1. Federal Government Internships for Students with Disabilities: An Overview of the WRP Program
Kristin Schrader
Assistant Director of InternPLUS and Military Career Programs
UMUC
Nanese Loza
Diversity & Inclusion Team Lead
Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Diversity & Inclusion
August 30, 2017

2. Today’s Agenda What is the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)?
Overview of the Application Process
Tips for Creating a Strong Application
What Happens Next…

3. What is the WRP?
Recruitment and referral program for federal sector employers
Summer internship, but also a segue into federal service
Open to current college students and recent graduates with disabilities
Designed to help agencies fill internship and entry- level positions
Question for Nanese: Why does the federal government want to increase its employment of individuals with disabilities?

4. Eligibility Criteria U.S. citizen
Current, full-time, degree-seeking post-secondary student OR
Have graduated from such an institution within the past year (April 2016 or later)
2.0 GPA or higher
Be eligible for hiring under Schedule A Hiring Authority
*Student veterans are encouraged to apply
Question for Nanese: Do eligible student veterans receive veteran’s preference with the WRP Program?

5. What is Schedule A?
Excepted appointing authority used by the Federal Government
Fast-track process for people with disabilities to get federal jobs
Two-year probationary appointment that provides an opportunity for conversion to a permanent position
Disabilities include:
People with intellectual disabilities
Severe physical disabilities
Psychiatric disabilities
Eligibility proved through a Schedule A letter written by:
Licensed medical professional or other entity (e.g. your doctor)
Licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (state or private)
Any agency that issues or provides disability benefits
Questions for Nanese: Could you summarize what a “typical” hiring process is like with the VA time-wise vs. what the process is like if the candidate is applying through a Schedule A appointment?
Can the VA provide Schedule A letters?

6. FAQ’s About the Internship
Paid?
Yes; usually GS-5 through GS-11
Salary determined by the agency that hires them
Some agencies may reach out to candidates about unpaid internships
Candidates can decline any position
Full-time or Part-time?
Both
Location(s)?
More than 38 states, DC, and on military bases in Germany
Most opportunities are in the greater Washington, DC area
Note preferred location(s) on application form
Internship Duration?
Summer
Possible extension past summer depending on the agency, but no guarantee

7. Participating Agencies
Federal agencies who have employed WRP candidates in the past include:

8. What Does the Hiring Manager Know About a Candidate’s Disability
That the candidate is a person with a disability
(If applicable), what workplace accommodations the candidate has requested
Requested during the interview
Accommodations can include assistive technologies, accessible workspace, etc.
Question for Nanese: What types of job accommodations has the VA been able to provide in the past?

9. Application Process*
August 28 – October 16, 2017: Student Registration Period
Complete application on WRP website
Upload required documents
October 30 – November 20, 2017: Phone Interview with the WRP Recruiter
Mid-December, 2017: Launch of WRP database for employers
*Apply for WRP last year? You must re-apply to participate in the 2018 WRP Program

10. Student Registration Process
Go to WRP.gov and click Student Registration.

11. Student Registration Process
Go to WRP.gov and click Student Registration.
Student completes the online form.
UMUC approves or rejects student registration
NOTE: #1 reason for rejection: GPA below 2.0
Student completes online application
Upload resume
Upload transcript (official or unofficial)
Schedule A letter strongly recommended, but optional
NOTE: #1 reason to not get an interview: Incomplete application

12. Resume Tips Write a federal-style resume Objective Statement:
Not required, but recommended
Use USAJobs resume builder
Objective Statement:
Include that you want to work in the federal government
Be focused
Samples:
Seeking an accounting internship within the US federal government through the WRP Program
To obtain a cybersecurity internship with the Department of Defense through the WRP Program

13. Resume Tips For each work experience, include
Start/end dates (including month and year)
Number of hours worked per week
Level and amount of experience
Examples of relevant experiences and accomplishments
Source: USAJobs.gov

14. Resume Tips, Cont. Include all types of experience
Volunteer work
Part-time jobs
Class projects
Use numbers to highlight accomplishments:
Improved efficiency of document processing by 25% over the previous year.
Wrote 25 news releases in a three-week period under daily deadlines.
Managed a student organization budget of more than $7,000.
Wrote prospect letter that brought in more than $25,000 in donations to date.
Source: USAJobs.gov

15. Other Important Info
Hiring manager uses your resume to verify if you are qualified for the job
Your resume should be organized:
Reverse chronological order (most recent experiences first)
Provide more details for relevant jobs
Show all experiences and accomplishments under the job in which you earned it
Use bullet or paragraph format
Avoid using acronyms and terms not easily understood
Make sure your profile in USAJobs is public
Question for Nanese: What additional resume tips would you suggest?
Source: USAJobs.gov

16. Finalizing Your Resume
Make sure there are no typos
Use UMUC’s Resume Tools:
VMock: Uses artificial intelligence to provide instant feedback on your resume’s format and content
Resunate: Assists you with customizing your resume to a particular job
Both are available in CareerQuest:

17. Interview with WRP Recruiter
Who are these recruiters?
Federal employee volunteers
Important to make a positive first impression
How is this interview conducted?
By phone
If you cannot complete a phone interview for accessibility reasons, please let UMUC Career Services know
How is this interview scheduled?
After Student Registration closes, UMUC Career Services will reach out to you
Submit your availability as soon as possible to receive your desired time slot

18. Interview with WRP Recruiter
What are they looking for?
Career Goals:
Why do you want to participate in the WRP Program?
Why do you want to work for the federal government?
Where do you see yourself in ___ years?
Why should an agency pick you?
If applicable, why is your GPA below a 2.5?
Other questions they may ask:
Strengths, weaknesses
Questions related to info on resume
What workplace accommodations do you need in order to perform the essential components of the position?
For assistance, contact UMUC Accessibility Services

19. Interview with WRP Recruiter
Prepare questions for the WRP Recruiter:
What agency do you work for and what do you enjoy about working for the federal government?
What are some projects you have seen a past intern complete?
What kind of training does your agency typically provide an intern?
Interested in a particular agency? Let the recruiter know.
Question for Nanese: When looking for candidates through the WRP database, is there a way for the recruiters to note that a student is interested in a particular agency? Will this be something that the agency will look for when they are accessing the database?

20. Interview Tools Available in CareerQuest
Quinncia
Upload your resume
Interview questions are customized to you based on resume content
Feedback provided by artificial intelligence on interview content and body language
Interview Stream
Customize an interview from a database of thousands of pre-recorded questions
Review interview responses and recording to receive additional feedback
Mobile friendly

21. Phone Interview Tips Use a stable phone line
Landlines are best
If using a cell phone, make sure you have good reception
Make sure you won’t be interrupted
Make sure you won’t be easily distracted
Have in front of you:
Your resume
List of questions for the recruiter
Pen and paper
Dress professionally
Question for Nanese: What other tips would you give attendees for these interviews?

22. What Happens Next
Information from interview is recorded into a database
Database is accessible to federal agencies beginning in December
Outreach to students can start as early as January
Most common time is late February – June
Can take longer, especially for long-term positions
From the employer’s perspective…
Agency registers to use the WRP database
Identifies potential candidates for interviews
Hiring manager selects candidates
HR contacts candidate, runs background check and conducts additional testing (as required by agency/for position)
Question for Nanese: How long might this process take?

23. Final Tips
You can (and should) continue to update your profile in the WRP database even after this fall
Don’t miss any deadlines!
Keep checking your !
Additional questions? Refer to the Resources on the WRP website
The WRP Program does not guarantee students a job
Keep on looking at other internship opportunities
This should be one of many options you are considering
Question for Nanese: Any final tips that we should share with the group?

24. WRP Website Resources Selected resources include: FAQ’s for Students
ABC’s of Schedule A
Sample Schedule A Letter
2016 WRP Employers
Housing Information
And more!

25. Resources Student’s Guide to WRP Video
WRP Program Resources in CareerQuest
Schedule A Letter
Resources section of WRP website
USAJobs:
Resume Builder
Federal Resume Tips
GS Pay Scale
UMUC Career Services Blog
Information about federal resumes
Interview tips
WRP Success Stories

26. UMUC Career Services and Alumni Relations
Thank you!
Kristin Schrader
Assistant Director of InternPLUS and Military Career Programs
UMUC
Nanese Loza
Diversity & Inclusion Team Lead
Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Diversity & Inclusion
UMUC Career Services and Alumni Relations
UMUC Academic Center at Largo (Suite 1500)
Phone: (240) s:
Websites: