Synopses & Reviews
Back Cover Copy
Advance Praise for How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job:
“I wish that Lily Whiteman’s ground-breaking book had been around when I was in grad school. The book provides the essential toolkit for anyone interested in cracking open the federal hiring process. An invaluable resource to be used throughout your career. You won’t find another book on the market with more honest, relevant advice for landing your dream job in the federal government.” - Katherine Hudson Walker, President of Young Government Leaders
“Peppered with cartoons and a touch of wit, Whiteman’s book is the layman’s field guide to a federal job search…The book is based on hundreds of interviews with federal hiring managers and job hunters. Unlike other similar guides, it focuses on process rather than just aggregating information about agencies. This book provides step-by-step instructions on crafting successful résumés, cover letters and essays that get applicants out of the pile and into the interview. As readers gear up for the hot seat, Whiteman lets them in on the do’s and don’ts of interviewing for a federal job. And when an offer does roll around, readers can find tips on negotiating salary and climbing the ranks.” - Roll Call, the Newspaper of Capitol Hill
“This is the perfect book for anyone wanting to get into the federal government for the first time, or for current feds seeking promotions and jobs in the senior executive service. Providing previously unavailable ‘behind the scenes’ information and resources, this book has it all. Plus, its fresh writing style entertains and educates. If you buy one book on federal jobs, make it this one!” — Cory Edwards, Creator of Career Directors International’s Certified Federal Résumé Writer Certification Program
This is the perfect book for anyone wanting to get into the federal government for the first time or, for those already in the federal government, to get promoted within the federal system…This book has it all: from creating a federal resume, writing KSAs and ECQs, interviewing and negotiating a salary to job leads and special hiring programs. Uses a fresh writing style that entertains and educates. If you buy only one book to help you get a federal job, make it this one!” -Association of Career Professionals
This book pulls together needed and hard to find information on ways to get a job in federal government. It is a very helpful resource. -Sandy Hessler, Director of Career Advancement, Harvard Kennedy School
This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to decipher the federal government’s hiring system. Don't apply for a federal job without it. -Paul C. Light, Paulette Goddard Professor of Public Service, Robert Wagner School of Public Service, New York University
"This book is a must read. Anyone who aspires to a federal position or promotion within the federal service will find Whiteman's advice invaluable as they prevail over obstacles of entry and advancement throughout their federal careers. Whiteman gives her readers access to a wide range of information on the federal service application process, interview techniques, and how to successfully sell your "resume" to hiring managers. Her "hot tips" are excellent resources that are appropriately positioned throughout the book to help the reader gain additional insights. This is a superb reference book and action plan for all prospective and current federal employees." - Farrell J. Chiles, former Chairman of the Board, National Organization of Blacks in Government
“An excellent resource for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in securing an internship in the public sector… A great resource for new career professionals and mid-career professionals who seek a federal career and are interested in ‘insider’ tips to navigate the federal hiring process…describes the myriad diversity programs for women, minorities and disabled job seekers…provides for easy reading and a straightforward approach…will almost certainly ensure that job-seekers submit an A+ application…. Anyone looking for a federal job, or any job for that matter, would definitely benefit by reading this book.” -Journal of Public Management & Social Policy
"Bottom Line: This book provides clarity, insider advice, and hot tips into the federal government and its hiring process in an entertaining and informative way." - Oh My Gov! (OhMyGov.Com – News, Knowledge and Networking)
“Most books on how to find a federal job are about as interesting as the tax code. But [this book] offers a mountain of helpful advice in a visually appealing, easy-to-read format.” - Government Leader
“Whiteman’s enlightening, entertaining book will teach you everything you need to know about how to put the right spin on your credentials on paper and in person.” - Ray Kurzweil, Recipient of the National Medal of Technology, author of The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology
This nugget of a book will tell you what you don't know, what you need to know and what you may not have thought to ask about federal employment and promotion...How to Land a Top Paying Federal Job is an invaluable tool for the federal job and promotion search, but the guidance in these pages will serve the reader wherever good jobs are available."- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D.C.
"The strength of Lily Whiteman’s manual lies in her ability to present information in an easy-to-digest format… In addition, Whiteman does an admirable job of providing extensive “how-to” examples for her readers. From sample ways to transform “boring” resume accomplishments into attention-grabbing statements to her many self-assessment worksheets, the author focuses on really showing, not just telling job-seekers how to be successful...Whatever one’s interest area or experience level, there is something for all in this manual." - The Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers
Lily Whiteman is a popular contributor to the “Jobs” section of The Washington Post, the career columnist for Federal Times, and a senior writer at the National Science Foundation. As a federal career coach, she has helped hundreds of professionals of all levels—from recent grads to executives—land jobs and earn promotions. She lives in Washington,
D.C.
Review
"This book will become an instant classic. It is chock-full of make-or-break advice -- available nowhere else -- about every phase of the job-search process and about getting ahead in government."
--Kelly Paisely, former Deputy Director of the Vice-President's National Partnership for Reinventing Government
Review
"This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to decifer the federal government's hiring system. Don't apply for a federal job without it."
--Paul C. Light, Paulette Goddard Professor of Public Service, Robert Wagner School of Public Service, New York University
Review
"Most books on how to find a federal job are as interesting as the tax code. But How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job offers a mountain of helpful advice in a visually appealing, easy-to-read format."
-- Government Leader Magazine
Review
"This book is a must read. Anyone who aspires to a federal position or promotion within the federal service will find Whiteman's advice invaluable as they prevail over obstacles of entry and advancement throughout their federal careers. Whiteman gives her readers access to a wide range of information on the federal service application process, interview techniques, and how to successfully sell your "resume" to hiring managers. Her "hot tips" are excellent resources that are appropriately positioned throughout the book to help the reader gain additional insights. This is a superb reference book and action plan for all prospective and current federal employees."
--Farrell J. Chiles, former Chairman of the Board, National Organization of Blacks in Government
Review
"This book pulls together needed and hard to find information on ways to get a job in federal government. It is a very helpful resource."
--Sandy Hessler, Director of Career Advancement, Harvard Kennedy School.
Review
"Whiteman's enlightening, entertaining book will teach you everything you need to know about how to put the right spin on your credentials on paper and in person."
-- Ray Kurtzweil, recipient of the National Medal of Technology and best-selling author of The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology
Review
“An excellent resource for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in securing an internship in the public sector… A great resource for new career professionals and mid-career professionals who seek a federal career and are interested in ‘insider’ tips to navigate the federal hiring process…describes the myriad diversity programs for women, minorities and disabled job seekers…provides for easy reading and a straightforward approach…will almost certainly ensure that job-seekers submit an A+ application…. Anyone looking for a federal job, or any job for that matter, would definitely benefit by reading this book.” - Journal of Public Management & Social Policy
Review
"I wish that Lily Whiteman’s ground-breaking book had been around when I was in grad school. The book provides the essential toolkit for anyone interested in cracking open the federal hiring process. An invaluable resource to be used throughout your career, you won't find another book on the market with more honest, relevant advice for landing your dream job in the federal government.”
-- Katherine Hudson Walker, President of Young Government Leaders
Review
"This is the perfect book for anyone wanting to get into the federal government for the first time, or for current feds seeking promotions and jobsin the senior executive service. Providing previously unavailable 'behind the scenes' information and resources, this book has it all. Plus, it's fresh writing style entertains and educates. If you buy one book on federal jobs, make it this one!"
-- Cory Edwards, Creator of Career Directors International's Cerified Federal Resume Writer Certification Program
Review
“This is the perfect book for anyone wanting to get into the federal government for the first time or, for those already in the federal government, to get promoted within the federal system…This book has it all--from creating a federal resume, writing KSAs and ECQs, interviewing and negotiating a salary--to job leads and special hiring programs. Uses a fresh writing style that entertains and educates. If you buy only one book to help you get a federal job, make it this one!”
--Association of Career Professionals
Review
“Peppered with cartoons and a touch of wit, Whiteman’s book is the layman’s field guide to a federal job search…The book is based on hundreds of interviews with federal hiring managers and job hunters. Unlike other similar guides, it focuses on process rather than just aggregating information about agencies. This book provides step-by-step instructions on crafting successful résumés, cover letters and essays that get applicants out of the pile and into the interview. As readers gear up for the hot seat, Whiteman lets them in on the do’s and don’ts of interviewing for a federal job. And when an offer does roll around, readers can find tips on negotiating salary and climbing the ranks.” - Roll Call, the Newspaper of Capitol Hill
Review
"Bottom Line: This book provides clarity, insider advice, and hot tips into the federal government and its hiring process in an entertaining and informative way." - Oh My Gov! (OhMyGov.Com – News, Knowledge and Networking)
Review
"For people who want to explore job and career options with the federal government...this excellent book is the dream resource they have been hoping to find. It's a 'how-to' book packed full of compelling, specific, tested advice and an impressive array of resources from a skilled federal career coach....This book is a timely and welcome addition to the literature on government careers. Job seekers in other sectors--private, nonprofit, state, and local government--will find a surfeit of superb counsel in these pages as well" -- NACE Journal
Review
"Peppered with cartoons and a touch of wit, Whiteman's book is the layman's field guide to a federal job search." —Roll Call
Review
"An easy read using everyday language, Whiteman explains the often difficult and hard to navigate human resource system within the government, making it easy for both the neophyte and the well-seasoned government expert to move through the book with limited bumps and hurdles.” —OhMyGov!
Review
"Overall, a broad and optimistic view of federal jobs and the employment process that should both prepare readers for the job hunt as well as inspire them." —Career Opportunities News
Review
"From lesser-known ways of finding openings to negotiating salary and getting quickly promoted, this is an outstanding guide recommended for any library strong in job opportunities and career guidance." —Midwest Book Review
Synopsis
f you’ve ever thought about applying for a government job, now is a great time to do it. With about 40% of the federal government’s employees expected to retire in the next 10 years, a massive retirement wave has already begun, and Uncle Sam’s door is now wide open for new hires. But with advantages like unbeatable job security, outstanding benefits, and salaries that are competitive with—if not better than—private sector salaries, competition for federal openings is fierce.
How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job gives you all the tools and guidance you need to get hired for a government job (domestic or overseas), internship, or fellowship. Written by a leading authority on federal careers, the book draws on interviews with more than 100 hiring managers to provide true insider perspectives on what works and what doesn’t when vying for a government job. Armed with the advice in this book, you’ll become a master at steering your way through the entire job search and hiring process.
Use the secrets of the experts to craft winning applications; write irresistible cover letters; excel at interviews; negotiate your salary and benefits; and then speed your advancement up the government ladder. This reader-friendly book gives you:
• little-known ways for finding openings
• shortcuts for instantly impressing gatekeepers on paper, online, and in person
• sure-fire tips for negotiating a top salary
• expert techniques for landing quick promotions
A free companion CD is loaded with easy-to-customize sample résumés and worksheets. Whether you’re seeking an executive position or a summer internship, this is the comprehensive guide that will get you that ideal federal job.
Lily Whiteman is a popular contributor to the “Jobs” section of The Washington Post, the career columnist for Federal Times, and a senior writer at the National Science Foundation. As a federal career coach, she has helped hundreds of professionals of all levels—from recent grads to executives—land jobs and earn promotions. She lives in Washington,
D.C.
Synopsis
With over 40 per cent of the federal government's 1.6 million employees retiring over the next 10 years (including about 90 per cent of senior managers), this is the perfect time for job seekers to land top-paying, secure and dynamic federal jobs and for current federal employees to quickly climb the federal career ladder. Yet until now, no truly up-to-date or comprehensive book has existed to give readers comprehensive, practical advice on how to land a federal job, internship, or fellowship and how to land federal promotions.
Entertainingly written by a successful career coach who has climbed the federal career ladder herself as a hiring manager, this reader-friendly book steers prospective applicants through every stage of their job search -- from finding unadvertised openings to sealing enviable deals. This book draws on interviews with more than 100 other hiring managers. Including a companion CD filled with sample resumes and worksheets, this is the book to have whether you are seeking an internship, your first federal job or an executive promotion.
About the Author
Lily Whiteman (Washington, D.C.) is a popular contributor to the “Jobs” section of The Washington Post, the career columnist of Federal Times, and a senior writer at the National Science Foundation.
Table of Contents
CONTENTS
Preface: Common Myths About Federal Jobs, ix
P A R T I
GEARING UP TO APPLY
1 A Great Time to Go Federal, 3
2 The Search Is On: Finding Openings, 7
3 Oodles of Internships, Student Jobs, and Fellowships for Experienced
Professionals, 27
4 Into the Capitol Hill Power Vortex: Working for Congress, 33
5 Those !@#! Vacancy Announcements, 43
6 Think Like a Hiring Manager: How Applications Are Screened, 53
P A R T II
CRANKING OUT YOUR APPLICATION
7 Your Bragging Writes, 65
8 Mastering Online Applications, 89
9 Crafting Irresistible Résumés, 97
10 Writing Killer Application Essays (KSAs and ECQs), 117
11 Cover Letters That Open Doors, 173
12 Waiting for a Response to Your Application, 185
P A R T I I I
THE TALKING STAGE
13 Interviews That Nail the Job, 191
14 Commanding a Top-Dollar Salary, 215
15 Responding to an Agency’s Decision, 227
P A R T IV
ACCELERATING YOUR ASCENT
16 The Fed “Get Ahead” Guide, 237
Appendix 1: Tip Sheet for Veterans and Their Families, 259
Appendix 2: Tip Sheet for Applicants with Disabilities, 265
Appendix 3: Formatting Tips, 271
Appendix 4: Glossary, 281
Index, 287
About the Author, 293
D O C U M E N T S O N T H E C D
Directory of Internships and Special Recruitment Programs for Young Professionals
Directory of Internships That Are Specially Recruiting Women, Minorities, and People
with Disabilities
Directory of Fellowships for Experienced Professionals (Nonfeds and Current Feds)
Cheat Sheets for Application and Interview Prep
KSA & Interview Prep Cheat Sheets
Résumé Prep Cheat Sheets
Going Global in Government
Get Ahead Cheat Sheets
Lily Whiteman’s Washington Post articles on Federal Internships, Interview Skills,
International Opportunities, and Networking in Professional Organizations