Archive for the ‘Federal / KSA / Government’ Category

What Federal Agencies Look for in Job Candidates

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

By David Jensen, CPRW, CARW, CEIP, ResumeEdge.com Editor

Government agencies can provide great opportunities for long-term employment. While seeking employment with a government agency can be complex, you can give yourself an advantage in the job market by learning what agencies look for in job candidates.

What Expertise do Government Agencies Need?

Given the latest developments in global communications and homeland security, there is a demand for skilled employees in cyber security, intelligence, foreign languages, diplomacy, and law enforcement. However, beyond these skill areas, agencies want candidates who have a clear understanding of the organization’s mission and objectives. For example, the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency all have overlapping involvement in energy and environmental conservation issues.  

When President Obama took office, there were a number of issues he pledged to address during his term. Some of these items include:

• The nation’s transportation infrastructure
• International diplomacy and trade relations
• Homeland security
• Environmental awareness and global warming

Whatever items are on the President’s “To Do” list, there is likely a government agency assigned to handle the issues. When seeking job candidates to work with these agencies, hiring managers are looking for people who are innovative and willing to present ideas. They also want people who are knowledgeable and passionate about the issues that impact global societies such as clean and affordable energy, health and nutrition, and secure Internet usage. You can improve your employment prospects with government agencies when you strive to learn what they are doing to achieve their goals.

Learning More about What Agencies are Looking for

You can learn a lot about various government agencies by reading newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal and the Federal Times and reviewing government Web sites such as the Office of Personnel Management site at www.usajobs.opm.gov or other information at www.firstgov.gov. Look for sections that highlight the specific concerns and “hot topics” that are of particular interest to the current administration.

When faced with new issues, government agencies don’t have all the answers. Due to the Freedom of Information Act, information about the objectives and methodologies of government agencies is available to the public. You can learn about the current events and which agencies have programs to address these issues. Once you learn about what your target agency is doing and what they still need to do to accomplish their objectives, you can present your knowledge, skills, and abilities as a solution to their problems.

Government agencies focus their efforts and obtain funding to address the issues that are of interest to the nations’ leaders. To be a successful government job candidate, it’s important that you present yourself as someone who is knowledgeable of these issues, is a team player, has ideas for solutions, and possess a stellar federal resume and accompanying documents.

To request David for your federal order, please key in his last name (Jensen) in the ’select your editor’ field of the online form.

How to Compete in the Competitive Federal Job Market

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

By David Jensen, CPRW, CARW, CEIP, ResumeEdge.com Editor

Employment with the Federal Government can put you on a rewarding career track and now is a good time to pursue government employment. Many long-time government employees are preparing to retire and government agencies are often the least affected by a recession. Despite the growing career opportunities with the Federal Government, it is a competitive endeavor. To obtain a job offer with a government agency, you need to know how to compete in that arena.

Competing for government jobs can be more challenging than competing in the private sector because government agencies commonly hire and promote from within. However, you can become a top contender if you devote time to ensure that you have the necessary qualifications and are steadfast and proactive in your pursuit. In order to improve your chances of gaining employment, you might be tempted to pursue several agencies. However, with government employment, you better your chances by focusing on only one or two agencies and devoting more time and effort to obtaining the necessary qualifications and mastering the application process.

Obtaining the Necessary Qualifications

To obtain the skills sought after by an agency, start by assessing the transferrable skills you already have with your current work. If you are skilled at a specific trade, look at the other tasks you perform to do your job. Determine what percentage of time you spend doing actual tasks as opposed to the time you spend talking to people, coordinating and scheduling projects, and solving problems. Communication, project management, and problem resolution are all transferable skills.

Study Vacancy Announcements

To be competitive in the Federal Government job market, you need to ensure that your knowledge, skills, and abilities are the best match for an agency’s job description. One way to boost your candidacy is to study government vacancy announcements (job postings). Often it is tempting to quickly review job postings to obtain the right keywords to place in your résumé. This is counter productive. The more you know about the position and the agency, the better your chances are of winning your desired job. Vacancy announcements are long, but it’s worth your while to gain a thorough understanding of the job and agency. Make sure you complete the application process exactly as it is stated, and without copying and pasting, use the same keywords and terminology in your résumé.

Be Proactive

Networking is extremely important in pursuing government employment because the competition is stiff. To get exposure in your desired organization prepare yourself by seeking out volunteer opportunities and meeting people in the agency by attending seminars related to the agency’s objective. More face-to-face contact with the people in your target agency greatly improves your employment prospects.

Getting hired with the Federal Government is often a complex process. However, you can boost your competitive edge by thoroughly preparing yourself to work in a specific agency, which includes a stellar federal resume. If you are diligent and persistent in your efforts, you can land your desired position and enjoy a fruitful career in government service.

To request David for your resume, simply key in his last name (Jensen) in the ’select your editor’ field of the online form.

Why a Standard Résumé Won’t have a Chance with the Federal Government

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

By David Jensen, CPRW, CARW, CEIP

Government jobs are plentiful even in a down economy. They are also good career-oriented positions with advancement opportunities. Landing a government job is a complex process, but it is well worth the effort if you desire to work in the public sector. Many private-industry job applicants use a standard resume thinking it is the same or just as effective as a Federal resume when applying for a government job. This is not the case. There is certain information that needs to appear on a Federal resume that you would not include on a private-sector resume. The human resource professionals need to see certain information in your application materials in order for you to be considered for further review as an applicant.

Federal Résumés Require More Personal Information

The information you need to provide for a government application (often called a vacancy announcement) includes your full name, complete mailing address, social security number, and your country of citizenship. Vacancy announcements contain a list of what to include in your résumé. If you leave any information out such as your social security number, you might not be considered for the job.

Federal Résumés Need to Align with the Job Announcement

With a standard resume, you might use a qualifications summary to outline your skills and experience that relate to the job you are applying for. With a federal résumé, you use an objective statement that needs to include the job title and department, the position’s grade level (the job’s level of difficulty), and the job announcement reference number. Following the objective statement you include a list of your qualifications that apply to the requirements listed in the job description.

Adhere to all Application Guidelines

Each vacancy announcement includes a “How to Apply” section that tells exactly what application process you need to follow and what information you need to include. It is critical that you provide information for every category in this section because most résumés are electronically scanned before a hiring manager reviews them. The required information often includes your past supervisor’s name and phone number and if that person can be contacted. This section often asks for your highest employment grade level whether you are a veteran or a civilian employee. You won’t be able to provide this information if you are transitioning from the private sector so you could enter N/A. Do not leave any categories blank.

Standard resumes are commonly one-to-two pages. Federal résumés can range from two-to-six pages and must comply with the guidelines required by the government personnel offices. Federal employment can be a good career opportunity if you are prepared and willing to produce a Federal résumé package that promotes you as the “best qualified” candidate for your selected government position.

To request David Jensen for your federal resume product, simply select his name in the drop-down menu of the ’select your editor’ field.

Introducing JobInterviewEdge

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Today I’d like to introduce a new service that will be implemented shortly at ResumeEdge.com. Our mission has always been to assist jobseekers in whatever way possible, so they attain their dream jobs. To that end, we will be adding JobInterviewEdge.

What is JobInterviewEdge?

It’s a job interview coaching service that will prepare you for the daunting job interview process by providing computer-based interviewing skills training and a personalized mock interview with a certified interview professional.

Personal coaching will be conducted by our editors who have been awarded CEIP (Certified Employment Interview Professional) certification through the PARW/CC (Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches) and those who have reached certification through ResumeEdge.com. The standards are high, the training intense. Each certified editor is an expert in interview counseling and will shepherd their clients through the arduous interview process.

The Personal Coaching element will include:

1. Job Interview Preparation Sheet to provide your coach with information to prepare your mock job interview

2. Consultation with your coach to review your job interview preparation sheet

3. “Mock” job interview by telephone with your certified coach

4. Immediate Telephone Critique of the mock job interview with your coach

5. Formal Written Critique of your mock interview delivered within 24 hours

Each mock interview is recorded, providing you with an opportunity to play it back and review it at a later date.

In upcoming blogs, I will detail the service offerings and the intricacies of an interview.

To make this service truly valuable, we want to hear your thoughts on what else you’d like to see and how we can improve on what’s provided.