YOU DONT NEED A COLLEGE DEGREE TO QUALIFY FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE JOB

YOU DONT NEED A COLLEGE DEGREE TO QUALIFY FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE JOBYOU DONT NEED A COLLEGE DEGREE TO QUALIFY FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE JOBYOU DONT NEED A COLLEGE DEGREE TO QUALIFY FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE JOBTestimonialGreat resource Got 9 out of 12 referrals using your guideThank you. THE CHALLENGEOur client, a GS-7 for several years, was interested in applying for a federal government position as a GS-0301-09. Group 0300 is reserved for Administrative Management series positions. She contacted The Resume Place because the language in the Qualifications portion of the Announcement confused her. zu sich concern was that she didnt have a degree.The opening sentence of the Qualifications section statedIn bestellung to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application (emphasis added).The section continued with the following statement regarding alternative experience and educationSpecialized Experience (the following language appeared after a specific list of specialized experience) work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal serviceOREducation Substitution Have aMastersdegreeor2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degreeorCompletion of all requirements for an LL.B or J.D. degree from an accredited college or university.ORCombination of Education and ExperienceHave some specialized experience as described inabove, but less than 1 year and have less than 2 years of graduate-level education as describedabove. The computedpercentage of the requirements is at least 100%.The same principles that we discuss below apply to positions in Group 0300 regardless of whether the education substitute refers to graduate or undergraduate education alternatives.THERE IS NO EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR GROUP 0300 POSITIONSThe Office of Per sonnel Managements (OPM) qualification standards for Group 0300 positions permit qualification on the grund of education/training, or experience, or a combination of the two. Many applicants for these positions are unaware that their experience may convert in whole or in part for education.Although OPM has determined that certain positions can have prescribed minimum education requirements (positive education requirement), this does not apply to positions in Group 0300 but rather to positions in the scientific, technical or professional occupation fields. For all other positions, OPM is statutorily prohibited from prescribing a minimum education level. It must provide for the complete or partial substitution of specialized experience. See 5 U.S.C. 3308. So, if you are applying for a position in the Administrative Management Group (0300 series positions), you dont need to have a degree in order to meet the minimum qualifications and make the best qualified list of applicants referred to the selecting official.You can meet the minimum qualifications based solely on having the requisite amount of specialized experience, or by combining experience and education.In this case, our client qualified based on her 1 year (52 weeks or more) of specialized experience as a GS-7 (next lowest grade level). For candidates who are not in federal positions, you will need to establish that your private sector specialized experience is equivalent to the next lowest grade level in the federal sector.The key is whether you have the required Specialized Experience experience that has equips you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position.Be careful when reading the Qualificationssection of the Job Announcement. In this case, there were alternative qualification statements education and/or experience.Occupational Group 0300Group 0300 includes many general administrat ive, clerical, and office services positions. The series within the group include positions to perform, supervise or manage work of a general clerical and administrative nature. Examples includeMessengers (GS-0302-01/02)Information Receptionists (GS-0304-02/03/04)Mail and File Clerks (GS-0305-02/03/04/05)Correspondence Clerks (GS-0309-03/04/05)Secretaries (GS-0318-03/04/05/06/07/08/09)Computer Operators (GS-0332-03/04/05/06/07/08/09)Equal Opportunity befolgung Specialists (GS-0360-05/07/09/11/12/13)Some series in the 0300 Group classify grade based on specific Grade Evaluation Guides. Nonsupervisory positions in these series are generally posted at the GS-7, 9, 11 or 12 levels and includeMiscellaneous Administrative and Program positions a catch-all series where a position involves specialized work for which no other appropriate occupational series exists (GS-0301)The OPM Position Classification standard for Series 0301states Although administrative work may not require education i n specialized fields, it does involve skills (analytical, research, writing, and judgment) typically demonstrated by substantial, responsible experience the equivalent of a college level education.Government Information Specialists (GS-0306)Records and Information Management Specialists (GS-0308) Administrative Officers (GS-0341)Management and Program Analysts (GS-0343)Logistics Managers (GS-0346)LESSON LEARNEDIf you are applying for a federal job and dont have a college or graduate degree, you may still be a competitive candidate for many federal positions, including those in Group 0300. The determining factor will often be whether you have 1-year or more of specialized experience at the next lowest grade level. Give it your best shot and apply. It is essential that your federal resume focuses on your expertise and incorporates the keywords present throughout the Announcement. The Federal Resume Guidebook, 6th EditionTestimonialBefore reading Kathryn Troutmans Federal Resume Guideb ook, 6th Edition I submitted exactly 18 federal job applications and did not receive a single referral. After reading the book and retooling my resume, I was referred, interviewed and selected for the second job for which I applied heidewitzkaThe 6th edition of this book by leading federal resume expert, Kathryn Troutman, are all in the OUTLINE FORMAT. This Federal Resume Outline Format is organized so that the Federal Human Resources Specialist can quickly see the keywords, KSAs, accomplishments, and qualifications for a federal position. This book is a MUST to purchase if you are seriously seeking a federal career.On Sale Now Through August 31st Ellen Lazarus is a Resume Place Certified Federal Job Search Trainer, Federal Resume Writer and Career Coach. She is a former Legislative Branch senior executive.