1. 2016 Arizona veterans conference
Federal Hiring
2016 Arizona veterans conference
Tuesday Afternoon FVE - CC

2. Welcome Christine Carlson Christine.Carlson@ucdenver.edu
dex.htm
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3. Agenda - AM Welcome/Introductions/Ice Breaker
Why Pursue Federal Employment?
Federal Jobs – Pay and Benefits
Veterans Employment Initiative
Barriers to Federal Jobs/Banning the Box/OF-306
Understanding the Federal Job Process
USAJobs – Creating a Profile and Researching Job Announcements
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4. Agenda - PM Analyzing Vacancy Announcements/KSAs
The Federal Resume – Creating and Submitting
Federal Interviewing
Getting the Offer
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5. Ice Breaker Name Your Table
Find one thing that everyone at your table has in common.
Stay away from physical traits if possible.
Write your table name on the placard with the marker on the table. If you don’t have a marker, borrow from an adjacent table.
Name Your Table
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6. Why Federal Employment?
Wide range of available usajobs.gov.
A comprehensive package of benefits.
A more level playing field during the selection process.
A variety of veteran preferences.
Job Opportunity Announcements provide clear explanations of the job and requirements.
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7. This just in… Executive Order 13706
Establishes paid sick leave for Federal Workers
Published Sept. 30, 2016
Requires certain employers that contract with the Federal Government to provide their employees with up to seven days of paid sick leave annually, including for family care and absences resulting from domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
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8. AZ Government Employment
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9. AZ Federal Employment
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10. Arizona Civilian Employment by Agency 2013
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11. Federal Jobs: What’s the Difference?
Resumes
Application Process
Competition
Specific agency requirements
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12. Ex-Offenders and the Fed
Being an ex-offender does not prevent someone from obtaining Federal Employment.
OPM or the hiring agency considers criminal conduct in determining suitability but there are no general prohibitions against hiring an ex-offender.
There are some regulations which will prohibit someone from working in certain positions if they have a specific conviction.
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13. Veterans Employment Initiative
Increase the employment and retention of veterans in the Federal Government.
The establishment of a Veteran’s Employment Program Office (VEPO) in each of 24 Federal agencies within the Executive Branch.
Creation of the FedsHireVets.gov website.
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14. Veterans Employment Initiative

15. Question What Agency has the highest percentage of ALL Veterans?
What Agency has the most Veterans with Preference?
How many total veteran new hires were there in 2014?
What percentage of all employees was that?
What Agency had the highest Disabled Veteran new hires?
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16. Question
What Agency has the highest percentage of ALL Veterans? Air Force – 56.9%
What Agency has the most Veterans with Preference? Defense – 271,094
How many total veteran new hires were there in 2014? 59,992
What percentage of all employees was that? 33.2%
What Agency had the highest Disabled Veteran new hires? VA – 9,996
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17. Question
What is the primary purpose of the Veterans Employment Initiative?
What is the name of the website that was created as a result of VEI?
What is the website’s purpose?
What Federal Agency has the most employees in Arizona?
Tuesday Afternoon FVE - CC

18. Question
What is the primary purpose of the Veterans Employment Initiative? Increase the employment and retention of veterans in the Federal Government.
What is the name of the website that was created as a result of VEI? FedsHireVets
What is the website’s purpose? To serve as the principal portal on Federal employment information for Veterans, transitioning service members and their families, hiring managers, and HR practitioners.
What Federal Agency has the most employees in Arizona? Department of Homeland Security.
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19. Ban the Box
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20. Declaration for Federal Employment
OF-306
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21. Comprised of 3 Distinct Services:
Federal Civil Service
Competitive Service
Excepted Service
Senior Executive Service
Comprised of 3 Distinct Services:

22. Comparison of Services
Competitive Service
Excepted Service
You compete for your job with the general public.
You can earn tenure ie: status
You cannot be easily fired
You earn raises according to a formula of time served
Open jobs must be posted online
Exceptions are made in hiring by OPM, Agency, law or Exec. Order
You cannot earn “status”
You may be hired or fired for special reasons
You earn raises according to performance
Open jobs do not have to be publically posted
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23. Question How many types of Federal Service are there? What are they?
What is the difference between Competitive Service and Excepted Service?
Who can “except” agencies?
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24. Question How many types of Federal Service are there? 3
What are they? Competitive, Excepted, Senior Executive Service
What is the difference between Competitive Service and Excepted Service? You must compete with other applicants for competitive jobs.
Who can “except” agencies? OPM and Federal law mandate what agencies can use exceptions
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25. Veterans’ Preference Facts
Does not guarantee Veterans a job, but confers preference over other applicants
Not all Veterans receive preference
Must submit form SF-15
You must have been discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions
Retirees are not included unless a you are a disabled Veteran or retired below rank equivalent of 0-4

26. Veterans’ Preference Veterans’ Preference CPS (10) CP XP TP (5)
SSP (0)
Veterans’ Preference

27.
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28. Category System Highest Qualified Well Qualified Qualified
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29. Apply Veterans’ Preference for Certificate of Eligibles
Eligibles Ranked by Quality Category Based on Review of Qualifications & Assessment Tool(s)
Identify Preference
Eligibles
Apply Veterans’ Preference
for Certificate of Eligibles
Highest-Qualified
Kathleen Dempsey
Levi Cox
Jackson Eagye(CPS)
Well-Qualified
Kirk Hamre
Anne Grady
Anne Grady (TP)
Qualified
Mark Fisher
Jackson Eagye
Tuesday Afternoon FVE - CC

30. Apply Veterans’ Preference for Certificate of Eligibles
Eligibles Ranked by Quality Category Based on Review of Qualifications & Assessment Tool(s)
Identify Preference
Eligibles
Apply Veterans’ Preference
for Certificate of Eligibles
Highest-Qualified
Kathleen Dempsey
Levi Cox
Jackson Eagye(CPS)
Well-Qualified
Kirk Hamre
Anne Grady
Anne Grady (TP)
Qualified
Mark Fisher
Jackson Eagye
Tuesday Afternoon FVE - CC

31. Apply Veterans’ Preference for Certificate of Eligibles
Eligibles Ranked by Quality Category Based on Review of Qualifications & Assessment Tool(s)
Identify Preference
Eligibles
Apply Veterans’ Preference
for Certificate of Eligibles
Highest-Qualified
Kathleen Dempsey
Levi Cox
Jackson Eagye (CPS)
Well-Qualified
Kirk Hamre
Anne Grady
Anne Grady (TP)
Qualified
Gari Helms
Jackson Eagye
Tuesday Afternoon FVE - CC

32. Question How many types of Veteran’s Preference are there?
What are they?
What three preferences are 10 pts?
What do they have in common beside 10 pt. preference?
What are the names of the three categories for ratings?
Tuesday Afternoon FVE - CC

33. Question How many types of Veteran’s Preference are there? 5
What are they? CPS, CP, XP, TP, SSP
What three preferences are 10 pts? CPS, CP, XP
What do they have in common beside 10 pt. preference? They are for disabled vets.
What are the names of the three categories for ratings? Highest Qualified, Well Qualified, Qualified
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34. Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
VRA
VEOA
30% or more disabled
VA Training Program
Schedule A
Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans *

35. Job Classifications - WG vs GS
Hourly positions with benefits
Considered blue collar jobs
Positions have steps 1-5
Wage Grade
(WG 1-15)
Salaried positions with benefits
Considered white collar Jobs
Positions have steps 1-10
General Schedule (GS 1-15)

36. Federal Wage System (FWS) Pay scales in Arizona for 2016*
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37. Question
Hourly positions in the Civil Service are often referred to as what?
How many Federal WG pay scales are in AZ?
How many steps are there in GS positions?
What is pay banding?
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38. Question
Hourly positions in the Civil Service are often referred to as what? Wage Grade (WG)
How many Federal WG pay scales are in AZ? 4
How many steps are there in GS positions? 10
What is pay banding? Grades are banded together into a wider cluster.
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39. Mil2FedJobs Maryland AJC
Helps match military jobs to a Federal Job Series
Great spot to learn about Federal Jobs *
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40. *
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47. Question Do you have to have a USAJobs account to search for a job?
What form must be submitted to apply for 10-point Veteran’s preference?
What supporting documentation must you also provide?
Where can a veteran obtain a copy of their DD-214?
Tuesday Afternoon FVE - CC

48. Question Do you have to have a USAJobs account to search for a job? No
What form must be submitted to apply for 10-point Veteran’s preference? Form SF-15, Application for 10-point Veterans’ Preference
What supporting documentation must you also provide? DD-214
Where can a veteran obtain a copy of their DD-214? National Archives Veterans’ Records Service
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53. Creating a Profile
In USAJobs
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54. Job Search
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55. Advanced Search *
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56. Job Announcements Pay attention to: Agency or Organization Mission
Duties
Specialized Experience
Qualifications
Assessment Questionnaire *
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57. Analyzing Job Announcements
Carefully Read the Announcement, especially:
Who may be considered
Qualifications and Evaluations
How to Apply and
Identify the Keywords *
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58. Exercise: Analyzing Job Announcement
Pg. 51
Maintenance Mechanic.
Answer questions on pg. 50.
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59.
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60. Private Sector vs Federal Resume
Resume written to get interview
Resumes are short and targeted
Normally have cover letters
Manager reads resume, interviews and hires
Resumes written to get the job
Resumes are long (3-5 pages), detailed and targeted
Resumes rely on KSAs
There is a questionnaire
Hiring authority picks from a list of qualified applicants
Tuesday Afternoon FVE - CC

61. Don’t let this happen to you…
Your resume did not document either the number of hours worked per week for all jobs listed, a detailed description of your duties performed, or the month/year worked for all jobs listed, as required by the vacancy announcement. Please be sure to read each announcement for complete qualification requirements and instructions on “How to Apply”.
Tuesday Afternoon FVE - CC

62. Federal Resume You will need to tailor your resume:
Paid and non-paid experience
Military Service
Volunteer Work
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63. Federal Resume You will also need to describe your: Duties
Responsibilities, and
Accomplishments
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64. What are KSAs?
Knowledges
Skills
Abilities
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65. Federal Resume Make sure to include all relevant: Education Training
Knowledges
Skills
Experience
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66. Federal Resume Before you hit Submit, review:
The job announcement one more time,
Your resume, and
Your answers to the Occupational Questionnaire.
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67. Exercise:
Read over the Safety Conversation between the DVOP and the veteran client, Tim.
On pg. 68 in your manual, or on your note pad, create three accomplishment statements that match up to three duties from the Job Opportunity Announcement.
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69. Applying for a Job
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70. Select Resume
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71. Select Documents
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72. Review Package
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73. Personal Information You can also choose not to answer.
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74. Continue Application with Agency
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75. Occupational Questionnaire Example
Indicate the extent to which you have communicated orally with various levels of employees to obtain and provide information.
A. I have had no experience in performing this task.
B. I have communicated orally with others to obtain or verify information or to provide routine information.
C. I have communicated orally with supervisors, managers, or office personnel to notify them of decisions, problems, or further actions needed, or to explain the organization's programs or services.
D. I have given short oral presentations at departmental or organizational briefings and meetings to convey information on program activities or to describe the impact of new organizational policies on operational responsibilities.
E. I have led briefings or taught courses on highly technical or complex material to audiences such as high- level managers or executives.
Occupational Questionnaire Example
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76. USAJobs Status Notifications
Four Stages:
Application Received
Application Reviewed
Referred
Selected
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78. Federal Interviewing Features
Questions are developed by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) based on job-related competencies
All candidates are asked the same questions in the same order
A panel of trained interviewers take detailed notes on the candidates responses
All responses are evaluated with the same rating scale
Interviewers agree on acceptable answers
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79. References Identify and prepare your professional references
Get permission to use someone as a reference
Contact Information
Brainstorm
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80. Getting the Offer What You Can (might be able to) Negotiate: Salary
Leave/Vacation
Your Starting Date
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81. Welcome to the Federal Government!
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82. Review Federal Employment Benefits Federal Jobs
Veterans Employment Initiative
Barriers to Employment
Understanding the Federal Job Process
Creating a USAJobs Account and Profile
Researching Job Vacancies
The Federal Resume
Federal Interviewing
Getting the Job
Tuesday Afternoon FVE - CC

83. Thank You Arizona!
Tuesday Afternoon FVE - CC