1 report tile i/o psychology jobs in the federal government: what we do and how you can get...

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Report Tile

I/O Psychology Jobsin the Federal Government: What we do and how you can get involved!

Matt Sigafoose – Personnel Research PsychologistRegan Miller – Human Resources Specialist

Center for Talent ServicesU.S. Office of Personnel Management

February 28, 2008

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Overview

Personal Experiences

Who we are and how we got here

What we do at OPM

Benefits of working for the federal government

Private Sector –vs- Public Sector

Applying for a Government Job

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Personal Experiences – From UB to OPM

Matt

UB → Job Search → COAUSPHS

Interviews – Behavioral or Situational?

OPM’s Center for Talent Services

Regan

UB → SIOP → Networking → OPM

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OPM’s Center for Talent Services (CTS)Workforce Solutions by Government, for Government TM

A federal government HR consulting group

• Work directly with Federal, state and local government clients to help them achieve their human capital goals

• Perform analysis, write reports, give proposals, negotiate agreements, manage projects, and develop business

• Serve the public by helping agencies reach higher levels of effectiveness

A matrix organization offering 4 categories of services:

• Recruiting and Staffing

• Workforce Management and Development

• Individual and Organizational Assessment

• HR Technology Solutions

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CTS Branches Competency Assessment Branch

Assessment Centers

Accomplishment Records

Writing Samples

Structured Interviews

Job Knowledge Tests

Assessment Strategy Wizard

Human Resources Consulting Program Workforce Planning

Examining/Staffing

Branding

Classification

Performance Management

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CTS Branches Assessment Services Branch

Leadership 360

Organizational Assessment Survey

Customer Satisfaction Survey

Focus Groups

Action Planning

Program Evaluation

Other Groups Nationwide Testing

USAStaffing/USAJobs

TMA

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Leadership Competency Model: 5 ECQs

Leading Change

Creativity &

Innovation External

Awareness Flexibility Resilience Strategic

Thinking Vision

Leading People

Conflict

Management Leveraging

Diversity Developing

Others Team Building

Results Driven

Accountability Customer Service Decisiveness Entrepreneurship Problem Solving Technical

Credibility

Business Acumen

Financial

Management Human Capital

Management Technology

Management

Building Coalitions

Partnering Political

Savvy Influencing/ Negotiating

Fundamental Competencies

Interpersonal Skills Oral Communication Continual Learning Written Communication Integrity/Honesty Public Service Motivation

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Example Project

OPM Leadership 360 (Assessment, Group and Individual Feedback Sessions)

Client: USSS Scope of Work:

Typical Leadership 360 administration is three weeks with two reminders built in

Once survey closes, we run the data and generate individual reports and one aggregate report

A group feedback session is required of any client that utilizes our instrument

Individual feedback sessions cost run 45 minutes in length.

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More Examples

Performance Management Client: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Deliverables:

Performance standards/Benchmarks Comprehensive feedback system (360 analysis) Implementation courses

Employee Development Client: Transportation Security Administration Deliverables:

Structured interview training class/workshop

Classification Evaluation Client: United States Department of Agriculture Deliverables:

Evaluation of 7 positions Rewritten position descriptions and evaluation statements

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We want YOU to join our team!

Working for OPM’s Center for Talent Services =

Working as a consultant for a spectrum of federal agencies

Opportunities to work on a great variety of projects - Challenging and rewarding work

Opportunities to work in several geographic locations (offices in DC, Kansas City, Chicago, San Francisco, San Antonio, Atlanta, and Philadelphia)

Opportunities to move across agencies during your career

Opportunities for professional growth and development – in I/O and beyond

The ability to move up

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Flexible work schedules and telework

Subsidized transportation

Vacation and sick leave

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Thrift Savings Plan (401K)

Pension

Childcare centers

Child and elder care assistance

Time off for volunteer activities

Public service (not profit) driven

Top Benefits of Federal Employment

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Why CTS Recruits I/O Psychology Students…

A background in psychology gives you technical competencies:

Statistical analysis

Assessment and selection methods

Organizational design and development

As well as general ones:

Skills in interacting effectively with diverse groups of stakeholders

Understanding client motivations and needs

Ability to persuade others to accept recommendations

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Applying for Federal Jobs

Where do I find jobs? USA Jobs

Student USA Jobs

Current employees

Types of appointments Career

Career Conditional

Student Employment (FCIP, SCEP, STEP)

Temporary/Term

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Qualification Analysis

Qualifying for federal jobs Education

Experience

Combination of education and experience

GS level qualifications GS-07

One year of graduate level education One year of experience comparable to GS-06

GS-09

Completion of two years of graduate level education or a master’s degree

One year of experience comparable to GS-07

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Application Examination

Applicant review (Examination)

HR Specialist

Administers assessments

Evaluates minimum qualifications

Creates a certificate of eligibles

• Hiring Manager

Reviews certificate of eligibles

Conducts interviews

Makes final hiring decision

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Federal Resume Basics

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Tailoring your Resume

Relate your experience to the position you are applying for

Present related experience in your resume

Shows that you are qualified for the job

Past Experience:

Your Job Duties

Desired Job:

Job Duties

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Tailoring Your Resume

How do you know what duties to tailor your resume to?Vacancy announcement

Duties sectionQualifications and evaluations section

Important information you must includeThe hours per week at your job

Include specific dates of employment (ex. 1/12/07-1/12/08)

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Competency Narratives

Narratives

Some positions are measured using a set of narratives

Narratives assess knowledge, skills and abilities (Competencies)

Used to determine who is BEST qualified

Many narratives overlap from job-to-job

Save and re-use your narratives

Make sure your narratives focus on past experiences

Situation – Action – Outcome

Use at least two strong examples for each

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What to expect when applyingApplications are very time consuming

Allow ample time to complete narrative statements

Save your responses

HR Specialists will not review applications until after a job announcement closes

There will be at least a two week delay from the closing date to an interview date

Apply to all jobs you feel you are qualified for

Carefully read all announcements

Minimum qualifications are set in stone If you do not meet these, you will not be considered

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Interviews

Structured

Behavior based

Competencies

Writing Sample

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Contacts

Questions

Matthew.Sigafoose@opm.gov

Regan.Miller@opm.gov

Interested?

Send resumes to

Doug.Deis@opm.gov

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Thank you!Thank you!