Making the Difference

1. Making the Difference Finding and Applying for Opportunities in Federal Service Presented by EKU Career Services

2. The Partnership for Public Service The Partnership works to revitalize our federal government by inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works.

3. Benefits of Government Service Have the opportunity to make a difference Be able to influence the future of our country Enjoy work/life balance

4. Benefits of Government Service Student loan repayment assistance Some agencies may repay up to $10,000 of your student loans per year In 2009, 36 agencies provided employees with assistance Flexible schedules and generous vacation Training and professional development Competitive health and retirement benefits Excellent advancement opportunities

5. Federal Pay and Advancement General Schedule (GS) is the pay scale for many federal jobs from 1-15 Each GRADE has 10 steps, allowing for a range of salaries Varies by geographic location Within a few years, you can progress through several grades

6. General Schedule (GS) Grade Criteria GS-5 and GS-7 are considered “entry level”

7. Selected 2010/2011 Starting Salaries

8. Selected 2010/2011 Starting Salaries Then, 2-3 years later… possible career progression

9. Where the Jobs Are: By Location Plus 50,000 employees work overseas

10. Where the Jobs Are: By Occupation In 2009, roughly 103,631people were hired in the federal government at the entry-level (GS-5, GS-6, GS-7, GS-8, GS-9) into the following occupations:

11. Agenda Part 1: Opportunities and benefits A job for every interest Benefits of government service Where the Jobs Are Part 2: Navigating the process How to search for a federal internship or job How to apply for a federal internship or job Essays and KSAs – changing in 2011 Summary

12. Where to Start Your Search Friends Family Alumni Professors

13. Tools for Narrowing Your Search makingthedifference.orgThe Partnership’s Web site for students and job seekers USA.govThe U.S. Government’s official web portal bestplacestowork.orgThe most comprehensive and authoritative rating of employee satisfaction in the federal government

14. Where to Look: makingthedifference.org • 17 interest-specific career guides • Agency profiles • KSA writing and federal resumes tips • Profiles of young feds in public service • Information on security clearances • Information on student loan repayment

15. Where to Look: USA.gov

16. Where to Look: bestplacestowork.org

17. Executive Order 13562 – Recruiting and Hiring Students and Recent Graduates President Obama signed December 27, 2010 The principal purpose of the order is to establish a comprehensive structure to help the Federal Government be more competitive in recruiting and hiring talented individuals who are in school or who have recently received a degree. OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

18. Career Pathways Make application process less cumbersome: Accept resumes instead of requiring detailed applications Eliminate KSA’s (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities) from the initial application process OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

19. Career Pathways Increase quality and speed of hiring: Currently - 120 days on average Target – 80 days or less OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

20. Career Pathways Notify applicants about their status during the process: Application received Application has been evaluated, have met or not met minimum qualifications Found well qualified, invited for interview Selected for position OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

21. Pathways Programs The three Pathways Programs will each provide noncompetitive conversion eligibility to participants and will be used in targeted ways to develop talent for civil service careers. OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

22. Internship Program A new Internship Program will be created that is targeted towards students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions. Will take the place of the STEP and SCEP Programs OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

23. Recent Graduates Program This brand new program will target recent graduates of trade and vocational schools, community colleges, universities, and other qualifying institutions. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree completion (except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, who will have six years after degree completion). OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

24. Recent Graduates Program Successful applicants will be placed in a two-year career development program with a cohort of peers hired during timeframes aligned with academic calendars. After successfully completing the program, participants will be considered for noncompetitive conversion to career jobs. Replaces Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP) OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

25. Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program For more than three decades, the PMF Program has been the Federal government’s premier leadership development program for advance degree candidates. The Executive Order expands the eligibility window for applicants, making it more “student friendly” by aligning it with academic calendars and including those who have received a qualifying advanced degree within the preceding two years. It also directs OPM to set qualification standards, and to make changes in order to make the PMF experience more robust and substantive for participants. OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

26. Pathways Programs In the months ahead, OPM will be proposing implementing regulations and assisting Federal agencies in adopting these reforms. Students and recent graduates can expect to see these reforms fully implemented within a year. www.opm.gov/hiringreform OURPUBLICSERVICE.ORG

27. Getting Started: Current Student Programs Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) Description Similar to a traditional internship Great program for a summer or short term experience Eligibility Student must be enrolled in an accredited degree granting institution Additional Always paid, usually at a GS-2/3 for an undergraduate student Length of the experience is set by the agency Not required to be posted on USAJOBS.gov

28. Getting Started: Current Student Programs Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) Description A student works in an area related to what they are studying Eligibility Student must be enrolled in an accredited degree granting institution An agency must form an agreement with the institution the student is attending Additional Always paid If student works at least 640 hours (or less depending on academic achievement or prior experience), after internship, they may be eligible to be hired into an agency non-competitively Not required to be posted on USAJOBS.gov

29. Getting Started: Current Student Programs Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP) Description Full time 2 year long position The term “intern” refers to the idea of trying out a position for 2 years Dissolved - March 1, 2011 Replace by Recent Graduate Program Details yet to be determined by each agency

30. Getting Started: Current Student Programs Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) Description Government’s most prestigious fellowship program Students complete a 2 year rotation within an agency or between agencies as full-time fellows Eligibility Student who has just completed a master’s program Apply during the fall of their final year of graduate school Additional A candidate must be nominated by their institution For more information: https://www.pmf.opm.gov

31. Where to Look for Positions Your career development center Popular job/internship search engines makingthedifference.org USAJOBS.gov Agency Web sites

32. Partnership Facebook Fan Page Federal Jobs and Internships Job Fairs and other Federal Events!

33. Where to Look: USAJOBS.gov

34. Where to Look: USAJOBS.gov

35. Where to Look: Agency Web Sites

36. Now let’s search…

37. Launch the Process at USAJOBS.gov TIP: Use Advanced Search for more options

38. Search by Various Fields SEARCH BY: Keyword Location Job Category Salary Range Pay Grade

39. Federal Jobs by College Major EI-23 Form

40. Anatomy of a Vacancy Announcement OVERVIEW Summary of the organization’s mission and impact, plus a brief description of the job and its key requirements

41. Anatomy of a Vacancy Announcement DUTIES Lists major duties and responsibilities of the position, adding more detail to the brief overview

42. Anatomy of a Vacancy Announcement QUALIFICATIONS & EVALUATION Identifies skills and experience needed for the role and explains how applications will be assessed

43. Anatomy of a Vacancy Announcement BENEFITS & OTHER INFO Describes additional elements of the compensation package or perks associated with the job

44. Anatomy of a Vacancy Announcement HOW TO APPLY Provides step-by-step instructions on how to apply and may include information on when/how applicants can expect to hear from the agency

45. How to Apply BE CAREFUL! Follow the “How to Apply” instructions closely — they may differ across agencies.

46. Overview of the Online Process After selecting the job to which you’d like to apply, there are usually several steps in the online application process: Create your federal resume Answer the questions posed online Submit the complete application package by the stated deadline Follow up with the appropriate agency contact to inquire about progress in hiring for the position

47. Building a Federal Resume

48. Building a Federal Resume • Federal resumes require more detail than standard resumes • Personal information • Education and coursework levels • Work experience • 1-5 pages in length • On USAJOBS.gov you can store up to 5 resumes and tailor them for different positions

49. Building a Federal Resume Online Sections: Candidate information Work experience Education References Affiliations Desired locations

50. Building a Federal Resume • Program Coordinator • Oversee three mentoring programs in limited resource communities • Recruit, train and manage 25 adult mentors and 30 youth