Tracy Hilliard, M.S., HCS Chief, Workforce Engagement Activity

Human Capital and Resource Management Office

Federal Employment Opportunities

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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Read the vacancy announcement CLOSELY – VERY IMPORTANT

Getting Ready

Read Job VacancyTIP

Your resumeshould

showcase your skills

and how they relate to the job

you are seeking. Use the terms in the

specialized experience statementas your guide.

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Federal resume can be multiple pages, NOT limited to 1 page

Getting Ready

Focus on Keywords

TIPUse words and

phrases used in

the announcement

to describe your jobs.

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Resume Key WordsAdministered 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

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/

odep/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 non-

competitive 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.gov27

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• Understand the system

Automated System

Paper Application

AgencyDatabase

HR Staff

Rating/Ranking

Reject

SelectingOfficial

Interview and/or

hire

Select fromothersource

Start over

Understanding the Federal Application Process:Preparing, Planning and Making The Most of the Assessment Tools

Melody Stevens, MAPublic 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/apprenticeship.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*43

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/employmenthttp://www.careeronestop.org/EducationTraining/EduTraining.aspx

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Materials and Resources www.opm.gov www.cdc.gov/employment http://www.makingthedifferenc

e.org/federaljobs/ksawriting.shtml

http://makingthedifference.org/index.shtml

http://www.nps.gov/training/tel/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/StudentsAndGrads

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 resumehttps://help.usajobs.gov/index.phhttp://www.careeronestop.org/p/How_to_create_your_resume

• Department of Veterans Affairswww.va.gov

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References

• Resources by state: https://www.disability.gov/employment

• Job Accommodation Networkhttp://askjan.org/

• Federal Employment for People with Disabilitieshttps://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/

Individuals_with_Disabilities

• Success Storieshttp://www.opm.gov/disability/success_1-06.asp

• Selective Placement Program Coordinatorshttp://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.51

Thank you!

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