Help for Federal Government to Hire More Military Spouses

Aiding the spouses of military men and women has long been on our agenda at CareerPro Global. We are happy to see the times catching up with us.

The news release from the OPM itself:

Office of Personnel Management Finalizes Federal Rule

Washington, DC - The U. S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published final regulations today to give military spouses of deceased and 100 percent disabled veterans as much time as they need to apply for a federal job under the military spouse hiring authority.

“Military spouses make countless sacrifices for our nation through their dedication and support on the home front while their loved ones are serving,” said OPM Director John Berry. “In recognition of their sacrifice, this rule will help military spouses find employment in the government.”

President Obama, Vice President Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden are dedicated to strengthening military families and honoring those who served. Previously, certain military spouses and widows/widowers could be non-competitively appointed to a federal job within a limited two-year time frame after their spouse died or became totally disabled. However, many spouses were not prepared to enter the workforce within this two-year time period because they were still grieving, enrolled in educational and/or training programs, or were caring for children or their disabled spouse. The final regulations recognize that two years may not be enough time for these spouses to seek and obtain a federal job.

OPM continues to track the number of military spouses and widows/widowers hired by the federal government.  The military spouses’ noncompetitive hiring authority, which first became effective on September 11, 2009, allows certain spouses who are not already federal employees to apply directly to agency job opportunity announcements, without having to compete with other applicants.  Between October 2009 and October 2010, 887 military spouses were hired. This is a significant increase over the 58 military spouses who were hired in the first quarter after this hiring authority was launched.

To view the Federal Register notice, please visit http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-31/pdf/2011-22268.pdf.

USAJobs Update: Week Four

Welcome back to CareerPro Global’s weekly update on the USAJobs.gov site, the hippest place to go if you are looking for a federal job. If you have been following along this past month, you know that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is giving USAJobs an overhaul, with the final results on display come October. They have promised us weekly updates, which we are happy to pass on to you.  Here is week four’s update:

“We’re collecting information, but not your SSN anymore

“The new USAJOBS, which has been developed by the government through extensive collaboration across agencies, has several increased security enhancements planned. One of which is no longer collecting Social Security Numbers (SSNs). Yes, SSNs are required to validate citizenship, but the responsibility to do so remains with the hiring agency determining applicant suitability, not the federal employment search portal, USAJOBS. Furthermore, USAJOBS has never had the capability to verify SSNs entered into the system, which meant erroneous data could be collected. And USAJOBS is working hard to make such data a thing of the past.

“Note: No need for alarm if you’ve found the ideal position in USAJOBS and decide to apply and are then prompted to provide your SSN. Some agency systems, which are linked to USAJOBS, may collect SSNs during the application process.”

This seemingly innocuous change is very important. At CareerPro Global, we take the security of your information very seriously. Our IT infrastructure is such that any information you send us is safe as houses. Even with our virtual Fort Knox in place, we still do not want clients to send us their social security numbers. Why? It’s just good common sense. If someone grabs your SSN, you risk losing your identity (as well as possibly your good name and credit status). Our intranet is secure, but it your email provider or snail mail delivery person? Why take the chance when it’s data we simply don’t need.

You are your social security number. Keep it safe. Only provide it to organizations or businesses you know and trust and which have actual use of the number (say, for a credit report). Bravo to the OPM for understanding that SSNs are not needed to accept a job application and is going to make this security change for better.

Bookmark us so you always know where to come to get straightforward and user-friendly career information. And be sure to come back to CareerPro Global’s blog  next week for the next USAJobs update.

When “No” is Only a Temporary Setback

Finding a new job is a difficult process, as many of you can attest. But there are some steps you can take to make the process a little easier. Our friend John O’Conner recently sent us a story about a client of his named Mike DeCocco. After many months of struggling to find a position, Mike was able to find a job and get his career going in full steam again. Below are some of Mike’s tips to keep in mind during your career search.

•  Try not to take it too personal, even though you get knocked down–accept the fact that it’s a tough economy and there is lots of competition. Re-collect yourself and take a day of evaluation.
• Best therapy was to jump in it–networking and re-energized to meet and talk to people.
• Don’t discount anyone you can talk to in networking. Simple networking meetings turned into a job offer. Often times it’s when you least expect it.
• Volunteering in professional associations and general volunteering can have a big impact on your search.

Wise words indeed. They also to bring to mind one of my favorite quotations, by the inimitable Winston Churchill: ”Never, never, never give up.”

DHS plans to grow cybersecurity workforce by 50 percent

Recently announced was the decision by the department of Homeland security to significantly increase their cybersecurity workforce.  The White House is working with lawmakers to expand the department’s authority in securing both government and private-sector websites. This means a huge increase in the amount of federal workers needed to hire in to these positions.  According to the Federal Times,

By October 2012, DHS’ cyber staff will grow from 260 to 400 workers, Philip Reitinger, deputy undersecretary of the department’s National Protection and Programs Directorate, said at a Senate committee hearing Monday.

A new legislative proposal released by the White House this month not only places DHS as the lead defender of the dot-gov domain but also gives the department expanded authority.

The DHS secretary would require companies to disclose annually “high-level summaries” of their cybersecurity plans and whether risks have been properly addressed. The secretary would also create a process for designating critical infrastructure such as power plants and electric grids.

“DHS will be the new sheriff in cyber town that we need,” said Sen. Joe Lieberman, I- Conn., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Recruiting in the Age of Social Media: Friend or Foe?

When it comes to career advancement and recruitment, social media can be a double-edged sword.  Is it the magic bullet you need to find a new job–or more like the devil in disguise?

Hype is big right now on the power of social media to help you either kick-start a new career or move on to a new position. Social media has permeated a large part of our culture and, so reports that same social media, can help you in your job search.

In a single weekend, I found over half a dozen articles on LinkedIn reporting that social media is the way to put yourself out there for recruiters (one article, from the Mashable site, is below):

How Businesses Use Social Media for Recruiting: http://mashable.com/2011/08/28/social-media-recruiting-infographic/

Here’s what no one is telling you. If you don’t use caution, social media can be your enemy as well as your friend. Back in the good old days of social media, when I held a human resources position and the power of hiring was in my hands–when MySpace was king and Facebook users had little to no privacy–I was doing online searches for candidates whose resumes came across my desk.

Sometimes my searches would find links that showed candidates had participated in a 5k run or volunteered at a local animal shelter. Occasionally links to college-newspaper articles or mentions in high-school football games would appear.

Every once in a while, though, I’d find HR pay dirt: Unflattering photographs and posts from candidates involving drugs or excessive use of alcohol (as well as the occasional topless fraternity party snapshot); references to how much time was spent goofing off at a current position; what the candidate really did on that much-touted educational “semester abroad”; or even just poorly written communication that did little to help me view the candidate as best qualified for a writing or editing position.

Just as important as what you do show to potential recruiters is what you don’t show. Through your social media postings and updates, have you represented yourself in such a way that would make you attractive to employers? Are you showing your best face? Or is that same face passed out and smashed into the carpet at an office party? Do recruiters get to see the very best you? Or do they get to see way too much you?

As the person who snooped on so many of you, allow me to offer some advice. If you are actively pursuing a new position, keep your social media clean–or very private. If you are in an industry in which potential clients can find you on Facebook or Twitter, be careful what you post about your company. (You may also want to be sure your company does not have any rules about what is and is not allowed to be posted about the company via an employee’s private social media accounts.)

If you really want to be able to let your hair down and post whatever you please on your social media accounts, consider splitting yourself, with one professional account (with the lovely picture of you in a suit and tie) and one personal (with the unflattering picture of you falling into the river after a football game, foam “#1” finger still visible above the waves). I have two Twitter accounts (one for personal me and one for professional me) and three Facebook accounts (though one is for my two-year-old daughter)—but only one LinkedIn account.  (That’s hardly the place for the sharing of wacky shenanigans anyway.)  And in those two worlds of professional and personnel social media, very few individuals cross the line, though everyone is welcome onto my squeaky-clean professional pages.

What’s the takeaway message here? Social media can be your friend. It can help recruiters and other business associates see you in your role as a hard-working, sincere, intelligent, and serious business professional.  It may also magnify what may be seen to some human resource professionals as undignified behavior unwanted in their boardroom. Keep your public social media clean. And as for your private social media? Keep it private and secure and post as many pictures of you falling into the water as you want.

CPG President and CEO Barbara A. Adams Featured Speaker at CDI 2011 Summit

CareerPro Global., Inc., president and CEO Barbara A. Adams will be a featured speaker at this year’s Career Directors International (CDI) Global Career Empowerment Summit. Held this year in historic Savannah, Georgia, this event features the top names in the career management industry, including our own Ms. Adams. CPG employees know that for over two decades Barbara’s vision, talent, and integrity have been instrumental to the positive development of the career industry, and we’re glad to be able to share her wisdom to the industry as a whole this fall.

Ms. Adams will be speaking of “Hiring Hurdles for Federal Employment and Military Conversion,” specifically “Federal Government: The Roadmap Ahead” and “Roadmap to Successful Military Transition.”  She is creator of the Master Federal Career Coach (MFCC) and Master Military Resume Writer (MMRW) certifications, and co-author of three successful CPG publications in the Roadmap series, including the soon-to-be released guide to successful military transitions.

What does this mean to you, our past, current, and possible future clients? Besides the commitment to excellent service and quality guaranteed by our ISO 9001 certification, you can feel good knowing that you are working with a company led by one of the true innovators of the career management industry.

Barbara A. Adams is the president and CEO of CareerPro Global, Inc. (CPG). Founded in 1986, CPG is an organization that is recognized as one of the leading pioneers in the careers services industry. Barbara has built CPG into one of the largest, most respected, and fastest-growing quality career services organizations industry-wide. CPGs writing team consists of 26 civilian, federal and military writers located throughout the US. Barbara and her IT team launched and utilize one of the most robust new system architectures integrating and customizing portfolios of collaborative and communication services designed to connect people, information, processes, and systems by robust and secure state of the art servers, software and a full in-house computer infrastructure that is customized to facilitate all things CPG. Barbara is committed to the helping our veteran’s achieve successful career transactions and she and her team specialize in both military and federal resume writing and career coaching.

Barbara believes so strongly in customer service and quality deliverables that she positioned and led the process of CPG to earn the international ISO 9001:2008 certification (the first in the careers industry) through which all CPG’s processes are reviewed for quality. CPG proudly earned full ISO 9001:2008 Certification in July 2010.

Barbara is the co-author of the Master Federal Career Coach (MFCC) and Master Military Resume Writer (MMRW) courses administered by CareerPro Global and Career Directors International. She holds five career industry credentials, remains on the pulse of all hiring trends, and is very active within the careers community. She is published in over 300 books, articles, and writes several monthly columns. Additionally, Barbara is the co-author of the Roadmap to the Senior Executive Service, as well as Roadmap to an Administrative Law Judge and the upcoming Roadmap to Job-Winning Military to Civilian Resumes.

“Apparently your resume skills are magical.”

“Apparently your resume skills are magical. I’ve been writing people ALL summer and then BAM you write it and I send it out and I’ve had 3 calls in a day for jobs. … The 2 places that I will or might interview at I’ve been sending them resumes all summer but the second I send them your resume they want me. Guess I should have gotten you in May.  I’ll let you know how it all goes. Thanks again for all of this. I was completely losing hope, and couldn’t understand why no one wanted me when I KNEW I was a good teacher. I’m the same person, you just made sure they saw it. I can’t thank you enough for this.”  Elizabeth A., to writer Mara Addison

USAJobs Update: Week Three

Welcome back to CareerPro Global’s weekly update on the USAJobs.gov site, version 3. If you have been following along, you know that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is giving USAJobs an overhaul, with the final results on display come October. They have promised us weekly updates, which I am happy to pass on to you.  Here is week three’s update:

“Account Profile features – employment eligibility

“Have you ever applied for a job only to find you were not eligible to even be considered? The new and improved USAJOBS has tried to make it easier for job seekers and potential applicants to identify those Job Opportunity Announcements that they are eligible to apply for by enhancing the applicant’s account profile. By logging into USAJOBS and correctly answering the questions about yourself – such as whether or not you have served in the Armed Forces or previously held a federal position – before you begin your search, the results will be refined to only those for which you are eligible to apply. So, take the time to build your profile before you search and good luck!”

What does that mean for you and me?  USAJobs will begin to capture additional information from you in your profile. If you do a job search while you’re logged into your account, you will be shown vacancies for which you are eligible. Pretty neat. This may lead to a few less disappointed people who think they have found the job of their dreams–only to realize (sometimes too late) that they do not fit the eligibility requirements. How big of an impact will this have on you?

Bookmark us so you always know where to come to get straightforward and user-friendly career information. And be sure to come back to CareerPro Global’s blog  next week for the next USAJobs update.

OPM apologizes for two-day malfunction in system connected to USA Jobs

As we reported on August 16 (USAJobs Loss of Job Applications August 7 – 11: Is yours safe?), an unscheduled maintenance shutdown August 7 on USAJobs.gov effectively crippled the site for four days,starting with the 7th through the 9th, when the site was still accepting applications, which were damaged or lost.  The extent of the resulting problem has now been announced: OPM estimates that 70,000 (seventy thousand) applications were damaged or lost during the site malfunction.  All those affected have been notified, and no security or data was compromised or breached at any time. An OPM spokesperson wrote in an email to Federal Computer Week (see attached link), “USA Staffing apologizes for any inconvenience and will continue to address any concerns or questions applicants or agencies may have.”

This was quite a bit of a mess and bad publicity for USAJobs, which is working on a revamp of the site, with its big unveiling in October. The OPM has been praised for its fast response to the crisis and the accommodations made for those who were inconvenienced.  Were any of your applications lost during the  malfunction? How do you feel the situation was handled by the OPM?

70,000 job applications lost or damaged by system outage

USAJobs Update: Week Two

Welcome back to CareerPro Global’s weekly update on the USAJobs.gov site, version 3. If you have been following along, you know that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is giving USAJobs a overhaul, with the final results on display come October. They have promised us weekly updates, which I am happy to pass on to you.  Here is week two’s teaser:

“Can’t find what you’re looking for?

“Are you searching for jobs only to find there are so many job opportunities that you can’t find what you’re looking for? Well, there’s good news! The new and improved USAJOBS has changed how it filters search results and presents them to job seekers–meaning your search results will be more relevant to you based on your account profile (if you’re logged in), keyword used, location, work schedule or whatever search criteria you decide to use.   In addition, we’re making it easier to get general employment information through what is currently the Info Center. There’s more to come on the replacement to Info Center in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.”

Now we’re talking improvement.  It’s often difficult enough as a career coach to find appropriate listings for my clients; I can only imagine how those new to the site feel puzzling through the web of words. This is one overhaul I’m anxious to see and that will, I believe, be more in line with the president’s order to make obtaining a federal job easier and more user friendly.

In the meantime, bookmark us so you always know where to come to get straightforward and user-friendly career information. And be sure to come back to CareerPro Global’s blog  next week for the next USAJobs update.