Cover -- Table of Contents -- About the Author -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- CHAPTER ONE: Introduction to Government Employment -- Nature of Federal Employment -- Working Conditions -- Employment -- Occupations -- Training and Advancement -- Outlook -- Getting Started -- Pay and Benefits -- Salary Rate Table (1-3) (GS) -- Average Annual Salary Table (1-4) -- Vacation, Sick Leave, and Benefits -- Retirement -- Career Development -- Where the Jobs Are -- Educational Requirements -- Civil Service Exams -- Federal Employment by State -- CHAPTER TWO: Hiring Reform and the Recruitment Process -- Hiring Reform -- The Changing Federal Hiring Process -- Category Ratings -- Competitive Service -- Examinations -- Excepted Service -- Determine Your Eligibility -- General and Specialized Experience -- Written Tests -- Job Series -- Examination Announcements -- Applying for Federal Jobs -- Little Known Facts -- How Jobs are Filled -- Noncompetitive Appointments -- Reinstatement -- Sample Qualification Standard -- Federal Student Loan Repayment Program -- Recruitment, Relocation, and Retention Incentives -- CHAPTER THREE: What Jobs Are Available -- Improving Your Chances -- Common Job Sources -- Job Openings -- Internet Web Sites -- Directories -- General Information -- Federal Department Contact Numbers -- Employment Options -- Student Employment Opportunities -- The Largest Occupations -- Reinstatement Eligibility -- Engineering Conversions -- CHAPTER FOUR: The Interview Process -- Tony's Story -- Informational Interviews -- Employment Interviewing -- Before the Interview -- During the Interview -- Introductory Phase -- Middle Phase -- Closing Phase -- Illegal Questions -- After the Interview -- Phone Follow-up -- Interview Checklist -- CHAPTER FIVE: Civil Service Exams -- Careers with Mandatory Testing -- Clerical Tests -- Clerical Qualifications.

CHAPTER SIX: Completing Your Employment Application -- Required Information -- Job and Personal Information -- Education -- Work Experience & Other Qualifications -- Agency Forms -- The Federal Résumé and Format Types -- Federal Resume Formats -- Writing a Headline-Style Résumé Format -- Qualifications Required -- Sample Headline-Style Format Résumé -- Tips Checklist for Preparing an Electronic Résumé -- Understanding the Federal Vacancy Announcement -- Sample Vacancy Announcement -- Understanding Narratives, Occupational Questionnaires, and KSAs -- Sample Occupational Questionnaire -- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSAs) -- KSA Checklist -- Sample Résumés -- Program Specialist Vacancy Announcement -- Program Specialist GS-301-5/7 Résumé -- Human Resource Mid Level Résumé -- HR / IT Mid Level Résumé -- How to Apply for SES Positions -- Assistance with Applying to Federal Jobs -- CHAPTER SEVEN: Veterans & Military Dependent Hiring -- Special Hiring Initiatives for Veterans -- Special Appointment Authorities -- Veterans Recruitment Appointments (VRAs) -- 30% or More Disabled Vets -- Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) -- Veterans Discrimination Complaints -- Military to Federal Transition -- Family Member (Derived Preference) -- Military Spouse Preference -- Military Spouse Appointing Authority -- CHAPTER EIGHT: Overseas Employment Opportunities -- Conditions of Employment -- Physical Examinations and Other Requirements -- Applying for Overseas Jobs -- Overseas Federal Job Sources -- Job Openings -- Periodicals with Job Ads -- Job Hotlines -- Internet Web Sites -- Hiring Agency Directory -- CHAPTER NINE: The U.S. Postal Service -- Salary Expectations -- Employee Classifications -- Employee Resources -- Qualification Requirements -- Application Procedures -- Postal Mail Carriers -- Nature of the Work -- Working Environment.

Employment/Training/Other Qualifications -- Job Outlook/Earnings -- Occupations List -- CHAPTER TEN: Employment for People With Disabilities -- Federal Managers' Responsibilities -- Selective Placement Coordinators -- The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 -- Hiring Overview -- Hiring Options -- Proof of Disability and Certification of Job Readiness -- Appointment Types -- Conversion to Career or Career Conditional -- Temporary Limited Appointments -- Term Appointments -- Unpaid Work Experience -- Special Accommodations -- Common Job Sources -- Job Openings -- Job Hotlines -- Placement Services -- Directories and Associations -- Associations -- CHAPTER ELEVEN: Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Careers -- Homeland Security -- Law Enforcement -- Working Conditions -- Employment -- Law Enforcement Occupations (Table 11-1) -- Training and Qualifications Overview -- Job Outlook -- Earnings -- Employment Resources -- Qualification Standards for Two Major Occupations -- Correctional Officer GS-0007 -- Criminal Investigator GS-1811 -- CHAPTER TWELVE: Employment Secrets -- Apply Early -- Your Application and Résumé -- Apply Frequently -- Getting in the Front Door -- Locate All Job Vacancies -- Training and Experience -- Networking -- Keys to Success -- APPENDIX A: Job Hunters' Checklist -- APPENDIX B: Federal Agency Contact List -- APPENDIX C: Federal Occupation Lists -- APPENDIX D: Agency Skills Index -- INDEX -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- X -- Z.