How can I get a government job?

[IronWing]

Do you have veteran status? With so many returning veterans it is difficult for a non-vet to compete for any but the most specialized government jobs.

 

[CptObvious]

I'm pretty sure USAjobs.gov is a black hole. Many times they already have someone picked but are legally required to advertise the position.

 

[MotionMan]

I'm pretty sure USAjobs.gov is a black hole. Many times they already have someone picked but are legally required to advertise the position.

Uh-oh.

MotionMan

 

[SonnyDaze]

There's currently a hiring freeze for pretty much all federal jobs, or so we've been informed, but here's a link to a Department of the Navy HR website for application info.

http://www.donhr.navy.mil/

 

[sao123]

Govt jobs? Look up CIVIL SERVICE...

thats the ticket laddie.

 

[rasczak]

Ok I live in Maryland and I currently work in DC at Walter Reed Medical Center which is under the Army. I'm not a government worker, I'm a subcontractor for the government. WRAMC is closing down in about 5 months, which means I will lose my job with the subcontracting company that I am with now. I have a bachelors degree, a secret clearance and I have experience in construction management and quality assurance. I have applied to hundreds of jobs on usajobs.com and army.mil, I have been denied so many times. Maybe its my resume, does anyone know how I could get my foot in the door?:'

The best way is the route you've taken so far. Get in through a subcontractor and get hired on when the opening arises. You never really stated how long you had been working as a subcontractor. Also remember, most government jobs go to former military first, so you may have applied to a job, but if someone of a military background applied as well, you probably just lost out to them.

 

[pwilson316]

How's your credit?

Have you paid all your student loans?

 

[Vette73]

I'm pretty sure USAjobs.gov is a black hole. Many times they already have someone picked but are legally required to advertise the position.

Sometimes yes, most of the time no.

If its open for one week and they have a billion MUST HAVE things on it then yea they may have someone in mind.
But most they do not.

 

[bignateyk]

Secret clearance doesn't really mean anything. They hand those things out like candy and it only takes like a week to get one.

 

[Vette73]

Do you have veteran status? With so many returning veterans it is difficult for a non-vet to compete for any but the most specialized government jobs.

Yep as someone said make sure your resume is written for that job and has all the things you meet spelled out. Even then if there is only 1 opening and a 30%+ Vet applies they can not choose you. No skipping Vets for non-vets.

Also answer positive to as many questions as you can. Don;t lie as I have cut people when their resume doe snot support the questions but also don;t sell yourself short.


<-- Fed HR

 

[ViviTheMage]

I'm pretty sure USAjobs.gov is a black hole. Many times they already have someone picked but are legally required to advertise the position.

I have to agree, haha ... i've gone through a lot of accepted - sent to recruiter , or hiring officer, then it drops to position filed, almost every time.

no clearance, no military experience, I am screwed!

 

[Vette73]

Secret clearance doesn't really mean anything. They hand those things out like candy and it only takes like a week to get one.

No they do not. It is a 5 year background check and will take a lot longer than 1 week. You might get your interim clerance back in a week or so but not the full clerance.

 

[Vette73]

I have to agree, haha ... i've gone through a lot of accepted - sent to recruiter , or hiring officer, then it drops to position filed, almost every time.

no clearance, no military experience, I am screwed!

One way to get your foot in the door is 3rd party contractor or an internal contractor known like a PSC. I work on a PSC team right now and a lot of people they select came from 3rd party jobs where they were able to see the person work. Then after that they may run a full civil job for that person after 1 year or 2 if they really want to keep them.

Also look for lower level jobs like GS4 or 5. Yea the pay starts low but if you do your job as your PD list you will get your promotion on time. I took a pay cut and moved from low living cost of NC to N.VA. I now make a lot more as I went from a 7 to a 12.
So take ANY Gov job you can and stay at least 3 years. After 3 year you can come and go and still apply for internal jobs. Career status.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Does PSC have a job board of some sort? Do they like detailed/keyworded resumes as well?

 

[dbailey]

The government also has a ranking system for employees. My friend who was a contractor got in and told me about it. He was trying to get me on board and I applied for a position recently. His hands were tied by the ranking system. He told the managers about me but they have to offer the person who ranks the highest the job regardless of their skills. If they refuse the job then they offer the next highest ranked person the job. He said the rankings are based on disabilities, minorities, and some other crap. So if you have a vision problem and are a female Indian you will rank higher than a white male with no issues. I was the best suited for the job but it didn't matter.

 

[Vette73]

The government also has a ranking system for employees. My friend who was a contractor got in and told me about it. He was trying to get me on board and I applied for a position recently. His hands were tied by the ranking system. He told the managers about me but they have to offer the person who ranks the highest the job regardless of their skills. If they refuse the job then they offer the next highest ranked person the job. He said the rankings are based on disabilities, minorities, and some other crap. So if you have a vision problem and are a female Indian you will rank higher than a white male with no issues. I was the best suited for the job but it didn't matter.

Bull Shit!!!


Race and sex play no part in rankings. I have NEVER told a manager/selecting official they have to choose Blind Sally as she...
I send a set of applicants ranked based on SELF assessment and Vets preference (VP can add 5 or 10 points and 10 point Vets rise to the top). You cannot skip a Vet to select a non-vet. And just because you THINK you are the best does not mean you are.

 

[Vette73]

Does PSC have a job board of some sort? Do they like detailed/keyworded resumes as well?

We use to list on USAjobs; just look for PSC in the title. But OPM has kicked us, so my ADs may start to pop up again but will be at Monster.com.

Monster runs usajobs and we post our jobs just like civil service jobs. So same way you apply for a DoS Civil service job is the same way to apply for a PSC job.
Yep when I read your resume, not a computer, I look for the exp you have in other jobs. What I am looking for is spelled out in the AD. We don;t hide anything so if you have the exp list it so I can see it. Also the self assesment questions rank your score. If I only look at the top 10 and you are number 20 then YOU cut yourself off.

With PSC there is no Vet Preferance. So even if a vet applies for the job he/she can not block you.

 

[ViviTheMage]

What do you mean AD? Is usajobs still the best place to apply? I mainly look for IT/IS positions. I have applied to gs 4, up to gs 11 positions. If there is a requirement for 4 year BAS, and I only have 2 year AS, will they skip me? Even though i've got years of experience?

Thanks again for the tips ... I might just have to stop applying, if the requirement for BAS is really required, and no amount of job experience can make up for it.

 

[Vette73]

AD = Job Ad.

If the job says it REQUIRES... and you don&#8217;t have that then HR most of the time will cut you. For PSC jobs I am very liberal with my qualifications when I read resumes. But for civil service many HR are, like me, are picky as it&#8217;s our job to weed out those that either don&#8217;t meet the requirements or too dumb to build a good resume. With PSC we can let you go with a 30 notice anytime.

But keep applying. Many times you will be blocked by a VET and the 1 time you will apply and no one but you will apply. I have run jobs where only 3 people applied and I cut 1. Also look for contractor positions. My BiL has been doing contract for over a decade and makes more than me or his wife, also a Gov employee. That and if it contract work in the Gov that will give you a chance to show how good you are and they may want to hire you after that.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Good deal, i'll keep looking/applying. Specifically these PSC/OPM positions. How are they flagged exactly, so I can keep a look out?

 

[Vette73]

Good deal, i'll keep looking/applying. Specifically these PSC/OPM positions. How are they flagged exactly, so I can keep a look out?

Our PSC jobs will say 1 year contract, Personal Service Contract, etc...

Just heard we MIGHT be running on USAjobs. Have nto ran a ad in several weeks since OPM shut us down.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Good deal, thanks Marlin, if you see my name float by your desk .. :thumbsup:

 

[Lalakai]

Bull Shit!!!


Race and sex play no part in rankings. I have NEVER told a manager/selecting official they have to choose Blind Sally as she...
I send a set of applicants ranked based on SELF assessment and Vets preference (VP can add 5 or 10 points and 10 point Vets rise to the top). You cannot skip a Vet to select a non-vet. And just because you THINK you are the best does not mean you are.

The official hiring steps will not acknowledge race or sex as a ranking component, but they do factor in, and depending on which sector of the gov't you are applying for, they can weigh in very heavy. Each division will have their own tweaks on the ranking process; they can select from a "panel of qualified" individuals and at that point they can take anyone from the panel, whether they are best qualified or not. Or they can select the best qualified; depending on the person they want to select. Or they can deem that the entire selection pool does not meet their guidelines and they can repost the position with a different position description. If they go too far outside their own guidelines, a candidate can file a grievance, but then that person is black listed (unofficially of course).

but getting back to the OP, as someone already said, tailor your resume to each position. concentrate on "punch words" that identify you are responsible, self motivated, a team player that can lead or follow, you can assess a situation and develope a consensus that includes alternatives to remedy the issue and can impliment the chosen solution. Unless you know someone very high up the food chain, you won't get help from friends already in the system. Work experience is critical and some of it can cross over and be accepted as "time-in-grade". As someone said earlier, the initial people reviewing the apps rarely have a clue as to what the job is really about; they look through the apps and see which ones qualify. So you have a small window of opportunity to catch their attention. If you make the selection pool you have done well, and will start getting some "name" recognition for future pools (in that same area). Good luck.

and yes i'm gov't.......25 years

 

[SonnyDaze]

No they do not. It is a 5 year background check and will take a lot longer than 1 week. You might get your interim clerance back in a week or so but not the full clerance.

Oh yeah. I had an ENTNAC done 26+ years ago when I entered the military then a Final Secret clearance done in the military for access and last year GSA wanted a new BI done on me as they felt my info was too old.

Started the process over a year ago and it's not completed yet. :sneaky:

 

[Vette73]

Oh yeah. I had an ENTNAC done 26+ years ago when I entered the military then a Final Secret clearance done in the military for access and last year GSA wanted a new BI done on me as they felt my info was too old.

Started the process over a year ago and it's not completed yet. :sneaky:

Over a year? You need to contact who ever is doing it as they found something, or think they did, they do not like and are deciding on what to do with you. That is what happens most of the time when it takes that long.

Is your spouse not a US Citizen or you ever had mental treatment? Those are 2 things that come up, besides the money issues.