Contact: Kathryn Troutman or
Sarah Blazucki
(410) 744-4324

Navy Spouse & Outplacement Employment Specialists on Board for Unique U.S. Federal Job Search Training

Federal Job Search Trainer's Certification Class:
Front row: Nathan Hawley, Kathryn Troutman, Debbie Ludwig
2nd row, left to right: Kelli Poehls, Cecelia Luna, Teresa Pearson, Marivic Sy, Cathy McCombs
3rd row, left to right: Pamela Ottesen, Tammy Ditzel, Terry Maddox
Back row: left to right: Pamela Strangee, Bruce St. John, Michael Dobson, Vernon Williams, Enochia Anderson, Glovinia Harris, Michael Spiltener

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Baltimore, MD--

They traveled from such foreign countries as Japan, Italy, Puerto Rico and Spain as well as from Navy bases scattered across America for the special three-day training. Their goal? To learn the latest and savviest strategies for landing Federal jobs from Kathryn Kraemer Troutman, "the Federal Job Search Guru." In total, 15 representatives from the Navy's employment assistance programs became certified as Federal Job Search trainers through Troutman's unique curriculum. Now they will be sharing this knowledge with people separating or retiring from the Navy as well as spouses of military personnel who wish to seek positions with the Federal government.

"The Office of Personnel Management has said that by 2006 approximately 1.8 million Federal employees would reach retirement," noted Ed Roscoe, Manager of the Navy's Spouse Employment Assistance Program (SEAP). "What a perfect opportunity for our retiring Navy, military spouses and transitioning military to find a home in the Federal employment system." Roscoe added, however, that the Federal employment system is "very cumbersome at best" because no two HR departments within it seem to work the same way. So he has turned to top Fed job expert Kathy Troutman for help in training his personnel. "Our employment managers are hungry for this information and training," he said.

"The Federal hiring system is not only difficult for the applicants but also for the employment specialists," noted Troutman. "Employment professionals know that the Ten Steps is an easy training formula for a difficult subject. And in this difficult hiring environment, jobseekers need this information."

The Federal Job Search Certification program was created by Kathy Troutman last fall based her 30 years of experience helping people land Federal jobs. At its center is Troutman's streamlined Ten Step process for applying for Federal positions, an approach that works with all the government agencies. This method is also described in her popular book, Ten Steps to a Federal Job (available here and Amazon.com.)

The Navy employees attended three intensive days of classes lead by Troutman in January. Subjects included techniques for unearthing job listings, tips on interpreting the complicated Federal job announcements, and direction on writing the distinct Federal-style paper and electronic resumes (particularly Resumix). Also, Troutman, a master trainer, shared tactics for involving students in workshops and motivating them to share the best they have to offer to potential Federal employers. After-session writing assignments and pro bono trainings are also required to complete the certification.

The Navy group is only the 2nd class to graduate from the Federal Job Search certification program. Attendees included the following reps from the U.S. Navy's employment assistance programs:

• Enochia T. Anderson, Spouse Employment Assistance Program (SEAP) Manager, Fleet & Family Support Center, Rota, Spain
• Debby Ludwig, SEAP Coordinator, Great Lakes, IL
• Cathy McCombs, SEAP Specialist, Coastal Systems Station, Panama City, FL
• Terri L. Maddox, Transition Specialist, Fleet & Family Support Center, NAS, Whiting Field, Milton, FL
• Michael Spiletener, Employment Program Manager, Yokosuka Fleet & Family Support Center, Japan
• Nathan Hawley, Transition Specialist, Fleet & Family Support Center, Gulfport, MS
• Pamela Stranger, Administrative Assistant, Naval Security Group Activity, Fleet & Family Support Center, Ft. Meade, MD
• Marivic Sy, TAMP/SEAP Manager, Transition Assistance Management Program, La Maddalena, Italy
• Cecilia Luna, SEAP Manager, Fleet and Family Support Center, U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico
• Kelli Poehls, Program Coordinator, North Dakota South University Career Center
• Michael S. Dobson, Author and Trainer, Project Manager and Federal Careers, Bethesda, MD
• Bruce St. John, Independent Career Trainer, Olney, Maryland
• Teresa L. Pearson, Career Consultant & Resume Writer, Ft. Rucker, Alabama

"Now I understand why they call Kathy the Federal Job Search Guru," said graduate Cecilia Luna, a SEAP manager from Puerto Rico. "This training will help us help clients succeed in finding a Federal job much sooner." Teresa Pearson from Fort Rucker, Alabama echoed those sentiments. "The Ten Steps three-day training program was the puzzle piece I was missing," Pearson said. "Now, more than ever, I am confident in my abilities to serve my clientele."

Ed Roscoe of SEAP says that the Navy plans to train more HR personnel in Federal employment search methods in the future. Navy HR personnel interested in the Ten Steps could attend Troutman's session at the DoD's Spouse Summit Conference in Palm Springs, California, on April 3. To learn more about the conference, write to kathryn@resume-place.com. Also, stop by the training pages of Troutman's website, here. For dates of the next certification class or to register, go to www.mietp.org or e-mail.

To interview Kathy Troutman, contact Sarah Blazucki
(410/744-4324; sarah@resumeplace-com) in Baltimore.