1. Tips on the Federal Job
Process
Or How Do I Really Get To The Interview Stage?
Marianne Giltrud
November 5, 2011

2. Presidential Memorandum May 2011
 Designed to Improve the Federal
Recruitment and Hiring Process.
 Making it easier to apply for a federal job.

3. Good News Bad News
 Federal Hiring Managers do not have any
input into the evaluation of applicants
 The first “eye” that “sees” your application is
a computer.
 The next is the Human Resource employee.
 Third, is the hiring official.
 To get to this stage, your resume needs to be
focused and targeted to the job
announcement.

4. Best Qualified???
 Yes, KSA’s…..No, KSA’s
 Explicitly Call Out in Resume
 Typically receives 80+ out of a possible 100
 Point Value for demonstrated qualifications
 Superior Ability =4
 Satisfactory Ability=3
 Barely Acceptable or Potential Ability=2
 Some Value=1
 No value-0

5. Roadblocks
 Veteran’s Preference
 “Stoppers”-Priority Placement Lists and First
Consideration
 Multiple Lists of Eligible candidates
 Desire to promote from within
 Too many candidates….Too few jobs
 Hiring freezes and slow downs
 Alas a silver lining?

6. How do I know?
 If the announcement says…
 Public
 All Qualified
 US Citizens
 All Sources
 All groups of qualified individuals
 All qualified candidates
 US Citizens and Status Candidates
 YOU MAY APPLY FOR THE POSITION-EVEN IF
YOU ARE NOT A CURRENT OR FORMER
FEDERAL EMPLOYEE, HAVE NO PRIOR
FEDERAL SERVICE, OR ARE WORKING IN AN
EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION

7. Two Classes of Federal Employees
 Competitive Service
 OPM, Civil Service Laws enacted by Congress.
Candidates must meet all qualifications of the job.
 Excepted Service
 Not subjected to Pay, Appointment, Classification
Rules in Title 5, U.S. Code
 FBI-GSA-STATE-CIA –May or May not advertise on
USA Jobs
 LOC --- Advertise on USA Jobs

8. 2011 FLICC Competencies for Federal
Librarians
http://www.loc.gov/flicc/publications/Lib_Compt/2011/2011Competencies.pdf

9. USA Jobs
 FAQ’s https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Top_Ten_FAQ
 What’s new at USA Jobs at http://
www.usajobs.gov/Content/pdfs/What%27s%20New%20in%20USAJOBS.pdf
 Advanced Search http://
www.usajobs.gov/Content/pdfs/Advanced%20Search.pdf
 Saved Searches http://
www.usajobs.gov/Content/pdfs/Saved%20Searches.pdf
 Resumes http://www.usajobs.gov/Content/pdfs/Tutorials-Resume.pdf
 Executive Service http://
www.usajobs.gov/Content/pdfs/Senior%20Executive%20Service.pdf

10. Librarian Series 1410

11. Administrative and Program Series 301

12. Information Technology Series 2200

13. Job Announcements
 Read everything, read it again, reflect, read it for key
words.
 Go Through Every tab
 Overview, Duties, Qualifications & Evaluations, Benefits & Other
Info, How to Apply
 Be aware of timetable. If it says at 11:50pm on Nov. 5, 2011, it
you turn it in at 12:00pm it won’t be accepted.
 Deconstruct the announcement
 Identify Key Words based on the frequency in the
announcement.
 Think about the announcement…..
 What are key elements to the job?
 What are the skill sets required to do that? How can I translate or transfer
my skills to this announcement?
 Restate any questions from the job questionnaire in your resume.

14. IT Specialist Internet Series 2200

15. How You Will Be Evaluated
 You will be evaluated for the position based
on the qualifications for this position as
evidenced by the education, experience and
training you report relevant to the position,
that demonstrates that you possess the
knowledge, skills and abilities required.
 Be specific, explain the why and the how.
 Look at the announcement and Map the Duties
and Skills

16. Duties and Skills Map
Duties of the Jobs Skills/Knowledge Required
Designs, develops and tests Designs, develops and maintains web
website. sites using Drupal CMS. Updates
versions, customizes content, creates
taxonomies.
Contributes content to the website. Skilled in network communication, client-
server architecture, programming
languages, testing and debugging code.
Acts as production coordinator for Creates and maintains websites using,
the web page, multimedia postings HTML, PHP, PERL JavaScript, XHTML,
and for public national website. XML, and CSS.
Communicates with library wide Engages, connects and interacts with
communities‘ of practice. users to ensure web accessibility and
ADA compliance.

17. Achievements
 Created Association’s DRUPAL CMS website
from the ground up. Awarded Best in Class for
New Trends in Website Usability.
 Created a Wiki to enhance communication
between various stakeholder groups. Improved
quality and quantity of face to face networking
activities.
 Constructed taxonomies, organizational
frameworks, and structured content for easy
access as well as improved look, feel and
usability.

18. Frame Experience = Competencies
 Knowledge: Knowing about or understanding
something, learning through study or
experience
 Skills: Ability to perform something; knowing
how to do something
 Ability: Capacity to do something, an
inherent mental or physical characteristic
that helps someone do certain things.
 Paid and Non Paid
 Volunteer-Homemaker
 Capstone projects, practicum or internships
 Other work experience

19. Tell Your Story
 Write in the first person.
 Use action words.
 Identify who you are dealing
with…..Management, Customers, Team
Members
 Show level of responsibility- Team Leader, team
member, subordinate, providing support to
management, etc.
 Include specialized education or training that
helped make you successful.
 Include any awards or praise received.

20. Character Traits
 Take control of your part of the application process.
 Be selective in applying for the jobs and spend the time to do it right.
 Focus your time and efforts on the jobs for which you are best
suited.
 Invest time and effort to create a strong, focused and targeted
resume.
 Create as many word and phrase matches as you can with the
announcement.
 Do everything they tell you to do within the time frame allowed.
 Be persistent. Keep trying.

21. Resources
 Careers in Federal Libraries Google Group
 Subscribe by sending an email to
careers-in-federal-libraries@googlegroups.com.
 Job Announcements, Resume Reviewers, Discussions
 New Feds on Facebook
newfeds@groups.facebook.com
 2011 FLICC Competencies
http://www.loc.gov/flicc/publications/Lib_Compt/2011/2011Competencies.pdf
 Education and Career Planning Wiki
http://educationandcareerplanning.pbworks.com
 Careers in Federal Libraries Slide Share Account
www.slideshare.net/CareersinFederalLibraries/

22. Questions!
 Good Luck and Best Wishes!