1. Your Pursuit for Federal Employment
Based on 10 Steps to a Federal Job by Kathlryn Troutman
Navigating the federal job system for transitioning military members, spouses, veterans, and civil service employees

2. A&FRC Marketing Breaks Bathrooms Smoking Areas Cell Phones
Welcome & Administrative Notes
A&FRC Marketing
Breaks
Bathrooms
Smoking Areas
Cell Phones
Emergency Exits
SIP

3. Pre-Assessment
Please complete the Pre-Assessment. At the end of the briefing you will complete the Post Assessment and the correct responses will be provided.
The A&FRC uses this Pre & Post Assessment to ensure you have met the learning objectives we have outlined to be covered during today’s presentations.
The additional questions at the end of the Post Assessment are used for the purpose of meeting your needs and customer services demographics.
Thank You for your assistance in improving our programs and services.

4. What Are the Steps to a Federal Job®?
Review Job Search Process
Network – Who Do You Know?
Research Vacancy Announcements on USAJOBS
Analyze Your Core Competencies
Analyze Vacancy Announcements for Keywords

5. What Are the Steps to a Federal Job®?
Write Your Outline Format and Paper Format Federal Resume
KSAs in Your Federal Resume and Assessment Questionnaires
Apply for Jobs with USAJOBS
Track and Follow Up
Interview for a Federal Job

6. Why Go Federal? Serve the public interest Benefits are great
Health & life insurance
Retirement
Vacation & sick leave
Pay is competitive
Stable employment
Great workplace flexibility programs (e.g., telework, alternative work schedule)

7. Review the Federal Job Process
Agencies Job Titles Grade and Salary
Hiring Preference

8. What Are Your Target Agencies?
View entire list at
U.S. Government Departments and Agencies
Choose 2 or 3 agencies to get started
Learn their application process
Learn agency missions

9. What IS Your Target Occupation?
Occupational Groups and Series
Classification Standards for
White Collar Work
GS 000 – Misc positions - includes US Marshal and Police Officer
GS 100 – Social Science - Intelligence jobs
GS 200 – Personnel Management, including Military Personnel
GS 300 – General Administrative, including Secretary, Clerical, Management and Program Analyst – popular analyst positions
GS 400 – Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Group
GS 500 – Accounting and Budget Group
Occupational Groups & Series
FASCLASS

10. Occupational Groups & Series
Occupational Groups and Series
Classification Standards for
White Collar Work
GS 600 – Medical, Hospital, Dental, and Public Health Group
GS 700 – Veterinary Medical Science Group
GS 800 – Engineering and Architecture
GS 900 – Legal and Kindred Group
GS 1000 – Information and Arts Group
GS 1100 – Business and Industry Group
GS 1200 – Copyright, Patent, and Trademark Group
GS 1300 – Physical Sciences Group
Occupational Groups & Series
FASCLASS

11. Trades, Craft, and Labor Positions
2500 Wire Communications Equipment Installation and Maintenance Group
2600 Electronic Equipment Installation and Maintenance Group
2800 Electrical Installation and Maintenance Group
3100 Fabric and Leather Work Group
3300 Instrument Work Group
3400 Machine Tool Work Group
3500 General Services and Support Work Group
3600 Structural and Finishing Work Group
3700 Metal Processing Group
3800 Metal Work Group
3900 Motion Picture, Radio, Television, Sound Equipment Operation Group

12. Trades, Craft, and Labor Positions
4100 Painting and Paperhanging Group
4200 Plumbing and Pipefitting Group
4300 Pliable Materials Work Group
4400 Printing Group
4600 Wood Work Group
4700 General Maintenance and Operations Work Group
4800 General Equipment Maintenance Group
5000 Plant and Animal Work Group
5200 Miscellaneous Occupations Group
5300 Industrial Equipment Maintenance Group
5400 Industrial Equipment Operation Group
5700 Transportation/Mobile Equipment Operation Group

13. What Grade Level and Salary Is Right for Your Experience and Education?
GS Schedule

14. Some Agencies Use Pay Bands for Salaries Instead of the GS Schedule (Varies By Agency)

15. How to determine your grade by education ONLY
GS-4 – Two years above high school (or AA Degree)
GS-5 – Based on Bachelor’s Degree
GS-7 – One full year of graduate study
GS-9 – Master’s degree or equivalent
GS-11 – Ph.D.

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

17. 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

18. Federal Hiring Programs and Preferences for Military Family Members
Military Spouse Employment Preference (MSP)
Gives priority to military spouses relocating as a result 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
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

19. Network ̶ Who Do You Know?
“Your Network is your Net Worth”
Who Do You Know and Why Is It Important?

20. Networking – Who Do You Know?
Other people, especially current and former Federal employees, are the best source of basic information and insider tips.
Who do you know?
Can they hire you now?
If not, how can they help you?
What connections do you need to make?

21. LinkedIn Social Networking – Are You LinkedIn?
Business people and HR managers use LinkedIn to check out potential job candidates.
People with more than 20 connections are 34 times more likely to be approached with a job opportunity.
Social Networking – Are You LinkedIn?
LinkedIn

22. Research Vacancy Announcements on USAJOBS
Critical Vacancy Announcement Features
Sample Vacancy Announcements

23. More than 20,000 jobs are posted everyday!

24. Excepted Service Agencies Do not have to post on USAJOBS

25. Excepted Service Agencies Do not have to post on USAJOBS

26. Learn How to Search USAJOBS by Keyword and Geographic Location
Easiest search – USAJOBS home page:
Enter keyword and geographic location
Try to use keyword specific to your unique skill set or the correct job title in “quotation marks”
Learn How to Search USAJOBS by Keyword and Geographic Location

27. Learn How to use advanced Search
What occupational family does your targeted job fall under? You may be qualified for more than one job title.
Search by occupational family by entering the first two numbers of the family.
Also, search by location, pay grade, agency, etc.
Learn How to use advanced Search

28. 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

29. Analyze Your Core Competencies
What are the value-added competencies you can offer a supervisor?

30. One Year Specialized Experience
If you have applied for a federal job and were found “Not Qualified,” it is because your resume does not highlight the one year specialized experience.

31. Are These Core Competencies In Your Federal Resume?
Attention to Detail
Reading Comprehension
Interpersonal Skills
Teamwork
Self-Management
Decision-Making
Customer Service
Accountability
Core Competencies

32. Analyze Vacancy Announcements for Keywords
Find Keywords in Duties, Specialized Experience, Qualifications, Questionnaires, and KSAs

33. 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

34. USAJOBS 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
USAJOBS

35. Keywords from a Mission Statement

36. Keywords from Duties and Qualifications Sections of the Vacancy Announcement

37. Keywords from OPM Classification Standards

38. Keywords from the Specialized Experience Section

39. Keywords from a Questionnaire

40. Write Your Outline Format Federal Resume
Conquer the most challenging step by understanding the Outline Format for your resume

41. 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.

42. Private Industry and TAP vs. Federal Resume

43. 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
Copies and pastes into USAJOBS

44. Before Federal Resume Big Block – Hard to Read

45. Before Federal Resume Bullets – Too Short

46. After Veterans Federal Resume Outline Format

47. Accomplishment Freewriting:
Negotiated a contract
Improved filing system
Trained a new employee
Calculated budget
Installed equipment
Collaborated with different agency/company
Improved performance
Answered customer requests
Mentored others
Supervised others
Lowered costs
Presented briefing
Purchased supplies
Wrote report
Monitored programs
Team member
Dealt with difficult problem
Launched program

48. Why Are Accomplishments So Important in Your Resume and Your Interview?
Help you get the job
Set you apart from your competition
Boost your rating
Help you get Best Qualified and Referred to a Supervisor!
Most importantly, they’re the basis for selection

49. What Do Supervisors Consider When Making Selections?

50. Your First Resume Draft…
Start writing your first draft using the Classification Standards
Use Keywords and build
Write accomplishments
Then, later you can tailor this draft to the vacancy announcement

51. Step 7: KSAs in the Federal Resume and Assessment Questionnaires
Have you heard that KSAs may be eliminated? Learn the new formats
“Acing the test”

52. Presidential Memorandum Improving the Federal Recruitment and
The White House | May 11, 2010
Improving the Federal Recruitment and
Hiring Process
 Section 1.  Directions to Agencies.  Agency heads shall take the following actions no later than November 1, 2010:
 (1) eliminate any requirement that applicants respond to essay-style questions when submitting their initial application materials for any Federal job;
 (2) allow individuals to apply for Federal employment by submitting resumes and cover letters or completing simple, plain language applications, and assess applicants using valid, reliable tools; and

53. BUT … KSAs Are Now Covered in 4 Sections of the Application Process!
KSA accomplishments in the resume
KSA narratives to support the Questionnaire (on occasion 4,000 to 8,000 characters)
KSAs in the multiple choice Questionnaire
KSAs as part of the Behavior-Based interview

54. Example: KSAs in the Resume

55. Example: KSAs in the Questionnaire

56. Example: KSAs in the Questionnaire Multiple Choice Questions

57. KSAs Are Part of Your Behavior-Based Interview Questions
Be prepared to talk about your accomplishments in the Behavior-Based interview.
Prepare and practice at least 5 accomplishments that are in the CCAR format!

58. Cover Letters White House Memorandum states:
“…allow individuals to apply for Federal employment by submitting resumes and cover letters or completing simple, plain language applications, and assess applicants using valid, reliable tools…”

59. Apply for Jobs with USAJOBS
Complete Online Application
USAJOBS and Self-Assessment Questionnaire Systems
Submit Supporting Documents (DD-214, Transcripts, etc.)

60. Track and Follow Up on Your Applications
How You Will Be Evaluated
Category Rating

61. How People Are Hired: The Competitive Process
Identify Job and Assessments
Recruit and Announce Job
Accept and Review Applications
Assess Applicants
Certify Eligibles

62. 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
You may accept a position when you are terminal leave

63. 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

64. Remember, You MUST Meet the Minimum Requirements
All applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements established for the position are ranked by being assigned to the appropriate quality category based upon the job-related assessment tool(s) – the questionnaire!
Names of eligible candidates may be listed in any order (for example, alphabetical order)

65. How Veterans’ Preference Is Applied
Let’s follow an example of 9 applicants, with 3 vets and 1 disabled vet
Anne (a non-vet)
Cory (a non-disabled vet)
Aida (a non-vet)
Dom (a disabled vet)
Sheila (a non-disabled vet)
Chris (a non-disabled vet)
Mario ( a non-vet)
Betty (a non-vet)
Suzie (a non-vet)

66. How Veterans Preference is Applied: First, applicants are rated
Status
Rating
Anne
Non-vet
Best
Cory
Non-disabled vet
Good
Aida
Dom
Disabled vet
Sheila
Better
Chris
Mario
Betty
Suzie

67. How Veterans’ Preference Is Applied: Best Qualified Group Gets Referred
Status
Rating
Preference
Bucket
Anne
Non-vet
Best
Best Qualified
Cory
Non-disabled vet
Good TP
Qualified
Aida
Dom
Disabled vet CP
Sheila
Better
Well Qualified
Chris
Mario
Betty
Suzie

68. How Veterans’ Preference Is Applied: CPS and CP rise to the top of the highest quality category
Qualified preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more (CPS) and those with a compensable service-connected disability of more than 10% but less than 30% (CP) are placed at the top of the highest quality category.
Note: Merging the highest quality category (Highest Qualified) with the next lower category (Well-Qualified) requires placing the qualified preference eligible at the top of the newly merged quality category.

69. How Veterans’ Preference Is Applied: Final Order of Applicants
CP rises to the top even though rating was good, not best.
Status
Rating
Preference
Bucket
Dom
Disabled vet
Good CP
Best Qualified
Chris
Non-disabled vet
Best TP
Anne
Non-vet
Mario
Sheila
Better
Well Qualified
Betty
Cory
Qualified
Suzie
Aida

70. 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

71. Interview for a Federal Job
“It takes practice, research, and preparation for a successful job interview.”
The Federal Job Interview is a Test

72. The Federal Job Interview Is a Test – Be Prepared, Practice
Be prepared for a test with your 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.

73. Types of Interviews
Telephone
Individual
Group/Panel
Video Interviews

74. Example of a Behavioral Interview Question
Competency: Conflict Management
Question: Describe a situation in which you had to deal with individuals who were difficult, hostile, or distressed. Who was involved? What specific actions did you take and what was the result?
Best Answer: A story about a conflict at work and how you resolved it!

75. Get Hired! Physical presence – lean forward in chair
OK to use your hands for gestures
Eye contact, professionalism, clear speaking
Smile, have enthusiasm, and demonstrate interest
The interviewers need to LIKE YOU!
Take a breath! Relax.

76. Congratulations! You have completed all the Steps to a Federal Job®!
You’re are on your way to getting:
Best Qualified
Best Qualified and Referred to a Supervisor
Interviewed
Offered a Federal Position!

77. Post Assessment

78. Post Assessment AnswersC A D B