Contact: Kathryn Troutman
(410) 744-4324

8 Tips for Federal Jobhunting in a Time of Outsourcing

by Kathryn Troutman
Monster Federal Career Coach

It's in the headlines of every national paper and online news service - government agencies, and private industry firms alike, are going through major transitions, including reorganization. For the federal government, that has brought "outsourcing." In other words, some agencies are contracting out certain work to private firms.

Jobseekers who are applying for their first federal jobs are asking, "Should I go ahead and apply for a federal job with all of this outsourcing news?" The answer is YES! At the same time, you'll want to be an informed federal jobseeker. Here are eight tips on how to proceed.

1. Scrutinize the breaking federal news to see where funds are flowing. The federal agencies that have the most money will be the ones that do the most hiring. One website to keep up with is www.whitehouse.gov. Reading its pages will give you a sense of the President's priorities. What's considered important would change dramatically if there's a different administration voted in this fall.
2. Also keep track of the agencies that are scaling back or impacted by outsourcing. Stopping by www.govexec.com and scanning its articles is one way to pinpoint the agencies in the most flux. Take particular note of the areas of government that are being considered for privatization or a study.
3. Check out the job listings on www.usajobs.opm.gov regularly. Last year, 96% of the fed's openings were posted there. Jobs announced on this official Office of Personnel Management site are filled by the agencies, and you should apply for them. Once you're an insider, you'll be eligible for more of the open positions. So if your new federal job is eventually outsourced or put on the cutting block, you'll have an advantage over outside applicants in applying for government work.
4. Don't skip over the "temporary" positions. One of the current trends in the federal scene is for many jobs to be slanted as temporary. This gives agencies more flexibility in moving employees around. Still temporary positions could last for six months, a year, be renewed annually, or even continue for two or four years. If you wish, you can start looking around once you're inside.
5. Go after one to two federal jobs a week. Once you have a strong resume written in the federal format and some KSAs (Knowledge, Skills and Ability statements), you can adjust them for your targeted openings. Upping your chances makes sense in any job environment, but it's particularly important when more government employees are competing with you.
6. Stay cutting edge in your training before and after you are hired. It's important to keep your skills up. Coursework desirable in government includes leadership skills, teamwork, organizational development, EEO, languages, customer service, writing and public speaking. Computer knowledge is sought too, such as familiarity with PowerPoint, HTML, Access, Excel, or any new software popular in your work area.
7. Be open to a career change. You'll spot more opportunities after learning how to analyze your skills, interpret the vacancy announcements, and creatively match your background to what's available. For instance, former teachers often think about working for the feds. While it's natural to apply for federal teaching positions (usually called Trainer), taking the time to think through their skills base would enable transitioning teachers to recognize additional possibilities. Jobs suitable for a teacher could include Researcher, Legislative Analyst, Writer/Editor, Curriculum Developer and Instructional Specialist.
8. Use networking as a way to spot hot job categories and expanding agencies. Networking can help you discover hidden areas of growth beyond the headlines. Start to develop your network through people you know, and then widen it by attending relevant conferences and joining professional associations. Networking is one of the most important ways that people land their new positions with Uncle Sam.

Don't let recent headlines about outsourcing scare you away from the federal job scene. Even with outsourcing, the federal government still hired 250,000 new hires last year! Outsourcing just means that you'll need to stay ahead of the curve. One method of staying smart is by posting questions to me at The Resume Place’s New Federal Job Search Forum: http://www.federalresumeplace.com/forum/. Come join us!

For more info, visit www.resume-place.com or call 888-480-8265 or 410-744-4324.