WHAT ARE THE THREE THINGS YOU LEARNED IN THE FIRST THREE CLASSES ?

TEN STEPS TO A FEDERAL JOB CERTIFICATION
Kathryn Troutman
March 30, 2022

Career Counselors,
Transition And Employment Readiness Counselors
New, Updated Ten Steps to a Federal Job®
New Jobseeker Guide 9th Edition

Read answers from 3 class attendees
for each of the first 3 classes!
Great lessons for serious federal jobseekers

CLASS 1, Steps Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4
Introduction to the Federal Resume Format, Review Federal Knowledge, Search USAJOBS

I enjoyed learning about the series codes. I have always known they were important, but not that important. Also, I enjoyed learning more about the direct hires, it really has become more of a popular way for the government to get employees. Lastly, I liked learning about the military rank to federal civilian grades, especially when I saw GS-12 = Leadership. I went “ahhh ha!”

The thing that stood out the most is how the DV status is calculated into Best Qualified.
My Top three takeaways

1. Increase the search range – not just one series.
2. The true difference between competitive and excepted service.
3. Adding hiring authority or preference to the resume.

This was such an interesting class because I didn’t realize that family members can utilize the 10 point preference. I also didn’t know that you could save your search options on USAJOBS. I think that the federal process can be challenging but with this class I feel more informed but still need to absorb everything. I really think it can be a great deal of information that I feel like has so many pieces that I need to learn.

CLASS 2, Steps 4, 5, 6, 7
Keywords, Federal Resume Writing, Accomplishment Writing

1. Make sure to find Keywords in the Duties and Responsibilities, Specialized Experience, How you will be evaluated, and self assessment questionnaire sections. Also make sure that the resume and the Specialized Experience match.
2. A common myth is that the resume is reviewed by an automated system first. The fact that it is read by human is HUGE. We must make it easy for that person to read it.
3. A competitive federal resume is 3-5 pages in length, matches the job announcement, includes accomplishments, lists employment in reverse chronological order, includes all required information. If it doesn’t, the applicant will not get Best Qualified.

1. The four places to find keywords—The importance of including specialized experience keywords in your resume.
2. How you can use core competencies as headers in resume.
3. Highlighting experience that will best fit what the position is looking for. I love the examples provided for this.

1. Executive Core Qualifications – These present a different perspective relative to key terms and how they apply to your experience in comparison to the job announcement. GREAT FOR YOU TO BE AWARE OF THESE COMPETENCIES. WE ALL LEAD CHANGE LAST TWO YEARS…. THE TERM LEADING CHANGE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR RESUMES. Or implementing change.
2. Federal Resume Formatting – For years I thought the USAJOBS resume builder was the only legitimate federal format…I stand corrected. Now, that gives me the ability to provide better assistance relative to federal resume formatting. OH MY GOSH. WOWOWOWOW. BIG TAKEAWAY. Yep, the builder is okay (and some agencies require it), but mostly we don’t use it at RP and our clients. Cause the typefont is so small and it’s so rigid.
3. The Before and After keywords (outline format vs. Bullets)- This added more diversity to the way we teach. Now I understand there is much more flexibility. The keywords adjustment is already something we teach and use. However, placement with the different formats is something new to me.

CLASS 3, Steps 8, 9, 10
Apply for Jobs on USAJOBS, Track and Follow-up, Interview Prep and Negotiate

1. I learned that you can reach out to HR directly and ask why you did not get sent to the hiring manager for a position. And you can explain to them how you do qualify and you could win that and be sent to the hiring manager.
2. I learned that you can pull a USAJobs spreadsheet of all the applications you submitted. Which I found awesome. I just wish USAJobs would update the process more often.
3. I learned that the Superior Qualifications letter must be sent before accepting the tentative offer. I thought you had to accept the tentative offer before the time limit and then you negotiated everything before accepting the firm and final offer.

• Resume information in your profile is searchable for resume writing.
• Plan to prepare 5 to 7 CCAR stories to be talked about at your interview should you be granted an interview with a hiring manager/panel.
• One reason that people have trouble applying correctly for the job announcement is that applicants are not giving themselves all the credit possible on the questionnaire which leads to scores being below the cut off.

• Follow up is extremely important to improve future submissions.
• Sample interview questions are extremely helpful, very very good take away!!! Love them and everyone interviewing must review them and be ready.
• The importance of stories and CCAR. I added my CCAR to my resume’ for review.

REGISTER NOW…. COACH YOUR CLIENTS IN THIS EFFECTIVE TEN STEPS TO A FEDERAL JOB METHOD!

CFJST / CFCC CLASS INFORMATION

• 8 Live, 90 min classes!
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• Ten Steps to a Federal Job® – new edition! 2022
• Read the new book Press Release here!
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• Ten Steps to a Federal Job of Pathways Internship
• for Students and Recent Graduates
• Federal Resume Writing Coaching for USAJOBS Announcements
• Navigating USAJOBS Applications
• Applying to DIRECT HIRE Applications
• Federal Hiring Processes – Merit Principles
• Veterans’ Preference
• Special Hiring Authorities – Schedule A, 30% or more Disabled Veterans, Military Spouse Program, Post-Secondary Student

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Lessons are taught from the case studies and Outline Format federal resume samples in these acclaimed federal resume guides.

DATES FOR 2022

Session 1: Already in progress.

Session 2: May 3, 4 – June 7, 8, 2022 (8 webinars each)
Session 2A: Tuesdays, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm ET starting 5/3/22
Session 2B: Wednesdays, 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm ET starting 5/4/22

Session 3: June 22, 23 – July 27, 28, 2022 (8 webinars each)
Session 3A: Wednesdays, 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm ET starting 6/22/22
Session 3B: Thursdays, 9:00 am to 10:30 am ET starting 6/23/22

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