Transcript Interviewing and Proper Dress

Federal Application Workshop
for Veterans
“How to Apply for Federal Employment”
Presented by
Don Froman
Jorge McCall
Section 1 - INTRODUCTION
1). Federal Facts
2). Where are these Jobs?
3). Why Apply for Federal Jobs?
4). Mobility
5). Veterans Preference
6) Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
FEDERAL FACTS
 Federal
Government is the largest employer
in the U.S.
 7,500 to 20,000 jobs open at one time.
 In the next 5 -7 years, 60% of the Federal
workforce will retire.
 In most agencies, age is not an issue.
 Veterans receive special consideration.
Where ARE These Jobs?
Federal Agencies located in the
Coachella Valley
Dept. of Agriculture  Social Security Admin.
 Dept. of Commerce
 Dept. of Transportation
 FBI
 Dept. of Homeland
Security
 IRS
 Dept. of the Interior  US Postal Service
 Veterans Administration
 Dept. of Labor
 Small Business Admin.

Why Apply for Federal
Employment?
Benefits





Healthcare
Sick Leave
Vacation
Paid Holidays
Pay Increases
 Retirement
 Buy Military Time
 Savings Plan
 Rate of Pay
Healthcare
Choose from a multitude of plans to fit your needs
Sick Leave
4 hours per pay period, 2.5 weeks per year
Vacation / Annual Leave
With 3 years of service, you earn 6 hours
per pay period. This is 4 hours shy of 4
weeks per year!!!!!
Paid Holidays
10 Paid Holidays per year, which is 2 more
weeks off per year!
Do the math, you only work 10 ½ months
per year.
Scheduled Pay Increases
Annual increases
Based on your anniversary date (date of hire)
Retirement
You can purchase your military time to add
to your retirement.
Retirement is based on your 3 highest grades.
Thrift Savings Plan
Allows you to invest up to 15% of your
salary which is taken off the top of your
paycheck.
This reduces your taxable income.
Catch-up contributions available to TSP
participants age 50 or older.
Rate of Pay
Generally speaking, rate of pay is higher
than the local economy.
Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA),
additional money that is based on the local
economy.
Example: Palm Springs’ COLA is 21.5%
MOBILITY
Location preference
Making grade and pay
VETERANS PREFERANCE
Veterans have preference over the general
public.
5-point preference
10-point preference
less than 30% Service-Connected Disabled (SCD)
30% SCD or more
SPECIAL HIRING
AUTHORITIES
Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA)
30% SCD or more
Veterans Employment Opportunity Act
(VEOA) of 1998
Veterans Recruitment
Appointments (VRA)
Eligibility Criteria
discharged under other than dishonorable
conditions
 recognized periods or campaigns
Time Limit
NONE
Grade limit
Up to GS-11
30% or More Disabled
Eligibility
• self-explanatory
Time Limit
• NONE
 NO Grade limit
Veterans Employment
Opportunity Act of 1998
Allows eligible veterans to apply for
positions announced under merit promotion
(which closes it to the general public) when
the agency is recruiting from outside its
own workforce. (Agency means the parent
agency, i.e. Treasury, not the IRS)
Introduction (End)
Questions, Concerns ?
SECTION 2 - STARTING YOUR
FEDERAL JOB SEARCH
1). 10 Steps for Tackling Applications
2). Federal Vacancy Announcements
3). Searching through USAJobs
4). Searching an Agency’s Official Website for
Vacancy Announcements
10 Tips for
Federal Applications
1. Identify and apply for appropriate Federal
positions
2. Read and follow all directions
3. Choose application format
4. Keep it simple, but detailed
5. Be honest
10 Tips for
Federal Applications (cont.)
6). Type your application
7). Avoid using shortcuts in the application
8). Keep it easy to read
9). Review your application before sending
10). Modify application for each position you
apply for
1). Identify and apply for Federal positions
 Identify jobs you’re interested in and qualified for
 Every job has a full vacancy announcement
 USA Jobs is the official Federal website
All announcements have contact information if
you are unsure or have questions
2). Read and Follow All Directions
Qualifications, Requirements
Address all requested information
Include all supplemental forms and
documents
Include all other qualifications
Questions? Call the POC for the
announcement
3). Choose an Application Format
Most agencies offer you choice of
applications in the form of a resume,
Optional Application for Federal
Employment (OF-612), or online application
It is YOUR responsibility to include all
requested information
Supplement the resume with additional info
as outlined in job announcement
3). Choose an Application Format (cont.)
Keep in mind, your application paves the
road for your KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, &
Abilities)
For accurate dates, request employment
history from Social Security
Requirements differ between agencies; read
& follow instructions in each Job
announcement
4). Keep it simple, but detailed
Application should be thorough, detailed, and
clearly depict experience, education, and
qualifications.
Use percentages to account for experience
Use past-tense action verbs; accomplishments stand
out. Do NOT just state duties
Use key words from vacancy announcements
Do NOT use civilian industry jargon, acronyms, or
company specific terminology; govt. jargon OK
5). Answer Truthfully
Do NOT over-inflate your experience,
knowledge, education, or qualifications
You will certify the accuracy of information
provided
False or fraudulent info may be grounds for
not hiring or firing after hired, and
May be punishable by fine or imprisonment
6). Type Your Application
Your application is your first impression
It should NOT be handwritten
All forms can be downloaded and typed out
on www.opm.gov
Use Quick ‘n’ Easy Application software;
next section will cover Quick ‘n’ Easy
7). Avoid Using Shortcuts on
Application
Do NOT attach position descriptions to document
your experience.
Do NOT assume HR knows your job because they
don’t.
Put your experience in your own words,
highlighting what you did not what was expected.
Use %’s.
Need extra space? Attach response on plain paper.
8). Keep It Easy To Read
Two individuals will review your app. & determine if
you meet the qualifications
Do NOT submit messy, wordy, or too much
information on your application
Be Clear, Concise, and to the Point
Leave white space.
Highlight key points using bold or underlining,
(NOT in Resumix; Army & Navy)
9). Review Before Sending
Review, review, review
Proofread for typos, grammar, punctuation, etc.
Ensure all requested forms are attached;
DD-214, college transcripts, SF-15 for veterans
preference, etc.
Failure to submit all requested documents will
mean disqualification
10). Modify Applications
Using the same application over and over
will hurt you
Modify application for each position you
apply for highlighting outlined requirements
KSAs or qualifications must be linked back
to employment & education
Quick ‘n’ Easy Application software will
help tremendously
USAJobs
&
Federal Vacancy
Announcements
40
41
43
Federal Vacancy Announcements
Name of agency and office
Title of job and grade level
Opening and closing dates
Location of the job
Who can apply
Qualifications required for the job
How to Apply
Point of Contact
Section 2 - END
Questions, Concerns ?
Section 3 - Federal Applications,
Resumes, & Other Forms
1).
2).
3).
4).
5).
6).
7).
Federal Resume vs. Private Industry Resume
4 Common Application Methods
OPM website
Create your Own Federal-style Resume
Quick & Easy software
Application Resume
SF - 15, Award Letters
Differences between
the
Federal Resume
and
Private Industry
Resumes
Private Industry Resumes





Goal is to get an interview
1 page, never more than 2 pages
Hit the highlights, forget the detail
Hiring decision comes after interview
No compliance details, i.e.. SSN, Supervisor’s
name, Supervisor’s phone, Veterans Preference
 Does not require KSAs
Federal Resume
Hiring decision based almost completely on
resume (interviews are optional most times)
No limit (3-4 pages at least)
Use government jargon
Must include compliance details, i.e.. SSN,
Supervisor’s name, Supervisor’s phone,
Veterans Preference
Lays the foundation for your KSAs
3 Common
Application Methods
1).
Optional Form 612 (OF – 612)
2).
USAJobs Resume Builder
3).
Agency’s Resume Builder
1). Optional Form 612 (OF – 612)
Most commonly used application method
Recommended for new employees
Is a great method because it contains all
requirements for most agencies
Can be downloaded off of www.opm.gov
Save form on computer
2). USAJobs Resume Builder
A preset format offered by USAJobs
Very easy to use
Must create a username and password
Must include a catchy Profile Statement
3). Agency’s Resume Builder
Some agencies offer their own Resume
Builder: DON and DOA
Artificial Intelligence that reads your skills
from your resume
Formatted or create your own resume
Create Your Own
Federal-style Resume
Alternative to the 3 Common Application
Methods.
Follow the guidelines on the OF – 510,
page 32.
Follow all procedures from Vacancy
Announcement – it may require additional
info not included on the OF – 510, i.e.
transcripts.
Basic Fundamentals
Regardless of which Application Method
you use remember:




Must be typed
Proofread for errors
Read instruction, submit ALL required
information
Do NOT staple
“QUICK ‘ N ‘ EASY”
The Quick & Easy software will help you
through the federal application maze with these
templates:
 OF-612
 Resumix Resume
 Federal Style Resume
 SF-15
 SF-181
 OF-306
 OPM 1170/17
 and much more...
“QUICK ‘ N ‘ EASY”
Other features include:




Built in word processor
Spell-checker and Thesaurus
Built-in email and fax capabilities
Automatic conversions from one template to
another with the click of a button
Standard Form 15 (SF – 15)
This is the Application for 10-points
Veterans Preference
Verifies that you have a Service-Connected
Disability (SCD)
Ensure you submit official VA Award Letter
dated 1991 or later
VA Award Letters
If you have an SCD, ensure it is dated 1991
or later from the Department of Veteran
Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed
Forces.
If outdated, call VA at 1-800-827-1000.
They can expedite the award letter.
“Adjudicating”
your Application
Step 1 – HR checks your application for
completeness (many people don’t make it past
this point)
Step 2 – HR or computer screens your application.
Hiring Official sorts into either Best Qualified,
Qualified, or Not Qualified
Step 3 – KSA Rating and Ranking, Veterans
preference comes in at this point
Section 3 - End
Questions, Concerns ?
Section 4 - KSAs, Background,
1). Writing Effective KSAs
2). Background / Credit Check
66
KSAs #1
KSAs are AS important as the application
itself!
You should always check the KSAs first
before applying for the position. If you
cannot demonstrate having performed the
KSAs in the past, you will not qualify.
KSAs #2
The experience/job you cite in KSA MUST
be listed on the application as well,
regardless of how long ago or whether it
was volunteer experience
Read the job announcement carefully! You
must understand the needs of the job in
order to weave your own experience into the
KSA.
KSA #3
Position - Identify the position you held, where,
and with who
Task - (KSA such as being able to write
effectively) Identify what your particular
responsibility was, i.e. detailed monthly reports,
evaluations, etc.
Action - What you did, how often. Be specific!
Results - Did anything noteworthy come of it ?
KSA#4
At the end of each KSA, enter the
percentage of time (5%) that you performed
that particular task
As a separate bullet or paragraph, enter
pertinent training, awards, recognition, etc.
Do not be afraid to toot your own horn.
This is your chance…no one else will do it
for you.
KSA #5
REMEMBER…..keep copies of your
KSAs. After you spend so much time
creating them, you don’t want to have to
recreate them for another position
These KSAs are used over and over again
in federal job announcements.
You Got The Job! Now they want
a BACKGROUND CHECK
In every federal position, a background
investigation is conducted.
Criminal record….depending on the
conviction, how long ago, and surrounding
circumstances. It does not automatically
rule you out, BUT it will be scrutinized!
If the position is sensitive, the background
check may be up to 14 pages long.
Background Check
Your credit will also be looked at. The
government wants to know that they are
hiring someone who takes responsibility for
the debts they incur.
 Bankruptcy will not rule you out, BUT a
current bad rating may.
Background Check #2
The background is intense and may take up
to two or more years to complete!
When you fill out the background survey,
you MUST be able to verify all information
with an individual, their address, and phone
number
You CANNOT repeat an individual’s name
on the survey. THIS is very, very hard.
Background Check #3
Under any circumstance… DO NOT LIE!
If your background reveals that you lied,
you may be terminated and will be escorted
off the federal premises immediately.
Section 4 - End
Questions, Concerns ?
Federal Application Workshop
Conclusion
It is pretty clear to see that the Federal
Application process can be an
overwhelming affair!
 The REWARD for your great effort, is a
promising career with:

–
–
–
Higher average pay
greater benefits
and better job security.