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by Kathryn Troutman
March 2, 2010
As a federal career coach, and federal career development trainer, many federal jobseekers and federal employees ask me this question: What training or courses can I take, so that I will be more marketable for a federal job or promotion?
Federal managers are looking for employees who know the importance of continual learning and updating of skill, because that equates to improved job performance.
For specialized jobs, I always recommend specific job training for your specialized field. But in general for ANY FEDERAL JOB, I do have answers about recommended training that can add value to your application, or add value to your skills for any federal job applicant or federal employee.
Here are my top training recommendations for 2010 for value-added performance as a current or future federal employee:
Excel Training: If you are not skilled in Excel today, or not proficient, I recommend introductory, intermediate or advanced training in Excel. The federal agencies keep track of almost everything in Excel. Mangers like spreadsheets, charts, pies and graphs, with color if possible. They want information organized in 10 different ways and presented efficiently. The better your excel sheets and reports are, they more well received will be your work product.
Power Point Training (PPT): Yes, PPT is still alive and well in government. Take a class in PPT, so that you can improve on any PPT that needs to have a new look. If you can add color, photographs, excel graphs and even action, these features could liven up any briefing and make the speaker/manager look good. Managers will appreciate the new look and maybe an improved PPT will make the meeting shorter PPT!
Technical Writing and editing: Even if you can write well, you can learn to write better. Writing in a concise way could be a NEW skill for many government workers. Federal managers know about the Active Voice (recommended since about 1996) writing style, but most still do not use it when appropriate. The old passive voice, bureaucratic writing still is still prevalent in most memos, emails and reports. Continual improvement in writing, editing, and even learning how to write in an engaging way, could be an excellent skill for any current fed or aspiring federal employee in any occupational series. Good writing and editing skills are always in demand for any federal job.
Communications / Public Speaking: One of the most popular KSAs you will find any federal job vacancy announcement is the ability to communicate orally. That's because federal employees speak to team members, supervisors, customers, vendors, contractors extensively. The federal managers want to hire staff who are articulate and able to speak to others professionally. Gain confidence and current skill in speaking and communications to stand out as a current fed, or as a potential new federal employee.
Budget Training: Yes, if you could just take a basic course or any level course in budget management, this could be a value-added skill for your job. Most federal jobs touch on budget in some way or another, even if the budget work is only 10% of the job. You could manage a budget, update a budget, create reports on the budget, inform managers about budget availability, or justify a budget. Everybody has some role in budget watching, management or maintenance. Add budget skills to your resume for just about any federal job.
Acquisitions / Contract Management Training: The government is purchasing more than ever and performing through contractors in some offices. If you take a course in FAR, Acquisitions or Contract Management, you could be taking a step toward a federal job, or an added skill in your current federal job. It does seem as if federal managers are providing training in acquisitions to many occupational series, so that everyone can be more aware of ethical and regulatory practices for purchasing and contracts. Courses in this area could show that you are aware of the importance of acquisitions in government services.
Customer Services Training: Government jobs are all about customer services just read an agency's mission statement. Whether the customers are internal or external, showing that you care about customers, problem-solving, communication and improving services, can make you more attractive as a federal job applicant or current fed. Good customer service is growing in government because of the demand for more service everywhere.
Computer Training, including Database Training for Information Management and Keyboarding: Courses in database management are of great interest and need to the federal workforce. You can take training past Excel and go to Access. Or just take a course in database management, to learn about managing information efficiently. Any classes you can take to increase knowledge of Microsoft Office programs or keyboarding skills (yes, if you type 60, you can get more done in a day) make you better equipped in today's computer-driven workplaces.
Kathryn Troutman is the founder and president of The Resume Place, Inc., located in Baltimore, Maryland, specializing in writing and designing professional federal and private-sector resumes, as well as coaching and education in the federal hiring process. For the past 30 years, Troutman has managed her professional writing and consulting practice, publishing and federal career training business, and with her team of 20 Certified Federal Resume Writers, The Resume Place advises and writes more than 300 federal resumes per month for military, private industry and federal clients world-wide. She is also the author of several critically acclaimed books, including Ten Steps to a Federal Job, Writing Your NSPS Self Assessment, and Federal Resume Guidebook.
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