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Posts Tagged ‘veteran federal resumes’

9/11 Inspired Ten Steps to a Federal Job

First Edition

Ten Steps First Ed

Second Edition

Ten Steps 2nd Ed

Third Edition

Ten Steps 3rd Ed

Brian Moore designed Covers for First and Second Editions. Paulina Chen designed the cover for the Third Edition.

The first edition book won Best Careers Book of the Year, Ben Franklin Award.

Did you know that the idea for the book Ten Steps to a Federal Job was essentially started because of the events of 9/11?

Starting on the day after the attack, concerned US citizens were calling our office at The Resume Place, Inc. to ask for help with applying for federal positions. We saw that Americans needed a quick step-by-step guide to federal jobs in order to understand the complex application process and successfully apply for the anti-terrorism, emergency management, and law enforcement careers. I wrote and published the first edition of Ten Steps to a Federal Job within months after Sept. 11, 2001.

US citizens would call and say, “I want to have a job that will make a difference. I want to help protect our nation’s security. I don’t want to sell computers, or cars, or financial services anymore. I want a job with a federal agency that can make a difference for America. I don’t know anything about federal jobs, but I want a job where I can help make America more secure, somehow, some way.”

Jobseekers were in a hurry to land a job where they could make a difference in America against terrorism. They wanted jobs where they could contribute their skills to new careers in security, safety, disaster preparedness, analysis, data, and communications to increase information about and reduce terrorism toward America.

Financial job seekers from the New York City financial district were calling to find new careers using the financial background that they developed for many years in NYC. Their businesses were gone, many colleagues were lost during the attacks, and thousands of jobs were wiped away. We helped many financial analysts and financial specialists relocate and redirect their careers into financial services in government agencies. Hundreds of new public service job seekers were asking about first-time federal jobs where they could make a difference. Agencies and jobs that were of the most interest were:

  1. FBI – Police and law enforcement people wanted to help the FBI track terrorists.
  2. TSA – This agency was formed very soon after 9/11, and many police personnel retired and security and law enforcement personnel flocked to TSA.
  3. FEMA – Emergency preparedness, disaster preparedness, and EMT personnel were seeking positions to take care of emergencies that may occur in America following this day.
  4. CIA, NSA, NGA – People from all walks of life were interested in intelligence positions, including language specialists, especially Arabic language speakers.
  5. DHS, including CIS, CBP – People wanted to be part of change in immigration, customs and border work to help monitor those who came to the country safety.
  6. HHS, CDC – Public interest spiked in epidemiology, biology, and forensics as related to possible terrorism in America.
  7. Military services – Thousands of brave Americans volunteered for the active duty and reserves services and would deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan for many tours over these past 10 years to protect America.

Ten Steps to a Federal Job gave thousands of patriotic, public service-oriented Americans the steps they needed to try to begin a public service career that could help improve our watchful eye against terrorism, to serve expert skills in counter-terrorism; assist with emergency preparedness; design continuity plans; and help manage disasters that we hope won’t occur.

The Ten Steps to a Federal Job curriculum is still being taught in military bases around the world to military personnel and spouses who are currently serving America to ensure the safety and security of US Citizens.

A message of sincere appreciate also goes out to the military personnel who have served for the last 10 years and sacrificed SO MUCH to protect America in Iraq and Afghanistan. We at The Resume Place, Inc. are dedicated to helping the military and public servants continue to protect the security of Americans.

Sincerely, Kathryn Troutman, Author and Publisher, Ten Steps to a Federal Job, now in 3rd edition.

10 Big Mistakes Vets Make
Applying to Federal Jobs

Military to Civilian Resumes       Military Transition       Veteran Federal Resumes

Leaving a military career after 5, 10, or 20 years is traumatic. The career transition out of military is difficult no matter what your rank. The good news is that the federal government is basically just “the other side of the desk.” You’re going to take the “hands-on” skills and technical training from your military experience and convert it over to the policy, program, support, and administration side of the work you have been doing – maybe. The first federal resume after military is your most important resume and the most complex because you will translate your skills for a new career, mission, and customer.

Veterans are perfect for federal civil service positions because of their dedication to public service, the nation’s security, specialized expertise, knowledge of certain missions, technical skills and training, leadership, dedication, work ethic, attitude and willingness to learn and start-over. What’s more, these skills allow you to add 5 or 10 preference points to your application score.

However, sometimes transitioning veterans rush through the federal application and make several mistakes when applying for public-sector jobs

TOP 10 MISTAKES

1.) I only apply for jobs on USAJOBS (or CPOL or DONHR or WHS).

If you limit your search to just one agency or website, you are truly restricting yourself.

There are at least five major sites where you can create a profile, set up a resume builder, answer questions, and apply for a federal job:

- www.usajobs.gov – The official government jobs website, includes Air Force civilian positions
- www.cpol.army.mil – The website where all Army jobs are posted and where you would apply for an Army position
- military.com/careers – A commercial site that manages resumes and job postings for federal agencies.
- www.donhr.navy.mil – The website for Navy and USMC civilian positions
- www.whs.mil – Department of Defense civilian jobs are posted here as is the resume builder and application.

2.) I only apply for jobs without KSA narratives.

If you limit your search to applications that do not require KSAs, you will cut out many job opportunities with the Departments of HHS, VA, Interior, Commerce, Justice, Labor, Transportation and others. You will need to learn how to write KSA narratives and questionnaire essays for a successful federal job search. KSAs are just examples that demonstrate you have a certain Knowledge, Skill or Ability. You can use the KSA Builder developed by The Resume Place to write your “stories” that will demonstrate that you do have a certain knowledge, skill, or ability.

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3 Great Ideas for An Impressive Veteran Resume!

Separating from the military is challenging in terms of what’s next for jobs or education … and writing a resume that translates the military experience into the next set of skills for the next career.

When Jeremy Denton (my favorite sample in the book), separated from the USMC Crew Chief after 5 years, Jeremy decided to leave the aviation and helicopter industry and apply for entry- to mid-level positions in project management, program analysis and team work. Jeremy went to college on the GI Bill and completed his a BS degree in Political Science and began his government job search toward GS 7/9 positions as a Program Analyst or Administrative Specialist.

Here are three tips for writing an excellent federal or private industry resume for former military personnel. These tips were covered in the sample resume in the book. Jeremy’s “before” resume is on the eCD-ROM. And there is an amazing turnaround with the Before resume and After Resume. Ask for the book to see the before & after.

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Federal Job Search – By the Numbers

veteran2This week I have been teaching “Federal Job Search – By the Numbers” to hundreds of current and former military personnel who are about to be separated or retired and would like to land the best government jobs in America.

My book and curriculum, Ten Steps to a Federal Job, is a favorite because of the 10 steps “campaign process” for this highly complex job search method. The curriculum is utilized in hundreds of military bases worldwide because it is easy to teach, learn, and follow.

I created the “Numbers Federal Job Search Strategy” curriculum when my daughter, Emily, and I were teaching senior NASA Engineers how to write Senior Executive Service applications. We had two days to get two ECQs written. We examined the numbers – 5 ECQs, 28 Leadership Competencies, 10 pages, 2 pages, and set time-lines for each and every writing step. In two days, the engineers had written at least two ECQs and were actually having a great time with their production and ideas.

Which numbers are your favorites? I have underlined my typical training numbers.

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Highly Successful “Ten Steps to a Federal Job” Trainer’s Certification Program Takes European Tour CFJST Training: Naples, Italy, Aug 2010

For the first time, a Federal Job Certification program goes overseas to help Fleet and Family Support Center transition counselors helping family members with job search and military career counselors who advise soldiers facing the challenges of returning home to a stalled economy.

CJFST Training, Naples, Italy Jorge Delgado, Wan Embrey, Todd Burkholder and Jose Fiallos, Command Career Counselors; Kathryn Troutman, Certified Federal Job Search Trainer Founder CFJST Training: Naples, Italy, Aug 2010

“It’s a very stressful time,” admits Jeremy Denton*, a veteran remembering his return from Iraq after serving there in the Marines. “As chaotic as being in the military might be, you knew where you were going to be. Once you’re on your own, there’s no safety net.”

It certainly is a tough time for GIs to be coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan, with the recent dismal US employment reports of 130,000 jobs lost in July. Jeremy observes, “When you transition, if you don’t have a plan, you’re going to fall on your face.”

CJFST Training, Naples, Italy

Shirley Victa, Regional Education Services Coordinator Fleet and Family Support Programs; Glovinia Harris, Regional Work / Family Life Coordinator, CNR Europe Africa & SW Asia; and Kathryn Troutman, President and Founder of The Resume Place (www.resume-place.com), have a plan for federal job search training!

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