Support for Workers Transitioning from Federal Employment to New Opportunities: FAQs - Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning

Federal employees can participate in a specialized workshop created by our Professional Outplacement Assistance Center (POAC) to support workers transitioning from federal employment to new opportunities. The POAC is a specialty resource center for jobseekers who are in the professional, executive, technical, managerial or scientific occupations.

This expert-led workshop is designed to equip federal workers with the knowledge, strategies, and confidence to transition into the private sector seamlessly. E-mail FedWorker.Transition@maryland.gov to sign up for this 3-hour, virtual session.

Beyond this specialized offering, there are an array of resources available for support. Maryland’s 33 American Job Centers (AJCs) offer career coaching, job search assistance, mock interviews, information on unemployment benefits, and more. For additional information on locations, contact information, and the menu of services available, see Maryland’s AJCs webpage.

The State of Maryland job site is a good place to start to search for state jobs. Career coaching, job search assistance, and more are also available through Maryland’s 33 American Job Centers. If you are interested in tailored support, you can contact the Professional Outplacement Assistance Center (POAC). The Professional Outplacement Assistance Center (POAC) is an additional resource for jobseekers who are in professional, executive, technical, managerial, or scientific occupations.

When you register with the Maryland Workforce Exchange Virtual OneStop (MWE-VOS), you will gain access to tools and features that will allow you to:

• search for active openings across the state,
• gain expert feedback on your résumé from ResumeAI,
• master your interviewing skills with BigInterview,
• gather key labor market information related to your job search,
• access a list of upcoming job fairs, and more.

The MWE-VOS is a powerful online resource that is offered to jobseekers for free. MWE-VOS has many helpful tools, including one that can support résumé development, ResumeAI. ResumeAI provides detailed feedback on jobseekers' résumés to help them navigate applicant tracking systems effectively and capture the attention of hiring managers. By analyzing readability, credibility, and formatting, this tool highlights actionable improvements to help jobseekers craft polished and effective résumés.

Beyond the ResumeAI tool, a team of American Job Centers professionals is here to help. For details, visit our AJC website.

Our American Job Centers can help you to refine your interview approach and build confidence by offering tips and practice support. The Professional Outplacement Assistance Center (POAC) is an additional resource for jobseekers who are in professional, executive, technical, managerial, or scientific occupations.

We also offer a free, online interview preparation tool on the Virtual OneStop, called Big Interview. Big Interview provides jobseekers with a comprehensive, interactive platform designed to simulate real-world interview experiences. It offers mock interviews, practice questions tailored to specific industries and roles, an answer builder, and AI-driven feedback to help jobseekers refine their responses. Big Interview builds confidence, sharpens communication skills, and empowers jobseekers to excel in any interview scenario.

When searching on any job board, include terms like "remote," "work from home," "telecommute" in your search query. You can use this strategy while searching for jobs on any website such as MWE-VOS, LinkedIn, or Indeed.

Our American Job Centers (AJCs) are conveniently located around the state, and most are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on holidays. (Check the hours of the AJC closest to you.) You can walk in during those hours to request job search assistance or you can make an appointment with a career coach. The AJCs provide free access to computers, printers, photocopiers, fax machines, telephones, and a variety of job search resource materials.

AJCs offer workshops on résumé writing and interviewing techniques that prepare job seekers to effectively market themselves to prospective employers. Most AJCs also offer customized, one-on-one assistance with résumé writing and interviewing skills, and can connect job seekers interested in a career change with skills training.

The Professional Outplacement Assistance Center (POAC) is an additional resource for jobseekers who are in professional, executive, technical, managerial, or scientific occupations.

The Maryland Workforce Exchange Virtual OneStop (MWE-VOS) platform allows you to search through active job listings that match your skills and career interests. We also offer “agilities workshops” that provide specialized support to help you match your skills with the right job.

There is an unemployment insurance (UI) program specifically for former federal civilian employees who are unemployed due to no fault of their own. It is called Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE). To explore eligibility requirements and other key information, visit: Maryland Unemployment Insurance Information for Federal Employees: FAQs . Individuals employed by federal contracting companies who have lost work can apply for unemployment insurance through the regular program. You may be eligible for additional benefits and services, such as supplemental food assistance and energy assistance.

You may be asked to attend either a RESEA or Reemployment Opportunity Workshop (ROW) workshop if you have filed for UI benefits. These workshops are offered by the American Job Center reemployment experts and are designed to prepare jobseekers for a successful return to employment. Attendance is a requirement for UI benefit receipt.

The two reemployment workshops (RESEA and ROW) differ in their length and the depth of information covered, but both are designed to give jobseekers valuable tools that will help them return to work as quickly as possible.

Reemployment workshops cover topics such as:

• Orientation to American Job Center services
• Labor Market Information
• How to cope with job loss
• Résumés: Importance of Keywords, applicant tracking systems, cover letters
• Interviewing strategies
• Social Media: LinkedIn strategies
• How to network effectively

Jobseekers with disabilities enjoy the same opportunities for meaningful participation in the services provided by Maryland's American Job Centers (AJCs). To help, AJC staff can support with:

• Reasonable Accommodations: Materials in alternative formats, individual meetings rather than group orientations, and assistance with form completion.
• Assistive Technology: Screen readers, magnification software, word prediction software, text to speech, scanners, TTY, Braille translators, large monitors, headsets, etc.

You may be eligible for opportunities to learn new skills via occupational training. To learn more, contact your local American Job Center.