ATEC gets the scoop on Federal hiring process

By Mrs. Courtney W Gilbert (ATEC)March 8, 2017

ATEC gets the scoop on Federal hiring process
Shawn Wright, Civilian Personnel Advisory Center human resource specialist and veterans employment coordinator, opens the Soldier For Life lunch box session on the government hiring process for veterans and their spouses at the U.S. Army Test and Eva... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (March 7, 2017) -- The hiring freeze has not stopped the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, or ATEC, from proactively sharing information about the veteran recruitment process for federal employment to ensure its military community is set up for future success after transitioning to the civilian sector.

ATEC's Headquarters and Headquarters Company or HHC, hosted another Soldier For Life, or SFL, lunch box session Jan. 30 at ATEC headquarters to provide insight into the government hiring process for veterans and their spouses.

The ultimate objective of the Army's SFL initiative is to ensure Soldiers, veterans and military Families leave the military "career ready", and in a position to seek employment and successfully switch over to being a civilian. ATEC continues to support this effort by hosting SFL sessions designed to present information beneficial to Soldiers transitioning to civilian life.

Master Sgt. Jose Cubillosvillamil, ATEC Command Career Counselor and lead for ATEC's SFL program, invited the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center, or CPAC, to share information with the workforce about special hiring authorities for veterans and discuss how to successfully prepare an application package for USAJobs, the Federal government's official employment website.

Shawn Wright, CPAC human resource specialist and veterans employment coordinator, opened the session covering the five special hiring authorities for veterans: Veterans' Recruitment Appointment, or VRA; Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998, or VEOA; 30% or More Disabled Veteran; Disabled Veterans Enrolled in a Veteran Affairs Training Program; and Schedule A Appointing Authority.

Wright explained how each of the five veteran hiring authorities has specific prerequisites that must be met in order for veterans to be considered eligible.

Wright went on to discuss how to compile an application package for USAJobs, which helps ensure all the necessary documentation is submitted before the job announcement closes. The application package includes the resume, assessment questionnaire responses, and other supporting documents, such as college transcripts or required licenses.

"It's important to note that your resume should be geared toward the specialized experience of the job announcement you're applying for," Wright said. "Ultimately, you want to paint a clear picture of your experience on your resume."

Wright explained the two purposes of the assessment questionnaire, which are to determine your eligibility and qualifications based on selected responses to a series of questions.

"The assessment questionnaire will kick you out if you don't state you are an expert in the job-specific qualifications," Wright said. "Therefore, make sure you can speak truthfully in saying you are an expert in those areas."

Before concluding his presentation, Wright discussed the current Federal government hiring freeze and its impact on how CPAC conducts business. One way, Wright said, is that CPAC won't begin officially processing job application packages until the end of the hiring freeze.

For more information about the Army's Soldier for Life program, visit https://soldierforlife.army.mil.

Related Links:

U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command Page

Official ATEC Facebook Page