Unit, discusses tips on preparing a federal resume and seeking U.S.
government jobs from Deshan Mingo, Senior Federal Recruitment Advisor,
Office of Personnel Management. Mingo, an Army veteran, provide... VIEW ORIGINAL
Ft. Belvoir, VA - More than 30 wounded, ill and injured soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen attended the Warrior Transition Command's (WTC) first federal employment resume writing workshop hosted at Ft. Belvoir's Community Hospital February 6-7. Service members received instruction in seeking federal employment and preparing resumes for U.S. government agencies.
"I really appreciate the experts from Office of Personnel Management (OPM) coming out to our inaugural Federal Resume Writing Workshop," said Col. Rick Dickenson, Assistant Chief of Staff, Personnel and Human Resources, WTC. "These folks are all veterans and have vast experience in federal hiring and really know the finer points and techniques to construct a federal resume."
Five OPM senior federal recruitment advisors and veteran representatives served as instructors and provided classroom presentations as well as individualized 'hands on' coaching for active, reserve and veterans. On the final day of the workshop, most students had resumes in hand and were prepared to begin applying for federal job openings.
"The goal of the resume workshop and follow-on Wounded Warrior Employment Conference, Feb. 28-29, is to increase the hiring of wounded, ill and injured soldiers in Warrior Transition Units and Community Based Warrior Transition Units (WTU/CBWTU) into the federal government and private sector," said Brig. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, Assistant Surgeon General for Warrior Care and Commander, Warrior Transition Command. "The intent of our resume workshops and Wounded Warrior Employment Conference is to fulfill the intent of President Obama's Executive Order 13548, 'Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities' and Executive Order 13518, and 'Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government.'"
Sgt. Maj. Sedrick Banks, a soldier assigned to the Ft. Belvoir Warrior Transition Unit encouraged fellow students to think outside the box.
"This is great information we can all use," said Banks. "This workshop will assist me, but I also want to take the information back to the younger soldiers at the WTU who aren't here today. Soldiers we train with and lead need this instruction, too."
OPM officials and WTC staff agreed.
"We understand that this important training needs to be ongoing," said Nancy Adams, WTC Career and Education Readiness Branch Chief. "Actually, WTC leadership would like to conduct regular resume writing workshops in the National Capitol Region as well as at our WTUs. Student feedback from this week will be invaluable in helping us move forward in planning future resume and employment workshops, seminars and conferences."
In addition to preparing resumes, students learned about federal hiring practices, veteran preferences, specific programs open to injured veterans and persons with disabilities, and how to search for jobs on USAJOBS.
"I'm looking for a position in human resources, logistics or as a contract analyst," said Staff Sgt. (ret.) Eugene Simpson. Simpson, who lives in Woodbridge, Va., served from 1998-2008 and was severely injured in Iraq by an Improvised Explosive Device. "I've been recovering for several years. My physical recovery has gone well but the mental and emotional recovery is something I'm still working on. It's been difficult."
Most participants will return to Ft. Belvoir February 13-14 for a second resume writing workshop on completing a corporate resume. The Warrior Transition Command will bring together instructors from the Army Career and Alumni Program and hiring managers from several private corporations located in the National Capitol Region.
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