If you are impacted by the Federal government transition, we’re here for you. Virginia Works, the Commonwealth’s workforce development agency, is committed to helping every Virginian navigate career transitions and find the best job for them.
Sign up for information about upcoming virtual job fairs and other events
Please complete this survey to receive information about upcoming hiring events and access additional resources to support you.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5TH: Virginia Works and our network of partners will be hosting a statewide virtual hiring event open to all occupations and professions on Wednesday, March 5th, from 10 am to 3 pm. Whether you’re an employer or a job seeker, we are ready to help you make the match. Register to join here.
Apply for unemployment & other benefits
Virginia Works’ partner agency, the Virginia Employment Commission, has a variety of tools to make it easier to apply for unemployment insurance. To learn about unemployment resources for former federal workers, visit this page. Before you begin, review the benefits eligibility requirements and step-by-step application video on VEC’s website at www.vec.virginia.gov. Have your driver’s license or government-issued ID handy. For assistance, you may also call VEC’s Customer Contact Center at 1-866-832-2363.
Individuals who experience a change in life circumstance outside of Open Enrollment may be eligible for a 60-day Special Enrollment Period to apply for health insurance through Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace, as well as financial assistance. For more information, visit www.EnrollVA.org.
Prepare for your job search
Virginia Works provides access to a suite of tools and resources to support every jobseeker’s career navigation and job search needs. The Job Seekers’ Toolkit at https://www.virginiaworks.gov/job-seekers/ includes a wealth of labor market information, interview tips and tricks, and a career resource guide.
In Person Support:
You can receive free job search support, resume and cover letter review, and interview prep – as well as accessing training support and other educational opportunities for those who qualify – by visiting any of dozens of locally-administered Virginia Career Works center across the Commonwealth. You can find the location closest to you by visiting www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/AmericanJobCenters/find-american-job-centers.aspx
Virginia State Government Career Opportunities: Virginia state government currently has over 4,500 available career opportunities in a broad variety of fields, with locations statewide. Visit https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/ to search for a mission-focused opportunity that works for you.
Upskilling and Reskilling: The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) offers a variety of credentials along with programs that you may be eligible for that can provide financial assistance, like G3, FastForward, and more. Visit vccs.edu for more information and tools to help determine whether these programs may be right for you.
Update your resume
If you are a former Federal employee looking to transition to the private sector, you may want to consider updating your resume to translate your detailed government job duties and accomplishments into industry terminology, avoiding overly technical jargon or acronyms. action-oriented statements that highlight relevant skills and achievements, using common industry terminology, and generally shortening the length to fit a standard 1-2 page resume format while still emphasizing key qualifications for the desired civilian role.
Key points to consider when revising your resume from Federal employment:
- Simplify Language: Replace government-specific terms with their private sector equivalents. For example, “program manager” instead of “project officer,” “stakeholder engagement” instead of “interagency coordination.” Remove federal job series, grades (e.g., GS-13), and excessive detail about every duty. Avoid excessive acronyms (or spell them out and explain briefly).
- Focus on Results: Quantify your achievements with numbers and percentages to demonstrate the impact of your work. Focus on achievements and impact rather than task descriptions. Use quantifiable metrics where possible: Instead of “Reviewed policy documents,” say “Streamlined policy review process, reducing approval time by 30%.” Use action verbs like “optimized,” “implemented,” “increased,” “developed,” “led,” etc.
- Streamline the Format: Federal resumes are often lengthy (4–6 pages). Aim for 1–2 pages for the private sector. Use a clean, modern layout with bullet points for readability. Ensure your resume is free from errors and presents a professional image. You can select a standard resume format that’s either a chronological or functional format depending on your career goals.
- Tailor to Each Job: Start by analyzing each job posting to identify the key skills and qualifications they are seeking. Customize your resume for each position by highlighting the most relevant skills and experiences listed in the job description. Highlight experience in improving processes, cost savings, increasing efficiency, or driving innovation.
- Adjust the Summary/Profile Section: Government resumes often start with a long “Professional Summary” or “Objective.” Condense it into a 3–5 sentence professional summary highlighting your most relevant skills and industry experience.
- Condense Details: While federal resumes often require extensive detail, private sector resumes can be more concise, focusing on key accomplishments and responsibilities.
- Remove Unnecessary Information: Eliminate details like agency-specific acronyms, occupational series numbers, and overly technical jargon that may not be familiar to private sector hiring managers.
Example of translating federal government experience to non-government terms:
- Federal Role: “Managed a team of analysts responsible for developing and implementing budget proposals for a large federal agency.”
- The “Transferrable Skill”: “Led a team of financial analysts in crafting and executing strategic budget plans, resulting in $X million in cost savings.”
- Federal Role: “Managed interagency coordination for compliance with federal mandates.”
- The “Transferrable Skill”: “Led cross-functional teams to ensure regulatory compliance.”
Use keywords from the job posting to ensure your resume gets past automated screening systems, optimizing for industry terms. In general, highlighting the following areas is key for resumes in the private sector or non-government employment:
- Technical Skills: Specific software proficiency, data analysis skills, project management tools.
- Leadership Experience: Managing teams, supervising staff, delegating tasks.
- Problem-Solving Abilities: Identifying issues, developing solutions, implementing improvements.
- Communication Skills: Effective written and verbal communication, stakeholder engagement.
All News