FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Job seekers interested in federal government employment have the opportunity to gain an edge in the hiring process by attending what organizers term a double-header workshop event sponsored by Army Community Service on May 23.
Mike Kozlowski, ACS Employment Readiness Program manager, will conduct the regularly scheduled monthly federal job workshop from 8 a.m. to noon in the Soldier Service Center, Bldg. 5700, Rm. 284.
In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Month, Bobbi Rossiter, a military spouse and speaker from the Federal Career Training Institute in Catonsville, Maryland, will present a special "The Stars Are Lined Up For Military Spouses" workshop from 1:30-3:30 pm. at the same location.
How can the workshop better equip federal job seekers?
"The answer lies in the 'Ten Steps' method popularized by Kathryn Troutman, renowned expert on the federal hiring process," Mike Kozlowski, ACS employment readiness manager, said. "Troutman and her team teach this method to state and federal employees in multi-day 'train the trainer' sessions. They, in turn, take what they've learned back to their respective organizations to teach others about how they can get into satisfying federal careers."
According to Kozlowski, by following the method workshop attendees will:
• Be able to understand the process hiring officials and staffing specialists go through to list and fill federal positions;
• Be able to identify the "right fit" federal job announcements based on their specific knowledge, skills, abilities, experiences and credentials;
• Know the critical importance of including accomplishment statements on their federal résumés;
• Be able to craft impactful USAJOBS.gov outline federal résumés, which bring out their KSAs in a more effective way than before; and
• Understand the importance of following-up with federal HR offices to track the progress of their application packets.
The morning workshop is open to active duty Soldiers, their spouses, and family members, retirees, and current civil service and non-appropriated fund employees. Session participants are advised to arrive no later than 7:45 a.m. to sign in for the morning workshop and no later than 1:15 p.m. to sign in for the afternoon workshop. The afternoon workshop is only open to military spouses.
The federal job workshop will help federal job seekers understand how the federal process compares to seeking employment in the private sector.
"The federal hiring process has several similarities to those found in the private sector," he said. "For example, one still must be able to conduct targeted job campaigns -- as opposed to hunts, since nobody 'really' enjoys job hunting -- in the occupational fields for which they have career suitability, based on work experiences, qualifications and credentialing.
"Both processes require the creation of résumés which effectively capture an individual's work experiences, qualifications and credentialing," he added. "Both processes also require follow-up with their targeted employers."
However, Kozlowski continued, an individual's federal job campaign contains several differences from its private-sector counterpart.
"For example, you should not limit your search to positions found in the Department of Defense," he said. "There are several federal agencies and programs whose missions may be a better fit for your qualifications and credentials, many of which are not located at Fort Rucker.
Rossiter will focus her afternoon workshop session on special military spouse preference programs, such as the Priority Preference Program for spouses. She will also provide guidance and tips for crafting a federal résumé in advance of a PPP-S registration appointment.
"If you've heard about military spouse preference programs but haven't understood how you can take advantage of them when applying for federal jobs, then this workshop session is for you," Kozlowski said. "Bobbi will highlight several changes to the programs, in view of the presidential initiatives made earlier this month. We're excited about the opportunities that will become available to our military spouse community as a result of executive order revisions."
Kozlowski said attendees need only bring a thirst for knowledge.
He reiterated the need to be open to the ideas and methods that will be presented to workshop participants, asking that attendees bring nothing but a willingness to learn how to use these tools in their federal job campaign efforts.
"There is nothing that workshop attendees need to bring to this workshop," he said. "All materials will be provided to them at the start of the workshop including folios, pens and free copies of Kathryn Troutman's books 'Ten Steps to a Federal Job, 8th Edition' (for the morning session) and 'The Stars Are Lined Up For Military Spouses'(for the afternoon session)."
"As a matter of fact, I encourage all participants not to bring their résumés," he added. "The information participants receive will be a 'paradigm shift' for them. For example, the way they thought a federal résumé should look will, in many instances, not be what gets them referred for the jobs they really want."
Pre-registration is required due to space and materials limitations. Both workshops are limited to the first 60 registrants. Individuals can register for one or both workshops. The registration deadline is the close of business May 22.
Jobseekers can also attend an employment readiness workshop -- "Build and Enhance Your Career" -- to learn successful job campaign essentials in the private sector, such as crafting a strong private-sector résumé, prepping for interviews and various other tips.
"I am encouraging folks to register for my workshops -- to include the federal job workshop -- online," Kozlowski said. "I encourage online registration (using www.eventbrite .com) in my ongoing effort to automate my processes."
The registration deadline for these workshop events is no later than two days prior to the event. People can also call 255-2594 to register.
For more information or to register online for future workshops, visit https://rucker.armymwr.com/programs/employment-readiness or www.eventbrite.com.
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