Presidents’ Day: A bit of history.
According to Wikipedia: Presidents’ Day, which is also officially Washington’s Birthday, is a holiday in the United States celebrated on the third Monday of February to honor all persons who served in the office of president of the United States.
This holiday specifically honors our first president of the United States, George Washington. George Washington led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War and also presided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. His birthday is February 22. We also traditionally honor President Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is February 12.
While we celebrate presidents of the United States, there are many people who make this wonderful country function on a daily basis. And honoring the highest office in government is why we celebrate today.
There are many reasons why people choose to work in the federal government:
- To serve the public.
- Job stability.
- Income, potentially better.
- Great healthcare.
- Challenges and excitement.
- Competitive retirement benefits.
- Make an impact.
All of these things are valid in their own right and are excellent reasons for choosing a career and serving the public is honorable. And when you have these things, your stress levels decrease, you get a better lifestyle, a positive outlook and mental status, respect, more time, and maybe even be a better parent or partner.
If you are someone planning to land a federal job or promotion, keep reading for three quick tips to help set yourself up for success for your federal job search.
Federal Job Search Tip #1: Identify your ideal target position.
The premier place to find your ideal target position is www.USAJOBS.gov. Create an account, identify your demographics, and set up your Saved Searches so you can be alerted to the job you set in your criteria.
On this site, you can save favorite jobs and upload your resume and other supporting documents. Once you’ve done this, you can also apply for open job announcements. You can also make your resume searchable for recruiters that might be searching for you via the database.
You can also explore other hiring paths. These paths include options available specifically for Veterans, military spouses, recent graduates, individuals with disabilities, Native Americans, and the general public.
The site will also show events being hosted by various agencies such as job fairs or informational interviews. Some of these events are virtual, while others are live and in-person.
MAGNETIC TIP: If you are seeking a federal job or promotion, you can join Boost Your Federal Resume and start making connections in our community.
Federal Job Search Tip #2: Update your federal resume.
Once you’ve identified a job announcement that you are qualified for, you’ll want to write your resume to target that position, which includes the six gatekeepers who will be reading it.
I highly recommend that you pay extra attention to the specialized experience, qualifications, education, as well as the conditions of employment. For example, most federal require that you to be a US citizen. It is also common that you will need to undergo a background check. There may also be a probationary period. And if you are not eligible, based on this criterion, you may want to keep looking for a different job posting in which you will be highly qualified for.
I’ve written several articles on how to create a successful federal resume. Here’s one of the most popular: Résumé Fail: The Unfilled Bingo Card.
Federal Job Search Tip #3: Be mindful of timeline and cut-off restraints.
Unlike many private sector job postings, federal positions may be open to applicants for a relatively short period. This could be one week, or two weeks. Though some job openings might be posted frequently, and for long periods of time, including up to one year.
There are also job announcements with cut-off and “capped” restraints. This means after a certain number of applications, the job announcement will close and no more applications will be accepted.
Meanwhile, there can also be some non-compete positions, i.e., for veterans or disabled veterans that may have expedited timelines.
For all of these reasons, it’s imperative that you check the online vacancies regularly, and apply quickly—within the specified deadlines.
I also HIGHLY recommend that you get your federal resume prepared by a Magnetize Your Federal Resume-Certified Writer. They will help you pre-qualify for the job and ensure your resume addresses each of the six gatekeepers. They will also make sure your resume conveys your value at the highest level so you can attract more interviews and job offers!
You can also take our free quiz to discover what might be killing your federal resume. We would love to help you land your next job!
For more than 25 years, I've been trusted by all levels of professionals to senior executives in the Federal Government to collaborate with them and strategize, coach, and write not only their single most important document—the resume—but all of their career marketing that propels them upward in the ranks of the Federal Government and private sector. And, I would love to meet you and help you with yours! Thank you for stopping by!
You can find out what's killing your chances of landing federal jobs here: Take the 1-minute quiz and get valuable insight to your situation.
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