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JBSA News
NEWS | Nov. 9, 2010

Civilian employees seeking other Air Force jobs must now use resumes

By Robert Goetz 502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

Air Force civilian employees who want to apply for other Air Force positions will have to change their process starting Monday, but it's an adjustment that may make them better job candidates.

The new recruitment process, called the Single Staffing Tool, requires civilians to use a resume when they apply for Air Force positions on www.usajobs.gov, the federal government's official employment Web site.

The SST's advantage is that it allows civilian employees to tailor their resume to the job they are seeking, said Sandra Pyott, 902nd Force Support Squadron Affirmative Employment Element chief.

"You're able to target your experience to the job you are applying for," she said. "People want to highlight their experience. A resume is more targeted. It puts Air Force employees in the driver's seat."

The SST also evens the playing field because external candidates already use their resumes.

"Employees and managers have said for many years that a resume-based system is needed to ensure current Air Force employees are on equal footing with external candidates when their record is referred to selecting officials since skills coding on a career brief doesn't tell the whole story," Mary Hernandez, 902nd FSS civilian personnel officer, said in a memo to Randolph civilian employees and supervisors. "The new hiring process standardizes department-wide the business process other federal agencies and the private sector already use."

Ms. Pyott said applying for a job will now involve creating a USAJOBS account, submitting a resume, searching for positions and applying in accordance with instructions in the announcement. Each opening also has an occupational assessment questionnaire.

Job seekers may search for Air Force vacancies on the Web site www.afciviliancareers.com, which includes a link to www.usajobs.gov.

"USAJOBS has a resume builder and we recommend that you use it," she said. "It's a very easy process. When the resume is uploaded, you can edit and modify it easily. You can prepare your own resume and upload it, but you can't edit it. If you want to change it, you have to prepare another one and upload the updated resume."

Ms. Pyott said employees who need help with their resume can find help at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, 652-5321.

The new process has been tested at several bases in the continental United States and overseas and reactions have been favorable, she said.

However, some bases will continue to use current processes. They are Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., Hurlburt Field, Fla., Arnold AFB, Tenn., Brooks City-Base, Texas, Edwards AFB, Calif., Eglin AFB, Fla., Hanscom AFB, Mass., Hill AFB, Utah, Kirtland AFB, N.M., Tinker AFB, Okla., Robins AFB, Ga., and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Last month the 902nd FSS Civilian Personnel Section conducted eight town hall briefings on the SST, Ms. Pyott said.

"Nobody voiced opposition," she said. "Many were pleased they will be able to use resumes. We were pleasantly surprised that most had worked with USAJOBS and the application process."

Ms. Pyott said the civilian personnel section has marketed the new process through the briefings, e-mail announcements and partnering with organizational liaisons.

"Our goal is to ensure all our employees are aware of the new process and have a resume prepared so they are ready to apply for other civilian job opportunities if they would like," she said.