Courses

Federal Resumes and KSAs

This course curriculum has been taught more than 1,000 times in 200 agencies US-wide. Very popular, interactive, and extremely effective.

See sample handout »

Course Outline

• Accomplishments: what they are and how they differ from an everyday duty
• Write 2 accomplishments and share with a small group
• Create a list of accomplishments
• Match the accomplishments to possible KSAs, essays, and competencies
• Practice and expand the accomplishment into a story-telling format: Context, Challenge, Action, Results
• Review KSA and essay writing strategies

Behavior-Based Interviewing

This practical, hands-on course uses role-playing and class discussion to give participants the key skills needed to successfully prepare for the behavior-based interview format: preparing for the interview, practicing proper interview techniques, and effectively communicating your skills and accomplishments.

Course Outline

• Intro to behavior-based interviews
• 8 steps to prepare for a behavior-based interview
• Write an accomplishment / response to a typical behavior-based interview question
• Practice and role-play the response in three interview situations: one-on-one, panel interview, and telephone interview
• Interview style tips: articulate speaking, smile, hand-shake, body-language, physical presence, interviewer’s attention.
• Learn how to overcome a difficult interview scenario
• Increase confidence and positive-thinking through practice, practice, practice!

USAJOBs Federal Resume Writing

This fast-moving, effective, interactive, action-oriented course can result in a total resume format change to create an effective federal resume. The new outline format is based on an outline of the applicant’s skills and is easy to understand, focus, and write. Highly effective program and unique curriculum.

Course Outline

• Learn the difference between a duty and an accomplishment
• Analyze vacancy announcements for keywords, skills, and specialized experience
• Create your outline format based on the announcement analysis
• Write your federal resume based on your top level skills
• Highlight core competencies as value-added skills

SES ECQ Writing

Executives have many examples of their accomplishments in their career. The challenge is to write them on paper in the established OPM format: Context, Challenge, Action, and Results (CCAR). Get started and inspired on how to write your best accomplishments in an impressive, concise style that will result in great success with OPM’s Executive Review Board.

Course Outline

• Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)
• How to convert your top accomplishments into ECQs
• 27 leadership competencies and characteristics
• Context, Challenge, Action, and Results Writing Formula
• Executive, active-voice writing style
• Keywords and language for executives

Writing Your NSPS Self-Assessment

Based on the book Writing Your NSPS Self-Assessment, 2nd Edition, by Kathryn Troutman and Nancy Segal. Dennis V. Damp, Author of The Book of U.S. Government Jobs – 10th edition, and Retired FAA Manager writes about this book: “This indispensible guide helps Department of Defense (DOD) employees understand their new performance management system and write functional NSPS Self-Assessments. Authors Kathryn Troutman and Nancy Segal present clear and concise guidance for this often complex process and help workers achieve higher ratings and increased pay … I wish this book was available when I was a federal manager. It is required reading for any employee that is under a pay for performance system.”

Course Outline

• Understand how to use SMART to create good job objectives
• Learn how to pick an appropriate Contributing Factor
• See how job objectives are used in rating performance
• Understand Benchmark Descriptors and Performance Indicators
• Learn to monitor and track performance for self-assessments
• See how self-assessments are used by the Pay Pool

Developing Your Federal Career Path

This course will inspire federal employees to recognize that they do have a Federal Career Path that involves planning, research, discussion with their supervisor, and recognition of opportunities. Help employees to keep track of accomplishments and request training courses that will enhance skills and improve communication with supervisors.

Course Outline

• Why is an IDP is important for your future?
• IDP development, negotiation strategies, and supervisory communications
• Thinking about the future: courses, competencies, projects, details, and other opportunities
• Accomplishments and KSAs: tracking accomplishments and writing accomplishments in the popular CCAR format
• Interview Preparation: anticipating most common interview questions and analyzing an announcement to match your skills to the position

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