":1,"fields":{"foundation.name":{"source":"imported","lastEditedAt":"2026-05-27T16:17:08.168Z"},"foundation.homepageLine":{"source":"imported","lastEditedAt":"2026-05-27T16:17:08.168Z"},"foundation.descriptor":{"source":"imported","lastEditedAt":"2026-05-27T16:17:08.168Z"},"foundation.valueProposition":{"source":"imported","lastEditedAt":"2026-05-27T16:17:08.168Z"},"foundation.origin":{"source":"imported","lastEditedAt":"2026-05-27T16:17:08.168Z"},"foundation.position":{"source":"imported","lastEditedAt":"2026-05-27T16:17:08.168Z"},"foundation.tagline":{"source":"imported","lastEditedAt":"2026-05-27T16:17:08.168Z"},"foundation.elevatorPitch":{"source":"imported","lastEditedAt":"2026-05-27T16:17:08.168Z"},"audience.primary":{"source":"imported","lastEditedAt":"2026-05-27T16:17:08.168Z"}}}}