How Federal Employment Agencies Help You Rebound From Federal Layoffs

Our team at Ross Professional Services LLC, fully understands how stressful and scary federal layoffs are. It’s important to remember that layoffs are not a smear on your skills or qualifications. You should still feel proud of your accomplishments and use them to fuel your job hunt. With that said, your first steps are important for returning you to work as soon as possible. Here are some things we always recommend post any type of layoff.

1. Review your RIF notice

   Post federal layoff, staff are issued a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice detailing the nature of their dismissal. It’s important that you review this document in order to understand your options regarding key benefits like severance packages. If there are any inaccuracies, address them right away to ensure you claim all the money and benefits you’re entitled to.

2. File for unemployment benefits

   Unemployment benefits are there for times like this, so do not hesitate to take advantage of the resources available to you. In the very competitive job market, unemployment benefits can provide some financial stability while you pivot your career.

3. Reflect on your goals

   Before you begin a job search, start by simply asking what you want. Do you want another federal position again or try local government? Do you want a private corporate job instead? Do you want to remain in the same field, or industry or are you interested in a total career switch? All of these questions will guide your job search. If it’s something you’re unsure of, don’t worry professional employment agencies like us can help.

4. Update your resume

   While your previous work and accomplishments are still fresh, you need to catalog them in your resume. Do not just use AI or ChatGPT to write your resume. This will be flagged by AI detection software and will likely be very obvious to the employer. It’s important that you take this task largely on yourself in order to present yourself sincerely and create a strong impression with the hiring company. The fastest way to lose their trust is to delegate the document representing your accomplishments solely to AI. Instead, focus on your tasks and detail what you accomplished. If this seems daunting, don’t worry, our team at Ross Professional Services LLC can help you craft high-performing resumes.

5. Get active on LinkedIn

   LinkedIn is a major resource for both job seekers and employers. Odds are you probably have an account, but may not be using it. Time to change that. LinkedIn is the ultimate way to build your network and explore job opportunities. It’s also a great way for you to stand out and make a strong impression with a highly professional LinkedIn profile. This is where you can list your previous roles, duties, and accomplishments (in keeping with any confidentiality rules in place), as well as degrees, certifications, and other credentials you possess. Remember, over 60% of employers look at candidate LinkedIn profiles, so it’s important to optimize your account.

6. Explore federal reemployment priority programs

   If you’ve been affected by federal layoffs and are looking to return to federal employment, there are programs you can join to look for open positions. One example of this is the Reemployment Priority List (RPL). The RPL is a federal pro placement program used by several agencies to help both current and former federal employees (who are eligible) find a new role.

7. Attend local job fairs and networking events

   If there are local job fairs and networking events occurring near you, go ahead and check them out, especially if they are focused on your industry. At best, this could help you meet your next employer, or, at the very least, you can use these events to expand your network in order to get more job leads.

8. Work with an accredited federal employment agency

   Post federal layoff, you have a lot of work ahead of you. Whether you’re looking for federal jobs or to transition into private industry, there’s a lot of preparation, searching, and applying before you land the new job. With that said, one of the ways you can expedite your job search and increase your chance of success is to work with an official government staffing agency. Agencies like ours help you explore and connect with more high-profile jobs than you could alone!