Looking Forward to More Federal Jobs for First-Timers in 2010

Looking Forward to More Federal Jobs for First-Timers in 2010 Looking Forward to More Federal Jobs for First-Timers in 2010 Looking Forward to More Federal Jobs for First-Timers in 2010 Looking Forward to More Federal Jobs for First-Timers in 2010 By Kathryn Troutman, Author, Ten Steps to a Federal Job, 2nd ed.. President, www.resume-place.com, Federal Career and Federal Resume  Writing Services, Established 1973 Lots of people have friends and relatives who have safe, wonderful jobs in the government. Most of these jobseekers are currently out of work, or almost out of work. Everybody knows that the application process for a federal job is complex, difficult, daunting, burdensome and every agency has their own way of applying. BUT THE GOVERNMENT JOBS ARE AMAZINGLY GOOD. So, I predict the following changes in attitude (acceptance), writing and application strategies toward finding and landing a federal job by first-timers who REALLY NEED A GOOD, STABLE JOB! 1. Jobseekers will accept the complex announcements and become federal job announcement interpreters and background researchers. In order to understand a federal job announcement, a federal jobseeker must look up an agency or office mission to read a job announcement in context. Heres my advice: If you find an announcement that seems right for your qualifications, do some background study on the announcement or office. Interpret the words in the job announcements, so they can apply for the job successfully. As an example, for the Contact Representative job announcement, many agencies need Contact Representatives to talk by phone to the American Public who need help with Medicare, Taxes, Financial Aide, Passports, Immigration, and other government services. The Contact Representative job is a very good entry-level position and is quite similar to a Customer Services Representative for a corporation or business. Here is a complicated duty statement and specialized experience for the Contact Representative: The incumbent will provide technical assistance to individuals and/or businesses primarily through telephone interaction in a dynamic call center environment, and/or face-to-face contact. My interpretation of this duty: You will talk on the phone or see people in person; answer questions and be very busy. Your federal resume could include description similar to this one if you want to provide that you have this specialized experience: Communicate daily by phone or in-person with more than xx customers who inquire about products, services and problem. Listen to the information provided, research their inquiry in our databases, interpret rules and regulations as needed, and resolve problems. Refer some problems as needed to supervisors efficiently. Ensure customer satisfaction and attention to detail. Recognize priority and critical situations and use diplomacy to resolve complex problems. 2. Jobseekers can learn how to apply by practicing applying for federal jobs. It just takes practice to get good at anything sports, cooking, computer skills. Same with applying for federal jobs. It takes practice and learning the hard way. Heres my advice for practicing: Practice applying for federal jobs. Practice applying for jobs that are NOT perfect for you, or maybe they are perfect, but expect to make mistakes in applying. This way you will be ready to apply correctly for the perfect job. Or apply for a job in a state where you dont want to live. And if you are referred to the position, you can wait and see what happens. If you do get an interview (amazing), you can decide what to do then. 3. Write your federal resume with federal job announcement keywords and learn how to paraphrase an announcement. First-timers cant believe that the federal resume is on average two times the length of a private industry resume. An average federal resume IS 4 pages.  The reason the federal resume is longer, is that the resume needs to show that you have the skills for the position in writing! That means, more words, more descriptions in your federal resume. Heres my advice for changing your language and writing style for your federal resume: Select your best vacancy announcement from USAJOBS. Go to the Duties section. Read the first 5 sentences and select 5 keywords that are nouns or verbs. Add these words to your resume if they are true and you can add them.   The language of federal jobs is different than private industry job descriptions. In order to successfully go federal, you have to interpret your skills into federal language. The USAJOBS announcement for a Program Assistant includes this set of duties:   The incumbent will research, gather, assemble, analyze and consolidate program information to support organizational goals; analyze documents to ensure distribution, consolidation of comments, and needed follow-up action. Your private industry resume might include this sentence: Research information and analyze documents for projects; compile information for comments. Your federal resume should include a more detailed sentence, paraphrasing the announcement: Gather, analyze and research data for project review. Organize information to support project objectives. Prepare documents for distribution and final comments. Follow-up and handle details for project completion.