Module 5: Federal Government Job Search and Application

1
Module 5 Federal Government Job Search and
Application
2
Introduction and Learning Objectives

• Learn how to look for jobs with the federal
  government
• Learn more about hiring categories
• Understand veteran and spouse preferences
• Learn how to apply for a federal government job,
  to include filling out job applications
• Learn how to construct Knowledge, Skills, and
  Abilities (KSAs) statements

3
How Federal Government Jobs Are Filled

• How the Federal Government fills jobs
• Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
• Differences in federal vs. civilian hiring
• Today
• OPM no longer maintains registers of eligibles
• Applicants can mail, fax their résumé, or apply
  online using their résumé in My USAJOBS
• Job seekers do not need a rating from OPM to
  apply for non-clerical vacancies
• Only a few positions require a written test
• The SF-171 is obsolete

4
Classes of Jobs

• Competitive Service
• Subject to the civil service laws passed by
  Congress
• Selecting officials have broader authority to
  review more than one applicant source
• Excepted Service
• Set their own qualification requirements
• Subject to veterans' preference
• Only option at certain
• federal agencies (FBI and CIA)

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Eligibility for Federal Government Employment

• For competitive service positions, agencies can
  choose from
• A competitive list of eligibles
• A list of eligibles who have civil service status
  
• A list of eligibles that qualify for a special
  noncompetitive appointing authority established
  by law or executive order
• See Hiring Categories handout

6
Veterans Preference for Employment

• Recognizes the economic loss suffered by citizens
  who have served their country in uniform in times
  of strife
• Restores veterans to a favorable competitive
  position for Government employment
• Acknowledges the larger obligation owed to
  disabled veterans
• How do you determine your
• Veterans Preference
• category?

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Veterans Preference for Employment (cont.)

• How do you determine your Veterans Preference
  category?
• Veterans Preferences handout
• Veterans Preference Advisor at
  http//www.dol.gov/elaws/vets/vetpref/choice.htm
• Veterans Info Guide at http//www.opm.gov/veteran
  s/html/vetguide.asp
• The http//jobsearch.usajobs.gov/veteranscenter/
  section of the USAJOBS Web site

8
Spouse Employment

• Military Spouse Preference
• Apply 30 days before to six months after
  sponsor's relocation regardless of information
  listed under the Who May Apply section
• Meet another hiring category (Veterans
  Recruitment Appointment, reinstatement eligible,
  etc.)
• Enter the date of sponsor relocation and the
  location of the new duty station in the Others
  block under Additional Information of My Resume
• Provide copies
• Sponsor's Permanent Change of Station orders
• Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50

9
Where to Locate Federal Government Jobs

• See Federal Job Listing Web Sites handout
• Additional Resources

10
How to Search for a Federal Government Job

• Visit the Tutorial on the USAJOBS Web site
• http//www.usajobs.gov/firsttimers.asp
• step-by-step process of how to search for
  federal government jobs
• See How to Search for Federal
  Government Jobs handout

11
Creating an Account

• See How to Create an Account handout
• Review the steps in the handout
• step 7 Creating a Résumé

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Building Your Federal Résumé

• USAJOBS Resume Builder
• Allows you to create one uniform résumé
• Work Smart build your résumé once, use for all
  job opportunities
• Existing resume
• Form OF-612
• See Resume Builder Tutorial handout

Use the Resume Builder Tutorial on the USAJOBS
Web site for a step-by-step guide on how to
develop your federal résumé
13
Résumé and KSA Tips

• Attend the Résumé and Cover Letters class offered
  by the CRMC
• Pay attention to keywords
• Study job announcements
• Remember
• Just one keyword can have tremendous power and
  deliver a huge message
• A single keyword communicates multiple skills
  and qualifications

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Résumé and KSA Tips (Cont.)

• Be concise
• Sell yourself
• Be judicious
• Use numbers to highlight your accomplishments

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How to View Announcements

• Reference USAJOBS Web site tutorial for the steps
  of viewing job announcements
• See How to View Announcements and Apply for Jobs
  handout
• Steps 1 through 11

16
Applying for Jobs Online

• See How to View Announcements and Apply for Jobs
  handout
• Steps 12 through 21
• Provides details on how to apply for federal
  government jobs directly from the USAJOBS Web site

17
Using the Job Search Agent

• Identifies the types of jobs and locations for
  employment you are interested in
• Searches the database of jobs for matches
• Notifies you when future jobs are posted that
  match your profile
• See Using the Job Search Agent handout

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Summary and Lessons Learned

• Today, we have
• Learned about eligibility requirements for
  federal government jobs
• Learned how and where to look for federal
  government jobs
• Learned how to apply for federal government jobs,
  using the online federal resume
• Looked at tips on how to construct a federal
  résumé and KSAs