1 PPT: Part 1 of 3

Federal Hiring Programs and Preferences for Veterans Veterans Recruitment Appointments (VRA) – Up to GS-11 or equivalent – Veterans are hired under excepted appointments to positions that are otherwise in the competitive service 30% or More Disabled Veterans – May be appointed to any position for which he or she is qualified, without competition Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) – Gives eligible veterans access to jobs otherwise available only to status employees STEP 1: REVIEW THE FEDERAL JOB PROCESS

Federal Hiring Programs and Preferences for Military Family Members Military Spouse Employment Preference (MSP) – Gives priority to military spouses relocating as a result of of a military member’s PCS Noncompetitive Appointment of Certain Military Spouses – Qualified military spouses maybe hired without going through competitive process DoD Military Spouse Preference Program (PPP) Program S – PPP provides hiring preferences for DoD job vacancies – Spouses of active duty military on PCS who have never worked for the federal government can register for PPP STEP 1: REVIEW THE FEDERAL JOB PROCESS

Federal Hiring Programs and Preferences Pathways – For those in school or recently graduated – Includes internships and a recent graduate program – First Pathways vacancy announcement was posted July 2012 Schedule A Hiring Program – For individuals with disabilities, including veterans with 10-point preference – May apply for non-competitive appointment with a certification letter STEP 1: REVIEW THE FEDERAL JOB PROCESS

Proof of Creditable Service (In Lieu of DD214) Print Proof of Service Letter – vMPF, click Self-Service Actions, click Personal Data, click Proof of Service letter Add sentence signed by Commander (w/full sig block) – "I certify that RANK FULL NAME is separating (or retiring) under honorable (or general) conditions as of FULL DATE and will begin terminal leave on FULL DATE." Valid only within 120 days of discharge/release from active duty. (Some agencies may not accept if signed earlier than 120 days or discharge/release.) STEP 1: REVIEW THE FEDERAL JOB PROCESS

Federal Hiring Programs and Preferences Direct Hire – Jobs are not required to be posted online – The Rule of Three, Veteran's Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to the Direct Hire process. (Under Office of Personnel Management Direct Hire Authority authorized by Part 337, Subpart B, Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations (5 CFR)) STEP 1: REVIEW THE FEDERAL JOB PROCESS

Excepted Service Agencies Do not have to post on USAJOBS STEP 3: RESEARCH VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS ON USAJOBS

Excepted Service Agencies Do not have to post on USAJOBS

Grade and Salary

Grade Level Based Upon Experience Your resume MUST highlight at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower level. STEP 1: REVIEW THE FEDERAL JOB PROCESS

Analyze Your Core Competencies What are the value-added competencies you can offer a supervisor? 11 ANALYZE YOUR CORE COMPETENCIES

Are These Core Competencies In Your Federal Resume? Hard skills can make a difference in your resume! Program Management Quality Assurance Business Administration Customer Service 12 ANALYZE YOUR CORE COMPETENCIES

OPM Occupational Series ALL positions are given an occupational series: Determine your occupational series and write your resume to match that job title R ead more: OPM Occupational Series 13 ANALYZE YOUR CORE COMPETENCIES

Write Your Outline Format Federal Resume Conquer the most challenging step by understanding the Outline Format for your resume 14 WRITE YOUR OUTLINE FORMAT FEDERAL RESUME

Private Industry and TAP vs. Federal Resume 15 WRITE YOUR OUTLINE FORMAT FEDERAL RESUME

Don’t Use Just One Resume! Do not write one federal resume and use it to apply for all positions. Do not just submit your TAP resume as your federal resume. Do not upload your resume into USAJOBS. Use the resume builder instead. 16 WRITE YOUR OUTLINE FORMAT FEDERAL RESUME

Outline Format Federal Resume Is Easy to Read Use small paragraphs for readability. ALL CAPS keywords should match the keywords in the announcement. Add accomplishments Copy and paste into USAJOBS 17 WRITE YOUR OUTLINE FORMAT FEDERAL RESUME

Federal Resume Outline Format – Federal Job 18 WRITE YOUR OUTLINE FORMAT FEDERAL RESUME

Outline Format Private Industry Job 19 WRITE YOUR OUTLINE FORMAT FEDERAL RESUME

What Do Supervisors Consider When Making Selections? * 20 Source: MSPB’s “The Federal Selection Interview: Unrealized Potential,” February 2003 WRITE YOUR OUTLINE FORMAT FEDERAL RESUME

Research Vacancy Announcements on USAJOBS 21 RESEARCH VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS ON USAJOBS

Learn How to Search USAJOBS Easiest search – keyword and/or geographic location: 22 RESEARCH VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS ON USAJOBS

Filtering Your Search Results Veterans and Current Federal Employees can check this box in upper left corner of screen to see more jobs. Additional filters: location, pay, or occupation 23 RESEARCH VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS ON USAJOBS

Critical Announcement Features Important sections in the federal vacancy announcement: Agency Name Title of Job, Grade, and Geographic Location Closing Date Who Can Apply Duties Qualifications and Specialized Experience Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Questionnaire How to apply or the APPLY NOW link 24 RESEARCH VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS ON USAJOBS

Sample Announcement View additional examples on 25

Analyze Vacancy Announcements for Keywords Find Keywords in Duties, Specialized Experience, Qualifications, Questionnaires, and KSAs 26 ANALYZE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR KEYWORDS

Analyze Announcements for Keywords For Your Outline Format Resume Stand out with keywords Keywords can result in referrals, selections, and interviews HR specialists read for keywords Use at least 5-7 keywords, more is better 27 ANALYZE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR KEYWORDS

Where to Find Keywords Vacancy announcements – Duties and Qualifications sections – KSAs and Quality Ranking Factors – Specialized Experience section – Questionnaires OPM Classification Standards Organization mission Core competencies 28 ANALYZE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR KEYWORDS

Keywords from a Mission Statement 29 ANALYZE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR KEYWORDS

Keywords from Duties and Qualifications Sections of the Vacancy Announcement 30 ANALYZE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR KEYWORDS

Keywords from the Specialized Experience Section 31 ANALYZE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR KEYWORDS

Keywords from a Questionnaire 32 ANALYZE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR KEYWORDS

Keywords from OPM Classification Standards 33 ANALYZE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR KEYWORDS FIND ON: qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

Step 7: KSAs in the Federal Resume and Assessment Questionnaires 34 KSAS AND ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRES

Example: KSAs in the Resume 35 KSAS AND ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRES

Example: KSAs in the Questionnaire Multiple Choice Questions 36 KSAS AND ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRES

Example: KSAs in the Questionnaire 37 KSAS AND ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRES

CCAR Format Prepare at least 5 accomplishments that in the CCAR format Used for: – Resume – Interview 38 KSAS AND ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRES

Track and Follow Up on Your Applications How You Will Be Evaluated Category Rating 39 TRACK AND FOLLOW UP ON YOUR APPLICATIONS

40 How People Are Hired: The Competitive Process 40 Identify Job and AssessmentsRecruit and Announce JobAccept and Review ApplicationsAssess ApplicantsCertify Eligibles Select TRACK AND FOLLOW UP ON YOUR APPLICATIONS

How Long Does It Take to Fill a Federal Job? Goal for Filling Federal Jobs: 90 to 120 days from the Date of Posting Job Announcement 41 TRACK AND FOLLOW UP ON YOUR APPLICATIONS

How You Will Be Evaluated: Your resume will go into one of three buckets Best Qualified – This is the only group that will get Referred to the Supervisor. Well-Qualified – not referred Qualified – not referred “If you’re not in the top bucket, you’re not in the game!” – Kathryn Troutman STEP 9: TRACK AND FOLLOW UP ON YOUR APPLICATIONS

How Veterans Preference is Applied: First, applicants are rated STEP 9: TRACK AND FOLLOW UP ON YOUR APPLICATIONS StatusRating AnneNon-vetBest CoryNon-disabled vetGood AidaNon-vetGood DomDisabled vetGood SheilaNon-disabled vetBetter ChrisNon-disabled vetBest MarioNon-vetBest BettyNon-vetBetter SuzieNon-vetGood

StatusRatingPreferenceBucket DomDisabled vetGoodCPBest Qualified ChrisNon-disabled vetBestTPBest Qualified AnneNon-vetBestBest Qualified MarioNon-vetBestBest Qualified SheilaNon-disabled vetBetterTPWell Qualified BettyNon-vetBetterWell Qualified CoryNon-disabled vetGoodTPQualified SuzieNon-vetGoodQualified AidaNon-vetGoodQualified How Veterans’ Preference Is Applied: Final Order of Applicants CP rises to the top even though rating was good, not best. STEP 9: TRACK AND FOLLOW UP ON YOUR APPLICATIONS

Follow Up Online – USAJOBS 45 STEP 9: TRACK AND FOLLOW UP ON YOUR APPLICATIONS

Why Was Your Resume Not Best Qualified? Your questionnaire answers may not have been at the highest level You checked off an answer in the questionnaire that made you ineligible Your resume did not show minimum qualifications (education or experience required) Your resume did not match the questionnaire Your resume did not match the specialized experience TRACK AND FOLLOW UP ON YOUR APPLICATIONS

Interview for a Federal Job “It takes practice, research, and preparation for a successful job interview.” The Federal Job Interview is a Test 47 INTERVIEW FOR A FEDERAL JOB

The Federal Job Interview Is a Test – Be Prepared, Practice Be prepared with examples of accomplishments that will prove your past performance. Use your list of accomplishments to help you remember all the wonderful things you’ve accomplished! Do practice runs with a friend or transition counselor. INTERVIEW FOR A FEDERAL JOB

Questions?