With greater awareness, comes greater opportunity.
Now is a superb time for disabled jobseekers to seek federal jobs
(Baltimore, MD, October 25, 2010) National Disabilities Employment Awareness Month is a salute to the skills and talents disabled individuals have, and also an acknowledgment of the importance of employment to their lives. But perhaps the most significant aspect is the commitment that President Obama has made to elevating the number of disabled people in the federal workforce. According to the National Council on Disability, the percentage of disabled federal workers is low. Figures from 2007 show that they represent less than 1% of Uncle Sam’s employees. Some parties are calling for this number to be kicked up to at least double that amount.
“My administration is committed to ensuring people living with disabilities have fair access to jobs so they can contribute to our economy and realize their dreams,” avowed President Barack Obama in his proclamation for October’s special designation. “Individuals with disabilities are a vital and dynamic part of our Nation.”
To act on this opportunity, jobseekers with disabilities will need to bone up for the effort. They should begin by educating themselves on the federal hiring process, says resume writer Sandra L. Keppley. Books from the Resume Place like Ten Steps to a Federal Job and the Federal Resume Guidebook will be essential. In addition, Keppley says they also need to learn about employment for the disabled in particular.
Kathryn Troutman, the books’ author and America’s leading federal jobs expert, notes that there are four distinct ways disabled jobseekers can apply for work with Uncle Sam.
First, you can submit competitively for a position through the website www.usajobs.gov (where 20,000 government jobs are posted daily), and check off that you are authorized to be hired as person with a disability
Secondly, you can submit to USAJOBs without noting that you’re disabled, and compete straight on with the other federal jobseekers.
Third, you can contact a hiring manager directly who you have identified at an agency where you want to be employed.
And last but very important, you can contact the Selective Placement Program Coordinators about particular openings; these hiring officials are on the lookout for talented employees who have disabilities (for a list of the Coordinators, go to: http://www.opm.gov/disability/SSPCoord.asp). (For more on hiring through USAJOBS, go to: http://www.usajobs.gov/individualswithdisabilities.asp.)
“I recommend that they do all of this,” says Kathryn Troutman. “For sure, it’s a lot of work. However, once you get in, you’re set. Because you will probably stay there for a long time. You’ll learn on the job and get further education. And you will very possibly be promoted. It just takes a lot to get in the door.”
In order to apply with the disabled status under the special hiring authority, jobseekers must obtain a Schedule A letter. This letter, confirming the disability, should be signed by a medical professional or an official from your state vocational rehabilitation department. The letter often also notes your job readiness for the work you’re seeking. Schedule A Letters are submitted to USAJOBs and given to the other federal hiring authorities. For a sample of a Schedule A Letter, go to the last USAJOBs link listed above. The letter should be brief and to the point, and not go on and on about the nature of your disability.
When applying for federal work, disabled individuals should keep the following tips in mind:
Tip #1: Know and emphasize your strengths. “As a jobseeker, it’s your job to help a potential employer see your strong points and all you have to offer,” Troutman says. Strengths and previous accomplishments (not disabilities) should be highlighted throughout your campaign — in cover letter, your resume, email or phone interactions, and at the interview.
Tip #2: Study the job announcement and tailor your response to it. In working with a jobseeker who was just hired recently, resume writer Carla Waskiewicz expanded the applicant’s resume to include more keywords from the announcement and wrote a strong qualifications summary incorporating the core competencies this individual could deliver.
Tip #3: Â Network, network, network. “This is the most crucial part of the campaign,” says Chad Jones*, who was hired this year at a division of the Department of Health & Human Services. “When I started, I didn’t know anyone at the division I targeted. But then I got an advocate. It just takes one.” Find someone within an agency to watch out for openings for you.
Tip #4: To find contacts, look online for a department’s organizational chart. Chad located and studied organizational charts and department descriptions in two agencies. Then he used this info to figure out which departments and managers to contact. Getting in touch with two departments, he received no response from one, but heard back from about five managers from the other. Then it was a matter of waiting for openings to come up. He points out that you may find a name on the chart, and then have to work with how the agency’s emails are formulated to get the email address.
Tip #5: Â Collect references from key people familiar with your strengths and talents. They may be able to describe your strengths in ways you hadn’t thought of. Troutman reminds you to remember to include persons involved in your volunteer or internship activities. Dave Warner, a disabled man who just started a new job at the National Institutes of Health, found that his volunteer activities were instrumental in getting interviews and finally a job offer. In fact, the federal job he landed was a step up from what he had originally sought.
Tip #6:Â Stay cutting-edge with your skills and training. A recent study found that employers can pass over resumes from the long-term unemployed, believing their skills and training will be out-of-date. Especially if you’re unemployed, staying current will be important, reports Troutman. “If you’re between jobs or want to advance, keep taking courses that could be relevant for you in your field, whatever it is – HR, or budget, or contracts, etc.” she suggests.
Tip #7: Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Troutman recently worked on a job search for Judy Mills, who was excellent with data management, but had poor phone skills due to her disability. She located a position for Judy where phone work wasn’t needed, and this candidate was hired. “Applying to do things you cannot do won’t be good for you or the agency,” Troutman cautions. Still, know that the federal agencies are willing to make “reasonable accommodations.” This might include widening aisles for wheelchair access or providing special equipment, readers or interpreters. Find more on special accommodations at: http://www.usajobs.gov/ei/individualswithdisabilities.asp.
Tip #8:Â Consider hiring professionals to strengthen your resume and cover letter. “I was sending out resumes and not getting any nibbles from federal employers,” says Dave, recalling the days when he was job-hunting on his own. But after his resume was revamped by the Resume Place, he got a series of interviews and was hired for a desirable job
Tip #9:Â Practice your interviewing skills. “It’s like playing a sport,” says Dave. “If you play the sport once, it won’t result in the same improvement as when you do it regularly.” This successful jobseeker reports that he found himself to be performing better after having opportunities to volley replies back to interviewers.
Tip #10: Have the Placement Program Coordinator work as an adviser to an interested manager. A manager who is considering hiring you may not fully understand Schedule A, Chad points out. The manager who selected him worked closely with the Placement Program Coordinator, who walked her through the process.
Using the Schedule A process can sometimes work to the advantage of disabled jobseekers. Through the special hiring authority based on disability, the manager who eventually hired Chad was not required to post the actual job opening he filled. He also did not have to go through the scoring process which is part of the competitive process. This can save time. Still, in other cases, a hiring manager may be more likely to consider you when you apply competitively with the other candidates. This is why it’s good to use all the approaches Troutman outlined.
Whichever approach you choose to go after federal employment, you’ll need to learn to be patient. Chad’s phone interview took place in the beginning of November 2009, but he didn’t receive the job offer call until February 2010. He adds that you should also be “persistent and consistent.” After his winning interview, Chad asked the manager if he could email her once a month to stay in contact. She agreed. “Don’t let things go for several months,” he advises. “Your resume could get lost in the system. The more your name is in front of the hiring manager, the more likely that you’ll be hired. Follow up, and stay in touch with your contacts.” he says. That’s good advice that can pay off.
*Names of the successful jobseekers have been changed, though their stories are real.
For over 30 years, the Resume Place has been assisting jobseekers seeking employment with the federal government. Today the company’s services include the writing of resumes and cover letters, as well as developing job campaign strategies and providing support for moving through the federal application processes. Kathryn Troutman is the Founder and President of the Resume Place, and she has written and published seven books on the federal job search. Her award-winning titles include the Federal Resume Guidebook as well as Ten Steps to a Federal Job. Troutman is frequently interviewed by the media, and she was just featured on the cover of Insight magazine. Troutman applauds President Obama’s commitment to boost the number of disabled federal workers, and her firm has an excellent track record in helping these jobseekers obtain federal employment.
[RKQ1]Links could be added to book pages.
Tags: barack obama, disability employment, federal careers, federal hiring, federal job search, Federal Jobs, Federal Resumes, government careers, Government Jobs, national council on disability, National Disabilities Employment Awareness Month, president obama, Schedule A, Schedule A federal jobs, schedule a letters, USAJOBS, USAJOBS.gov