Sample Resume

Willy Cruise
34 Sharpless Blvd, Westampton, NJ 08060 (609) 309-2553
Profile
Highly experienced Lead Legal Assistant with a wide variety of administrative, organizational, and communication skills.
Professional and positive attitude, skilled in personal interactions, comfortable working in fast-paced environment.
Extensive analytical and research skills.  
Education



Doctor of Public Administration (DPA)               Graduation: Expected 2017
Capella University, Minneapolis, MN
Major: Public Administration

Courses Include:

Collaboration, Communication, and Case Analysis for Doctoral Learners
Theories of Leadership and Public Administration
Principles of Organization Theories and Practice


Masters of Public Administration (MPA)                Graduation: June 2014
Strayer University, Trevose, PA
Major: Public Administration

Courses Include:

Managerial Economics & Globalization
Modern Public Administration  Politics, Policy and Ethics in the Public Sector
Leadership and Conflict Resolution Constitutional and Admin Law
Public Personnel Management Information Systems for Decision-Making
Research Methods and Strategic Communication
Statistics
Quantitative Methods
Public Policy Analysis & Planning
Public Budgeting and Finance  Thesis (completed)

Bachelor of Arts in Communication            Graduation: December 2010 Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey
Major:  Communication Studies    (specialized in interpersonal/organizational skills)                                                    
GPA: 3.5/4.0

Courses Include:

Introduction to Communications
Communication Theory
Small Group Communication
Interpersonal Communication
Mass Media and their influences
Communication studies research methods
Introduction to advertising
Public speaking

Associate of Arts Degree May 2008
Burlington County College, Pemberton, New Jersey
Major:  American Sign Language Interpreting Program
GPA: 3.6/4.0


Activities:

Member of Golden Key International Honor Society-Strayer University-2012
Alumni President-Burlington County College-2011 to Present
Member of Golden Key International Honor Society- Rowan University-2010 Alumni Board Member- Burlington County College  2008 to present
VP of Public Relations, Sigma Alpha Lambda-Honor Society  2009
President, Phi Theta Kappa-International Honor Society-BCC-2008
President, American Sign Language Club, BCC-2006/2008
Senator, Student Government Association (SGA)  BCC-2006/2008
Employment
Lead Case Technician
Social security Administration
Office of Disability Adjudication & Review      March 2011  Present Pennsauken, NJ
Full-time-40 hour workweek


Lead a group of 16 employees by monitoring and balancing their daily/weekly workload.
Make necessary adjustments to accomplish timely case processing.
Ensure that the work is moving promptly and in date order (First In First Out-FIFO)
Work with group members to identify and prevent backlogs.
Prepare regular progress reports with regard to workload, workflow and specific data on case backlog for the group.
Serves as liaison with District Offices, claimants, representatives, Congressional offices, other government agencies and government officials regarding status of pending cases.
Monitor timeframes regarding aged cases and processing times.  Ensures that a critical/dire need case receives priority handling and are processed expeditiously.
Provide and/or arrange for appropriate training for employees within the group and for the group as an entity.
My position requires a depth of regulatory, procedural, and program related knowledge to examine legal, medical and associated supporting documents in order to accurately and timely process hearing requests, which arise out of the substantive provisions of Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act, as amended, and its implementing regulations, rules and policy.  I also seek and implement ways to eliminate and/or reduce bottlenecks and barriers to production and increase the quality of work production.
Coordinator over video conferencing for claimants that have been incarcerated while their case is pending in our office.  I coordinate dates and times with the prisons to accommodate the ALJs schedule.  I also have to coordinate connection between our office and the prison by sending a request to a third party to connect the two offices via video.  If any problems occur, I am responsible for a resolution.  Once the video conference is set up, I input this information into our case processing and management system and send out the notice of the hearing to the prison and the prisoner.
Serve as the liaison between our office and all southern New Jersey Congressmans offices.  I provide updates to the pending processing of their constituents who have applied for disability.   I resolve any problems that may surface.    
Oversee the preparation of comprehensive weekly status reports to brief the director and supervisors on the overall condition of the work completed or in-progress and outline potential problems, new issues and planned course of action.  The data captured and reported might support recommendations to change Agency policies and procedures.
Participate in conferences, meetings, workgroups, etc., to design, develop new technological methods, practices and procedures and/or resolve operating issues and/or performance deficiencies.
On a rotational basis, I work directly for the Director of the office on special projects requested by our Regional Office.  This requires my analytical and communication skills.  All projects are completed timely and accurately to meet the demands of our office and region.
I have been serving as the union representative in my office and throughout SSA region for 19 years. I am skilled in effective communication in which I hold a Bachelor degree.  As a union representative, I am able to use my negotiation skills/techniques, which have benefited employees, their representatives and the agency.  My goal is to reach an agreement that all parties can live with so a formal EEO complaint is not filed.  Being conscientious of this fact has saved the agency thousands of dollars.   Due to my ability to resolve conflict, I was asked by Social Security Administration to become an EEO counselor for the region.
As an EEO Counselor, I have perfected my negotiation skills to resolve EEO complaints at the initial filing through "Alternative Dispute Resolution" (ADR).  I conduct inquiries into the facts and circumstances surrounding the allegation.  As an objective negotiator, I listen to all parties; I can often find the source of the problem and attempt to bring about an early resolution. My reputation as an effective union representative and EEO counselor was bought to the attention of the Commissioner of Social Security Administration.
I was appointed by the Commissioner of Social Security Administration to serve on a workgroup initiative to create a legal contract and training materials for newly appointed verbatim hearing reporters that assist Administrative Law Judges in the courtroom.


Legal Assistant
Social Security Administration
Office of Disability Adjudication & Review   October 2001  March 2011
Voorhees, NJ
Full-time-40 hour workweek

Function as a legal assistant in the ODAR office for four Administrative Law Judges as well as support staff to four attorneys and four paralegal specialists.

Develop and process request for hearing cases from its receipt in the office to its completion, independently performing a wide range of case development actions.  Assignments consist of processing more complex hearing cases in which analysis of pertinent issues and interpretation of the provisions of the laws, regulations, rulings, precedents, policies, procedures and guidelines relative to the cases is necessary.
Reviews and analyzes cases to ensure sufficiency of evidence or documentation, and to ensure that the case is ready for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.  
Handle confidential/sensitive information
Identify discrepancies and/or deficiencies in a case file and resolves by obtaining information, documentation and other pertinent data required to process a case.
Based on a thorough knowledge of the disability program, selects pertinent exhibits to be included in the case record.  Marks exhibits in preparation of the case.
Summarizes pertinent and factual data extracted from a claim file describing development taken to determine whether a request for hearing should be dismissed as untimely or as not meeting sufficient legal and regulatory requirements.  Drafts dismissal, if appropriate.
Compose complex and/or technical correspondence to Members of Congress, claimants, attorneys, lay representatives and various offices of SSA relating to a wide variety of matters, releasing correspondence without review.
Communicates daily, either in a face-to-face situation or by telephone, with claimants who may be ill, upset or resentful of the Administrations processing of or denial of claim, and explain the Social Security law and process so as to alleviate the claimants distress.
Provides quasi-legal assistance to the ALJ and is recognized as the Agencys representative in defining the legal process and decorum to the claimant, attorney/lay representative and other participants in the hearing.
Performs a wide range of actions in support of post-hearing case development, including composing correspondence to request medical reports from physicians, hospitals, claimants, representatives, etc., and to prepare responses to written inquiries on cases.  Maintains a follow-up system to ensure receipt of requested records.
Examines fee petitions received from attorneys/lay representative for proper documentation.  Analyzes time spent by the attorney/lay representative and complexity of case and recommends appropriate authorized fees.  Examines fee agreements received from representative3s for proper criteria before presentation to the ALJ for approval.  Ensures that fee agreements meet all conditions for approval relating to fee setting, authenticity of attorney on the case, and legal guardian status.  
As needed, monitors hearings. Sets up hearing room and recording equipment, ensuring that the equipment functions properly throughout the hearing.
Ability to prioritize and multi-task.
Performs other duties as assigned.


Hearing Office Clerk (OA)
Social Security Administration    
Office of Hearings & Appeals March 1993-September 2001
Voorhees, NJ
Full-time-40 hour workweek


Direct contact with claimants and attorneys explaining the hearing process.
Answered all questions from claimants and their attorneys in connection with their disability claim.
Responsible for typing and releasing hearing decisions.
Set up hearing recording equipment, monitored hearing and took extensive notes concerning the hearing.
Develop, review and document any additional information that is received pre/post of the hearing.
Interpret and implement procedural and/or regulatory material pertaining to all claims.  
Evaluated applications for recruitment of employment with SSA
Performed other duties as assigned.


Office Automation Clerk
Dept of Health & Human Services
Personnel Office
3535 Market Street, Rm 11350 September 1992-March 1993
Philadelphia, PA 19101
Full-time-40 hour workweek


Received telephone calls, visitors and answered questions of a non-technical nature referring others to personnel specialists.
Responsible for typing and organizing a variety of materials in final form from handwritten notes or other documents.
Routinely corrected spelling and grammar errors to improve clarity and to ensure compliance with regional correspondence rules.
Maintained time cards/logs for 11 employees.
Responsible for keying in performance awards/special act awards into the personnel system.
Responsible for ordering supplies and resolve any problems with payment authorizations. Return inoperable items for full refund from supply companies.  Kept a systematic record of all receipts and expenditures.  Responsible for keeping the supply account balanced. Account for all monies credited and debited from account.
Performed other duties as assigned.


Personnel Assistant  
General Services Administration  
Personnel Office January 1989 September 1992
Chicago, IL
      Full-time-40 hour workweek


Set up and maintained the employees official personnel files and medical files.
Reviewed the official personnel files received from the record center or another federal agency in accordance with Federal Personnel Manuals.
Prepared official personnel files for transfer to other agencies or to the National Personnel Records Center, assuring that the leave records, medical records and performance records were attached.
Processed a variety of personnel actions such as promotions, changes to lower grades, position changes, conversions, corrections, resignations and retirements.
Examined carefully the standard form 52 and verified all information against the employees official personnel file to determine conformance with laws, Office of Personnel Management regulations and administrative policies and procedures, taking any discrepancies to staffing or servicing office.
As a retirement counselor, I counseled and advised employees on all aspects for retirement under the Civil Service and Federal Employees Retirement System.
Provided employees with the necessary information needed relating to voluntary, involuntary and disability retirement.
Provided information regarding deposits and re-deposits of retirement refunds.
Provided eligible employees with estimates on their retirement annuity.
Reviewed retirement packages received to ensure completeness of all necessary forms to avoid any delays in the processing retirement request.
Responsible for ordering supplies and ensuring payment. Resolved all discrepancies regarding checks written for supplies.  Responsible for balancing supply account. Monitoring all monies debited and credited to account.