Bobbis Top Tips on Program S Jobs for Military Spouses

Bobbis Top Tips on Program S Jobs for Military SpousesBobbis Top Tips on Program S Jobs for Military SpousesBobbis Top Tips on Program S Jobs for Military Spouses Bobbis Top Tips on Program S Jobs for Military SpousesBy Kathryn Troutman, President, The Resume Place, Inc., andCreator and Program Director, Ten Steps to a Federal Job Certification ProgramPublished August 15, 2017Bobbi Robbins married to a Marine since 2009, a mother with two small children, and now a graduate student really needed Program S when she and her husband were transferring to Fort Meade. When couples receive PCS orders, Program S gives military spouses high priority for DoD job openings. But like so many military spouses, it took Bobbi years to even discover that Program S exists.MilitarySpouseAppreciationDay milspouse MilitaryAppreciationMonthWhen we moved from Okinawa years ago, I had to figure out what to do for work, and I couldnt get into school, Bobbi says. Colleges, universities and employers often w ont make exceptions for military spouses on qualifications, entrance requirements and application procedures. Program S, by contract, is all about military spouses and their unique and challenging professional situations.We recently spoke with Bobbi, who also serves as the Ten Steps to a Federal Job Program Registrar for The Resume Place, to ask her for real-world tips and advice on how to navigate the Program S process. Our framework is the STARS steps, discussed in detail in my book The Stars Are Lined Up for Military Spouses.Star 1 Who Qualifies for Program S?When active-duty military members receive PCS orders (permanent change of station) to a base in the United States, their spouses becomes eligible for program Program S. Even on military bases, most people dont know about Program S. I knew nothing about it until I started to work with Kathryn, says Bobbi. Although the program has been around for nearly three decades, military spouses are not routinely informed of it.Star 2 Wr ite Your Federal ResumeTheres a difference in the amount of content for private-sector versus federal resumes, says Bobbi. Most military spouses arent thinking about that they picture a one- or two-page resume. And the little nuances are easily overlooked. They dont realize all the specific information you must put in, such as the number of hours per week for each job in your work history.Star 3 Find Your DocumentsRegistering for Program S requires military spouses to present a few documents, including a marriage certificate. You should have the required documents on pranke anyway, says Bobbi. The only complication could be if you dont have a copy of the PCS orders. As a spouse, thats easy enough to get.Star 4 Set Up Your Program S MeetingThe process is presented in different ways on different bases, says Bobbi. Believe it or not, one of the biggest challenges is figuring out who the HRO is on your new base just keep asking around. The first time I registered for Program S, I had to go to an office. But here in San Diego, I did everything electronically, which was actually easier.Star 5 Improve Your Program S RegistryAfter your registration is complete, youll learn what occupational codes were assigned to you. If youre not quite pleased with codes that the HRO assigned to you, its probably because you didnt include some skills or experience, Bobbi says. You should take the opportunity to correct this and resubmit your resume.Star 6 PPP Match NotificationWith a little luck, youll be matched with a DoD opening on base before long. Be aware that you must respond to the notification to maintain your registration in Program S. Star 7 Apply for Jobs on USAJOBSProgram S is like Tinder, the dating app, Bobbi jokes. You may not immediately find a good match. Thats why we tell spouses that even if you are in Program S, you shouldnt just sit back and wait. You totenstill need to go out there and apply on USAJOBS.gov.Star 8 Save a Search for Job MatchesI got my registra tion two weeks after signing up for Program S, says Bobbi. They assigned me four job series, and two job announcements came in yesterday via my USAJOBS saved searches for a series I qualified for. Since the agency was not DoD, no match notification came, but the jobs wanted Program S spouses to apply. If I werent also keeping up with USAJOBS, I might not have seen these opportunities through my Program S registration until after the positions closed, which would have been too late.Star 9 Follow-up on USAJOBSFear not If youre properly registered for the relevant job series, Program S will kick in for you even if you apply through USAJOBS. So just keep searching on USAJOBS, and apply immediately for appropriate openings.Star 10 Get Best Qualified and HiredGetting Best Qualified just means youre in the running for the job, says Bobbi. Whether youre applying on USAJOBS or youve been matched via Program S, its the best news you can get on your way to landing a rewarding and well-paid fed eral job with great benefits The Stars Are Lined Up for Military SpousesFIRST-EVER BOOK FOR MILITARY SPOUSES AND FEDERAL CAREERSWhy a federal career for Military Spouses?Great salaries, aufsteigen potential, family friendly, family leave, training and MORE