EPAC Career Development Subcommittee
Originally Presented via Live Webinar on 29 July 2014
Due to Audio Issues the Webinar was Re-Recorded
Introduction
CDR DAVID GWISDALLA, MSEE, P.E.Engineering OfficerU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyLakewood, CO
Purpose of Webinar
• To explain the purpose, layout and uses of the USPHS CV & Cover Page
• Illustrate “how to” develop a concise CV
• Answer your questions on developing a CV
Acknowledgements
RADM Randall Gardner, IHS CAPT David Apanian, EPA CAPT Dana Baer, IHS CAPT Steven Bosiljevac, NPS CAPT Edward Dieser, CDC CAPT Lee Hanley, EPA CAPT Peter Nachod, IHS CAPT Jim Simpson, FDA CAPT Nathan Tatum, HHS CAPT Joseph Winkelmaier, NPS
CDR Jill Hammond, FDA CDR Vivian Porter, State
of Texas CDR Jennifer Proctor, IHS CDR Joshua Simms, FDA
Panelist Introductions
RADM RANDALL GARDNER, P.E.Engineering OfficerIndian Health ServiceWashington, DC
Panelist Introductions
CAPT DAVID APANIAN, MSCEE, P.E.Engineering OfficerU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyAtlanta, GA
Panelist Introductions
CAPT STEVEN BOSILJEVAC, MSCE, P.E.Engineering OfficerU.S. National Park ServiceSan Francisco, CA
Panelist Introductions
CAPT NATHAN TATUM, MSCE, P.E.Engineering OfficerU.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesWashington, DC
Panelist Introductions
CDR JOSH SIMMSEngineering OfficerU.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSilver Spring, MD
Special Acknowledgements
The original live webinar also included the following
panelists
Panelist Introductions
CAPT DANA BAER, MSCE, P.E.Engineering OfficerIndian Health ServiceRockville, MD
Panelist Introductions
CAPT EDWARD DIESER, MSEE, P.E.Engineering OfficerAgency for Toxic Substances and
Disease RegistryAtlanta, GA
Panelist Introductions
CDR VIVIAN PORTER, MPH, P.E.Engineering OfficerTexas Department of State Health ServicesAustin, Texas
What is a Curriculum Vitae? An outline of a person's educational and professional
history, usually prepared for job applications and promotion boards.
A CV is a highly detailed résumé. The most flexible and convenient way to convey your
professional experience and qualifications in the way that doesn’t exaggerate but presents you in the best possible light.
A marketing document in which you are marketing something: yourself! You need to "sell" your skills, abilities, qualifications and experience to promotion boards, agencies and future employers.
Why is the CV important? The CV is the key method for: Documenting and planning your career
progression Exhibiting your activities and accomplishments in
fulfilling the promotion precepts Demonstrating to promotion and assimilation
boards the skills and accomplishments that distinguish you from other officers
Presenting your accomplishments to those writing awards for you
What your resume says about you
When asked what would make them automatically reject a candidate based upon their resume, employers said (by percentage of who responded): Resumes with spelling mistakes or typos (61%) Resumes that copied lots of text from the job posting (41%) Resumes with an inappropriate email address (35%) Resumes that do not include a list of skills (30%) Resumes that are more than two pages long (22%) Resumes printed on decorative paper (20%) Resumes that detail more tasks than results for previous positions (16%) Resumes with large blocks of text and little white space (13%) Resumes that include a photo (13%)
Source: Careerbuilder.com
What CV format should you use?
PHS Engineer Category CV & CV Cover Page Template
Templates are available on the EPAC website Use of the category specific templates is expected by
promotion boards Officers eligible for promotion should have an updated
CV in his or her OPF before the published deadline of the promotion year
Format should be modified when you apply for a position
Source: http://www.usphsengineers.org
http://www.usphsengineers.org/index.php/resources/career_development
Sections in the EPAC CV Cover Page Template?
Precept #1: Performance - Awards Precept #2: Education, Training, and
Professional Development Precept #3: Career Profession and
Potential Precept #4: Officership Precept #5: Readiness
CV Cover Page Template See:
http://www.usphsengineers.org/index.php/resources/career_development
Sections in the EPAC CV Template?
Education Professional Registration & Certifications Experience Awards and Honors Assimilation Readiness Career Officership Professional Memberships Presentations and Publications Special Skills Community Service
CV Template See:
http://www.usphsengineers.org/index.php/resources/career_development
What not to include in the CV Do not include the following types of information in
your CV: Photographs Summaries of performance appraisals (COERs) Conferences attended (except as listed under
presentations) Medical information Personal information — some suggest omitting this
type of information: birth date, marital status, children, hobbies, etc. Although you may expand this information in resumes that are circulated for new jobs, for purposes of the OPF, keep this section very brief.
Your audience: Who can review your OPF?
Your CV in the OPF can be reviewed by:Promotion boards;Professional advisory committee (PAC)
nomination boards; Those writing award nominations; Those involved in personnel actions,
e.g., filling vacancies, billet descriptions, hiring, and special assignments; and
Mentors, counselors and advisors.
Promotion Board Review Process
Promotion boards review your official personnel folder (OPF), which includes: Officer’s statement (OS) Reviewing official’s statement (ROS) Commissioned officers evaluation records (COERs) CV & CV Cover Page Awards, decorations, etc.
Make it easy for the board members to find your pertinent information – your CV should be concise, easy-to-read, and in an easy-to-find format (i.e. PAC’s recommended template).
Making Lemonade from Lemons Various Potential Issues
Working on your masters degree Working on professional licensure / certification Have not deployed (or in a while) Unable to deploy due to mission critical position Have not conducted presentations / briefings Have limited PHS awards / honors Billet level equal to your grade level Have not moved to a new location or
position in a while
Do your statements lack impact?Statements that lack: problem, solution, impact, do not best illustrate your accomplishments and experiences. “Administered resolution of issues and implementation
of ideas surfaced by individuals.” “Partaking in meetings designed to enhance
collaboration, identify and develop strategies to ensure success regarding the accomplishment of goals.”
“Experienced leader with superior interpersonal skills and business acumen talented at building productive relationships across a global organization.”
Developing CV statementsClear, concise, factual, data rich
statements are powerful tools to illustrate your skills and experience; do so by using the following: Problem (with scope – local, regional,
national) Solution Impact (and on whom)
Engineering CV TemplateExperience Section
CV Experience SectionSub Part Content
1 HeaderInformation
Agency / Division or Branch Dates position held Billet title and grade
2 Duties Stakeholders / Problem definition / Project scope / Purpose
3 Accomplishments Solutions (e.g., deliverables / methods, constraints / resources / scheduling, etc.)
4 Impact Impact to agency’s missionReference to individual and group awards/honors
* One page per position** Reverse chronological order
Example statementDuty: Led the EPA Region 4 initiative to fully enforce new municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) regulations by 2016. Accomplishment: Mentored the Region’s new MS4 program manager to take over the program role in future years, garnered $25K for multiple contractors to provide 2,500+ man-hours of inspection services, provided on the job training to 12 EPA and state inspectors to conduct MS4 inspections, and educated 165 inspectors on MS4 inspections through national training. Impact: In 2013, exceeded the Region 4 annual target for required MS4 inspections by 65%. The Region is on pace to complete the 5-year initiative in 3 years. Received a PHS Achievement Medal for exceeding the Region 4 storm water program goals.
What employers look for in your CV / Resume
Previous related work experience (45%) Qualifications & skills (35%) Easy to read (25%) Accomplishments (16%) Spelling & grammar (14%) Education (9%) Intangibles: individuality/desire to succeed (9%) Clear objective (3%) Keywords added (2%) Contact information (1%) Personal experiences (1%) Computer skills (1%)
Source: University of Kent (UK)
So you are applying for a job; now what?
Adapting your CV for use in USAJobs, or other position applications: Ensure your resume addresses the position
announcement’s list of requirements; illustrate how your skills align with the position.
Adapt key words from the announcement into to your CV. Remove extraneous information not relevant to the
position. Ensure CV includes other data required, or
requested by HR (dates, hours worked, etc.)
Highlighting your skills Common skills:
Supervision – whether it is one engineering technician or an entire maintenance crew
Communication – the ability to clearly explain a situation both up and down your chain of command.
Working with others and alone…can you do it? Specific skills relevant to the position:
Highlight knowledge of common activities Review of technical/scientific documentation Knowledge of specific equipment/devices
CV Development Resources Professional Advisory Committee (PAC), such as: Engineering PAC Website:
http://www.usphsengineers.org/ HSO PAC Website:
http://usphs-hso.org/?q=pac/sub/careerdev/cv
Other sources: Web search on “resume writing” The Associated Press Stylebook (2010 ed.) Other PHS officers (in and outside your category) Senior PHS officers (request a review of your CV)
CV Development Assistance The following senior engineering officers have
agreed to assist junior officers with their CVs: CAPT Bosiljevac; [email protected] CAPT Nachod; [email protected] CAPT Winkelmaier; [email protected] CDR Gwisdalla; [email protected] CDR Porter; [email protected] CDR Proctor; [email protected]