Competition and Your Global Federal Resume

Competition and Your Global Federal Resume Competition and Your Global Federal Resume Competition and Your Global Federal Resume In a previous post, I touched on some of the attractions of federal positions overseas  (there are many, check  USAJOBs)  and some tips to consider in trying to land one.   I mentioned the stiff competition applicants face attaining an initial overseas  position.   And stiff competition requires your absolute best foot forward for  position target,  resume, and  interview. But who makes up this competition you may ask?   The following groups present a subset.   They may possess some advantages over a typical stateside applicant seeking a first-time overseas position.   This is not meant to scare or discourage, but rather to inform on the tough battle many face wrangling an OCONUS posting. 1) Veterans Veterans preference  is no secret to civilian federal applicants.   At least it shouldnt be.   If it was to you, click that last link!   This post is not about the details or merits of vets preference.   Suffice it to say, there are plenty of details and meritsvets make plenty of sacrifices for the country and are accordingly scored in rough categories of hiring preference.   Perhaps you, the overseas applicant/hopeful reading this, are a vet yourself.   But all of those without prior military service should know that,  when included with vets,  they enter the recruitment process with a slight point deficit from the start.   Without editorializing (I am not a vet myself)  this is an overall fair and prudent public policy.   But those who cannot claim vets preference must put that much more work into their application packages so as to make up any point deficit.   In addition to the codified hiring preference, other reasons vets are number one on the list of overseas competition  are many have experienced the advantages of overseas postings, many may already be overseas when applying to federal jobs, and the primary overseas federal employerthe DoDis the vets realm. 2) Overseas Spouse/Family Member Another  established hiring preference  in many  OCONUS positions is that of spouses and family members of overseas employees and service members.   Family membersincluding unmarried dependent childrenmay claim hiring preference to positions for which they qualify.   And as long as the  Government avoids the transportation cost getting them OCONUS, the family member preference can even extend to those not already overseas!   Together, this group represents significant competition to many seeking overseas (especially administrative-type) positions.   All is not lost if you cannot claim a vets or family member hiring preference.   But your credentials, qualifications, and applicable skills must outweigh your competitions.   And the resume presentation  of your merits  in the  Outline Format with captivating Keyword Phrases  is essential in getting you recognized alongside or above the hiring managers stopper list of potential preference candidates. 3) Former Overseas (Boomerang Employees) The prospect of overseas employment attracts a curious and adaptable type of worker.   Once the novelty and beauty which usually accompanies an overseas posting is experienced, many working overseas do not want to give it up.   (The vast majority at some point must, however, due to the DoDs 5-year rule).   Or maybe  former OCONUS employees  return to the US for a career interlude but eventually decide to bounce back overseas.   This groupwell call them Boomerang Employeesalso represents some fierce competition to anyone trying to land their first overseas position.   While they do not benefit from any  formalized  preference like the vets and family members mentioned above, former overseas employees often wield significantalbeit informalsway in many recruitments.   For example, they may leverage reach back contacts to their benefit.   And the flexibility  OCONUS hiring managers seek is built-in to a resume that already includes successful overseas performance.   Here again, these rea lities are not meant to discourage so much as they are to reiterate what you are up against as you peer across oceans via USAJOBs.   With work and attention paid to your strategy and  resume, you may one day find yourself among the seasoned OCONUS Boomerang Employees. All  federal job openings come with a healthy dose of applicant competition.   The smaller supply and higher demand of  OCONUS jobs make them extremely competitive.   It helps to know your competition but dont be deterred. Contact us  at The Resume Place for help getting started on your first (or next) exciting mission abroad. About the Author Jeremy Mott  is an experienced technical writer with significant analytical and organizational expertise, ideally suited for federal resume writing.   Jeremys experience currently working for the government overseas in Germany and after relocating and finding a Program Analyst position from his DOD position in Louisville, KY (after a closure of a depot there), gives him the background to understand the movement of a career from US to overseas and vice versa. Jeremy changed his agency, occupational series, country and mission with his USAJOBS federal resume and application!  With 12 years in the federal government serving as a Management and Program Analyst, Contract Manager, and Electronics Engineer, his diverse experience is reflective of- and a great asset to- the broad range of Resume Place clients. Now as a Management Analyst within a Programs and Manpower division, he has benefited from much exposure to the inner workings of OPM occupational standards, the tailoring of intervie w questions, applicant selection, and the critical importance of quality recruitment. Jeremy has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s of Public Administration, both from the University of Louisville. He also received a Graduate Certificate in Public Management from a NAVSEA-sponsored program with Indiana University. He lives in Germany with his wife, son, and daughter. ..