Monday, October 10, 2016

FEDERAL JOB RESULTS, INC.

MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES STATEMENT

Mission

Federal Job Results is committed to providing the most knowledgeable, experience-based, and results-driven guidance through the entire Federal and Federal Contractor application process to current Federal employees and to civilian and military professionals seeking new careers in the public sector.

Vision

Federal Job Results (FJR) is recognized as the nation’s leading organization in public sector career support and job placement. Through the services provided by FJR, current Federal employees and civilian and military professionals seeking federal government positions are successful in developing the requisite knowledge, skills and strategies to identify, pursue, and secure the positions best suited to their abilities and goals.  

Values

The mission and vision of Federal Job Results are based on the following values:
Collaboration

          The staff of Federal Job Results is committed to building a trust-based, highly collaborative relationship with every client. We believe that the success of the process of constructing a resume and securing a position that is ideally aligned with an individual’s strengths is based in large part on the mutual respect and cooperation of client and staff. We strive to build long-term partnerships with our clients so that they see us as a trusted advisor throughout their search process.

Professionalism

          The staff of Federal Job Results is committed to establishing and maintaining a professional relationship with their clients. We recognize that initiating a job search can be a stressful and complex process. Therefore, we strive to be simultaneously supportive and instructive throughout the job search life-cycle, while maintaining total confidentiality of all information shared with us. We present no information to potential employers without consent, and we thoroughly safeguard all client data. 

Experience

          The Federal Job Results team brings more than 45 combined years of experience to the federal job search process. We leverage this first-hand knowledge in every step of our clients’ experience to ensure that they secure interviews with the agencies and positions most compatible with their strengths.

Advancement

          The staff of Federal Job Results is committed to enabling our clients to develop the strategies to move from unemployment to employment; from private sector to federal sector; and/or from one position level to another. We strive to enable our clients to emerge from the job search process in a place better than the one in which they began.

Friday, September 30, 2016

What is the Federal Application Process?

The Federal application process can overwhelm even the most aggressive job seeker.   Here is a summary of the process:

  1. Apply using www.USAJOBS.gov:
  2. HR Rates and Ranks Applications
    • They are looking for Self-Assessment Questionnaire responses, Key Words,  and a well-written Federal Resume
    • They will put you into one of three categories: Not Qualified, Minimally Qualified, Best Qualified.  You want to be in the Best Qualified category.  
  3. Top Applicants Referred
    • The top applicants (in the Best Qualified category) will move forward to the next step, which is to be “referred” to the hiring official for consideration.
  4. Panel / Behavioral Interview
    • Applicants whom the hiring manager wants to interview will be contacted.  Generally, the interview will be a panel with three to six individuals asking behavioral-based interview questions.  It is a test – and very competitive – so be prepared!
  5. Contingent Job Offer Made
    • Once you are interviewed and they decide they love you, the federal HR team will generally extend a tentative job offer.  You will have to complete a background check and possibly go through a security clearance, depending on the position.  The extent and type of check will depend on the level of security of the job.  This is the one and only time you can negotiate your salary and your vacation time.
For more information on developing your federal job search strategy to attract the attention of the HR hiring team, visit us on the web at www.FederalJobResults.com.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Six Keys to Cracking the Federal Job Code

Understand the federal qualification requirementsFederal applications must convey that the applicant already has the skills required to do the job. Many people apply to jobs that they could easily do, but for which they do not already possess the specific skills. The minimum requirement is that you must have 12 months of experience doing that same or similar work. Identify the best jobs for your background: Many people apply to jobs that are not a good fit for them. Use a technique we call the “80% Rule.” Carefully review the vacancy announcement language, particularly under the “Duties” tab. Look for an 80% match between the duties listed and your skills. This is a great technique to use to determine if the job in the vacancy announcement is a good fit for you.

Create a Federal resume: Do not try to apply for a Federal government job with a private sector resume. It is too short and does not include the information required to score the most points during the rating and ranking process. Make your Federal resume lengthy: The average Federal resume is 3 to 5 pages and extremely detailed. A Federal resume addresses your skills and competencies, whereas a private sector resume focuses on results and accomplishments – two very different objectives. Many Federal application packages focus on accomplishments and do not include the “nitty gritty” details, which result in the highest possible score. The more detailed the information you provide, the more points your application is likely to score during the rating and ranking process.

Ensure you have the right content in your Federal resume: Federal resumes need to be extremely detailed and written with descriptive adjectives. Words like “complex” and “routinely” are meaningful to the Federal HR Specialist.

Answer the self assessment questions liberally: Most online applications ask applicants to rate their professional experience by using a series of questions. The applicant needs to receive the highest rating in order to move forward in the rating process. Review the answers to the question and select the one that represents the most senior experience level - that is the one that is worth the most points. Give yourself credit! Do not be dishonest - but boast, brag, market yourself, rationalize, justify - whatever you want to call it. Then make sure your resume supports your responses. Remember it is called a "self assessment questionnaire" for a reason!

Include KSAs (Knowledge, Skill and Ability statements)  in your Federal resume: With Hiring Reform, HR Specialists are looking for the KSAs to be incorporated into the resume. Since Hiring Reform changes took effect on November 1, 2010, most Federal agencies no longer require you to write narrative essays when you initially apply to a job. However, it is totally your responsibility to make sure you possess the required KSAs and that they are incorporated into your resume. Otherwise, you will be deemed not qualified for the position, not because you don’t have the skills but because you didn’t tell them you have the skills by incorporating the KSAs into your resume.

Be persistent: You have to be persistent and consistent about applying for Federal jobs on a regular basis and following up on your applications. It can take dozens (or more) of applications and from three to 18 months to get a Federal interview with a hiring manager. (This is a bureaucracy, after all!). If you are getting results that show you are eligible - not referred, it is still good. It means you are applying to the right jobs for your background but you might need to work more on your application package. We have found that it takes about 70 to 100 applications to yield 10 referrals, and these 10 referrals will result in 1 to 2 interviews. 


For more information on developing your federal job search strategy to attract the attention of the HR hiring team, visit us on the web at www.FederalJobResults.com.

Friday, July 22, 2016

How Can I Ace the Federal Interview?

What is the purpose of a Federal interview?  It is a two-way communication test.  It is a confirmation of your technical skills and a test of your personality to ensure a good fit into the Agency’s environment.  It is also an opportunity for you as the interviewee to test the job requirements, the interviewer’s personality and the presentation of potential employment. 

There are a few ways that a Federal job interview differs from that in the private sector. 

  • You will probably be faced with a panel interview (generally a panel of three or more).  Be prepared for three sets of eyeballs as opposed to one staring at you.  The interview is a test and it will most likely be formally scored, especially if you are interviewed by a panel.

  • You may encounter behavior interview questions.  These are questions that start with the phrase, “Describe a time when…”.  The panel will attempt to determine if you are a good fit for the agency, based on your responses.  These questions allow the interviewer to explore your past behavior and probe into your responses.  The interviewer is looking for a story with “Goldilocks” detail (just enough, but not too much). 

The best way to ace the interview is to be prepared. 

  • Research the Department/Agency, its mission, and the unit in which you are interviewing.  Find out what they do and how they do it.  All the information you need is on the web.

  • Find out as much information as you can about the interviewers.  How will you know who will interview you? When an interview is extended to you, ask who will be interviewing you.  Go to your social network and find out about them.  Remember, you have a short amount of time to build report with the interviewers.  Do your research before the interview and use your findings to leverage relationship-building in the actual interview.   

  • Prepare your responses in advance.  Some typical questions might be:

“Describe a time or a situation when you…
…were faced with a stressful situation.”
…used good judgment in solving a problem.”
…showed initiative to contain costs.”
…motivated others (team or direct reports).”
…effectively handled a difficult customer.”
…tried to accomplish something and failed.”

For more information on developing your federal job search strategy to attract the attention of the HR hiring team, visit us on the web at www.FederalJobResults.com.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Where are all the Federal Jobs?


                                     Top 10 Occupational Groups for New Federal Employees
Source: Partnership for Public Service “Fed Figures”

Occupational Group
% of Total New Employees
New Employees
Total Employees
Legal & Kindred
4.3%
3,873
99,220
Business & Industry
4.4%
3,922
96,046
Accounting & Budget
4.8%
4,295
116,516
Social Science, Psychology & Welfare
4.9%
4,420
84,158
Engineering and Architecture
5.0%
4,504
128,623
Information Technology
5.3%
4,731
80,492
Miscellaneous Occupations
5.8%
5,227
82,369
Investigation
6.0%
5,349
183,986
General Administrative, Clerical & Office Services
14.5%
13,033
296,224
Medical, Hospital, Dental & Public Health
21.7%
19,496
217,922

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Top 3 Myths to the Federal Government’s Security Clearance Process

Myth #1: As a Federal Government Job Seeker, I Need to Already Have a Security Clearance to Land a Federal Job.  One of the top Federal Government employment myths is that you are required to hold a security clearance prior to applying for a Federal Job. The truth is that most Federal vacancy announcements will state that you “Must have the ability to obtain a security clearance.” You do not need a clearance prior to applying because the Federal Government will sponsor you through this process.  Alternatively, in the Federal contractor world (corporate/private sector), if you possess a security clearance, you may be highly desired and sought-after, because they can get you started working on a Federal contract immediately, which means they can bill the Government for your time  
Myth #2: The Federal Government is looking for the perfect citizen, and that’s not me!  The purpose of the security clearance process is not to find perfection; it is to establish that you are not a threat to the Federal Government. Red flags include foreign contacts, travel, and accounts; poor credit and/or high debt; bankruptcies, foreclosures and/or short sales; employment and/or personal indiscretions; criminal activities; inconsistencies in your background; and drug or alcohol abuse. You will be asked a series of questions surrounding these topics to decide whether or not you may be susceptible to blackmail or coercion and therefore vulnerable as a national security risk. Issues like financial challenges can be defended by providing a stellar history of past financial responsibility and establishing a pattern of payments with debt collectors, prior to going through the security clearance process. If you have experienced recent financial distress, avoid applying for positions requiring fiduciary responsibilities assince those roles will place a higher emphasis on financial fidelity.
Myth #3It’s OK to stretch the truth Your future Federal Government position may or may not require a polygraph (lie detector) test, but understand that it is illegal to be dishonest during any part of the process. Investigators will have already collected every college transcript, performance review, credit report, law enforcement and military record associated with your name and fingerprints within the clearance timeline. They will have also interviewed friends, neighbors, and colleagues and others, so be honest.  The adjudicators know that there are multiple sides to every story, so tell yours from the beginning.  They will provide you with the opportunity to explain yourself in more depth at multiple times during the process.  Dishonesty during the process will result in no security clearance and no Federal job offer.
How to Speed Up the Process:  This one might be a no-brainer, but the best ways to shave off days, weeks and months from the length of your security clearance process is to 1) Follow the instructions and 2) Never leave blanks on your paperwork.
Follow the instructions.  Read the fine print. Some questions (specifically drug-related, alcohol-related and legal) will have an “expiration date” of sorts, that require you to list issues and infractions one, five or 10 years prior to the current date. Additionally, they may ask, “have you EVER”, meaning have you ever in your life time. Read carefully and answer accordingly.
Never leave blanks on your paperwork. Take the time to fill out complete contact information for all contacts (supervisor, colleagues, neighbors, friends, family, etc.).  Connect with all  contacts you submit on your paperwork to ensure you have the most up-to-date information for them, and to inform them that a Federal Investigator may be contacting them. Outdated or non-existent contact information will lengthen considerably the process.

For more information on developing your federal job search strategy to attract the attention of the HR hiring team, visit us on the web at www.FederalJobResults.com.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

How Do I Know What GS Level to Target?

Unless you’ve been a federal government employee before, you probably don’t know exactly what GS-level (salary) you will qualify for.  The federal hiring team will use your federal resume to determine if you are qualified.  The more information you have in your resume in terms of details about what you did, how you did it and for whom, the better you will fare in the process.  This is why a federal resume is generally an average of five pages long. The federal hiring team will also look at salary.  They want to make sure you are in the ballpark.  They fully understand that some jobs, some professions, some sectors pay more, pay less, etc. but they are looking to see if you are within an acceptable range.  If you are transitioning from a military position, they will take your rank into account as well, but the main consideration will be your federal resume. 

If you truly don't have an idea about salary level, look at a federal pay chart and find where your last salary appears on the federal pay chart.  On a broad level, if you are at a managerial level, you could look at GS-13, 14 and 15.  If you are a subject matter expert in your field, generally GS-12 and below will be best for you.

For more information on developing your federal job search strategy to attract the attention of the HR hiring team, visit us on the web at www.FederalJobResults.com.

Monday, April 11, 2016

What’s in a Keyword?

Most of you intuitively know that you have skills that the government wants and will pay for in the form of a salary.  But for those transitioning from the private sector into the Federal world, often times wording can make all the difference.  For example, in the private sector, we focus on “profit” but in the Federal sector we “contain costs.”  Same concept, different wording. 

Words can and do make all the difference.  Most Federal agencies use a human being to scan incoming resumes for key words.  Try this technique to quickly identify key words from the vacancy announcement for your Federal Resume:

  • Copy and paste the Duties and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) text from the vacancy announcement into this website: www.TagCrowd.com.  Click submit and view the key words you want to make sure get placed on your Federal resume.  

For more information on developing your federal job search strategy to attract the attention of the HR hiring team, visit us on the web at www.FederalJobResults.com.  


Thursday, March 31, 2016

Cover Letter or No Cover Letter?

More than one HR specialist has told me that cover letters are a waste of time.   They add bulk to the application package and give the HR folks more material to review (or discard as the case may be).  So is it best to save a tree?  

Seventy-five percent of agencies collecting your application materials use a back-end system called "USA Staffing." When it is used, all of your application attachments get forwarded to the hiring manager. S/he has the option of opening any or all of these attachments, including your cover letter. So if you do decide to include one for the hiring manager to possibly see, please don't forget to tailor it to the job and make it a powerful one. Furthermore, if you have to explain something in your resume that is out-of-the-ordinary, such as a gap in employment that is especially long (over 18 months) or a change in career progression, a cover letter can be just the thing you need to explain to the reader the “why” of your uniqueness. Be sure you make a solid connection between the skills desired and the skills you are bringing to the agency.  Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression!  

For more information on developing your federal job search strategy to attract the attention of the HR hiring team, visit us on the web at www.FederalJobResults.com.