How did you get your Fed job?

[Anonymous]

Another here who got a fellowship.

[Anonymous]

15 years ago I responded to an advertisement. Knew absolutely no one. DH knew someone who helped someone see his resume, but it was not a shoe in. When we have openings, people in industry do send resumes of people they recommend that are applying. We generally go through the applications pretty thoroughly. Someone with a stand out resume will get an interview and we make offers to the best candidates. It was a little more of an inside game under the most recent Bush administration, we would be told who was filling openings and they definitely knew somebody. Those slots now are all schedule C, so not career.

[Anonymous]

First job, 15 years ago was from the Washington post newspaper advertisement. Knew no one. Second job, I knew someone who worked there. Third job, USAJobs. Knew no one.

[Anonymous]

First job was through an intern-->employee hiring mechanism called Student Career Experience Program. I applied to the SCEP internship and was eligible after putting in a certain amount of hours to non-competitively convert to a regular employee. The program's now dead.

Second job was through PMF.

[Anonymous]

I also encourage friends who are looking to sign up for alerts with USAjobs - some jobs close the night they open and by the time I see the notices from my employer, it's sometimes too late, so it's best for my friends to get the info directly themselves so there is no time delay.

I also still forward openings that I see listed for friends. Your family friend may not be blowing you off - she may just be directing you where the information is posted. If you're not having luck with USAjobs, then try to find a workshop on how to make sure your resume makes it through the autofilters on the website - you need to weave the key words through your USAjobs resume and you can't leave out any of the random forms they ask for.

If you're open to contracting, also check out FedBizOpps.

[Anonymous]

I applied part way through the previous administration. Went through rounds of interviews and didn't get the job. Towards the end of that administration, I got a letter out of the blue saying that it was "possible" my application had been rejected for improper reasons and that if I wanted to re-interview for the spot, I was welcome.

Anyhow, these things are random, and if you really want to work for the U.S., just keep trying and eventually something will break your way.

[Anonymous]

USAJobs. I started applying in my 4th year as an associate at my law firm. The whole process took close to a year. Needless to say I didn't know anyone at my agency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another here who got a fellowship.

Do they give fellowships to older students?

[Anonymous]

Applied through USAJobs. I have a professional degree and had years of experience in my field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also encourage friends who are looking to sign up for alerts with USAjobs - some jobs close the night they open and by the time I see the notices from my employer, it's sometimes too late, so it's best for my friends to get the info directly themselves so there is no time delay.

I also still forward openings that I see listed for friends. Your family friend may not be blowing you off - she may just be directing you where the information is posted. If you're not having luck with USAjobs, then try to find a workshop on how to make sure your resume makes it through the autofilters on the website - you need to weave the key words through your USAjobs resume and you can't leave out any of the random forms they ask for.

If you're open to contracting, also check out FedBizOpps.

the jobs that close as soon as they open are often meant for people who are already in and you would have a low chance to get them anyway.

[Anonymous]

You cannot beat the veterans & handicaps. They are always on top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another here who got a fellowship.

Do they give fellowships to older students?

I also got in through the PMF program.

To answer the PP, your age doesn't matter... you just need to be have finished a graduate degree program within the last 2 years (and jump through a lot of other hoops). I think something like 5% of applicants to the PMF program get a federal job.

[Anonymous]

usajobs. I didn't know anyone at the agency

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I applied through USAJobs.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also encourage friends who are looking to sign up for alerts with USAjobs - some jobs close the night they open and by the time I see the notices from my employer, it's sometimes too late, so it's best for my friends to get the info directly themselves so there is no time delay.

I also still forward openings that I see listed for friends. Your family friend may not be blowing you off - she may just be directing you where the information is posted. If you're not having luck with USAjobs, then try to find a workshop on how to make sure your resume makes it through the autofilters on the website - you need to weave the key words through your USAjobs resume and you can't leave out any of the random forms they ask for.

If you're open to contracting, also check out FedBizOpps.

the jobs that close as soon as they open are often meant for people who are already in and you would have a low chance to get them anyway.

Not at my agency. There was just a series of "student trainee" positions - like half a dozen - they only took the first 50 applicants and it was not one of those things where they already have the final candidate picked out. They just didn't want to sift through hundreds of applicants for an intern position, so they capped it.