August 2018 |
Transition-e-news Volume 4 Issue 145 |
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Military Spouses Can Expect Easier Application Process When Applying for Federal Jobs
by Barbara Adams, Federal and Military Job Transition Expert New executive order was signed by the President directing federal agencies to hire more military spouses. The hiring process has been made substantially easier. Announcements applying Military Spouse Preference can be found easily using the Military Spouse filter found in the Hiring Path section on the left side of any USAJOBS search page. It is very important to target these announcements and to orient your resume towards them. (We recommend answering the questionnaire at the highest possible level that you can prove and to use the Outline Format to showcase your supporting qualifications in your resume.) EXECUTIVE MEMO for Priority Placement Program (PPP) Changes The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Civilian Personnel Policy) established an enterprise working group to formulate options for streamlining the PPP and optimizing career transition assistance for civilians. The working group’s efforts led to 3 alternative courses of action (COAs). The DoD Components agreed with one of these three COAs. Selected COA: The selected COA will maintain the Automated Stopper & Referral System (ASARS) to place employees facing separation due to reduction in force (RIF) or transfer of function (TOF) and overseas employees without return rights. COA Features: Groups retained in PPP * Employees being separated due to RIF or TOF outside the commuting area * Nondisplaced overseas employees with no return rights or return rights to an abolished position (return would result in RIF displacement) Groups that will transition to an application-based system: * Military spouse preference eligible (10 USC 1784) * Employees serving on grade/pay retention (5CFR Part 536) * Certain Reserve and National Guard technicians losing dual status. This group included Section 544 technicians (5 USC 3329) and former technicians receiving military disability annuities (5 USC 8837) Groups that will no longer be priority candidates: * Nondisplaced overseas employees with return rights to lower grades * Employees in receipt of CLG notices due to RIF/reclassification (during the notice period) * Other Reserve and National Guard technician losing dual status (technicians not covered under Section 544) * Non-military spouse family member employees References: Colleen M. Dumas HQDA, Office of the Assistant G-1 for Civilian Personnel Chief, Staffing & Classification Division Comm: 703-806-3867 DSN: 656-3867 NIPR Email: colleen.m.dumas.civ@mail.mil SIPR Email: colleen.m.dumas.civ@mail.smil.mil If you require assistance in developing a competitive military spouse USAJOBS application www.careerproplus.com is delighted to work with you to earn a best qualified rated and interview Barbara Adams, President and CEO of CareerPro Global (CPG), the parent company of www.careerproplus.com and www.militaryresumewriters.com, has been a member of the careers community for the past 20 years. Ms. Adams holds four prestigious industry certifications. CareerPro Global is the only ISO 9001-2008 Certified Career Service in the industry, as well as one of the fastest-growing Military, Federal, and Civilian Resume-Writing and Careers-Coaching companies. The team of Certified Professional Federal and Military Resume Writers at CPG assist thousands of clients in applying for and gaining employment each year. We can help you land your military to civilian job. |
Forever GI Bill expands VA educational benefitsBy the Department of Veterans Affairs reprinted with permission All rights reserved 15 provisions enhance benefits for VeteransWASHINGTON — Effective Aug. 1, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implemented 15 more provisions of the Harry W. Colmery Educational Assistance Act of 2017, also referred to as the Forever GI Bill. These provisions, in addition to the 13 implemented since the law was signed less than a year ago, will have an immediate and positive impact on Veterans and their families using VA benefits to pursue their educational goals. “We are excited to get the word out about implementation of the provisions,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “From the day the Forever GI Bill was signed into law, VA, in collaboration with Veterans service organizations, state approving agencies and school certifying officials, has taken an expansive approach to ensure earned benefits are provided to Veterans in a timely, high-quality and efficient way.” Some of the provisions that began Aug. 1 include:
More provisions are scheduled related to science, technology, engineering and math benefit extensions; increased benefit levels; a pilot program for high-technology training geared toward “upskilling” Veterans to enter the workforce quickly; and another expansion of the Yellow Ribbon Program, which will be implemented by Aug. 1, 2022. For more information, visit the Forever GI Bill – Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act page. Visit the Education and Training webpage for more information. For questions about GI Bill benefits, call the Education Call Center at 888-442-4551 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CST) Monday through Friday. Join the conversation via Facebook or follow Veterans Benefits Administration on Twitter. |
In Your Job Interview, Answer the Questions — Then Shut Up© Copyright, 2018, Susan P. Joyce. All rights reserved. A very important key to job interview success is knowing when to stop talking. First, we usually learn more when we listen rather than when we talk. As the old saying goes, two ears — but only one mouth — for a reason. Secondly, much damage can be done inadvertently when you share TMI (Too Much Information) in your job interviews. When to Stop Talking in a Job Interview?Short answer: when you’ve answered the question you were asked.
Carefully listen to the questions you are asked. If you don’t understand the question, STOP, and ask for clarification. When you are sure that you understand the question, demonstrating your excellent listening skills, answer that question. Then, stop talking. If there seems to be an extended silence and you have a question related to the question you were asked, asking now may be a good idea. The interviewer may be seeing if you will volunteer more information (TMI) to fill in the conversational gap. Better to ask a good question. For example, assume you are applying for a project manager position, and you are asked what information you would include in a project progress report. After you answer the question, you could then ask how often project reports are expected — daily, weekly, monthly, or some other time frame. That information would be good to know when you are evaluating the opportunity, and you could (perhaps) fine-tune your original answer based on the additional information specified.
So, don’t over share (the crazy boss or the big mistake you made), but don’t skip an opportunity to highlight an accomplishment. Important Job-Interview Don’tsJob candidates often sabotage their job interview performance by talking too much. So, don’t feel responsible for making sure there’s no “dead air” time in the interview by sharing more information about yourself. If the interviewer doesn’t ask another question after you’ve answered one, ask a question of your own. People often blow opportunities by nervously filling up silence with things better left unsaid.
The biggest problem with talking too much in a job interview is killing the opportunity by what is revealed. Why People Typically Talk Too Much in Job InterviewsJob seekers don’t usually try to fail at a job interview (although sometimes, as an interviewer, you do wonder about their motivation). Most job seekers want to succeed at job interviewing. The reasons they talk too much are usually one of the following three: 1. Inexperienced in job interviewing.Perhaps they are new to the job market and/or young and inexperienced in a successful job search process. Job interviewing is a completely new experience, and they’re not sure how it works or how to succeed at it. On the other hand, many job seekers have been employed by the same employer for so long that they don’t remember how job interviews work. Their last job interview was years — maybe decades — in the past. 2. Unprepared or not well-enough prepared.Fortunately, this one is easy to fix. Just read the articles in WorkCoachCafe and Job-Hunt.org about how to answer the typical job interview questions, develop your own answers, and practice in front of a mirror or with a friend a few times. You don’t want to sound over-rehearsed, but you don’t want to blow an opportunity by being unprepared. 3. Just plain nervous.Most job seekers are nervous when they interview for a job. Job interviews are stressful, sometimes very stressful! Most people are less nervous when they know they are well-prepared, so prepare as though the job offer hangs on it (because it might). Often, as you gain experience interviewing, the nerves become more calm. You know you can do it. I highly recommend that you try Dr. Amy Cuddy’s “power poses” in private, before every job interview. Dr. Cuddy’s research has shown that power poses actually reduce the stress hormone level in your blood, and increase the confidence hormone level. Exactly what you need before a job interview! Have Your Own Questions ReadyBe sure to have questions of your own to ask. That shows both interest and preparation. Be sure that your questions aren’t already answered n the employer website or in a Google search. Be prepared to succeed! Remember that they are (or should be) trying to impress you, too, and your questions of them will help you decide if you want to work for/with them. For More About Successful Job Interviews:Build Your Confidence for Job Interviews in 5 Minutes How to Answer Job Interview Questions Job Interviews: How to Ask the Right Questions Job Interviews: How to Knock Their Socks Off Job Interviews: Are You Listening? Build Your Confidence for Interviews in Less Than 5 Minutes
About the Author… |
Loving thy neighbor in all 50 states: Man mows lawns for elderly, single moms and vetsBy Tim Harlow Star Tribune | © The Associated Press - Reprinted with permission, all rights reserved. Rodney Smith Jr., fired up his Snapper lawn mower Thursday morning and cut the grass. He used a weed-whacker to trim along the sidewalk, fence and foundation of the house, then finished the job by cleaning up the clippings. Notch another one in a summer full of good deeds. Smith stopped by the Twin Cities Thursday as part of his summerlong mission to mow lawns for free in all 50 states for those who are elderly or disabled and single moms and veterans. Minnesota was his last stop in the 48 contiguous states before he flies off this weekend for Alaska and Hawaii. “A million thank yous from the bottom of my heart,” said 60-year-old cancer survivor Marcia Dietz of northeast Minneapolis. “In today’s world, for somebody to go around and give like that and want nothing in return is amazing to me.” Smith also cut the grass at homes in Bloomington and St. Paul. This is the second year Smith has traveled the country mowing lawns. The 28-year-old college student said he had a one-on-one talk with God in which he asked to be used as a vessel. That night in 2015, in his native Alabama, Smith saw an elderly man struggling to mow his lawn. He stopped and helped him finish the job, and that was the start of his Raising Men Lawn Care Service. One lawn soon grew into several lawns. Smith is a student at Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, where he’s working toward a master’s degree in social work. But during the summers, mowing has been his calling. For the past two summers he has crisscrossed the nation, logging thousands of miles and using his own mower to trim more than 2,500 lawns without taking a dime. "It’s love thy neighbor,” Smith said. “It makes a big difference, because a lot of people I mow for are on fixed incomes and they are limited on what they can spend.” Smith has recruited 190 boys and girls throughout the United States — including three in Minnesota — Canada, Bermuda and England to his 50-Yard Challenge. The community service challenge asks participants to mow 50 lawns in their communities for people in need. Those who reach the goal of 50 — so far 12 have — get a new lawn mower. Others receive eye shades and ear protection and a different color T-shirt for every 10 lawns they cut. Dietz learned of Smith’s visit to the Twin Cities from a morning news program and sent him a note on Twitter. Dietz told him her story, and said he probably had more needy people on his list, but if he had time to swing by, she’d love to see him. A few hours later, when Smith rang the doorbell, Dietz felt as if she’d won the Publishers Clearing House. “I could not believe he was here,” a beaming Dietz said. Smith relies mostly on social media to select recipients. He has more than 41,000 followers on Twitter, more than 22,000 on Instagram and 68,000 people following his Facebook page. Supporters have rallied behind his cause with donations totaling more than $23,400. The money is used to cover his lodging, food and gas. Briggs & Stratton donated its 725 Series EXi Snapper for the trip, now in its 57th day. Smith said he loves everybody he meets. “I want people to know that somebody cares for them,” Smith said. |
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