Federal job seekers are capitalizing on specialized training programs designed explicitly for them

Work for America (WFA), a new initiative, has been established to support federal employees who have extensive experience and qualifications transition into new roles within the public sector. The programme was launched in May by an unspecified group, which has already helped over 9,000 former federal employees secure job opportunities at the local and state level.

The coaching sessions offered by WFA aim to assist individuals seeking to change the focus of their work or to take advantage of new opportunities. These sessions provide a framework for addressing big questions and offer support for federal employees who need help with their resumes.

Caitlin Lewis, WFA's Executive Director, believes that coaching can be particularly beneficial for federal employees who have been in the same job or multiple jobs in the federal government for decades and need to consider their next steps.

Rebecca Ferguson-Ondrey, a co-founder of wellfed, a social impact startup for career change, is also involved in the initiative. Ferguson-Ondrey, along with Drew Tye Ruby-Howe, previously worked on employee experience and engagement in the Health and Human Services Department.

The coaching sessions are part of a broader effort to support and assist unemployed federal workers in finding new jobs. This is in response to the large number of federal employees who have lost their jobs due to mass layoffs.

Several other organizations are offering free professional development opportunities to federal employees affected by mass layoffs. UiPath, an automation company and government contractor, announced a programme to train public sector professionals on AI agents. Chris Radich, UiPath's public sector chief technology officer, hopes that laid-off federal employees will take advantage of this training programme.

Wellfed, the social impact startup co-founded by Ferguson-Ondrey, offers weekly wellness sessions, virtual skill workshops, and job search strategies to impacted federal employees. The founders of Wellfed launched the startup to support fired federal workers, as both have personal experience with job loss.

Lewis finds it motivating to work on something that is directly responsive to the needs of thousands of unemployed federal workers. Her goal is to help federal employees who want to continue to serve in government stay in the public sector.

The deferred resignation program or reduction in force is projected to impact 288,000 full-time employees. With the help of initiatives like Work for America and Wellfed, many of these employees may find the support and resources they need to navigate the job market and secure new opportunities.

Federal job seekers are capitalizing on specialized training programs designed explicitly for them