Private vs. Public Job Search

A woman in one of my job search classes recently asked me to compare the differences in the process for applying for a federal versus a private sector job.  Good question.  As I have applied for federal positions in the past, I knew it to be more specific and complicated than that of a private sector position.  One area that remains the same in both sectors is to define the key competencies; the skills, knowledge and behaviors necessary for the job.  When applying for a federal position they are known as SKA or skills, knowledge and abilities. With either the private or public job applications you must be prepared to list and speak about these skills and behaviors. (One of the major exercises we do in every job search class is to identify these competencies and prepare specific, measurable examples to support them.)

Applying for a federal position is a time consuming and exact process.  The forms required are longer and as an applicant you must follow the instructions precisely.  I found a couple of sources to assist you if you'd like to pursue it further.  One, written by Career ProPlus offers an easy to follow step by step explanation of the process and the necessary forms and format.  The second written by the Partnership for Public Service also explains the steps, terminology and points you to the websites for finding federal opportunities.