At The Resume Place, we want you to succeed in your federal job search, whatever your budget may be. That is why our company offers so many money-saving tools for your federal job search. For President’s Day, here are my top ideas and recommendations for affordable education and information to help you land a stable, career-oriented position in the federal government.
Money Saving Idea #1: Consider Federal Job Search an Investment
First, I want to set the stage by showing you that landing a federal job is an investment you can make in landing a job with a highly competitive salary, promotion potential, and great benefits. For example, this could be your future government job salary:
– The average entry-level job in government (GS-9) in the Washington, DC area pays: $51K to $67K.
– The average mid-career position in government (GS-12) in the Washington, DC area pays: $62K to $82K.
– The average senior-level position in government (GS-13) in Washington, DC area pays: $89K to $115K.
View the full OPM Salary Charts here.
So, while you may need to spend some money to successfully get hired by the federal government, the money you spend may bring you great returns.
Money Saving Idea #2: Take Advantage Of All The FREEBIES You Can!
When it comes to federal job search, you CAN get something for nothing. Look at all of these free sources of information and inspiration:
Free – Federal Job Webinar with Kathryn Troutman
Our free webinar is an hour full of insights about federal resume writing, follow-up on federal applications, and USAJOBS searches. Submit your question for Kathryn to answer and watch on your computer as Kathryn demonstrates the federal job search and application techniques online.
Free – Important Federal job Search Websites
Follow the White House’s budget activities:
If you want to know what’s happening with the budget for your favorite agency, read the Fact Sheets and follow the US Budget to your next job.
Read the website of your favorite federal agency: Read the agency’s mission, find out how many jobs they have, how many cities they have offices in, and what’s new at the agency. Get involved in your favorite agencies, so that you can write a compelling federal resume and KSAs that can demonstrate you will help the agency meet their mission.
Study USAJOBS.gov: Search for jobs in your geographic city, or search for jobs in your dream city. Look at the duties, qualifications, and skills. Marvel at the “who to apply” lessons, so you can get ready to apply for a federal job.
Free – RP’s Federal Resume and KSA Builders
Kathryn designed the popular KSA Builder in 1996, with the very successful KSA formula: Context, Challenge, Action and Results. Try out the KSA Builder to write your best story to demonstrate your Knowledge, Skill, or Ability.
The Resume Place’s Federal Resume Builder can be your first-stop before copying and pasting the resume into the USAJOBS Builder. Practice your federal resume writing with our builder, which includes fields for all of the important “compliance information” for your federal resume.
Free – Performance Management Keywords
Want to see some of the important competency keywords in government? Check out our Performance Management Keyword Tree. These keywords and skills represent various career levels in government. See how many times the words “overcome obstacles and change” will appear in the Keyword Tree. Use these keywords in your resume and application where appropriate.
Free – Read Kathryn’s articles and blogs on federal resume and KSA Writing
These pages are full of free information Kathryn has written about federal resumes, KSAs, and keyword searches:
– Kathryn’s Blog
– Articles by Kathryn
Money Saving Idea #3: Do It Yourself
With a little help from our value-priced and value-added training and books, you can create an effective job application package. Our training and books do not just cover the resume, they cover the entire TEN STEPS it takes to land a federal government job.
One Day Open Enrollment Workshop
Consider classes in federal job search, including The Resume place’s One Day Ten Steps to a Federal job Course in Gaithersburg, MD – held twice each month. Fee: $199 includes a copy of the book, Ten Steps to a Federal Job.
Resume Place Award-Winning Books
Purchase and read books on federal resume writing to see samples of federal resumes, learn how to search for keywords and understand the application process for federal jobs.
Recommended Resume Place publications:
– Federal Resume Guidebook, 4th Edition, Kathryn Troutman
– Ten Steps to a Federal Job, 2nd Edition, Kathryn Troutman
Recommended books by other authors:
– How to Land a High Paying Federal Job, Lily Whiteman
– Book of US Government Jobs, Dennis Damp
Money Saving Idea #4: Save Time and Frustration — Hire a Professional Consultant
Anyone who has tried all of the ideas above will still tell you that embarking on a federal job search takes months of time and energy. Many federal job searches take up to and over a year to be successful. By hiring a professional consultant, you may dramatically decrease the amount of time you will have to spend on your federal job search, and you will certainly decrease the amount of uncertainty about whether you are sending out the best possible application you can for each vacancy. If you land a federal job faster, you will in the end save money through your increase earnings.
Our top three most popular writing and consulting services are:
Federal Career Consultation
90 minutes of packed specific information for YOUR career and skills
If you’re not sure what position you are best qualified for, or how you can match your background into a federal job, it is a VERY wise investment to hire a Federal Human Resources consultant to ensure that you are applying correctly before you spend hundreds of hours applying for jobs on the USAJOBS website.
Federal Resume Writing
5 hours of time to improve your keywords, qualifications, duties, accomplishments, format and content of your first, best federal resume
Get it right the first time! If you are not great writer, or do not have 100% confidence in your federal resume document, hire a consultant / professional federal resume writer to make sure that your Template Federal Resume is the best it can be. Make SURE the federal resume is right the first time, so that you can change it each time you find a new announcement, selecting new keywords for each announcement.
KSA Writing and Editing
4 hours of time to improve your best KSA Accomplishment Stories
The KSAs and essays must demonstrate your past performance and expertise in certain important areas that will be critical to your performance in your federal jobs.
Looking for a discount?
Order a package combination of the services listed above and receive great discounts. Check our packages page regularly for periodic sales on these already great prices!