Federal Employment Opportunities
Tracy Hilliard, M.S., HCS
Chief, Workforce Engagement Activity
Human Capital and Resource Management Office
The Charge
• "Across this country, millions of people with
disabilities are working or want to work, and
they should have access to the support and
services they need to succeed. That's why I've
asked the responsible agencies to develop new
plans and policies to help increase employment
across America for people with disabilities."
- President Barack Obama
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Agenda
• Overview
– Learning Objectives:
• After this session, participants will be able to:
• Identify federal resume and application preparation
strategies and describe how to find a Federal job
– What is in it for me?
• Successfully competing in the federal application
process; Knowing your worth!
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Topic
• Advantages to working for the Federal
government
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Federal Compensation
• Competitive Salary
• Annual and Sick Leave, plus 10 paid holidays
• Multiple Health Insurance Options
• Life Insurance
• Health savings account
• Thrift Savings Plan (pre-tax $)
• Public Transit Subsidy (non-taxable)
• Tele-work and Alternative Work Schedules
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Why work for CDC?
• Numerous career paths and locations
• Over 170 occupations to choose from
• Ability to transfer positions and learn new things!
• Atlanta, Cincinnati, Hyattsville, Morgantown, Pittsburg, Ft.
Collins, Washington DC, Spokane, Durham, New York…
• Excellent career opportunities
• Average Age of Federal Employee: 46.8
• 32.4% of CDC employees will be eligible to retire over the
next 5 years
• Great benefits , work-life balance , & reasonable
accommodations
• Our reputation speaks for itself!
• You can truly make a difference!
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So when can I start…
Wait, HOW do I start?
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Topic
• Your Federal Resume
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Building Your Federal Resume
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Creating Resume in USAJobs.gov
 The USAJOBS Resume
Builder
 Create up to 5 resumes
online.
 Create 1 complete resume
 Add up to 4 tailored
resumes
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Getting Ready
Read the vacancy announcement CLOSELY – VERY
IMPORTANT
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Read Job Vacancy
TIP
Your resume
should
showcase your
skills
and how they relate
to the job
you are seeking.
Use the terms in the
specialized
experience
statement
as your
guide.
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Getting Ready
Federal resume can be multiple pages, NOT limited
to 1 page
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Focus on Keywords
TIP
Use words and
phrases
used in
the
announcement
to describe
your jobs.
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Resume Key Words
Administered
Analyzed
Appraised
Audited
Balanced
Budgeted
Compiled
Completed
Conducted
Consulted
Coordinated
Created
Coordinated
Created
Critiqued
Decreased
Demonstrated
Designed
Developed
Directed
Documented
Edited
Enhanced
Established
Expedited
Facilitated
Financed
Generated
Improved
Implemented
Initiated
Managed
Negotiated
Organized
Planned
Presented
Prioritized
Produced
Researched
Scheduled
Supervised
Trained
Updated
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Getting Resume Started
 Federal resumes include the
following:
 Personal Information
 Work experience
 Dates and number of hours
worked per week
 Location of position and
supervisor contact
information
 Education and coursework
levels
 Other qualifications, licenses,
technical skills
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Paid and Non Paid Experience
•
•
•
•
Volunteer work
Student teaching
Student research
Participation in
professional groups
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Tools for Improving Soft Skills
 Problem Solving & Critical
Thinking
 Enthusiasm and Attitude
 Teamwork
 Networking
 Professionalism
• http://www.dol.gov/ode
p/topics/youth/softskills/
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Resume Writing Tips
• List the school, college, or university you attended, the
location, the degree or certificate awarded, the date
you received the degree or when it is expected, your
GPA.
• If the job announcement requires specific coursework,
list the coursework and indicate whether semester or
quarter hours.
• You can also include any
•
•
•
•
•
Academic honors/awards
Extracurricular activities
Presentations, projects, papers, and publications
Trainings, workshops, conferences.
Certifications and licenses (include dates and State where awarded)
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Resume Writing Tips
• When you're finished, ask yourself the following
questions:
• Would someone who is not familiar with my
occupational background understand the kind of work I
do?
• Is there nonessential information (nice to have, but not
helpful in meeting mandatory qualification
requirements) in what I have written?
• Have I omitted any relevant experience or skills I possess
that might distinguish me from other candidates if my
resume reaches the desk of a selecting official?
• Have I adequately described major characteristics of my
occupation or background and skills that are most
common to my occupation?
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Topic
• Finding Federal Jobs
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Where to Find Federal Jobs
• Persons with disabilities
– Can apply to open vacancies at USAJOBS
web site
– Check with specific agency web sites for
additional information about employment
opportunities
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WWW.CDC.GOV/EMPLOYMENT
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What is Schedule A?
• Non competitive federal appointment authority to
hire persons with disabilities
• Agencies can accept resumes without formal job
announcements
• Requires disability documentation
• Eligibility requirements
– If you are a person with a documented disability, and
– Meet the qualifications for the job
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Schedule A Documentation
• To be considered for a Schedule A appointment,
you will be required to submit proof of your
disability in addition to your resume
• Proof is normally a letter from:
–
–
–
–
Your doctor,
A licensed medical professional,
A licensed rehabilitation professional, or
Any federal, state, DC or U.S. territory agency that
issues or provides disability benefits
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Sample Schedule A Letter
• To Whom It May Concern:
– This letter serves as certification that (name) is a person
with a severe disability that qualifies him/her for
consideration under the Schedule A hiring authority.
(Name) also is job ready and is likely to succeed in
performing (job title/position) / or (is qualified to work in
office setting, warehouse, etc.)
You may contact at:___________
Signature______________ Date___________
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Strategic Recruitment Tracking System
• Strategic Recruitment Tracking System
• Repository of resumes from individuals with noncompetitive hiring eligibility
• Veterans, Medical Officers, RPCV, Title 42
Fellows, Commissioned Corps, Volunteers and
Schedule A eligible's
• Managers can fill vacant positions more
expeditiously (in lieu of the normal USAJOBS
announcement process)
• Implemented CDC-wide in April 2010
• Send Resume and Schedule A letter to:
recruiter@cdc.gov
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Pathways for Students & Recent
Graduates
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Example of Federal Opportunity
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Apply for Federal Jobs
• Follow the directions on the vacancy
announcement (How to Apply tab)
• Know the deadline
• Use the Agency contact information for help
Interview
• Understand the system
and/or
hire
Rating/
Ranking
Automated
System
Agency
Database
Paper
Application
Selecting
Official
HR Staff
Reject
Select
from
other
source
Start over
Understanding the Federal
Application Process:
Preparing, Planning and Making
The Most of the Assessment Tools
Melody Stevens, MA
Public Health Analyst (Policy)
Topic
• Knowing Your Worth!
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Planning Ahead
for Federal Employment
• Jobs for Students
• http://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads is a
website that provides applicants with
comprehensive information about Federal jobs and
internships for students with or without disabilities.
• Workforce Recruitment Program aims to provide
summer work experience, and in some cases,
permanent employment for college students and
recent graduates with disabilities.
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Planning Ahead
for Federal Employment
• Office of Disability Policy Apprenticeship
Initiative
• The goal of ODEP’s apprenticeship initiative is to increase
systems capacity to provide integrated inclusive
apprenticeship training to youth and young adults with a
full range of disabilities, including those with the most
significant disabilities, and to utilize the increased
flexibilities detailed in DOL’s newly released
apprenticeship regulations
• http://www.dol.gov/odep/categories/youth/apprentices
hip.htm
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Assessments
•
•
•
•
•
What is an Assessment?
Formats and Rankings
Understanding Core Competencies
Step by Step Guide to Writing Accomplishments
Resources
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Assessment
• Assessment: Determine a person’s ability to
successfully perform a job.
• Assessment Tool: Any test or procedure used to
measure an individual’s employment or career
related qualification and interests such as:
• Structured Interview
• Work sample
• Accomplishment Record
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Accomplishment Record
•
•
Shows your knowledge, skills, and abilities
(competencies) match the job description
Tells a complete story with your words that
helps the HR person to see who you are
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Accomplishment Format
• Example—Includes details of
performance, shorter
• List—name of project, short
description
• Narrative– “story telling” “CCAR”
** The Questionnaire – self report
measure
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Accomplishment Rating and Ranking
• Each competency or task will be reviewed by the
Human Resources Staff and assigned a rating
using a crediting plan or "scorecard".
• The scale is generally based on a point system.
Each level has a description of benchmarks,
which are examples of tasks a candidate would
perform at that level.
• Factors affecting level of credit your
accomplishments is given include:
• complexity of duties, circumstances, impact, variety,
duration and people contacted.
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Writing Narratives--CCAR
• Context- What happened to lead to the
example you are providing?
• Challenge- What did you have to
overcome/resolve in this example?
• Action- What steps did you take?, be specific
• Result- What was the outcome?
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Steps to Writing an Accomplishment
Step 1. Read the competency/task very closely.
Step 2. Review very thoroughly all the experiences you
have had and look for things that relate to the
individual competency/task.
Step 3. Analyze the experiences you have identified
Step 4. Show how the facts you have gathered about your
experience relate to the individual competency/task..
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Hints to follow when developing your
accomplishment narratives:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Read the vacancy announcement carefully
Gather the information needed to begin writing
Be specific
Be precise
Get to the point
Do not ramble
Use lots of examples
State specifically what you have done
Do not use acronyms
Present yourself in “clear and plain” language
Do not borrow language from the position
description*
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The Process of
Writing Accomplishments
• Have someone review your descriptions.
• Allow about 8 hours for the first time you
brainstorm and write.
• Each application after the first time is
exponentially EASIER.
• Keep in mind that there are LEVELS of proficiency.
See the online job vacancy questions to
understand the gradual levels of responsibilities.
As a result, specify YOUR contributions and the
degree of involvement and responsibility for any
and every project, especially those related to the
job position and particular competency/task.
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Remember…
• Identify major duties of the
position
• Write each accomplishment as if a
different person will review them
• Relate each of your
project/activities/coursework back
to the particular position and
competency/task
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Remember…
• Integrate Job Duties into IEP
• Seek volunteer opportunities early
• Seek opportunities to integrate job training
tools into employment planning
https://www.disability.gov/employment
http://www.careeronestop.org/EducationTrai
ning/EduTraining.aspx
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Materials and Resources
 www.opm.gov
 www.cdc.gov/employment
 http://www.makingthedifferenc
e.org/federaljobs/ksawriting.sht
ml
 http://makingthedifference.org
/index.shtml
 http://www.nps.gov/training/t
el/Guides/KSA_Writing_pg_Jun
_2006.pdf
 Federal Resume Guidebook,
http://federaljobs.net/resbook.
htm
 Pathways Program for Students
and Recent Grads
http://www.usajobs.gov/Students
AndGrads
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References
• Federal Job Vacancies www.usajobs.gov
• OPM Resources:
http://www.opm.gov/disability/Resources.asp
• DOL’s Career One Stop http://www.careeronestop.org/
• List of Agency web sites www.usa.gov
• Tips on how to create a federal resume
https://help.usajobs.gov/index.phhttp://www.careero
nestop.org/p/How_to_create_your_resume
• Department of Veterans Affairs
www.va.gov
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References
• Resources by state: https://www.disability.gov/employment
• Job Accommodation Network
http://askjan.org/
• Federal Employment for People with Disabilities
https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/
Individuals_with_Disabilities
• Success Stories
http://www.opm.gov/disability/success_1-06.asp
• Selective Placement Program Coordinators
http://apps.opm.gov/sppc_directory/
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Key Summary Points
• I know what the advantages are of working for the Federal
government.
• I know how to develop my resume
• I know what Schedule A appointment means.
• I know who may use Schedule A appointment.
• I know what I need to prove that I am able to use Schedule A
appointment.
• I know how to find out about open job positions in the Federal
government.
• I know how to find the contact information for the appropriate
people (e.g., hiring manager, HR professional, SPC) within the
agency I wish to work at.
• I know how to submit my application.
• I know why I need to be proactive, persistent, and patient
during the Federal hiring process.
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Thank you!
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