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| Jun 15 2007, 12:42 PM EDT (current) | BarbaraAdams | 17 words added, 10 words deleted |
| Jun 15 2007, 12:33 PM EDT | BarbaraAdams | 1591 words added |
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How to Navigate the Federal Hiring Process
By, Barbara Adams, CPRW, CEIP, CFRWC, CMRW
www.careerproplus.com www.militaryresumewriters.com
The federal government’s hiring processes are frequently viewed as nearly impossible to negotiate and job seekers may find themselves getting lost and frustrated among the many different agencies, procedures and requirements that eventually lead to an actual interview. While navigating the federal system is unwieldy, it is possible to make your way through it, to a job with pay and benefits well worth the struggle, particularly if you follow these guidelines:
1. Decide what type of position or which agency you want to work for
The type of position and/or the agency you want to work for are dictated, in part, by your skills and qualifications. For example, administrative and clerical skills are in demand by nearly every agency and at every level while specialties like agricultural research or background in social services are most likely required by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services, respectively. However, that is not always the case so if you are not specifically tied to the idea of working for one agency or another, be sure to search by job title to view a wider range of potential job openings. The positions and agencies of interest may also be limited by the geographic region in which you live, unless you are willing to move. In the western states, for example, openings within the FBI or State Department may be very limited, while similar openings abound within and around Washington, D.C. Assess what you can do and where you want to live before you start the application process.
2. Search for jobs on the Internet
The beauty of conducting a federal job search lies in the fact that all of the publicly available openings are listed on the Internet – most of them in one centralized location. Simply go to www.usajobs.opm.gov, to enter the world of federal employment. At present, there are over 20,000 jobs of various skill levels and specialty areas listed on the site. You can search by job title, agency, general job category and other criteria, and you can filter the search by geographic area, salary range, pay grade, etc. Try the system out by entering the job title “administrative assistant” into the “search jobs” box at the top of the page, and then enter. A long list of jobs, sorted by closing date, will come up on the next screen. Each listing specifies job title, agency, location, and salary. Clicking on the job title takes the searcher to the specific job announcement where all pertinent details, including the application method, are available. The USA Jobs site is undoubtedly the most valuable tool available for seeking federal employment.
3. The Federal Resume - One resume does not fit all jobs
In addition to the ability to search federal job online,on-line, today’s jobseekerjob seeker is also afforded the convenience of the onlineon-line job application. Gone are the days of the Standard Form 171 as the single federal application mechanism, but here are the days of multiple resume formats, supplemental essay questions, and each agency demanding specific information presented in a specific format. The jobseekerjob seeker who sends in the standard two-page professional resume geared for a wide variety of job applications will find, to his or her dismay, that interviews will not follow. The resume submitted either in hard copy or electronic form, must follow formatting specifications to the letter, must be keyword rich to pass electronic screening, and must contain all elements requested in the job announcement. It’s at this step in the process where the federal job search becomes complicated and it’s also the place where professional federal resume writing services like those offered by Career Pro Plus become absolutely invaluable.
4. Identify the proper format in which to develop your resume
In most cases, when applying for a federal job, format counts. You can identify the required format by visiting the actual job announcement posted on USA Jobs and then clicking on the “how to apply” button, which may be located either at the top or the bottom of the announcement’s front page. The “how to apply” sections are clear, detailed, all inclusive and must be strictly followed. They also vary substantially from job to job and agency to agency. For example, an administrative assistant position with the Department of Transportation requires an onlineon-line resume, completed on the USA Jobs website including supplemental questions (KSAs) that have to be answered. On the other hand, a National Park Service administrative assistant position may specify no particular format (either a resume or a form OF612 may be used) as long as the requisite information is all present. This is another complicating factor for the average job seeker who may not feel that he/she has all of the time and energy required to repeatedly jump through a long line of hoops in order to gain federal employment.
5. Keywords and Accomplishments are Important
Federal screening systems are designed to focus on a couple of primary aspects – key words and individual accomplishments. Key words that pertain to each job can be gleaned from the “duties” and “qualifications” sections of the federal job announcement and should be reflected in the wording of the resume. Failure to mimic the key words contained in the announcement will result in failure to trigger scanning devices used to prescreen federal resumes, which means that the resume will not be passed on to the next level. It is also important to include any work related accomplishments in a federal resume. Otherwise, job descriptions being much alike, there is nothing by which a screener can differentiate potential candidates when the resume reaches the next level. As much as possible, remember to quantify accomplishments in terms of actual achievement, i.e. “achieved 110% of projected sales goals for FY 2002.”
6. Veteran’s Preference
Veterans of the military services may receive hiring preference in the federal application system. The way it works is that each element of the resume receives a numerical rating based on how closely it fits the job description’s qualifications. Veterans receive extra points, based on the extent and timing of their military service, any disabilities incurred while serving their government, etc. Under new federal guidelines established in 2006, only disabled veterans or those who served in active duty in a Congressionally declared war, such as World War II, are eligible to receive 10 preference points. Five preference points are granted to those who served on active duty in “a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized.” The preference points are applied to an already passing examination score, but cannot be used to boost the applicant from a non-passing score to a passing score. Before declaring veteran’s preference, applicants should visit http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp, where all of the various requirements are outlined in detail.
7. Verify Information or ask Questions about a Vacancy Announcement
The federal government listings on USA Jobs provide a mechanism for clarifying or verifying information about a particular job announcement and application requirements. At the very bottom of the job listing, there is a “Questions” button. Clicking on it reveals, at minimum, a telephone number to call for questions. In most cases, the information includes a phone number, email address, fax number and, in many cases, even the name of a specific contact person designated for that job.
8. What if you receive a rating of “qualified”, but not “best qualified?” Once your resume has been processed through the federal system, you will receive a total numerical score based on how well your qualifications matched the job announcement requirements and how well you answered all of the relevant questions. The number of points you receive dictates whether or not you will be deemed qualified or not. However, a rating of “qualified” is not enough to have your resume forwarded to a review committee for the final cut. Only those who receive a “best qualified” rating will have their resumes forwarded for review. The difference between a “qualified” and a “best qualified” rating is often not a matter of qualifications at all, but is dependent on the wording you have used to express your qualifications. If you are able to determine key words and phrases from the job announcement and rework your resume to contain those key words and phrases, you are more likely to end up in the “best qualified” category.
9. Seek Professional Federal Resume Help
If you have been deemed “qualified,” but not “best qualified,” it is time to upgrade and perfect your resume for better scoring within the federal system. It may be time to seek professional resume help. ServicesThere likeare Careerprofessional Profederal Plusresume services available that have a long history of converting average federal resume ratings into superior ones. Professional writers compare your job history, skills and qualifications with the jobs you are seeking, search out the key words and phrases that can make the difference between success and failure on your federal job application, and make certain that your resume represents you in ways that pass the electronic scanning equipment and best position you for superior ratings.
10. Persistence
For most people, obtaining a federal job is not easy and it is not quick. It requires persistence and the willingness to keep refining the resume and keep submitting it until the results are positive. Professional resume writers increase your chances exponentially and, if you succeed in gaining federal employment, the job security, pay and benefits are well worth the effort expended in the process.
By, Barbara Adams, CPRW, CEIP, CFRWC, CMRW
www.careerproplus.com www.militaryresumewriters.com
The federal government’s hiring processes are frequently viewed as nearly impossible to negotiate and job seekers may find themselves getting lost and frustrated among the many different agencies, procedures and requirements that eventually lead to an actual interview. While navigating the federal system is unwieldy, it is possible to make your way through it, to a job with pay and benefits well worth the struggle, particularly if you follow these guidelines:
1. Decide what type of position or which agency you want to work for
The type of position and/or the agency you want to work for are dictated, in part, by your skills and qualifications. For example, administrative and clerical skills are in demand by nearly every agency and at every level while specialties like agricultural research or background in social services are most likely required by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services, respectively. However, that is not always the case so if you are not specifically tied to the idea of working for one agency or another, be sure to search by job title to view a wider range of potential job openings. The positions and agencies of interest may also be limited by the geographic region in which you live, unless you are willing to move. In the western states, for example, openings within the FBI or State Department may be very limited, while similar openings abound within and around Washington, D.C. Assess what you can do and where you want to live before you start the application process.
2. Search for jobs on the Internet
The beauty of conducting a federal job search lies in the fact that all of the publicly available openings are listed on the Internet – most of them in one centralized location. Simply go to www.usajobs.opm.gov, to enter the world of federal employment. At present, there are over 20,000 jobs of various skill levels and specialty areas listed on the site. You can search by job title, agency, general job category and other criteria, and you can filter the search by geographic area, salary range, pay grade, etc. Try the system out by entering the job title “administrative assistant” into the “search jobs” box at the top of the page, and then enter. A long list of jobs, sorted by closing date, will come up on the next screen. Each listing specifies job title, agency, location, and salary. Clicking on the job title takes the searcher to the specific job announcement where all pertinent details, including the application method, are available. The USA Jobs site is undoubtedly the most valuable tool available for seeking federal employment.
3. The Federal Resume - One resume does not fit all jobs
In addition to the ability to search federal job online,on-line, today’s jobseekerjob seeker is also afforded the convenience of the onlineon-line job application. Gone are the days of the Standard Form 171 as the single federal application mechanism, but here are the days of multiple resume formats, supplemental essay questions, and each agency demanding specific information presented in a specific format. The jobseekerjob seeker who sends in the standard two-page professional resume geared for a wide variety of job applications will find, to his or her dismay, that interviews will not follow. The resume submitted either in hard copy or electronic form, must follow formatting specifications to the letter, must be keyword rich to pass electronic screening, and must contain all elements requested in the job announcement. It’s at this step in the process where the federal job search becomes complicated and it’s also the place where professional federal resume writing services like those offered by Career Pro Plus become absolutely invaluable.
4. Identify the proper format in which to develop your resume
In most cases, when applying for a federal job, format counts. You can identify the required format by visiting the actual job announcement posted on USA Jobs and then clicking on the “how to apply” button, which may be located either at the top or the bottom of the announcement’s front page. The “how to apply” sections are clear, detailed, all inclusive and must be strictly followed. They also vary substantially from job to job and agency to agency. For example, an administrative assistant position with the Department of Transportation requires an onlineon-line resume, completed on the USA Jobs website including supplemental questions (KSAs) that have to be answered. On the other hand, a National Park Service administrative assistant position may specify no particular format (either a resume or a form OF612 may be used) as long as the requisite information is all present. This is another complicating factor for the average job seeker who may not feel that he/she has all of the time and energy required to repeatedly jump through a long line of hoops in order to gain federal employment.
5. Keywords and Accomplishments are Important
Federal screening systems are designed to focus on a couple of primary aspects – key words and individual accomplishments. Key words that pertain to each job can be gleaned from the “duties” and “qualifications” sections of the federal job announcement and should be reflected in the wording of the resume. Failure to mimic the key words contained in the announcement will result in failure to trigger scanning devices used to prescreen federal resumes, which means that the resume will not be passed on to the next level. It is also important to include any work related accomplishments in a federal resume. Otherwise, job descriptions being much alike, there is nothing by which a screener can differentiate potential candidates when the resume reaches the next level. As much as possible, remember to quantify accomplishments in terms of actual achievement, i.e. “achieved 110% of projected sales goals for FY 2002.”
6. Veteran’s Preference
Veterans of the military services may receive hiring preference in the federal application system. The way it works is that each element of the resume receives a numerical rating based on how closely it fits the job description’s qualifications. Veterans receive extra points, based on the extent and timing of their military service, any disabilities incurred while serving their government, etc. Under new federal guidelines established in 2006, only disabled veterans or those who served in active duty in a Congressionally declared war, such as World War II, are eligible to receive 10 preference points. Five preference points are granted to those who served on active duty in “a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized.” The preference points are applied to an already passing examination score, but cannot be used to boost the applicant from a non-passing score to a passing score. Before declaring veteran’s preference, applicants should visit http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp, where all of the various requirements are outlined in detail.
7. Verify Information or ask Questions about a Vacancy Announcement
The federal government listings on USA Jobs provide a mechanism for clarifying or verifying information about a particular job announcement and application requirements. At the very bottom of the job listing, there is a “Questions” button. Clicking on it reveals, at minimum, a telephone number to call for questions. In most cases, the information includes a phone number, email address, fax number and, in many cases, even the name of a specific contact person designated for that job.
8. What if you receive a rating of “qualified”, but not “best qualified?” Once your resume has been processed through the federal system, you will receive a total numerical score based on how well your qualifications matched the job announcement requirements and how well you answered all of the relevant questions. The number of points you receive dictates whether or not you will be deemed qualified or not. However, a rating of “qualified” is not enough to have your resume forwarded to a review committee for the final cut. Only those who receive a “best qualified” rating will have their resumes forwarded for review. The difference between a “qualified” and a “best qualified” rating is often not a matter of qualifications at all, but is dependent on the wording you have used to express your qualifications. If you are able to determine key words and phrases from the job announcement and rework your resume to contain those key words and phrases, you are more likely to end up in the “best qualified” category.
9. Seek Professional Federal Resume Help
If you have been deemed “qualified,” but not “best qualified,” it is time to upgrade and perfect your resume for better scoring within the federal system. It may be time to seek professional resume help. ServicesThere likeare Careerprofessional Profederal Plusresume services available that have a long history of converting average federal resume ratings into superior ones. Professional writers compare your job history, skills and qualifications with the jobs you are seeking, search out the key words and phrases that can make the difference between success and failure on your federal job application, and make certain that your resume represents you in ways that pass the electronic scanning equipment and best position you for superior ratings.
10. Persistence
For most people, obtaining a federal job is not easy and it is not quick. It requires persistence and the willingness to keep refining the resume and keep submitting it until the results are positive. Professional resume writers increase your chances exponentially and, if you succeed in gaining federal employment, the job security, pay and benefits are well worth the effort expended in the process.
