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Here's a glance at this months feature articles

Editors Column...

Your Career Reference File...
An Important Tool for the Serious Competitor

FRS has stressed continually the importance of careful preparation of your federal-style resume and, in particular, the value of relating your qualifications to the experience requirements of the job you're after.  To do this well, you must be an expert on your background, experience and qualifications.  Sure, you need to know about the job too --- but most people fall short when it comes to tying their backgrounds to the job requirements.

The fact is that, unless you continually study yourself as objectively as possible, you don't really know yourself.  An intimate and yet objective knowledge of your saleable experience and qualifications is absolutely essential to produce a resume that leads you into finalist competition.  Whatever the general and specialized experience requirements of the vacancy might be, your resume must reflect experience, which demonstrates that you meet these requirements.  In order for your resume to successfully perform this important job, your experience descriptions must be on-target, accurate and complete.  You need all the information about yourself that you can draw upon.

Insights...

Freeze of Pay Adjustments for Federal Civilian Employees

This Months Specials...

KSA Workbook and KSA Sampler only $10 each (a savings of $2.95 per book)

As an individual seeking employment with the Federal government, at some point in the application process, you will be asked to write essay statements, which demonstrate your knowledge, skill or ability to perform in a specific job.  These essay statements (better known as KSAs) come in all shapes and sizes, but they  ALL require the applicant to clearly write (in a narrative format) how well they meet specific job requirements.

Some common KSAs that you may come across could include your "Ability to communicate orally" or your "Ability to communicate in writing."  If applying for a specific occupation, such as an Information Technology Specialist, you may be asked to write about your "Knowledge of a wide range of computer techniques, requirements, methods, sources and procedures, and knowledge of system software." Maybe you're a Human Resources Specialist and need to respond to your "Knowledge of federal position classification sufficient to classify a variety of positions." Or, you're an Administrative Assistant who needs to show your "Ability to plan, organize, and direct office activities to maintain efficient workflow."

No matter what the KSA is that you are asked to address, how well you respond WILL be the difference between getting called in for a job interview or finding your way to the 'not qualified' list.

Since 1992, we have been publishing our popular books, The KSA Workbook and The KSA Sampler, which not only take an applicant through the KSA writing process, but provides dozens of sample KSAs to help you learn how to craft a job-winning KSA. 

The KSA Workbook

KSA Sampler

Life Insurance ... For Civilian Federal Employees

Is Your Spouse Protected?

 The beginning of another year is one of the best times to review the state of your financial affairs. Unfortunately, many individuals often overlook one of the most important aspects of their life insurance plan - coverage for their spouse.

• Does your spouse have sufficient life insurance?

• How would your family deal with the loss of income due to the unanticipated death of a working spouse?

• How would your family pay for additional child care costs as a result of the loss of a stay-at-home parent?

WAEPA's Associate Member Program can provide the protection your spouse needs, and that your family deserves:

• Coverage is available from $25,000 up to $750,000.

• Your spouse is not required to be a federal employee.

• Associate Members pay the same low rates as other WAEPA members.

• Associate Members are eligible for WAEPA's Annual Premium Refund Program.

Finally, did you know that FEGLI only offers a maximum of $25,000 of dependent coverage for your spouse?

And, you as a federal employee are not required to purchase any life insurance! All you need to do is pay the one-time $2.00 Lifetime Membership Fee to become a WAEPA member, and your spouse automatically becomes eligible to apply for WAEPA Associate Member Insurance Coverage. Again, no insurance purchase is required on your part!

Your spouse can apply online using the WAEPA Associate Member Form.

Our Membership Services Representatives are available at 1-(800) 368-3484 to answer all of your questions. (As a non-profit association, WAEPA does not use Agents or Telemarketers). You can also email your questions and requests for information to info@waepa.org.

WAEPA is a non-profit association founded in 1943 that is governed by federal employees, who serve on a voluntary basis, to provide life insurance for federal employees and their families. WAEPA enables federal employees, and their families, to purchase better life insurance at far better prices, and provides its members more coverage, more benefits, and greater flexibility - yet costs much less.

• www.waepa.org

• info@waepa.org

• 1-(800) 368-3484

Click here to learn more!