The holidays are ahead of us and that means planning for family travel, holiday shopping, and holiday events. And for some people, they know federal hiring is abundant and they are planning their next step!
Many government entities start their fiscal year October 1, and in some cases, federal government employees have their federal career top of mind because their self-assessments are due. And for people who are seeking a federal government job, the start of the fiscal year is a great time to apply!
The fall season makes us think pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider, pies, turkey, and family gatherings—and turning a new leaf. But this time of year may also bring uncertainty as the federal fiscal year comes to an end and a new one starts.
And if you are a government contractor with a September 30 endpoint, you may wonder what the next opportunity will be. Many government contractors leverage their experience and apply to work in federal government as the next step in their career.
Let the federal hiring begin!
Human Resource Specialists are always on the hunt for top talent that fulfills government positions throughout the year. When the end of a fiscal year approaches, it becomes even more critical to tap into the recruiting pipeline for new contract hiring initiatives. Conclusions to a fiscal year can be the start of a great beginning as companies and agencies consider bringing on additional labor that may not have been identified before.
Now, I am reminiscent of the song, Closing Time, performed by the musical band, Semisonic, as they iterated every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end. This time of year brings on so many new opportunities for job seekers, agencies, and companies alike.
While the thought of a job search may seem daunting, especially during the holidays, keeping your resume, LinkedIn, cover letters, and all other career marketing updated throughout the year should provide a helpful start to be considered in the Federal hiring process!
March to the beat of your own drum.
Recognized, two-time American Olympic gymnast, Nancy Kerrigan once said: “Doubt yourself and you doubt everything you see. Judge yourself and you see judges everywhere. But if you listen to the sound of your own voice, you can rise above doubt and judgment. And you can see forever.”
If you march to the beat of your own drum, you find your authenticity and build resilience in times of change. When you build resilience, you become confident through preparation and adaptation. As new job opportunities appear on the horizon, your resume will require inevitable modification depending on the job announcement.
It is imperative to remain confident and honest with yourself as you apply for jobs. Your resume is being judged—and everyone has an opinion so it’s critical to your success to align with experts who have a track record of success in this niche when you are getting advice.
Otherwise, do your best and know that we are our own worst critics at times. Remember to always use positive self-talk as you maneuver through changes in your ever-evolving career journey.
Set a cadence for your resume updates.
How often should you update your resume? It is often best practice to set a monthly reminder to take some time and reflect on your accomplishments for the month. You could just add these into a Key Accomplishments document and pin them to the top so it’s handy when updating your master resume.
Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind as you review your resume during this monthly drumbeat:
- If you have taken on new significant job duties or different roles, be sure to add those to your master resume. Do not underestimate volunteer services, internships, or freelance work that you are also doing on the side of your primary job.
- You may have new metrics that are considered key accomplishments in your career. Don’t hesitate to highlight these, especially if these accomplishments have had a positive impact on your company and tenure there.
- Verify all your details and ensure accuracy and consistency of format, grammar, job information, accomplishments, technology skills, education, training, patents, publications, volunteer service, references, and changes to your personal information.
How to begin the federal job search…
Grab that refreshing pumpkin spice latte and get cozy at your desk or on your couch and begin your federal job search on www.usajobs.gov.
How exciting is it that there are thousands of job openings in federal agencies around the world in every industry you can imagine? You will want to create your profile if you have not done so already.
Search for jobs by region, state, country, job title, salary, and the other available choices. Then, set up your Saved Searches with your custom criteria and choose to be alerted when a job announcement matches that criteria.
I encourage you to read through our blog to discover solid advice on creating a resume that will help you land interviews, resulting in job offers.
Here are a few to start with:
Writing Your Federal Resume: It’s Not About You!
Your Federal Resume: Top 10 Worst Advice
Is Your Federal Resume Goal Misguided
Please know that applying to a federal job requires a large dose of patience, persistence, and resilience no matter the outcome. The key is to keep plugging away!
Then there’s the federal hiring waiting game.
Wait, what is the status of my application? This question will likely come to mind as time starts to slip away after you have submitted your federal job application. After submitting your application, you may wonder if your application has fallen into the black hole.
However, there are some things you can do to track your application and stay updated on the status of your application during this inevitable waiting game. Remember to sign into your USAJOBS profile and navigate to Applications from the Home page. You’ll see the list of your active applications. Click on Track this Application to be redirected to the hiring agency application system.
Be sure to enroll in email updates on the USAJOBS platform after submitting an application. In the meantime, don’t forget to remind yourself that you are worthy of a new job opportunity and what is meant to be, will find its way.
It goes without saying that the federal government is one of the largest employers. The federal hiring process requires a lot of attention to detail and unique elements. And you should leverage what makes you unique because no other candidate brings to the table what you have to offer.
Looking for customized expertise for your federal resume?
CC Career Solutions has 25+ years of expertise to help you:
- Pre-qualify for the best jobs for you
- Convey your value at the very highest level so you can be selected to interview and set the foundation for the job offer
- Navigate through all the unique elements to transform your resume into a phenomenal federal resume
- Improve your job search strategy saving you tons of time, frustration, and money
- Leverage USAJOBS to Magnetize™ your resume and get recruiters calling YOU
- And, nail your interview so you can land your dream job faster!
And it would mean the world to have you keep us in mind to help you with our proven solutions to every step of your career journey.
Schedule a complimentary call to discover how we can help you land your next job or promotion faster and live your #dreamjoblife!
Now, go enjoy that pumpkin spice and everything nice that comes along with holiday cheer and federal fiscal year hiring opportunities!
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