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Title:Preparing to Apply for a Federal Position

Author:Barbara Adams, CPRW, CEIP, MFRW, MMRW, MFCA-T

Date:October 2015

Source:www.militaryresumewriters.com and www.careerproplus.com

Whether you are applying for your first federal position or seeking that long-awaited promotion, the process of applying for, interviewing for, and then hopefully landing a federal position can be daunting. Just as with many things in life, it is best to prepare in advance.

Federal job applications are much different than private sector resumes. To apply for federal jobs you must access the USAJOBS application system and your resume should be in compliance with keywords, core competencies, character counts, dates, and information to support how you are qualified for the job of interest.

By following the 10 tips below, you can minimize stress during the process and maximize your chances of success:

  1. Begin researching jobs at least several months in advance
  2. Create a "saved search" in USAJOBS.gov so that it emails you jobs that meet your criteria
  3. Identify a specific position or sample position(s)
  4. Read the job announcement from top to bottom, closely analyzing the duties and other requirements, such as KSAs or occupational questionnaires
  5. Use these sections as a guide to develop a federal resume that shows your most relevant duties and accomplishments in the past 10-15 years
  6. Read the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" sections again, and assemble any needed documents
  7. Consider getting help from a mentor or resume-writing professional to ensure your resume is well-written, properly formatted, and effective at showing your qualifications
  8. Follow the steps to apply for the job, and try to do so before the actual closing date just in case there is a technical glitch
  9. Consider calling the HR representative on the job to get confirmation that your application is received, and is complete
  10. Expect the best, and prepare for the interview!

Read each vacancy announcement thoroughly to ensure you meet all the qualification criteria of the job requirement and your experience/information is populated throughout your resume. If you do not receive a best qualified rating you may be applying for jobs that you are not qualified for or others are more qualified. Keep trying; acquiring a federal job can take time, but once you are hired you will have many opportunities for advancement.

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.

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