Live 3-Day Classes
Three days in a classroom with Kathryn Troutman and Charles Clark, teaching the Ten Steps curriculum updated for the 2-page federal resume. Locations change year to year; the scheduled classes are below.
Which format
Live training is for you if
The same certification is available as five weekly webinars. The classroom suits a particular way of working.
You learn best in a classroom
The lessons are hands-on and the instructors are in the room with you.
You want the time set aside
A pre-determined block, rather than fitting weekly classes around the job.
You can travel to Maryland or Hawaii
The two learning sites for 2026.
You want to meet the others
Everyone in the room is also a federal career advisor.
The three days
Days one and two run 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., day three 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Before you arrive, set up a USAJOBS account and load your own resume, or a virtual client’s, into the builder.
Day 1: Ten Steps to a Federal Job®, overview and activities
All ten steps from the Jobseeker’s Guide 10th Ed., each with a classroom activity: searching occupational standards, practising the job fair script, finding keywords for the Outline Format resume, building CCAR accomplishments, applying on USAJOBS, and practising an accomplishment for the behavior-based interview. New this year: non-competitive networking techniques, how Veteran’s Preference is applied to announcements, core competencies, and negotiation.
Day 2: Coaching, reviews, and practice teaching
Before-and-after case studies with announcement research, keyword development, and the homework you assign a client so they write their own resume. Then every participant teaches one step to the class in a 90 minute version of the curriculum. Closes with the examination, the logo agreements, and certificates.
Day 3: Federal hiring, with Charles Clark
Veteran’s Preference and category rating, VOW, VEOA, and the non-competitive authorities: VRA, the 30% disabled veteran authority, and Schedule A. Then the Stars curriculum for military spouses, all ten of them, from Executive Order 13473 through getting Best Qualified.
What you practice and learn in the room
Live demonstrations of USAJOBS, Keyword AI Research, CCAR Interviews, small group sharing, and sample resume reviews, in person.
The hats you wear at work
The opening exercise for finding what a jobseeker actually does.
Freewriting accomplishments
Getting the raw material down before shaping it into CCAR.
Announcement search, live
Searching and discovering announcements in the room, together.
Reading the USAJOBS Announcement: Duties, Specialized Experience, Self-Assessment Questionnaire
Use the announcement to find the AI keywords to match the job to the 2-page federal resume.
Keyword research and analysis with AI
Building the keyword list the Outline Format resume is written against.
Profile and saved searches
Bring your own USAJOBS username and password.
Application tracking
How to track what you have applied for and follow up.
2-Page Federal Resume Formats
Review both the Builder and the Upload formats. VERY different.
Resume reviews with the 11-Point CheckSheet
Assessing a resume the way you will assess a client’s.
Mil2fedjobs.com
Using the site with veteran clients.
Veteran's Preference and category rating
What the codes mean and when they apply.
Schedule A and disability hiring
The programs and how to coach for them.
Military spouses and EO 13473
How to apply and stand out on USAJOBS.
Pathways
Internships and jobs for students and new graduates.
What people say about the live class
I LOVED the class. It's great being in class with extremely knowledgeable instructors teaching a curriculum that is applicable to all services and sectors!
Michelle Pike, Airman & Family Readiness Program, USAFI really enjoyed the breadth of information provided, not only about the resume but the system as a whole, from the job categories to HR's perspective and role in the process.
Kathryn Cranford, Work & Family Life Specialist, USNWhile I don't teach the Ten Steps curriculum per se, I use everything I learned that week in MD every single day in my work. Without the training I would not be at all confident about helping students write federal resumes or have any real understanding of how the competitive hiring process actually works.
Marie Koko, Senior Career Consultant, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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