Volume Number 4   -   Issue Number 6   -   October, 2006
 
 

  FEDERAL CAREER CORNER - OCTOBER 2006  


NEWSLETTER CONTENTS

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  From Kathryn Troutman …

Hello Federal Jobseekers, Colleagues, and Friends,

It’s been a few months since we published the Federal Career Corner newsletter! Why? Three major book projects, plus a new Trainer’s PowerPoint, and a new cover for the Military to Federal Career Guide – the Navy Fatigue “leg”.

Jobseeker Guide 2nd Edition Released


The Jobseeker Guide, Ten Steps to a Federal Job, 2nd Edition is NOW PUBLISHED. This was a 3-year project. This book is still two-color, easy to read, and a great workshop handout. The Jobseeker Guide is a workbook used in military transition centers worldwide. There is also new PowerPoint available for trainers. Emily Troutman rolled out the new publication at RAF Alconbury, England in August. Available now.

The Federal Resume Guidebook, 4th Edition – coming April of next year! I am working on this book RIGHT NOW. The new edition will have loads of new material and will focus on the electronic federal resume, USAJOBS, new essay questions (slightly different than KSAs), and core competencies. Look for a lot of new content.

Resumes for Dummies, 5th Edition, by Joyce Lain Kennedy, Wiley Publishers. The Resume Place, Inc. was contracted to produce all 47 sample resumes for this book. The resume coordination was managed by Sarah Blazucki, and it was a big project. The 5th Edition will be available in April 2006.

New Military to Federal Career Guide – Navy Fatigue cover – same book, new cover:


HOT FED JOB NEWS

  • Immigration, customs agency may be headed for hiring spree —
    2,000 or more new hires! Read More

FEATURE ARTICLE BY KATHRYN TROUTMAN


The New Self-Assessment Questions for Federal Jobs
by Kathryn Troutman, Monster Federal Career Coach™

Just when you got those pesky knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) statements under your belt when applying to federal government jobs, a new trend has emerged: Self-assessment questions.

Also called job-specific questions, self-assessment questions are found in increasing numbers of government agencies' applications. They will be new to many federal job seekers, but don't be put off. These questions are intended to simplify the federal application process by replacing KSA job-element statements. Familiarize yourself with their format to ensure you answer them to your best advantage.
Example of a Self-Assessment Question + Essay Question

Vacancy Information
Hiring Organization: Environmental Protection Agency
Announcement Number: Reg 9-MP-2007-0001
Position: Human Resources Specialist, GS-201-11 / 12
Series/Grade: GS-0201-11/12

2. On the job, I have or I do perform technical tasks and deliver products and services for the following:

Check all that apply
    1. Classification
    2. Staffing
    3. Performance Management
    4. Compensation
    5. Recruitment
    6. Labor relations
    7. Employee relations
    8. Benefits
    9. Employee Development
    10. Automated HR systems
    11. I do not have or do not meet any of the choices above

3. Please describe your experiences in each of the areas that you have checked above. (Please begin each response by indicating the number of the area that you are describing.)

    (Essay Question)

The Purpose of Self-Assessment Questions

These are really pre-interview questions to determine job eligibility. Your resume, as well as your responses to the core and self-assessment questions, are integral in determining your basic and specialized qualifications for the position.
Self-assessment questions can ask for responses that include: "Yes/No," "True/False" and "Check All That Apply." They also can require you to rate your skill level on a scale of 1 through 5 (5 usually being the highest). All questions relate to the duties and specialized experience required for the job.
It is important to know that if you are well-qualified for the job, you should rate yourself at the highest level. If you can't score yourself at a 4 or 5, think carefully about whether you should apply for the job, as HR specialists will be interested in top candidates only.

Examples, Please

You can browse samples of self-assessment questions in FBI job announcements. Go to the FBI job website, and choose to browse job listings -- with or without registering. Then open one of the announcements, scroll to the bottom and click "View Vacancy Questions." There, you will see question requests for essays and self-assessment choices.
For another example, go to the IRS site, which also uses the resume and question format for applications. View their questions by choosing to browse their job listings then scrolling to "View Vacancy Questions" button at the end of each listing.

Be Ready to Back Up Your Rating

As you read the self-assessment questions, you'll find many are followed by a secondary question: "If you selected 5, please give example." Be ready to write an impressive story demonstrating your skill level in this area. Your answer should provide details about the situation or project, the challenge, your response and the results. Think of this answer as a mini-KSA, providing one excellent example that is at least a half-page long and includes supporting specifics.

Prove Your Skill Level on Your Resume

To ensure you're perceived as a good fit, you also should consider updating the language in your federal resume so it matches the application's critical elements. Make sure you demonstrate your level 5 score on your resume. Describe experience and projects that not only relate to the 5 rating in the application, but also to the job's qualifications.
This resume update is important. When considering your application, HR specialists will review your resume against your answers to verify your own assessment. High self-assessment that is not supported by information in your resume, essay responses or supporting documents may eliminate you from best-qualified status or result in a lowered HR-assessment score.

How Qualified Are You?

If you are a 4 or 5 on at least 90 percent of the questions in these applications -- there can be 10 to 30 of these questions -- you most likely will be a good candidate for the listed position.
Realize, too, that these self-assessment questions could easily arise again in your interview, so prepare yourself by printing them out. Also, be ready to discuss the examples you provided in the application, because the interviewer will be looking for these examples.
Do all this, do it well, and you'll get closer to landing that job. Good luck!

CERTIFIED FEDERAL JOB SEARCH TRAINERS (CFJTSs)


NEXT CERTIFIED FEDERAL JOB SEARCH TRAINER DATES

Nov. 15, 16, 17, 2006

Location: Loyola College, Columbia, MD

Introducing the NEW Ten Steps to a Federal Job and new PowerPoint! This 2.5 day training program is designed to teach you how to train the Ten Steps program / curriculum, as well as individual coaching and advisement service for clients in federal job search. More than 300 trainers worldwide. Get more information and register here.

Over the past few months, we have had three classes of Certified Federal Job Search trainers:


June 2006 Class - Loyola College

August 2006 Class - Alconbury U.K.

September 2006 Class - Loyola College

FREE TELECLASS WITH KATHRYN TROUTMAN


  • FREE Federal Job Search Teleclass With Kathryn Troutman
Here’s your chance to talk with THE Federal Job Expert! Listen to Kathryn's best ideas and top 5 tips for writing a winning Resumix - a breakout of Step 6 of her Ten Steps to a Federal Job. Ask questions, share stories, get ideas. This is sure to be 60 minutes of the best information you can find on writing a Resumix!

Next Teleclass:
       Thursday, November 2, 3pm - 4pm EST

Other 2006 Teleclasses:
       Monday, November 13, noon – 1pm EST
       Monday, December 4, 3pm – 4pm EST
Register now! Click here

RESUME PLACE SUCCESS STORIES – FOLKS ARE LANDING FEDERAL JOBS!


“Thank you and your staff for helping me put my "best foot" forward.  I received the GS-15 position offer from DIA. I had a great interview with them. Again, thanks for your help and ....we did it!!!”

“Just wanted you to know I got a letter saying I was found to be qualified for the Navy GS-15 job and my resume was forwarded to the selection official. I appreciate your help. Thanks.”

“I got the job as a GS-13!!!! Yeah!!!! I am sooo happy. Thank you sooo much for everything.   This is really an out of body experience for me.”

“I wanted to let you and Bill know the good news, I was notified this Monday from the Director that I received the Section Chief position in Research & Development. Thanks again for the help. Couldn't have done it without you both.”  

“This note is to let you know that I accepted a position with the Army G-1 Diversity Office. It is not a promotion, right now, but I will have more opportunities to advance in civil service. Thank you and your staff for helping me put my "best foot" forward.”  

The Resume Place writing and consulting team can assist you with all of your Federal application and career consulting needs:
http://www.resume-place.com

EMAIL THE EDITOR



Questions/suggestions/comments?   We’d love to hear from you: mailto:editor@resume-place.com.

Contact The Resume Place – http://www.resume-place.com
or call (888) 480-8265 or (410) 744 4324.

This newsletter is written to help people apply successfully to federal jobs! We appreciate recognition of our publication. You have permission to print, hand out, and forward this newsletter to co-workers or friends and use it in career centers for federal jobseekers.

The Resume Place, Inc.™, 89 Mellor Ave., Baltimore, MD 21228
Copyright © 2006, Kathryn K. Troutman, www.resume-place.com