Tips for career changers: Federal Jobs

Are you a career changer?

If you are an experienced worker looking for a Federal job, you are in good company. More than 40 percent of the people hired by the Federal Government last year were experienced workers over the age of 35. These tips will help you to get credit for your expertise.

• Estimate your GS level. As mentioned in this article, the Federal Government classifies positions according to the complexity of their job duties and their level of responsibility. People qualify for a given level based on education, experience, or a combination of both. The most common classification system is the General Schedule (GS). To find your GS level, use the table on page 6 to estimate the level you qualify for based on education alone. If you also have relevant experience, your GS level will be higher than that. If you have had relevant managerial responsibilities or do complex work independently, you might qualify for a GS-12 or above. To be certain, read the job descriptions in vacancy announcements.

• Understand job requirements. Vacancy announcements often say that a worker needs experience equivalent to a particular GS level. A vacancy announcement at the GS-12 level, for example, might say that you need 1 year of experience at the GS-11 level. Some announcements give examples of what that experience could be. Others don't. The simplest way to know if you qualify for a job is to read the job duties. If the work described there is only slightly more complex or responsible than work you have done in the past, you might be eligible for the position.

If some of the required experience for a job seems unique to the Federal Government, explore further by calling the agency or the contact person for the position. You might learn that your private-sector experience meets the requirement.

• Be flexible about titles. If you want to be a manager or supervisor, do not limit yourself to openings with those words in the job title. Jobs with widely varying levels of responsibility are often listed under the same title.

• Be specific about past experience. Human resources managers will study the details of your application to decide if you qualify for a job. They will compare your past work to the kinds of tasks performed at different GS levels. Managers will pay close attention to the amount of time you spent in each job. They usually will estimate exactly how many months or years you have done each major job task.

When creating a resume or writing statements about your skills, show your level of expertise by explaining who you reported to or worked with and how your work was used.

• Explain past job titles. Use job titles that clearly describe what you did. You may want to put the equivalent Federal title in parentheses next to your actual job titles.

• Consider Senior Executive Service. Finally, if you have substantial experience in high-level leadership positions, you might qualify for the Senior Executive Service (SES). SES positions require you to answer a set of standard questions about your leadership ability. A review board established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management will certify your qualifications based on your answers and your experience. For more information, see www.opm.gov/ses or call (202) 606-1800

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/employ/govtjob/fedjob.htm#tips

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Where to Learn About Job Openings

Where to Learn About Job Openings
Personal contacts - Eighty percent of available jobs are never advertised, and over half of all employees get their jobs through networking, according to BH Careers International. Therefore, the people you know—friends, family, neighbors, acquaintances, teachers, and former coworkers—are some of the most effective resources for your job search. The network of people that you know and the people that they know can lead to information about specific job openings that are not publicly posted. To develop new contacts, join student, community, or professional organizations.


School career planning and placement offices - High school and college placement offices help their students and alumni find jobs. They allow recruiters to use their facilities for interviews or career fairs. Placement offices usually have a list of part-time, temporary, and summer jobs offered on campus. They also may have lists of jobs for regional, nonprofit, and government organizations. In addition to linking you to potential employers, career planning offices usually provide career counseling, career testing, and job search advice. Some have career resource libraries; host workshops on job search strategy, résumé writing, letter writing, and effective interviewing; critique drafts of résumés; conduct mock interviews; and sponsor job fairs.

Employers - Through your library and Internet research, develop a list of potential employers in your desired career field. Employer Web sites often contain lists of job openings. Web sites and business directories can provide you with information on how to apply for a position or whom to contact. Even if no open positions are posted, do not hesitate to contact the employer and the relevant department. Set up an interview with someone working in the same area in which you wish to work. Ask them how they got started, what they like and dislike about the work, what type of qualifications are necessary for the job, and what type of personality succeeds in that position. Even if they don’t have a position available, they may be able to put you in contact with other people who might hire you, and they can keep you in mind if a position opens up. Make sure to send them your résumé and a cover letter. If you are able to obtain an interview, be sure to send a thank-you note. Directly contacting employers is one of the most successful means of job hunting.

Classified ads - The "Help Wanted" ads in newspapers list numerous jobs. You should realize, however, that many other job openings are not listed, and that the classified ads sometimes do not give all of the important information. They may offer little or no description of the job, working conditions, or pay. Some ads do not identify the employer. They may simply give a post office box to which you can mail your résumé, making follow-up inquiries very difficult. Some ads offer out-of-town jobs; others advertise employment agencies rather than actual employment opportunities.

Internet networks and resources - The Internet is an invaluable resource. Use it to find advice on conducting your job search more effectively; to search for a job; to research prospective employers; and to communicate with people who can help you with your job search. No single Web site will contain all the information available on employment or career opportunities, so in addition to the Web sites listed below, use a search engine to find what you need. The different types of sites that may be useful include general career advice sites, job search sites, company Web sites, trade and professional association Web sites, and forums. Internet forums, also called message boards, are online discussion groups where anyone may post and read messages. Use forums specific to your profession or to career-related topics to post questions or messages and to read about other peoples’ job searches or career experiences.

State employment service offices - The State employment service, sometimes called the Job Service, operates in coordination with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. Local offices, found nationwide, help job seekers to find jobs and help employers to find qualified workers at no cost to either. To find the office nearest you, look in the State government telephone listings under "Job Service" or "Employment."

Federal Government - Information on obtaining a position with the Federal Government is available from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) through USAJOBS, the Federal Government’s official employment information system. This resource for locating and applying for job opportunities can be accessed through the Internet at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov or through an interactive voice response telephone system at (703) 724-1850 or TDD (978) 461-8404. These numbers are not tollfree, and charges may result.

Private employment agencies and career consultants - These agencies can be helpful, but they may charge you for their services. Most operate on a commission basis, with the fee dependent upon a percentage of the salary paid to a successful applicant. You or the hiring company will pay the fee. Find out the exact cost and who is responsible for paying associated fees before using the service.

Although employment agencies can help you save time and contact employers who otherwise might be difficult to locate, the costs may outweigh the benefits if you are responsible for the fee. Contacting employers directly often will generate the same type of leads that a private employment agency will provide. Consider any guarantees that the agency offers when determining if the service is worth the cost.

Community agencies - Many nonprofit organizations, including religious institutions and vocational rehabilitation agencies, offer counseling, career development, and job placement services, generally targeted to a particular group, such as women, youths, minorities, ex-offenders, or older workers.

This information was obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For more information, follow this link: BLS

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Background Investigator Recruitment Fair

The Office of Personnel Management, Federal Investigative Services Division has immediate openings for Special Agents in the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC area. To learn more about these opportunities Please come in person and bring a copy of your resume to:

Federal Investigative Services Division
Crystal City Field Office
223 23rd Street, Suite 1100
Arlington, VA 22202
(703) 604-0567

Friday, March 23, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Or
Saturday, March 24, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Pre-registration and additional information is being offered by sending an e-mail with a copy of your resume to Amy.Kuhns@opm.gov.

Join OPM's Federal Investigative Services Division (FISD) as a Special Agent and launch a rewarding federal career where you will meet fascinating people, interview the heroes who protect our country and travel to exciting domestic and international locations.

OPM's Federal Investigative Services Division conducts background investigations for most federal agencies and their contractors. Our history began with the creation of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), which was charged with ensuring the fitness of federal employees. In 1953 President Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10450, which gave OPM (then known as CSC) the authority to manage the federal government's personnel security program.

Currently, OPM, Federal Investigative Services Division has a federal workforce of approximately 2,100, including field investigators and a support staff that oversees investigative work, and develops and implements policy. In addition to this, our federal workforce is augmented by contractor field investigators and support personnel.

As a Special Agent for OPM you will conduct background investigations for individuals who require access to classified and/or sensitive information, investigate applicant suitability for federal employment, meet new people every day, conduct personal interviews with the subject of the investigation, interview co-workers, employers, educators, neighbors and friends, conduct record checks at employments, courts, colleges and housing offices, interact with various government and law enforcement agencies as well as local and national corporations, interview high-level military and public officials, investigative controversial allegations and adverse information and prepare reports that detail investigation findings.

ARE YOU:

An ambitious self-starter?
Able to work both independently and as part of a team?
Seeking a career that allows you to balance your personal and professional lives?
Looking for excellent training and advancement opportunities?

THEN WE HAVE THE CAREER FOR YOU!

As a Federal Agency we offer:

Competitive Salaries
Training and Career Development
Use of government vehicle
Generous Retirement and Heath Benefits
Life Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Flexible Work Schedules
Telecommuting
Tuition Assistance Program
Paid Vacation, Sick Time and Federal Holidays
Laptop, fax/scanner, cell phone and Internet fee allowance

This information provided by the USAJOBS web site.
USAJOBS.gov

AND

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Where are the Jobs?

Who are the employment providers?
Or "Where are the jobs?"
There are a limited number of places in which to look for employment. They are varied in size and scope. Considering all of the different kinds of jobs that exist in the world, this seems like a small list. Don't you agree?

Look below for a list of potential employers.

Government agencies (including federal, state, local and military)
Large corporations
Non-profit organizations
Small-business owners
Farms/Agriculture
Universities/Colleges
Work from home businesses
National Parks
Private K-12 schools
Web-based businesses*

How do employment-seekers find the employment-providers?
There are many, many ways to locate open positions.

Job Banks
Job Clearinghouses
Professional Associations
Networking
State Agencies
Headhunters
Temp Agencies
College Placement Offices
Career Fairs
Private Employment Agencies
Classified Ads
Contacting the employer directly
Web Sites

How are you going to find your next job?

Here are some articles that may provide some insight:

Networking

Apply for Federal Jobs

Classified Ads

The Hotel Industry

The Hidden Job Market

Best of Luck in your Job Search!