The Book of U.S. Government Jobs: Where They Are, What's Available, & How to Complete a Federal Resume

Cover......Page 1
Table of Contents......Page 4
About the Author......Page 10
Foreword......Page 11
Acknowledgments......Page 13
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction to Government Employment......Page 14
Nature of Federal Employment......Page 17
Employment......Page 21
Occupations......Page 22
Training and Advancement......Page 24
Outlook......Page 26
Pay and Benefits......Page 27
Salary Rate Table (1-3) (GS)......Page 29
Average Annual Salary Table (1-4)......Page 31
Retirement......Page 32
Career Development......Page 33
Where the Jobs Are......Page 35
Civil Service Exams......Page 36
Federal Employment by State......Page 37
CHAPTER TWO: Hiring Reform and the Recruitment Process......Page 38
The Changing Federal Hiring Process......Page 39
Category Ratings......Page 40
Competitive Service......Page 43
Determine Your Eligibility......Page 44
Written Tests......Page 45
Job Series......Page 46
Examination Announcements......Page 47
Applying for Federal Jobs......Page 48
Noncompetitive Appointments......Page 49
Reinstatement......Page 50
Sample Qualification Standard......Page 51
Federal Student Loan Repayment Program......Page 55
Recruitment, Relocation, and Retention Incentives......Page 58
CHAPTER THREE: What Jobs Are Available......Page 60
Improving Your Chances......Page 62
Job Openings......Page 64
Internet Web Sites......Page 66
Directories......Page 68
General Information......Page 69
Federal Department Contact Numbers......Page 70
Student Employment Opportunities......Page 73
The Largest Occupations......Page 76
Reinstatement Eligibility......Page 79
Engineering Conversions......Page 81
Tony’s Story......Page 82
Informational Interviews......Page 85
Employment Interviewing......Page 88
Before the Interview......Page 89
During the Interview......Page 91
Introductory Phase......Page 92
Middle Phase......Page 93
Illegal Questions......Page 96
After the Interview......Page 97
Phone Follow-up......Page 98
Interview Checklist......Page 99
CHAPTER FIVE: Civil Service Exams......Page 100
Careers with Mandatory Testing......Page 101
Clerical Tests......Page 103
Clerical Qualifications......Page 104
CHAPTER SIX: Completing Your Employment Application......Page 106
Required Information......Page 109
Job and Personal Information......Page 110
Work Experience & Other Qualifications......Page 111
Agency Forms......Page 112
The Federal Résumé and Format Types......Page 113
Federal Resume Formats......Page 114
Writing a Headline-Style Résumé Format......Page 119
Qualifications Required......Page 124
Sample Headline-Style Format Résumé......Page 126
Understanding the Federal Vacancy Announcement......Page 127
Sample Vacancy Announcement......Page 131
Understanding Narratives, Occupational Questionnaires, and KSAs......Page 137
Sample Occupational Questionnaire......Page 138
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSAs)......Page 140
KSA Checklist......Page 143
Program Specialist Vacancy Announcement......Page 147
Program Specialist GS-301-5/7 Résumé......Page 148
Human Resource Mid Level Résumé......Page 155
HR / IT Mid Level Résumé......Page 163
How to Apply for SES Positions......Page 170
Assistance with Applying to Federal Jobs......Page 174
CHAPTER SEVEN: Veterans & Military Dependent Hiring......Page 176
Special Hiring Initiatives for Veterans......Page 177
Veterans Recruitment Appointments (VRAs)......Page 179
30% or More Disabled Vets......Page 181
Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)......Page 183
Military to Federal Transition......Page 184
Family Member (Derived Preference)......Page 185
Military Spouse Preference......Page 186
Military Spouse Appointing Authority......Page 187
CHAPTER EIGHT: Overseas Employment Opportunities......Page 188
Physical Examinations and Other Requirements......Page 189
Applying for Overseas Jobs......Page 191
Overseas Federal Job Sources......Page 192
Job Hotlines......Page 193
Internet Web Sites......Page 194
Hiring Agency Directory......Page 195
CHAPTER NINE: The U.S. Postal Service......Page 202
Employee Classifications......Page 203
Qualification Requirements......Page 204
Application Procedures......Page 206
Nature of the Work......Page 207
Employment/Training/Other Qualifications......Page 208
Job Outlook/Earnings......Page 210
Occupations List......Page 211
CHAPTER TEN: Employment for People With Disabilities......Page 212
Federal Managers’ Responsibilities......Page 213
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973......Page 214
Hiring Overview......Page 215
Proof of Disability and Certification of Job Readiness......Page 216
Conversion to Career or Career Conditional......Page 217
Term Appointments......Page 218
Special Accommodations......Page 219
Job Openings......Page 220
Job Hotlines......Page 222
Associations......Page 223
Homeland Security......Page 226
Law Enforcement......Page 228
Working Conditions......Page 230
Employment......Page 231
Law Enforcement Occupations (Table 11-1)......Page 232
Training and Qualifications Overview......Page 233
Earnings......Page 235
Employment Resources......Page 237
Correctional Officer GS-0007......Page 240
Criminal Investigator GS-1811......Page 244
CHAPTER TWELVE: Employment Secrets......Page 248
Your Application and Résumé......Page 249
Apply Frequently......Page 250
Locate All Job Vacancies......Page 252
Training and Experience......Page 253
Keys to Success......Page 254
APPENDIX A: Job Hunters’ Checklist......Page 256
APPENDIX B: Federal Agency Contact List......Page 260
APPENDIX C: Federal Occupation Lists......Page 288
APPENDIX D: Agency Skills Index......Page 308
C......Page 316
F......Page 317
K......Page 318
O......Page 319
S......Page 320
Z......Page 321