Is a Candidate Development Program (CDP) Right for You?

Are you a GS-14 or GS-15 who feels that the Senior Executive Service (SES) could be in your future?

If so, you might want to consider a CDP. You can find plenty of detailed information from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), but here’s the overall idea: Imagine stepping out of your normal career path and daily activities to participate in a 12-month program (sometimes longer) designed to enhance your leadership, scope of experience, and executive potential.

Although each person’s experience will be a little different, during a CDP, you can expect to receive personal mentoring, an Individual Development Plan (IDP), specialized training, and a developmental assignment.

At the end of your CDP, you’ll have an opportunity to develop your Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) essays and submit them for OPM approval. Going through a CDP doesn’t guarantee you an SES position, but it can certainly give you a competitive advantage. Plus, if you are selected for an SES position at some point, you may already have a certified set of ECQs. So while all of your competition is still working to get ECQ approval, you will simply need to show proof of your ECQ certification.

CDPs aren’t always available, and they are coveted opportunities among many federal employees. Not surprisingly, they are also highly competitive. In terms of applying, the programs are advertised on USAJOBS just like any other position. Make sure you read the entire vacancy announcement and submit exactly what they ask for—nothing more and nothing less.

Although we’ve seen CDP announcements call for a full set of ECQs just to apply, that is rarely the case. Usually, they require you to submit what we’ve coined a “5-Page All-Inclusive Resume.” This is simply a resume focusing on the past 10 years of your career that shows your executive potential.

Most importantly, these submissions require you to demonstrate your experience and potential in each ECQ category: Leading Change, Leading People, Results Driven, Business Acumen, and Building Coalitions. So, if a CDP is something that interests you, it’s a good idea to start thinking about (and actively seeking) career experience in each of these categories.

 

Lee Kelley is an Iraq war veteran and former Army Captain who now serves as the senior writer on CareerPro Global’s writing team. Leveraging the company’s vast expertise in assisting thousands of SES and federal job seekers, Lee has personally developed hundreds of resumes and more than a thousand ECQs. He is also the Director of Training and Veteran Transitions, and has provided USAJOBS resume-writing workshops to hundreds of federal employees and our military. In addition, Lee is an author and executive coach. He co-authored the book Roadmap to the Senior Executive Service: How to Find SES Jobs, Determine Your Qualifications, and Develop Your SES Application. His latest book is titled Inside Marine One: Four U.S. Presidents, One Proud Marine, and the World’s Most Amazing Helicopter.

When ECQs Don’t Make the Cut…

Over the past decade or so, our Senior Executive Service (SES) writing team here at CareerPro Global has helped thousands of people develop ECQs (Executive Core Qualifications) that represent their accomplishments and executive potential in the best possible way.

Most of the time, our clients come to us for help early in the process. But sometimes, we get these calls: “Please help! I wrote my own application materials, and was offered an SES position, but my ECQs were disapproved by OPM!”

In these situations, we look at the problem areas and work with the client to get his or her ECQs up to par. Obviously, each set of ECQs is different, and each person’s career stories are unique. Still, let’s highlight some of the issues and best practices that we used on many of our “ECQ rewrites,” all of which have resulted in resubmission and subsequent OPM (Office of Personnel Management) approval.

Issue: Examples were more than 10 years old.

Best Practice Applied: Challenged client to provide examples from within the past 10 years (5-7 years is the “sweet spot”).

Issue: Examples were vague and did not use the Challenge-Context-Action-Result (CCAR) format.

Best Practice Applied: Partnered with client to restructure examples and to ensure each one began with a clear CHALLENGE/CONTEXT paragraph, which served to “set up” the story by describing the individual’s job title, the timeframe, the scope and complexity of the organization/position, and then the “problem” or challenge that needed to be overcome/changed. Next, restructured each example to include three to five paragraphs of ACTIONS, followed by a robust RESULTS paragraph.

Issue: No evidence of executive leadership. ECQs read like project management descriptions.

Best Practice Applied: Worked with client to present examples that were “executive in scope,” such as influencing senior decision making, coordinating with interagency partners, participating in and leading strategic planning, changing major business processes, and achieving results that impacted the entire organization/enterprise/industry/division.

Issue: No evidence of the competencies in some, or all, of the ECQs.

Best Practice Applied: Educated client on how the competencies in each ECQ are the best guide for selecting which stories to use. If a particular story can’t be told naturally by addressing the competencies in that ECQ, then it may not be the best example.

 

Barbara Adams is the President and CEO of CareerPro Global, Inc. (CPG). She has been on the leading edge of SES application development for decades. Committed to providing world-class service, she has also built an SES writing team that has assisted more than 2,500 clients develop their application materials. Ms. Adams has been featured on T.V. and radio and as a presenter at numerous career conferences. She is the co-author of the book, Roadmap to the Senior Executive Service: How to Find SES Jobs, Determine Your Qualifications, and Develop Your SES Application.

 

SES Candidate Development Program: Are you Prepared to Apply?

Many SES CDP Programs are scheduled to open in 2014.

SES Candidate Development Program – Are you Prepared to Apply?

What is the SES CDP? It’s the Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program that helps candidates get ready to take on Senior Executive Service positions.

This is a good route to take if you’d like to get promoted to an SES job from within, or even if you’re applying from the outside, the SES Candidate Development Program is a great head start. Many Senior Executive Service professionals get their start by entry into this program and you can too. Allow us to partner with you to develop your very important Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program resume and get your foot in the door for a future SES position.

What Does the SES Candidate Development Program Involve?

This program not only will help you get your application ready to gain employment or on the executive leadership track in the Federal government, it can also help you get additional experience to add to your federal resume and application package so you can jump when an SES job is available. SES jobs typically don’t stay open for very long, so let our SES Resume Writing Team help you be fully prepared for when that opportunity comes.

The SES Candidate Development Program also offers SES training for future positions. How does SES training work? Activities that help candidates learn the Five Executive Core Qualifications will be a boost when it’s time to get ready for your SES Application package. You’ll be groomed for an SES job using your skills as a leader, which will be further honed by SES tutoring.

Essentially, you’ll already be prepared with the skills you need once you get hired for an SES position. This will definitely set you apart from the other applicants and will ensure your success and future hiring prospects.

 

What Does the SES Candidate Development Program Involve?

This program not only will help you get your application ready to gain employment or on the executive leadership track in the Federal government, it can also help you get additional experience to add to your federal resume and application package so you can jump when an SES job is available. SES jobs typically don’t stay open for very long, so let our SES Resume Writing Team help you be fully prepared for when that opportunity comes.

The SES Candidate Development Program also offers SES training for future positions. How does SES training work? Activities that help candidates learn the Five Executive Core Qualifications will be a boost when it’s time to get ready for your SES Application package. You’ll be groomed for an SES job using your skills as a leader, which will be further honed by SES tutoring.

Essentially, you’ll already be prepared with the skills you need once you get hired for an SES position. This will definitely set you apart from the other applicants and will ensure your success and future hiring prospects.

 

Check out our SES CDP Services:  http://www.seswriters.com/SES-Candidate-Development-Program.shtml

Second Chance Landing a Senior Executive Service Position

Almost everyone would agree that landing a job in these tough economic times can be both challenging and stressful. And the higher the stakes, as in the SES, the higher the emotions can run.

After working with almost 4,000 SES applicants over the years, CareerPro Global’s writing team has gained a great deal of insight into this process. And, among other things, we’ve learned that there are second chances.

What if you make it through the selection process, receive an offer for an SES position, and then your ECQS are submitted to OPM for certification and approval? That’s great news, right? But what if (as does happen to some people) your ECQs don’t make the cut? Well, in almost every case, you will be given a second chance. OPM allows you to revise and resubmit your ECQs within a specific timeframe, and the hiring organization has several other options to resubmit your application.

Here’s another scenario: What if you simply don’t land the first SES position you apply for? As is true in all job searches—regardless of the level or the emotions involved—you always have another chance. This recent testimonial will help to further illustrate the point:

“… although not accepted for the first position I applied for with the ECQs and TQs CareerPro drafted, I was interviewed and accepted for the second position—and the ECQs and TQs sailed through OPM with no edits/questions at all (something the hiring director for my office said she had not seen in her 10 years there). I have now started my new position. While I consider myself a reasonably good writer, the ECQs and TQs I produced on my own were simply not good enough. I was not fully comfortable with hiring a writing service like CareerPro, but after some reflection, I decided that it was worth the investment. My writer worked with me intensively over the next three weeks, asking detailed questions and kicking several drafts back and forth with me to make sure they accurately captured my career in a way that ensured all of the ‘bases’ that both the hiring office and OPM wanted to see were covered. I also urge anyone looking for an SES-level position to not to be discouraged if they don’t get hired on the first try. In my case, I was not even asked back for an interview for the first position (though when I asked for feedback, I was told that the package itself was noticeably stronger than the initial submission I had drafted on my own—the problem was the hiring office did not consider me the right “fit” for the job). And my second SES application ended with my hiring.”

What’s the takeaway here? You might not be suited for every SES position for which you apply. Some agencies may be looking for specific experience to fit their team or environment, but those things may not be effectively expressed in the vacancy announcement. On the other hand, there are a number of unknown variables, such as stiff competition or backdoor politics (they already had someone in mind). We advise you to never give up, and to maintain a positive and proactive approach regarding your search for the right SES position.

Finally, just remember that highly qualified and driven leaders just like you sometimes don’t land the job on the first try; they need a second chance.

What You Should Know About the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program

There are many ways to advance one’s executive career and potential in the federal government, and one of those is through the PMF program. If you are close to completing your graduate degree in any discipline, or have finished school within the last two years, then you may want to consider applying for this fantastic program.

Although there are a number of ways you can tailor it to best fit your individual career development goals and position you for the Senior Executive Service (SES), here are five things you should know about this unique program:

• It’s a full-time, paid federal position (GS-9-12) that lasts two years.
• Some participating agencies offer student loan repayment options.
• You will complete at least one 4- to 6-month developmental assignment.
• You will leave the program with an Executive Resources Board (ERB) or equivalent certification.
• For the upcoming 2014 PMF program, applicants with degrees in certain specialized disciplines may be eligible for the new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) track pilot.

Finally, follow this link to learn more about the PMF program: http://www.pmf.gov/opportunity/index.aspx

 

Barbara Adams is the President and CEO of CareerPro Global, Inc. (CPG). She has been on the leading edge of SES application development for decades. Committed to providing world-class service, she has also built an SES writing team that has assisted more than 2,500 clients develop their application materials. Ms. Adams has been featured on T.V. and the radio, and as a presenter at numerous career conferences. CPG recently sent a team to instruct senior officials at Warner Robins Air Force Base, Georgia in best practices for developing their SES application materials. She is the co-author of the new book, Roadmap to the Senior Executive Service: How to Find SES Jobs, Determine Your Qualifications, and Develop Your SES Application.

The Role of a Senior Executive Service (SES) Writer and Coach

In the challenging executive workplace of today, more and more busy professionals are turning to executive writers and coaches to assist them in developing their application materials.

We have worked with more than 3,000 GS-15s, corporate executives, and senior military officers over the past two decades, and we are well known at the highest levels of numerous government agencies. Still, some people don’t understand the role (and benefits) of an SES writer and coach.

Although it is a highly personalized, interactive, and dynamic service that varies based on each person’s unique personality, writing style, education, and career accomplishments, here are some of the main aspects of the coach/client relationship.

Client Assessment: First, the coach will help the client to decide if he or she is qualified to apply for a particular SES position, or for the SES in general. This part of the process includes a review of career documentation to assess the client’s strengths (and weaknesses) in the various leadership competencies. Additionally, the coach and client may hold several phone calls to determine the best path to the SES.

Information Gathering and Coaching: Once they agree upon a game plan, the coach sends out custom ECQ and TQ builders, and a resume questionnaire. These documents require the client to provide specific career stories, examples, and information. Throughout this period, the coach guides the client through filling out the builders, and telling the right kinds of stories that address the competencies and are executive in nature. This guidance comes in the form of written feedback and phone conversations, as needed.

Writing and Editing: Once the writer has all of the information from the client, to the writer helps revise and streamline everything to make the client’s unique career stories read as smoothly and effectively as possible, while also ensuring that the documents integrate the best practices that OPM likes to see (such as strong emphasis on the ECQ competencies, Challenge-Context-Action-Review format, recent and relevant examples, and proper formatting/character counts).

Project Review: Once the first drafts are complete, the writer delivers them to the client for review and approval, and makes any changes the client might want. When the client is satisfied that the package represents them accurately, it’s time to start applying!

Barbara Adams is the President and CEO of CareerPro Global, Inc. (CPG). She has been on the leading edge of SES application development for decades. Committed to providing world-class service, she has also built an SES writing team that has assisted more than 2,500 clients develop their application materials. Ms. Adams has been featured on T.V. and radio and as a presenter at numerous career conferences. She is the co-author of the book, Roadmap to the Senior Executive Service: How to Find SES Jobs, Determine Your Qualifications, and Develop Your SES Application.

Top Reasons Why OPM Might Reject Your ECQs

There is not only one right way to develop an Executive Core Qualification (ECQ). Everyone has a different writing and communication style—not to mention unique career experiences and training.

However, over the years, and in working with thousands of applicants, CareerPro Global’s career advisors and writers have identified some of the top reasons that OPM’s Qualification Review Boards tend to reject ECQs.

Here are a few to keep in mind when writing your own ECQs:

• Examples are more than 10 years old.
• Examples do not demonstrate sufficient depth and breadth of experience that would indicate executive leadership.
• Examples read like highly technical descriptions of short-term projects, rather than executive-level essays.
• Examples lack evidence of the core competencies.
• Specific examples are not presented in the Challenge-Context-Action-Result format, but instead read like vague or general philosophy and description.
• Examples do not include significant, specific, or impactful results.

 

Barbara Adams is the President and CEO of CareerPro Global, Inc. (CPG). She has been on the leading edge of SES application development for decades. Committed to providing world-class service, she has also built an SES writing team that has assisted more than 2,500 clients develop their application materials. Ms. Adams has been featured on T.V. and radio and as a presenter at numerous career conferences. She is the co-author of the book, Roadmap to the Senior Executive Service: How to Find SES Jobs, Determine Your Qualifications, and Develop Your SES Application.