Resources for Federal Workers

Top Tips for Federal Employees Transitioning to Private Industry Résumés

Federal Jobs, Resources for Federal Workers /

by Kathryn Troutman, May 5, 2025 Transitioning from federal service to the private sector can feel like learning an entirely new language. Your years of valuable government experience need translation to resonate with corporate hiring managers. We understand this challenge and are committed to helping you bridge this gap with practical, proven strategies that highlight your unique value in the private job market. Preparation Extract Accomplishments Accomplishments are the heart of an effective private industry résumé. Unlike federal résumés that focus on duties and responsibilities, corporate employers want to see the tangible impact you’ve made. Example 1 Before (Responsibility-focused): Responsible for managing a team of IT specialists implementing new cybersecurity protocols across multiple agency departments according to federal compliance requirements. After (Accomplishment-focused): Led cross-functional team of 12 IT specialists in deploying enhanced cybersecurity protocols across 5 departments, reducing security incidents by 47% and achieving compliance certification 3 months ahead of schedule while $175K under budget. WOW, Way Better! Example 2 Before (Responsibility-focused): Served as procurement officer overseeing acquisition processes for equipment and services according to federal guidelines and regulations. After (Accomplishment-focused): Streamlined procurement processes that reduced acquisition cycle time from 90 to 45 days, resulting in $1.2M annual savings. Negotiated enterprise-wide software agreement that provided 30% cost reduction while expanding access to critical tools for 2,500 employees. WOW, Way Better! Format and Structure Content Optimization 2  Translate federal terms: Convert government-specific language, acronyms, and position titles into private industry equivalents that hiring managers will understand. 3.  Highlight transferable skills: Emphasize skills valued across sectors like project management, budget oversight, leadership, and technical expertise. Final Steps

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Condensing Decades of Leadership

Resources for Federal Workers, Resumes and Cover Letters /

Condensing Decades of Leadership Commitment to Mission into a 2-Page Private Industry Resume by Nicole Schultheis, May 12, 2025 [Note: This article was sent to a www.Resume-Place.com distribution list on May 13, 2025.] Part of the dismay experienced by federal employees facing the untimely end of a productive career in public service is the realization that a brand-new type of resume is needed. How do you go about translating federal experience into expertise that private sector employers will value? How do you condense decades of commitment to mission into two or three pages? The first thing I ask resume clients to do—particularly those transitioning from jobs at upper management and leadership levels, is to think about the times they’ve been asked to supply a short bio for use in introducing them to a group that has assembled to hear them speak. Think about your new audience and what they’ll want to hear. Consider what would impress them most, in light of the goals of your new presentation. Use this approach to craft a one-third to one-half page career summary at the top of your new resume. In just a few sentences, give the reader an overview of your job history, major leadership level achievements, and expertise. Since this isn’t a federal audience, don’t use federal jargon. Don’t say: “10 years of FITARA-compliant leadership.” Write this executive summary: “Ten years of leadership-level experience strengthening the roles and capabilities of IT professionals, enhancing transparency and risk management in technology investments, and promoting cost savings through IT portfolio reviews.”  Here’s another example: Sample Executive Summary Twenty years of leadership experience managing health care programs, directing major initiatives within the U.S. Office of the Surgeon General. Directed major improvements in health care program delivery within the Veterans Health Administration and VA Hospitals nationwide. Partnered effectively with local community care providers and major university health care systems in ensuring access to high-quality care.  Below your Executive Summary, summarize 6 to 8 areas of expertise and add them as bullet points. If you’ve developed expertise in multiple areas, list them under the Executive Summary. Next, move on to your employment chronology. Simplify your job descriptions. For each job block, use just a few lines to describe the scope of your leadership authority, your role with respect to the organization’s resources and your leadership of its people, your programmatic expertise and value, and your high-level relationships. And then, using bullet points, briefly summarize your key accomplishments, avoiding federal bureaucratic or water-treading language. Don’t say “Consistently met GPRA deadlines” or “Completed all projects on time and without violating the Anti-Deficiency Act.” Instead, focus on achievements that are more meaningful to your audience, such as “Leveraged data analytics in new ways, driving $10M in program savings while improving service.”  For roles that concluded more than 10 years ago, describe them in just one or two lines apiece. List your job title, employer, and dates. If this past job is directly relevant to the job you are applying for, add one or two major accomplishments. Move on to your education, professional and leadership training, and relevant continuing education and certifications. Don’t list every class and course you took. Publications? Peer review roles or professional associations? Unless the employer is expecting a formal curriculum vitae, list only the ones most relevant to your reader. Finally, there is no need to waste space on professional references in the resume. Provide this info only when asked. Nicole is an Executive Services Consultant & Writer at Resume Place, Inc. You can learn more about her at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleschultheis/

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Challenges Facing Former Federal  Workers and Steps They Can Take

Federal Jobs, Resources for Federal Workers /

by David Marwick, KempMillJobAssist, 03.30.25 Lynne Curry’s March 10, 2025, article identified six challenges facing former federal employees as they seek jobs elsewhere and six steps they can take to overcome these challenges. Based on her discussions with employers, she identified the following six challenges.  Regardless whether these perceptions are well-founded or not, it is important for former federal workers to understand how (at least some) people in the private sector view them. — Job security. — Different performance expectations. — Salary expectations. — Work culture shift. — Friction with new colleagues.  — Lengthy job hunt. She also lists six things that federal employees can do to prepare. — Assess their transferable skills and rebrand them for civilian jobs. — Focus on jobs involving compliance, project management, policy analysis, regulatory compliance and cybersecurity. — Look for positions with employers who hold federal contracts or work in heavily regulated industries and might welcome their expertise in navigating bureaucratic structures. — Rework their resumes by deleting government jargon and acronyms. — Engage with professional and industry contacts to access the “hidden job market.” — Pursue additional training and certifications to gain new skills and align existing skills with private-sector needs. You can read the article, “Fired federal employees will flood the job market. They have worries, and so do employers,” by Lynne Curry, Anchorage Daily News,  March 10, 2025, at https://www.adn.com/business-economy/2025/03/10/fired-federal-employees-flood-the-job-market/

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Information on RIFs (Reductions in Force)

Resources for Federal Workers /

by David Marwick, KempMillJobAssist March 24, 2025 Reductions in force (RIFs) have been very much in the news recently. A RIF is government-speak for a layoff (that is, you were terminated through no fault of your own), and the rules surrounding RIFs are complicated. Here are links to podcasts about RIFs. These links are provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Chris Kowalik of ProFeds ​Starting on March 12, 2025, Chris Kowalik recorded 22 short podcasts about various aspects of RIFs: — Part 1: Introducing the RIF Training Series — Part 2: Lessons Learned from Deferred Resignation Offer — Part 3: Am I at Risk of Being RIFed? — Part 4: 12 Things Every Federal Employee Should Do NOW — Part 5: Comparing “Reduction-in-Force,” “Early Outs,” and “Discontinued Service Retirements” (RIF vs. VERA vs. DSR) — Part 6: Comparing a “Reduction-in-Force” and the “Deferred Resignation” — Part 7: Will I Lose My Pension if I’m RIFed? — Part 8: What if I am Already Eligible to Retire? — Part 9: What if I Don’t Qualify for an “Early Out (VERA)” or “Discontinued Service Retirement (DSR)”? — Part 10: What if I Have Less than 5 Years of Federal Service — Part 11: Can I Volunteer for a RIF? — Part 12: Is it Better to Quit Before I’m RIFed? — Part 13: Will I Get Severance Pay and How is it Calculated? — Part 14: Are Cash Payments (VSIPs) Being Offered? — Part 15: Can I File for Unemployment? — Part 16: Will I Lose My Annual Leave and Sick Leave? — Part 17: What Happens if I Want to Return to Federal Service Later? == Part 18: Will I Get a Different Pension Calculation (and When)? == Part 19: Will I Still Get the FERS Supplement (and When)? — Part 20: Will I Get to Keep My Government Insurance (FEHB, FEGLI, FLTCIP & FEDVIP)? — Part 21: What Should I Know if I’m a Military Veteran? — Part 22: How Can I Access My Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)? You can find the podcasts at https://fedimpact.com/podcasts/ Learn more about Chris at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriskowalik/ Kyle Ingram, attorney Kyle Ingram has recorded two podcasts: Feb. 22. Federal RIF Survival: Tenure Groups, Bumping & Retreat Rights Feb. 18: 2025 DOGE RIFs: Legal Strategies Every Federal Employee Should Know https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sOEB2Jz3JA ​Other information on RIFs is available on K​yle’s website. https://kingramlaw.com/

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more on the federal government’s “deferred resignation” offer (spoiler: it’s definitely a trap)

Resources for Federal Workers /

by Alison Green on February 5, 2025 Just sharing this tweet from Washington Post reporter Jeff Stein about Elon Musk’s “deferred resignation” offer for federal government workers. (Don’t take it! It’s still a trap.) read more……

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Questions from federal workers who are currently under attack

Resources for Federal Workers /

by Alison Green on January 29, 2025 I am being inundated with letters from federal employees and others affected by the new administration’s changes in the last week — which have included ending investigations and enforcement related to discrimination in the workplace (*see note below); illegally firing 17 inspectors general; laying off employees working on accessibility, equity, and diversity; freezing or cancelling funding for scientific research; halting all federal grants, loans and other financial assistance programs (although a judge temporarily blocked that yesterday); ordering the impoundment of funds already appropriated by Congress; halting all meetings, travel, and communications from many agencies; directing federal workers to report on each other and threatening those who don’t; ending telework; and many other actions intended to dismantle the federal workforce. read more……

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Recorded Webinars for Federal Workers

Resources for Federal Workers /

by David Marwick, KempMillJobAssist Updated list The following videos are provided by Partnership for Public Service Feb. 12 How might my public sector skills translate into the private sector? Translating your public sector skills for the private sector and building a private sector resume https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53jPAYLHo-kFeb 12How might my benefits be affected? Examining the impact of the recent executive orders on federal employee benefitshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rlYDVU13lcFeb. 10  What are my whistleblower rights? Learn about whistleblower and anti-retaliation laws https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu2tAVGpWws

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Immediate Actions for Nervous Federal Workers

Resources for Federal Workers /

by David Marwick, KempMillJobAssist Last updated 02.26.25 Are you a federal worker?  Are you worried about your job? You may not be able to determine whether your job is safe, but you can take steps now to protect yourself if you leave your job (your choice) or your job leaves you (not your choice), especially on short notice. Harvest key personnel documents Once you leave federal employment, you will lose access to your government computer and to key personnel documents, like performance appraisals, commendations, etc. You should save all such documents to non-government storage. It was suggested that you encrypt your personnel records before sending them to your personal email address to avoid any issues with failing to follow procedures regarding personally identifiable information (PII).. Harvest co-workers’ contact information Once you leave federal employment, your .gov, .mil, or similar email address won’t work anymore. Therefore, you should exchange non-governmental email addresses and phone numbers with any colleagues you would like to be able to contact. Start packing According to media reports, some discharged feds have been given as little as 15 minutes to collect their personal belongings and vacate. It would make sense to inventory what you want to save and maybe start moving some/all of those items to your residence. If you have comments/questions/suggestions, please email KMJobAssist@gmail.com

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