Navigating a Post-DOGE Job Search: A Guide for Federal Workers and Contractors

New Guide for Federal Workers and Contractors Helps Navigate a Post-DOGE Job Search 

Two veteran career industry professionals have teamed up to create a “get started” guide for more than 1 million employees who are impacted by the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) plan to eliminate federal jobs and contracts. The stated goal of DOGE is to reach $1 trillion in savings by the start of the 2025-26 fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1.

 

The 40-page guide, “Solutions for Starting Your Federal Career Transition,” is designed for federal workers who have already been laid off or terminated, or who may be separated from their employment in the near future. It also is a resource for employees of companies with federal contracts who are affected by contract cancellations. 

 

The federal government is the nation’s largest employer. As of November 2024, there were an estimated 3 million federal employees (including US Postal Service employees) across the United States, excluding military personnel. In addition, there are more than 3.5 million federal contractors who aren’t counted as federal employees, but whose employment is affected by government contracts. Over the past week, multiple government agencies have cut 121 contracts worth $350 million, according to DOGE.

 

Tens of thousands of jobs have already been eliminated across numerous federal agencies. Most government workers (92%) are considered white collar workers. The website Layoffs.fyi estimates more than 113,000 federal employees have been fired or voluntarily resigned (on the condition they would be paid through the end of September). Mass layoffs were announced Tuesday at the Department of Health and Human Services, with 10,000 employees expected to be let go.

 

The federal government layoffs are expected to be the biggest from a single employer in history. IBM previously had that title, laying off 60,000 workers in 1993.

 

The guide is designed to cover the basics of getting started with a post-federal employment job search, including accessing federal employment-specific transition services, translating ‘fed speak’ into corporate language for a private-sector resume, and providing details about common job search scams to help federal jobseekers avoid being scammed. 

 

About the Authors:

Nancy H. Segal is the owner of Solutions for the Workforce. She started the business following her 30-year career in human resources with the federal government. She has extensive experience as a resume writer and career coach, with emphasis on federal jobs. Her certifications include Master Career Director (MCD), Certified Master Resume Writer (CMRW), Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Certified Federal Resume Writer (CFRW) and Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC). 

 

Ellen Steverson opened StartingBlock Career Services, LLC in 2011. She is a Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW), Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert (NCOPE), Certified Employment Interview Consultant (CEIC), and Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF). She has written more than 1,000 resumes and coached hundreds of people on job search and interview preparation.

 

The guide is $7.49 and can be ordered here:

https://sftwshop.com/products/solutions-for-starting-your-federal-career-transition

The Changing Federal Resume

Although the first resume I wrote, at the age of 12, was technically a federal resume, I don't write federal resumes anymore (unless it's for a friend or family member).

Robin Schlinger
@robinresumes

That said, I do like to keep up on trends. And Robin Schlinger is one of the top federal resume experts in the U.S., so I recommend you read her LinkedIn column, "Federal Resumes: What Has Changed?"

I agree with her assessments -- getting hired for a federal position has become much more difficult in recent years, and her five-part assessment of "why" is right on track.

And the four questions you can ask clients to assess their likelihood of being hired is an eye-opener.

Marketing Your Services in a Down Market: Specialization and Pricing

From the July/August 2008 issue of Resume Writers' Digest:

Last in a series of posts on Marketing Your Resume Writing Services in a Down Market.

One way to ensure your relevance in a downturn is to be a specialist. For example, the federal government is always hiring -- but these jobs require a federal resume. Now is the time to acquire the skills and certification required to serve these clients effectively. Identifying under-served niches and obtaining specialized training or experience will serve you well in a difficult economic market.

It will also enable you to protect your prices at a time when you may need to reduce your regular rates to attract "general" clients. Being a specialist in any area will allow you to continue to charge "premium" prices to clients in that industry.

And don't forget to target your base of existing clients during a downturn. Repeat clients are already "sold" on the value of the services you offer, and can offer a steady stream of income while you work to develop new clients.

Remember: No matter what technique you decide to use, don't wait until you need the business to start marketing. Even if things are going well, it can change in an instant.

As marketing expert Robert Middleton notes, "Many self-employed people think that the success of their business is completely dependent upon outside circumstances -- industry trends, the time of year, or the economy as a whole. But be honest with yourself and ask if you are doing the above activities on a regular basis or not. If you're not, it's no mystery why the phone isn't ringing off the hook!"

Want the whole article? Buy the issue here.