Posted in Federal Job Search, Federal Resume Writing, KSA Writing
by Kathryn Troutman on May 23rd, 2011 | No Comments - Make a comment »
REGISTER FOR KATHRYN TROUTMAN’S HIRING REFORM WEBINAR ON JUNE 3, 2011!
One year ago, John Berry, Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and President Obama made bold moves to improve the application process for federal jobseekers by eliminating the dreaded Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) narratives from federal applications. Kathryn Troutman and The Resume Place, the leading experts in Federal Resume Writing and Career Consulting, witness firsthand the effects and confusion that government job applicants face regarding Federal Hiring Reform and the supposed elimination of KSAs in federal applications. Receive advice and tips from Ms. Troutman and The Resume Place on how to handle KSAs in the federal resume with the newly published fifth edition of the “Federal Resume Guidebook.”
Federal Resume Guidebook, 5th Edition by Kathryn Troutman
It’s no secret that the federal application process is a daunting task for most jobseekers, especially considering that applying for federal jobs is a totally different beast than applying to positions in the private industry. The separate KSA narratives required to apply for government jobs have kept many highly qualified applicants from applying for these positions. The Resume Place provides expert advice regarding federal resume writing and how to deal with KSAs in the applications for federal positions.
One year ago, President Obama published an Executive Order mandating human resources specialists eliminate the dreaded Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) narratives from the first-time federal application by November, 2011.
On Thursday May 19, 2011, Kathryn Troutman addressed the National Press Club to discuss how the lingering effects of the recession combined with the Obama administration’s reform of the federal hiring process, has resulted in more Americans than ever applying for federal positions.
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Posted in Federal Job Search, Federal Resume Writing, KSA Writing, Vet Federal Resumes
by Kathryn Troutman on May 19th, 2011 | No Comments - Make a comment »
For federal workers affected by Base Relocation and Closure (BRAC), the Priority Placement Program (PPP) provides career transition assistance. The PPP is a 45-year old career transition assistance service that retains and reassigns federal workers to relevant positions if a worker is unable to relocate to a new agency location or the position is eliminated. The PPP has proven effective and has placed more than 250,000 federal employees to date. The PPP human resources specialists will review your resume, qualifications, specialized experience KSAs, option codes, grade and series to assist with career transition.
Many BRAC-affected Department of Defense (DOD) workers send their resumes to the PPP to help land a new federal position. This resume, needed for the PPO service, is similar to the USAJOBS federal resume, but there are distinct differences. The tips below will help you maximize the services of the PPP human resources specialist in locating a position for you.
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Posted in Federal Resume Writing, KSA Writing, www.USAJOBS.gov
by Kathryn Troutman on May 16th, 2011 | No Comments - Make a comment »
Federal Hiring Reform, which is to be implemented by Nov. 8, 2011, includes a directive that human capital officers should “eliminate all requirements of separate narratives from initial applications.” Most federal vacancy announcements are compliant and do not require separate written narratives for Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) in initial applications. However, most vacancy announcements are still including KSAs for open positions and advising that you include accomplishments in your resume that demonstrate your KSAs. These mini-KSA narratives, or “KSA accomplishments,” demonstrate that you are best qualified for a certain position.
The big challenge of adding KSA accomplishments into your USAJOBS federal resume is space. Each work experience section in the USAJOBS Resume Builder allows 3,000 characters, including spaces. You have to decide how much space will be dedicated to your keywords, duties and responsibilities, and how much will be dedicated to your KSA accomplishments. How do you describe an impressive KSA accomplishment when you may have been in your position for 5 to 10 years? Last week, during a federal resume writing class I recommended that applicants write 1,500 characters about their job responsibilities and 1,500 characters on their KSA accomplishments, or any combination that will add up to 3,000 characters. But, both duties and KSA accomplishments are critical to get best qualified for a position.
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Posted in Federal Job Info, Federal Job Search, Federal Resume Writing
by Kathryn Troutman on December 27th, 2010 | 3 Comments - Make a comment »
As we count down to 2011, here are my Top Ten federal job search resolutions to help you get a quick jump start back into your federal job search as soon as the holiday festivities are over.
10. Get inspired! Read a book about an expertise that you have.
Find a book on a topic of interest, such as leadership, management, teamwork or supervision. If the book is inspiring, you might feel more energetic and proud of your past accomplishments – which will translate into a good mood and higher confidence. Looking for a federal job? Here’s a great list of Federal Leadership Books!
Sometimes, job interviewers will ask you what you are reading now. You better get ready for this one. Books on leadership, history, or a topic that supports your non-profit or volunteer work would be perfect for the interview (not political books).
9. Be systematic with your online job search strategies.
Keep a list of your favorite webpages, and check them every day, or, at a minimum, once a week, for positions that could be of interest.
You can waste time at the computer if you don’t have a clear list of sites that you visit regularly and search strategies that work. Limit your time on searching for jobs, so that you can move AWAY from the computer and be productive in other ways.
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Posted in Federal Resume Writing
by Kathryn Troutman on November 24th, 2010 | 1 Comment - Make a comment »
November 1 was the deadline for federal hiring reform. Finally the government has adopted a commonsense, efficient, applicant-friendly hiring system! “If only that were true,” laments federal jobs expert Kathryn Troutman of The Resume Place. Seems the changes are slow to take hold and jobseekers will need help more than ever.
Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) November 24, 2010 — Earlier in November, federal jobs expert Kathryn Troutman and her staff of federal job application consultants gathered around a cake decorated with the words: “Bye Bye KSAs!” They had come to The Resume Place to celebrate the start date for federal hiring reform. Suddenly, applying for a federal job just got easier. The government had finally adopted a commonsense, efficient, applicant-friendly hiring system that called for resumes and cover letters and scotches the dreaded KSAs, a lengthy set of demanding essays intended to show “Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.” Finally, sanity has come to the federal application system.
Bye Bye KSAs, Not So Fast!
“If only that were true,” laments Troutman.
With over 80,000 federal employees retiring or otherwise leaving the federal government each year, thousands of mission critical and management positions must be filled with the best and brightest Americans. Federal application practices, however, have many times deterred the “best qualified applicants” from seeking federal work. President Obama’s May 11 memorandum therefore called on Executive Departments and Agencies to overhaul the way they recruit and hire highly qualified employees. By the November 1 deadline, however, only three out of 240 federal agencies were ready for hiring reforms.
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