Trainer Bios

Kathryn K. Troutman
President of The Resume Place, Author, Trainer

Kathryn Troutman is a leading expert in federal jobs, a hot topic with the change of administration and the current downturn in the economy. She brings over 30 years of experience in this unique marketplace and has the ability to take the complex subject of federal job searching and break it down into understandable steps.

She is the author of the recently-released Second Edition of Ten Steps to a Federal Job: How to Get a Job in the Obama Administration, which is updated from the original 2001 issue. The first Ten Steps book was honored as the Best Career Guide of 2002 by the Publishers Marketing Association.

Troutman wrote the first book on the federal resume format in 1995 in response to the government’s move to replace the cumbersome SF-171 form with the resume. These days, she is known as the “Federal Resume Guru,” and her book, The Federal Resume Guidebook, is a best-seller and in its 4th printing. Over 100 US government agencies hire Troutman to speak as a master trainer each year, and her presentations on writing federal resumes are popular.

Troutman has been interviewed by both national print and electronic media outlets on how to get a job in the Federal (and Obama) administration. Troutman is also a columnist for eight online federal and military employment websites.

In addition, Troutman is a trainer’s trainer. She has established two certification programs for career counselors on federal job searching. A licensed curriculum, based on her Ten Steps, is taught around the world.

Troutman’s message is that there are many desirable federal jobs, but you must know the right way to apply. Featured in the 2nd edition of Ten Steps to a Federal Job are 24 jobseekers who took her recommended steps and landed their dream jobs with Uncle Sam.

Besides federal employment, Troutman also with speaks passionately on “Staying Successful with a Small Business and Women Entrepreneurs.” Troutman’s firm, the Resume Place, has been in business for over 25 years, and she and the company continue to grow and evolve.

Read more about Kathryn K. Troutman »

Sandra Keppley
Federal Human Resources Instructor

Sandy Keppley comes to The Resume Place as a Human Resources Professional with over 25 years of solid experience as a manager, supervisor, team leader and technical professional in the field of Human Capital Management. Sandy began her Federal career in the clerical field at one of the lowest levels, GS-2. Through years of diligence, self improvement, and hard work, she recently retired as Director, Labor Employee Relations at Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. at the GS-15 level.

Her career spans various Federal environments such as Navy Supply, Army installations, Army Research and Development, Army Corps of Engineers, and Department of Labor, and she uses her knowledge of professional, scientific, administrative, clerical and trades occupations to help Resume Place clients present their qualifications effectively. Her own experience in leadership, human resources management, team and partnership building, and problem solving allows her to inspire applicants to develop application content on their own accomplishments. She also has experience in labor and employee relations (union and non-union); alternate dispute resolution; position management and classification; training; staffing; workers compensation; performance management; employee benefits; and employee recognition; she is a certified mediator.

Sandy’s expertise in federal application writing includes the federal resume as well as KSA narratives and self-assessment questions. She has comprehensive knowledge of automated staffing mechanisms such as RESUMIX, and has extensive first-hand experience with the federal hiring process.