DHS plans to grow cybersecurity workforce by 50 percent

Recently announced was the decision by the department of Homeland security to significantly increase their cybersecurity workforce.  The White House is working with lawmakers to expand the department’s authority in securing both government and private-sector websites. This means a huge increase in the amount of federal workers needed to hire in to these positions.  According to the Federal Times,

By October 2012, DHS’ cyber staff will grow from 260 to 400 workers, Philip Reitinger, deputy undersecretary of the department’s National Protection and Programs Directorate, said at a Senate committee hearing Monday.

A new legislative proposal released by the White House this month not only places DHS as the lead defender of the dot-gov domain but also gives the department expanded authority.

The DHS secretary would require companies to disclose annually “high-level summaries” of their cybersecurity plans and whether risks have been properly addressed. The secretary would also create a process for designating critical infrastructure such as power plants and electric grids.

“DHS will be the new sheriff in cyber town that we need,” said Sen. Joe Lieberman, I- Conn., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

USAJobs Update: Week Four

Welcome back to CareerPro Global’s weekly update on the USAJobs.gov site, the hippest place to go if you are looking for a federal job. If you have been following along this past month, you know that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is giving USAJobs an overhaul, with the final results on display come October. They have promised us weekly updates, which we are happy to pass on to you.  Here is week four’s update:

“We’re collecting information, but not your SSN anymore

“The new USAJOBS, which has been developed by the government through extensive collaboration across agencies, has several increased security enhancements planned. One of which is no longer collecting Social Security Numbers (SSNs). Yes, SSNs are required to validate citizenship, but the responsibility to do so remains with the hiring agency determining applicant suitability, not the federal employment search portal, USAJOBS. Furthermore, USAJOBS has never had the capability to verify SSNs entered into the system, which meant erroneous data could be collected. And USAJOBS is working hard to make such data a thing of the past.

“Note: No need for alarm if you’ve found the ideal position in USAJOBS and decide to apply and are then prompted to provide your SSN. Some agency systems, which are linked to USAJOBS, may collect SSNs during the application process.”

This seemingly innocuous change is very important. At CareerPro Global, we take the security of your information very seriously. Our IT infrastructure is such that any information you send us is safe as houses. Even with our virtual Fort Knox in place, we still do not want clients to send us their social security numbers. Why? It’s just good common sense. If someone grabs your SSN, you risk losing your identity (as well as possibly your good name and credit status). Our intranet is secure, but it your email provider or snail mail delivery person? Why take the chance when it’s data we simply don’t need.

You are your social security number. Keep it safe. Only provide it to organizations or businesses you know and trust and which have actual use of the number (say, for a credit report). Bravo to the OPM for understanding that SSNs are not needed to accept a job application and is going to make this security change for better.

Bookmark us so you always know where to come to get straightforward and user-friendly career information. And be sure to come back to CareerPro Global’s blog  next week for the next USAJobs update.

CPG President and CEO Barbara A. Adams Featured Speaker at CDI 2011 Summit

CareerPro Global., Inc., president and CEO Barbara A. Adams will be a featured speaker at this year’s Career Directors International (CDI) Global Career Empowerment Summit. Held this year in historic Savannah, Georgia, this event features the top names in the career management industry, including our own Ms. Adams. CPG employees know that for over two decades Barbara’s vision, talent, and integrity have been instrumental to the positive development of the career industry, and we’re glad to be able to share her wisdom to the industry as a whole this fall.

Ms. Adams will be speaking of “Hiring Hurtles for Federal Employment and Military Conversion,” specifically “Federal Government: The Roadmap Ahead” and “Roadmap to Successful Military Transition.”  She is creator of the Master Federal Career Coach (MFCC) and Master Military Resume Writer (MMRW) certifications, and co-author of three successful CPG publications in the Roadmap series, including the soon-to-be released guide to successful military transitions.

What does this mean to you, our past, current, and possible future clients? Besides the commitment to excellent service and quality guaranteed by our ISO 9001 certification, you can feel good knowing that you are working with a company led by one of the true innovators of the career management industry.

Barbara A. Adams is the president and CEO of CareerPro Global, Inc. (CPG). Founded in 1986, CPG is an organization that is recognized as one of the leading pioneers in the careers services industry. Barbara has built CPG into one of the largest, most respected, and fastest-growing quality career services organizations industry-wide. CPGs writing team consists of 26 civilian, federal and military writers located throughout the US. Barbara and her IT team launched and utilize one of the most robust new system architectures integrating and customizing portfolios of collaborative and communication services designed to connect people, information, processes, and systems by robust and secure state of the art servers, software and a full in-house computer infrastructure that is customized to facilitate all things CPG. Barbara is committed to the helping our veteran’s achieve successful career transactions and she and her team specialize in both military and federal resume writing and career coaching.

Barbara believes so strongly in customer service and quality deliverables that she positioned and led the process of CPG to earn the international ISO 9001:2008 certification (the first in the careers industry) through which all CPG’s processes are reviewed for quality. CPG proudly earned full ISO 9001:2008 Certification in July 2010.

Barbara is the co-author of the Master Federal Career Coach (MFCC) and Master Military Resume Writer (MMRW) courses administered by CareerPro Global and Career Directors International. She holds five career industry credentials, remains on the pulse of all hiring trends, and is very active within the careers community. She is published in over 300 books, articles, and writes several monthly columns. Additionally, Barbara is the co-author of the Roadmap to the Senior Executive Service, as well as Roadmap to an Administrative Law Judge and the upcoming Roadmap to the Military Transition Resume.

“Appartently your resume skills are magical.”

“Apparently your resume skills are magical. I’ve been writing people ALL summer and then BAM you write it and I send it out and I’ve had 3 calls in a day for jobs. … The 2 places that I will or might interview at I’ve been sending them resumes all summer but the second I send them your resume they want me. Guess I should have gotten you in May.   I’ll let you know how it all goes. Thanks again for all of this. I was completely losing hope, and couldn’t understand why no one wanted me when I KNEW I was a good teacher. I’m the same person, you just made sure they saw it. I can’t thank you enough for this.”  Elizabeth A., to writer Mara A.

USAJobs Update: Week Three

Welcome back to CareerPro Global’s weekly update on the USAJobs.gov site, version 3. If you have been following along, you know that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is giving USAJobs an overhaul, with the final results on display come October. They have promised us weekly updates, which I am happy to pass on to you.  Here is week three’s update:

“Account Profile features – employment eligibility

“Have you ever applied for a job only to find you were not eligible to even be considered? The new and improved USAJOBS has tried to make it easier for job seekers and potential applicants to identify those Job Opportunity Announcements that they are eligible to apply for by enhancing the applicant’s account profile. By logging into USAJOBS and correctly answering the questions about yourself – such as whether or not you have served in the Armed Forces or previously held a federal position – before you begin your search, the results will be refined to only those for which you are eligible to apply. So, take the time to build your profile before you search and good luck!”

What does that mean for you and me?  USAJobs will begin to capture additional information from you in your profile. If you do a job search while you’re logged into your account, you will be shown which for vacancies you are eligible. Pretty neat. This may lead to a few less disappointed people who think they have found the job of their dreams–only to realize (sometimes too late) that they do not fit the eligibility requirements.

Bookmark us so you always know where to come to get straightforward and user-friendly career information. And be sure to come back to CareerPro Global’s blog  next week for the next USAJobs update.

“I’ve offered CareerProGlobal to many of my friends and colleagues.”

Another letter of thanks from a satisfied CPG client. Kudos to Lisa and Lee for their (always) high-quality work. We have the best SES team in the business. Call us. We are here to help you succeed.

“Both Lisa B.r and Lee K. are worldclass. I’m a retired Major General and have had lots of execs, aides, and secretaries — and these are outstanding! Both had a comfortable and familiar way of communicating that was very effecive and their system (especially Lee during the writing phase) of back-and-forth reviews made the project effortless but also better than I could have hoped for. They have earned my sincere appreciation.

“I tried writing my own resume and although the effort provided me some needed insights…it didn’t produce an effective or professionally appealing product. After CareerProGlobal completed their collaborative work with me and produced their professionally written resume, I’ve received numerous calls and inquiries. Recently I received a “complimentary” resume review from a competiive service with the obvious intent to offer a rewrite but in the end they described my resume as “an excellent product”. I’ve offered CareerProGlobal to many of my friends and colleagues. ”

– Mark G.

Navy Expands Perform-to-Serve to Second-term Sailors

Great news for our Navy men and women who wish to reenlist:

“The Perform to Serve program is a vital element of our Navy’s total force strategy providing an opportunity to keep our best and brightest Sailors in order to meet future fleet and manpower requirements,” said Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson, Chief of Naval Personnel. “The program that empowers our Sailors to perform to serve is now being expanded to include both Zone A and Zone B Sailors.”

Navy Expands Perform-to-Serve to Second-term Sailors

“I am confident that I have a resume that sets me apart from the competition.”

At CareerPro Global, the happiness and success of our clients is our success as well.  Below is an email we received concerning our services. Kudos to our own Joseph T. for a job well done! If you need help with a federal resume, give us a call. Let us make you happy too.

“Upon contacting CareerPro Global I received a call back that, to my surprise, lasted over 45 minutes. Everyone I have spoken with has taken the time to explain all the processes and tricks of government hiring to me in wonderful detail. My first conversation with the writer of my resume, Joseph T., lasted over an hour and the information I received in that call alone was very valuable. After completing the required forms, receiving a first draft from Mr. T., and going through the revision process I am confident that I have a resume that sets me apart from the competition. I look forward to working with CareerPro Global again for any future resume needs I have and I recommend them wholeheartedly to my associates who need government resumes.”  Adam D.

OPM proposes new pathways to employment

The new Pathways Program is meant to streamline the recruitment of interns into the federal government while giving preference status to veterans, something the latter believed had been missing in the past. As always, it will be interesting to see how the final plan looks upon its start in January 2012.  Will Pathways make it easier or more difficult for veterans to grab a spot? Will the new program welcome veterans in name only or fulfill the promise?  What are your thoughts?

OPM proposes new pathways to employment