The Resume-Place Inc.

August 4, 2003

KATHRYN TROUTMAN'S FEDERAL CAREER CORNER NEWSLETTER
TARGETING A JOB IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD FEDERAL AGENCY
"Research Strategies to find Civil Service and Government Contractor Job Titles & Opportunities"
Kathy Troutman, author

Job Search Situation:
A huge federal agency has been in your backyard for 20 years. Now that you are forced to look for a new job, this is the first time you have ever really considered working for this agency. How do you start looking for jobs? What kinds of jobs are available? What are the job titles and qualifications needed? There's a lot to know and here's a real jobseeker's first steps to finding out:

John has been a Chemist Technician at a local utility in Houston, TX for 20 years. But the business threatens to close, relocate, partner or something, so it's time to look around for another job. Right in his neighborhood has always been the Johnson Space Center (JSC), NASA. He could ride his bike to work. So, he has decided he would LOVE to work there. He can't just drive in to the Space Center and go to the Personnel office and look at the paper job listings anymore. And John can't begin to write his federal resume until he finds out the job titles, salaries and "how to apply" to this agency. This job change could involve a career change based on what he finds out about the jobs at JSC which support space missions.
Here are John's research steps to finding out about the job opportunities that are available at JSC.
What jobs do they have at the Johnson Space Center?
Johnson Space Center (JSC) (NASA) has 3,000 civil service employees and 18,000 contractor employees. The job search will be 25% Federal and 75% Contractor. John really prefers a civil service job, but knowing these statistics he might have to start out as a contractor and then try to find a civil service job later after he knows people and they know him in the agency.
He found the NASA JSC Job page.
Here is the Engineering Job page.
He did a search on current job titles. He selected 1. JSC; 2. "Technical"; and "all" to job titles and salaries on the above page. He created a profile so that he could create regular emails announcing new jobs.
He found four positions available. All four of the jobs were: Aerospace Technology (AST), GS-0801, 07/07. Salary: $ 37,749 - $ 46,461. The promotion potential goes up to a GS-13 level. This is an OPEN INVENTORY ANNOUNCEMENT. Closes Sept. 30th 2003. The problem with this announcement REQUIRES A COLLEGE DEGREE. John does not have a degree, just 20 years of technician-level experience in a public utility.
Here's the Vacancy Announcement.
Still looking for a Technician position which does NOT require a college degree, he found a webpage with a list of Contractors who provide services to JSC: Careers & Jobs at JSC.

Since government contractors are 75% of all of the jobs, maybe there are technician positions which do not require a college degree.

He found a list of job titles that each contractor hires—not real jobs, but job titles.
He found four contractors with job listings that look the best for using the chemist / technician / quality assurance skills. (But we did not find a "chemist" job title)
Next he'll have to go to the contractor website to look for the job listings and descriptions of qualifications and duties.
What job would he qualify for there at Johnson, either as a civil servant or contractor?
That's going to take study and analysis of the contractor's websites to determine the job titles. If he wants to apply for the Aerospace position, he will have to think seriously about going back to school to finish his degree and land that job at JSC!
He does have another 15 years to work in his career, so it could be worthwhile. He didn't see any "chemist technician" jobs in the list of job titles. He did see Quality Assurance and Technician, so he'll have to study the qualifications and skills of the jobs.
How can he find out about other civil service openings?
There are other federal agencies in Houston besides JSC. It's time to start researching other federal jobs where he can use his background. Other sources could be: www.USAJOBS.opm.gov and through networking with both civil service and contract employees at JSC. The local research has just begin.
NETWORKING? Who does he know that works there—either government or contract?
John remembers that a man at church who works for a contractor and a lady down the street does volunteer work with the astronauts. He's thinking about who he knows so that he can ask them how people get hired at Johnson.
Finding job listings that match his skills—make lists of skills
Once John finds some jobs for which he is qualify, he will analyze the jobs and the skills. He will make two lists of skills: 1. target job skills; 2. current skills. He will play down the technical chemist language and play up quality control, teamwork, and other transferable skills.
Begin writing the electronic resume
John needs to write a Resumix (electronic resume format) for the JSC NASA automated application system (for when he finds or hears about a position that would be competitive for his experience). This would be the best resume format for both the civil service and contractor job. The contractors will probably accept the electronic format as well. John will be sure to target the resume toward future jobs—not the past.
SUMMARY OF STEPS TO FOLLOW FOR FEDERAL JOB RESEARCH:
TARGETING AN AGENCY FOR FEDERAL JOB INFORMATION:
Research and decide on your Federal Job Titles and Occupational Series by looking at agency job vacancy announcements.

Make a list the skills needed for your Top 3 federal jobs

Make a list of the skills you have that are transferrable to your selected federal jobs

Research and decide on your grade and salary level for government

Decide on your top three agencies and read their websites

Write your resume targeting your federal job titles

Add the transferable skills to your resume

Find current announcements that are for your agency, in the correct job titles and grades

Apply for these jobs

Try to meet people who work for these agencies—join organizations, go to picnics, talk to everyone. Try to get any inside information on what the contractors are doing for the agencies.
RESEARCHING GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING JOBS AT SPECIFIC FEDERAL AGENCIES:

Decide on a local Federal agency that is of interest to you

Go to their websites to find out what contractors perform work for these agencies

Go to the contractor's websites to find the kinds of jobs they have that provide government services

Read the job duties and qualifications

Decide on the job titles that are right for your skills and qualifications

Make a list of your skills that match the skills in the target jobs

Write your resume focusing on these job titles

Include the skills that are needed for the government contract work

Apply for jobs by sending resumes, or submitting to a resume builder

Try to meet people who work for these agencies—join organizations, go to picnics, talk to everyone. Try to get any inside information on what the contractors are doing for the agencies.
The steps here closely follow Ten Steps to a Federal Job and the Jobseeker Guide published by The Resume Place. For more insight into federal job search, keyword and core competency analysis, federal and electronic resume writing, consider these publications with CD-ROM with samples and templates.
Need help with your federal application? Try our ASSESSMENT & ESTIMATE SERVICE for professional writing. www.resume-place.com We can help you get hired!
You have permission to forward this email to other federal or contractor jobseekers and customers.
Copyright 2003, K. Troutman, www.resume-place.com