Worldwide Assurance for Employees of Public Agencies

• Editors Column ... Talking Your Way to Career Success
• Insights ... A Golden Opportunity: Recruiting Baby Boomers Into Government
• Spotlight on Jobs ... U.S. Courts - Judicial Branch
• Career Chat ... Part 1: Federal-Style Resumes...Your Keys to Success
• WAEPA ... FREE 2008 Locality Pay/Leave Chart Display Magnet
• This Month's Specials ... The KSA Workbook & KSA Sampler only $10 each through 02/15/2008. These comprehensive guides will show you how to prepare required essay statements that address your unique Knowledge, Skills & Abilities.

Talking Your Way to Success

The office party is often a good opportunity to do some effective networking that could start you up the career ladder, if you don't trip yourself up on the first conversational rung. In fact, it's often a federal employee's only opportunity to get to know, and be known by, those higher up in the department. Here are some tips to brush up on a few conversational skills.

In Part I of our series, we discussed how to break the ice and keep a conversation going. In this second and final part, we talk about what to do when the conversational spotlight falls on you.

She talks. You listen. It's an office social function and you're networking getting to know the head of the department where you'd like to work. You've already asked questions that have her talking about how she manages her dual career that of the mother of two young children and supervisor of the technical division. But what about you? she asks. For an instant there is silence. Then you speak.

Animated and with growing enthusiasm, you tell her about the training session you recently attended, what you learned that you'd like to apply, how you feel about your work and your future goals. She listens closely, nods and smiles. When she suggests that you come in to talk about a position opening up in her department, you're not surprised.

Turning networking opportunities into job interviews becomes easier when you know and practice good conversational skills.

A Golden Opportunity: Recruiting Baby Boomers Into Government

Last month we discussed how the federal government will need to hire an estimated 193,000 individuals to fill "mission critical" positions in areas such as public health, accounting, and engineering, where the Partnership for Public Service released a report "Making the Difference: A Blueprint for Matching University Students with Federal Occupations."

On January 17, 2008, the Partnership for Public Service released their latest publication, "A Golden Opportunity: Recruiting Baby Boomers Into Government", which highlights: Critical Skills and Mission Critical Occupations, Federal Retirement Trends, Recruiting and Hiring, Retirees and Encore Careers.

The Partnership for Public Service launched "FedExperience", an initiative to enhance government's recruitment of experienced workers and enlist potential partners to fuel interest in federal service. The Atlantic Philanthropies awarded the Partnership a grant to fund the first phase of this project. This research project was designed to assess the feasibility of attracting larger numbers of older, experienced workers into the federal government. This 40-page report sought to answer several key questions:

with the purchase of a Platinum 1-Year FedJobs Membership

Anyone who has ever applied for a federal job knows the importance of the federal application package. It is essential to your job search success that your resume package includes specific information so that you get the highest rating and subsequently, a job interview.

Our team of "Federal Career Counselors" are ready to help you create a job-winning application package by conducting an 10-point evaluation of your resume, including:

1. Writing Style;
2. Clarity of Writing;
3. Focus;
4. Use of Keywords;
5. Compliance Information;
6. Job Descriptions;
7. Accomplishments;
8. Organization of Resume;
9. Length of Resume; and
10. Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling.

This critique is FREE when you purchase a 1-year Platinum FedJobs Membership at the low cost of $49.95.

What are KSAs?

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities ... that list of special qualifications and personal attributes that someone has decided you should have in order to fill a particular job. It's not enough that you meet the basic qualifications for the position and have the specialized experience that's required. It's not enough that you have a polished and up-to-date application package that clearly lays out all your experience and expertise. Now you have to put more time and effort into developing a "supplemental statement" or "essay," a set of responses to these additional evaluation factors that may be relevant only to a particular job vacancy. And you have to do it in time to meet the position's application deadline.

When required, KSAs are the single most important aspect of your federal application and our workbook will help you understand and craft job-winning KSAs.

Not sure what a KSA looks like...how long they should be...what writing style is used...

Then take your KSA writing a step further - our KSA Sampler is loaded with over 75 sample KSA responses to help you avoid "writer's block" and prepare clear and concise KSA statements. The library of samplers included in this book are designed to help YOU find the best way to respond with YOUR background to the KSAS YOU personally face. This workbook will help you familiarize yourself with various approaches to responding to KSAs and to focus on what works best for you with your unique set of skills and interests. Review our sample KSAs and identify those that, with the substitution of a few keywords, are similar to KSAs you might encounter when applying for federal jobs.

U.S. Courts - Judicial Branch

Article III of the United States Constitution establishes the judicial branch as one of the three separate and distinct branches of the federal government. The other two are the legislative and executive branches.

The federal courts often are called the guardians of the Constitution because their rulings protect rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. Through fair and impartial judgments, the federal courts interpret and apply the law to resolve disputes. The courts do not make the laws. That is the responsibility of Congress. Nor do the courts have the power to enforce the laws. That is the role of the President and the many executive branch departments and agencies.

Part 1: Federal Style Resume: Your Keys to Success

When preparing a federal application, it is critical to understand the importance of keywords. First, what are keywords? Keywords are specific words that a hiring office uses to describe the duties of a position. Next, where can they be found? Keywords can be found in the job's vacancy announcement and position description. Last, and most importantly, why do you need them in your resume? Every position has words that the resume reader is looking for. These words are used to rate and rank your resume, and determine your eligibility and selection for an interview.

FREE 2008 Locality Pay/Leave Chart Display Magnet

Federal employees can order their FREE Wall Magnet, which includes the 2008 Leave Chart and the 2008 locality pay schedule of their choice, at http://www.waepa.org/FREE_2008_Calendar.asp. Please order promptly, as supplies are limited.

These handy reference tools are provided by WAEPA --- Worldwide Assurance for Employees of Public Agencies --- a non-profit association that has been serving the insurance needs of civilian federal employees and their families since 1943. WAEPA enables federal employees, and their families, to purchase better life insurance at far better prices. As a superior alternative, or supplement to FEGLI, WAEPA gives its members more coverage, more benefits, and greater flexibility --- yet costs much less.

These FREE Locality Pay/Leave Chart Display Magnets are available to all federal employees.

You can learn more about the insurance programs offered by WAEPA at http://www.waepa.org  where you can also use the online premium calculator to customize your own personal insurance program.

FedJobs Career Chat, Federal Research Service's monthly newsletter on issues that impact your career and your search for a Federal job, is published monthly.

Do you know anyone interested in receiving this newsletter? Tell them they can subscribe to this free e-newsletter by visiting http://www.fedjobs.com/account/new_account.html 

Federal Research Service, PO Box 1708, Annandale VA 22003

1-800-822-5027, www.fedjobs.com, info@fedjobs.com

Copyright 2008