Federal Employment

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Federal Employment
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Workshop Content

• Federal employment outlook
• Where to find employment opportunities
• Special student programs
• Application procedures
• CSEL services

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Federal Employment Outlook

• Projectionsfuture need of 1.6 million full-time
  employees
• Currently 1.85 million in executive branch
• Retirement Eligible
• 30-40 could within 5 years
• 20 could seek early retirement
• As of August 18, 2003 15,823 Jobs on USAJOBS
• Currently reorganizing/downsizing

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Where the Jobs AreTop 20 White Collar Occupations
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Federal Facts-- 2003 General Schedule
Annual rates by Grade and Step without locality
pay
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Where to Find Employment Opportunities

• http//www.opm.gov
• http//www.usajobs.opm.gov
• http//www.studentjobs.gov
• http//www.odedodea.edu/
• New web resource tools available
• Career Interest Center
• http//career.usajobs.opm.gov/
• Federal jobs by college major
• http//www.usajobs.opm.gov/EI23.asp

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Sample Screen www.usajobs.opm.gov
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Additional Sources

• Career America Connection [phone]
• FedFax Atlanta [phone]
• Contact Agencies directly
• UCF CSEL Libraries
• Periodicals / Magazines (NACE Job Choices)
• Career Expos

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Student Opportunities

• Employment Programs
• http//www.studentjobs.gov
• Student Educational Experience Program
• http//www.usajobs.opm.gov/STUDENTS.asp
• Summer Employment
• http//www.usajobs.opm.gov/EI19.asp
• Internships/Co-op/Grants/Fellowships/Scholarships
• http//www.studentjobs.gov/e-scholar.asp
• Not all student opportunities are listed on the
  internet contact agencies directly

In 2000, over 50,000 students were employed with
the Federal Government
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Student Opportunities

• Must be a student
• Contact and apply directly to agency
• No written tests
• More than 1 Internship/Co-op experience
• Begin researching/applying 1 full year before
  graduation
• Earn vacation/sick time

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Application ProceduresOverview

• Check job listings/position announcements via the
  web.
• Follow application instructions.
• Instruction and documentation are job
  announcement specific.
• Read carefully. Follow directions. It is your
  responsibility to ensure that your paperwork is
  complete. Incomplete/incorrect packages will be
  removed from consideration.
• Call the contact person if you have any questions.

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Application ProceduresUnderstanding the Job
Announcement

• Job announcement sample www.usajobs.opm.gov
• Area of Consideration-who may apply
• Vacancy Announcement Number (include on all
  paperwork)
• Opening/Closing Dates
• Special/Basic Requirements/Experience
• Duties
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• Additional Forms (Ex. OF306)
• If you have questions CALL THE CONTACT NUMBER

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Application ProceduresFederal Resume/OF612

• You can create a federal resume or fill out an
  OF612 on the usajobs website.
• www.usajobs.opm.gov
• A federal resume is not like a traditional
  resume!
• Resume management system now available on
  usajobs. You can have multiple resumes, cover
  letters and be notified of job postings.
• Look at the Description of Duties
• One year is equal to 2087 work hours. Be able to
  quantify all your experiences.
• Do not discount volunteer experiences.

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Application ProceduresKSAs

• Knowledge, Skill and Ability Statements
• 2 options incorporate into resume or write
  essays dependent on announcement
• Max of one page in length each
• Should be specific
• Detailed
• Use examples
• Should be written in the 1st person
• Will be assessed a grade from 0-25 depending on
  importance of the Knowledge Skill or Ability
• Use STAR method to write

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Application ProceduresSTAR Method

• When writing your KSA statements, think of the
• Situation in which the activity took place,
• highlight the Task or challenge you faced,
• describe in detail the Action you put forth to
  resolve the challenge,
• and then discuss the Result in terms of time,
  money or effort.

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Application Procedures KSA ExampleThe Ability
to Communicate Orally

• Situation As a Clinical Specialist in the Home
  Health Aid Group, Health Care Financing
  Administration
• Task/Challenge I receive frequent calls from
  physicians who are seeking specialized medical
  tests for patients who are members of HMOs. They
  are advocating services that are not being
  provided by the HMO. The challenge of these calls
  is to research all of the information and provide
  decisions regarding the patients care.
• Action The research involves communicating with
  the Plan Manager for the HMO researching HCFAs
  policies and procedures and analyzing the
  situation.
• Results I determined that the HMOs policies
  were out-of-date. I recommended new policies and
  reviewed their draft. I also recommended a
  simplified physician application for requesting
  medical services which would save time and
  increase services to patients.

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Application ProceduresUnderstanding Terms

• Pay Scales - GS/WG/SES
• http//www.opm.gov/oca/payrates/
• Locality pay
• Relocation pay
• Appointment - excepted vs. competitive
• Length of employment - term vs. permanent
• Preference - veteran and spouse

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Application Process
What happens to your resume once it is received
by the federal government?

• 1. Application Review - all applications are
  reviewed to check on completion. Many
  applications dont make it past this step.
• Resume Reviewed - to see if you are qualified for
  the position.
• KSA Review - if you are qualified then your KSAs
  will be graded from 1-25. Those with the overall
  highest scores will be passed on to the
  hiring agency.

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Interviewing for a Federal Job

• When where?
• Who will conduct the interview?
• How to prepare?
• Resume?
• Salary?

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Career Services and Experiential Learning
Workshops

• Business Etiquette
• Choosing or Changing Majors
• Choosing the Best Career
• Cover Letters Business Correspondence
• Curriculum Vitae
• Federal Employment
• Graduate School Planning

• How to Succeed at a Career Fair
• Internships and Cooperative Education
• Interview Techniques
• Job Search Strategies
• Introduction to On-line Job Postings and
  On-Campus Interviewing
• Portfolios (How to Prepare)
• Resumes

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Career Services and Experiential Learning Programs

• Career Planning Workshops
• Career Information
• Career Information Library
• Free Career Related Related Publications
• Alumni Mentors
• Career Counseling
• Major/Career Options
• Career Assessments
• Job Search Assistance
• Resume/Cover Letter Critique
• Practice Interviews
• Experiential Education
• Internships /Externships
• Lockheed Martin Work Experience Program

• Graduate/Professional School
• Directories and resources
• Annual Graduate, Law and Professional School Day
• CSEL Events
• 8 Annual Career Fairs
• Majors Fair
• Annual Senior Day
• Career Panels
• On-Campus Recruitment
• GOLD Connection
• Job Listings
• Resume Referral
• On-Campus Interviewing
• Company Presentations

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Career Services and Experiential Learning
Calendar of Events 2004-05

• Statewide Job Fair
• May 13, 2004
• Fall Career Expo
• October 5, 2004
• Graduate, Law Professional Day
• October 20, 2004
• Senior Day
• October 27, 2004
• Public Administration Job Fair
• November 9, 2004
• Experiential Education Career Panel
• November 16, 2004
• Spring Internship Fair
• January 25, 2005

• Spring Career Expo
• January 26, 2005
• Arts Science Career Panel Series
• February 8, 2005
• College of Engineering Panel
• February 22, 2005
• Arts Science Career Panel Series
• March 8, 2005
• Majors Fair
• March 9, 2005
• Statewide Job Fair
• May 12, 2005

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Career Services Experiential Learning

• Locations/Hours
• Career Services Student Resource Center 7G
• Normal Hours of Operation Mon. Fri. (800 am -
  500 pm)
• Walk-in Service Mon. Fri. (1000 am - 400 pm)
• Experiential Learning Howard Phillips Hall,
  Ste. 208
• Normal Hours of Operation Mon. Fri. (800 am -
  500 pm)
• Walk-in Service Mon-Fri. (800 am-1200pm)
  (200pm -500pm)
• Satellite Locations
• College of Business BA2, Room 222
• Lockheed Martin Sand Lake Road
• Rosen College of Hospitality Management 9907
  Universal Blvd., Ste. 201

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The UCF Creed
Integrity, scholarship, community, creativity,
and excellence are the core values that guide our
conduct, performance, and decisions. Integrity I
will practice and defend academic and personal
honesty. Scholarship I will cherish and honor
learning as a fundamental purpose of my
membership in the UCF community. Community I
will promote an open and supportive campus
environment by respecting the rights and
contributions of every individual. Creativity I
will use my talents to enrich the human
experience. Excellence I will strive toward the
highest standards of performance in any endeavor
I undertake.
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA