Slide 1

Certified Federal Job Search TrainerLoyola College, Columbia, MD

April 11, 12, 13, 2007

Kathryn K. Troutman, InstructorHouse Rules:

Bathrooms – down the hall through the doors

Snack Room - downstairs

Participate – ask questions

GET INSPIRED!

Why go Federal?

THE GOVERNMENT IS HIRING!

TOP HIRING AGENCIES FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS:

Department of Defense: 87,453 new employeesVeteran’s Administration: 26,088

Department of Homeland Security: 23,204

STEP 1: Networking

STEP 2: Review the Federal Job Process

STEP 3: Find Federal Vacancy Announcements

STEP 4: Core Competencies

STEP 5: Find Keywords in Vacancy Announcements

STEP 6: Write your Federal Resume

STEP 7: Write KSAs & Cover Letter

STEP 8: Apply for Federal Jobs

STEP 9: Track & Follow-up

STEP 10: Interviewing

Embarking on a Career Campaign

Accomplishment Freewriting

New Training Programs Improved, Efficient Operations Outstanding Customer Service

Mission Management Teamwork

Emergency PlanningSaved Money

A Big Problem is Solved

Page 8

Accomplishment Freewriting

Why are accomplishments so important?

• To remember and document your ideas and actions • To gain confidence • To show that you have completed many projects that are

difficult and worthwhile• To give specific examples of your ideas and actions• To stand out above competitors

Networking

Other people are often the best source of basic information and insider tips.

Networking – Who do you know?

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Networking

Who do you know?

How can they help you?

What connections do you need to make?


Handout activity

Explore Special Hiring Preferences

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/

Ref 5 CFR 315.608

VRA, Veteran’s Reemployment Act allows for some direct hires!

Military Spouse Preference, Spouses rank higher than Vets only overseas.


What can you learn at a Job Fair?

New federal job listings

Changing agencies

About the federal agency or office mission

Insight about the jobs


Page 15

What can you learn at a Job Fair?


Veterans can get HIRED

VEOA is a hiring authority that is frequently used for DIRECT HIRE at job Fairs

Corporate Gray Job Fairs

http://www.fedjobs.com/chat/jobfairs.html

Write your Job Fair Script and Resume

Write your script

Practice your script

Be convincing

Be friendly and speak clearly

Focus resume toward two to three jobs

Easy to read, one or two pages


Page 15

Review the Federal Job Process

AgenciesJob Titles

Grade and salary


Page 20

Federal Job Target Worksheet

Target Agencies

Target Job Titles and Series

Target Grade and Salary


Page 21

What are your target agencies?

Choosing 2 or 3 agencies helps you:

Learn “How to Apply”

Learn agency missions


Pages 22 to 26

What job titles are correct for you?

Learn About Occupational Groups and Series

Sample Series:

GS 000 – Misc positions - includes US Marshall and Police OfficerGS 100 – Social Science - Intelligence jobsGS 200 – Personnel Management, including Military Personnel GS 300 – General Administrative, including Secretary, Clerical

Management and Program Analyst – popular analyst positions in government


Pages 28 to 35

What grade level and salary is right for your experience?

How to determine your grade with education only:

GS-4 – Two years above high school (or AA Degree)GS-5 – Based on Bachelor’s DegreeGS-7 – One full year of graduate study or Bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievementGS-9 – Master’s degree or equivalentGS-11 – Ph.D.


Pages 36 and 37

What grade level and salary is right for

your military experience?


Research Federal Vacancy Announcements

Page 44

Research Vacancy Announcements for Jobs

Critical Announcement Features

Follow the Directions!

Read the announcements!Title of job, grade and geographic location

Closing DateKnowledge, Skills and Abilities

DutiesQualificationsHow to apply


Page 45

Practice finding key elements in these four vacancy announcements.


Pages 46 to 50

USAJOBS

www.usajobs.gov

Best search system: 1. Geographic area preference

2. Salary/grade level3. All Agencies

4. All jobs in this area


Federal Core Competencies

Analyze Federal Core Competencies

Page 52

Core Competencies are your value-added skills.


Veteran’s Administration Competencies

Interpersonal EffectivenessCustomer ServiceFlexibility/AdaptabilityCreative ThinkingSystems Thinking

U.S. Marine Corps Competencies

Support deployment requirementsMeet and anticipate trainingShape land, sea and airspace trainingSupport Force protectionProvide effective command and control

Pages 53 to 57

What are your Core Competencies?


Page 55

Select five or ten core competencies from the book, or try to think of your own!

Finding KEYWORDS in your Vacancy Announcements

The most successful writing style is to write about your experiences using the language

of the target jobs.

Analyze Vacancy Announcements for Keywords

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Why is it important to find keywords?

Keywords are important for DOD resume recruitment systems.

Between 5 and 7 keywords and skills are usually critical.

Keywords can result in Referrals, Selections and Interviews.

Utilizing correct keywords and language can GREATLY increase success.



What are keywords?

Nouns, proper names, verbs

Nouns are most popular, i.e., trainer, facilitator, project manager, team leader, supervisor,

negotiator, contract specialist

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Techniques to find Keywords

Break out a highlighter.

Research two to five announcements for keywords and skills.

Copy and paste vacancy into a word document and break it down.

www.usajobs.gov/



Can you find more keywords?

Analyze the example in the book to see which keywords the authors may have neglected.

Pages 60 to 61

Write your Federal and Electronic Resume

Your Federal Resume is your Job Application, Job Examination, and sometimes the job interview.

Write Your Federal and Electronic Resume

Page 64

Get to know Federal resumes:


Spouse Spouse

Active Duty Active Duty

Pages 65 to 77

Once you have written your federal resume, you are 80% ready to apply to

any federal job.

Two federal resume formats:

Paper formatting for faxing and mailing

Electronic resume for copying and pasting


Page 64

Getting Started on your Resume

EPRs/OPRs

Awards packages

Transcripts

(VMET) Verification of Military Experience and Training

https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/vmet/index.jsp


Federal Resume Outline

Summary – quick reference, top qualitiesEmployment history – Title of Job, 5 key

skills, Accomplishments (at least 1) Education – including professional

developmentAwards – Honors, ribbons, ect.


Federal Resume Database Systemhttp://resumedb.resume-place.com/ffsc

Username: fleetandfamily

Password: getajob


Federal resume facts:

2-5 pages

Includes compliance details: SSN, Citizenship,

employer's addresses, supervisors and salaries for 10 years, education information,

plus city, state and zip.


Page 80

Federal resume tip:

Use More Nouns!

Use more nouns and titles in your text:

WRITER, EDITOR, MECHANIC, FACILITATOR SUPERVISOR, TEAM LEADER, COUNSELOR, COORDINATOR, DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR


Electronic Federal resume tips:

No Formatting

No bold, italics, bullets, underlines

Flush left, ragged right

Small paragraphs (6-8 lines)

Use ALL CAPS to highlight


Page 82

Write your KSAs and Cover Letter

Write your KSAs & Cover Letter

This is your opportunity to expand on your best experiences and skills.

Page 84

KSAs have many names

Part two of many Federal applications will require Questions, Answers, Essays,

Examples, and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities narratives


Page 85

Definition of a KSA

Knowledge: An organized body of information, usually of a factual or procedural nature, which, if applied, makes adequate performance on the job possible.

Skills: The proficient manual, verbal, or mental manipulation of data, people, or things. Observable, quantifiable, measurable.

Abilities: The power to perform an activity at the present time. Implied is a lack of discernible barriers, either physical or mental, to performing the activity.


Page 85

Importance of a KSA

KSAs are Rated and Ranked

Scores can be 5-3-1, depending on your answers. 5 is the highest score!

KSAs can prove your performance based on past experience!


Page 87

CCAR Formula – Story-telling style

Context – What was the situation?Challenge – What were the challenges?

Actions – What were your actions?Results – What were the results?


Page 88


Rules for KSAs

Give one good example per KSAUse a different example if possible for each KSA

Typical length is half to two-thirds of a pagePack in the information; edit the text

Page 86


Rules for KSAs

Page 86

Write in the first person “I”Spell out acronyms

Quantify your results and accomplishmentsUse examples from all parts of your life

Proofread

Find examples of KSAs on the On-line FedRes Database!http://resumedb.resume-place.com/ffscNavy FFSC Username: fleetandfamily

Navy FFSC Password: getajob

Apply for Jobs and Submit Your Resume

“Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.”

-George Washington

Apply for Federal Jobs and Submit Your Resume

Page 102


Pages 104 to 106

More than 50 ways to apply for a Federal job!


Quickhire, Avue and USA StaffingEPA, USGS, Library of Congress,

GSA, Border Patrol

Electronic Resume, Occupational, and Task Questions


Internal agency system - several Homeland Security agencies, CIA, NSA

Resume Only with Application Questions


Optional Form OF - 612 is still accepted by a few agencies, but not recommended

SF-171 - eliminated in 1995

Not recommended ever.

Other ways to apply


I have no education in this taskI have had education, but I have not performed this task

I have performed this task with close supervisionI have performed this task independently.

I have supervised this task, trained others and am consulted by others as an expert.

QuickHire and Other Self-AssessmentsAre you a 5?

Page 108

Tracking and Following-up on Applications

Track and Follow-up on Applications

Page 114

Follow-up techniques

Call and leave voicemailWrite emails

Fax distinctive faxes to get information on applications


Page 115

Practice the Voicemail Script!


Page 116

Follow-up online


Page 117

Follow-up online


Page 118

Follow-up online


Page 119

Interviewing for a Federal Job

It takes practice, research and preparation for a successful job interview.

Interview for a Federal Job

Page 120

Be prepared!

Many people make the CERT list, but don't get hired because they can't talk about their

experiences well enough.


Page 121

Types of Interviews

Telephone

Individual

Group/Panel


Page 122

Practice your accomplishments for the Behavior-Based Interview!

Job-RelatedOpen EndedBehavioral-BasedSkill and Competency Based


Page 124

Get hired!

Physical presenceEye contact, professionalism, clear speakingSmile, have enthusiasm, demonstrate interest


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