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Federal Aviation Hiring
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My sources tell me the market for Federal aviation positions for civilian and ex-military personnel will heat up soon. Therefore you may want shift into job hunting attack mode for this sector. To do so you will need to acquaint yourself with the protocols and documents used in the federal sector because no matter how unique and well written your current resume is, it is not what Uncle Sam is looking for.
Whereas a successful Business Resume is a custom structured marketing document that focus on selling a candidate to an employer, a Federal resume is a highly structured document, more in line with a CV in terms of outlining specific information in a predefined format, it requires limited creativity, and it is written not to impress but to garner high rating scores in a computerized rating system.
As far as protocol is concerned, here too there is a major difference you must be aware of when applying for government aviation jobs. Most of us are used to filling out the job application only after we are selected for an interview. This is not so for most government aviation jobs. The application is usually mandatory in lieu of a resume and most likely is a required part of the selection process.
Since the federal application process is complex and something new for most aviation job seekers, the best advice I can offer you is to read the job vacancy announcement thoroughly to know exactly which information needs to be provided to generate a high rating score specifically for the job. This can be delicate because unlike a resume that focuses on accomplishments and achievements and downplays responsibilities, a detailed listing of job responsibilities is an integral part of a Federal resume.
Federal Aviation Resumes
If you have been following my blog I have mentioned before that there are glaring differences between federal and non-federal resumes. The most dramatic difference is that we suggest limiting non-federal resumes to 2 pages in length while a Federal resume is often 3 - 5 page long (or more), and it is highly formated and contains specific data. Additionally, unlike a standard resume you may be required to include a KSA - Knowledge, Skills, Abilities statement which federal screeners use to rate the best qualified candidate for the position.
Additionally your aviation work history and training MUST include the required Duties and Specialized Experience listed in the Job Announcement to rate high enough on the list to be called for an interview. This is critical.
For those of you who have never gone through this process before be aware that in applying for a federal aviation job posting you must submit ALL required information and fill out all required forms and there is no margin for error. In many position you will have the option to use a federal style resume format or the OF-612 Optional Application. Many government agencies still require applicants to use their online resume builders to apply.
Understanding the Process
The U.S. government rates applicants on their work experience, education, and special qualifications. The personnel specialist rating your application is most likely not in your particular job field. This person will rate you either eligible or ineligible based on the FQS- Federal Qualification Standards.
Prior experience and training must be presented in your Federal aviation resume and/or application in sufficient detail to receive a favorable rating. If your application is rated eligible, you will be ranked against all applicants and the top qualified candidates will be referred to the selecting official. The selecting HR officer then picks from the top rated applicants...
Online federal applications and Resumix
Many Federal positions still require on-line applications, resume builders, or RESUMIX formats which are optically scanned into ATS computer systems. Once you have your resume completed and posted on jobboards or one of the many other agency resume builders, it's easy to submit that same resume to apply for other opennings. This is where many people make a mistake. Before resubmitting that same resume for another job vacancy READ the job announcement thoroughly to insure that other duties or KSA's are not required for the new position.
If indeed there is an upswell of hiring in the next few months, have your ducks in a row. Understanding the process is a first step. Read more aviation career assistance here. As always, AviationNet is here for the job seeker if you have any specific questions please feel free to shoot us an Email.
Posted On September 27, 2010
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