Question for Federal Government Employees

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm in the same boat as you! It's frustrating. I have also found that a number of the atty jobs specify "no phone calls, please," which makes the waiting even more annoying.

[Anonymous]

does anyone happen to know whether emailing application materials or mailing them is a better way to "get noticed"? submit via both means?

[Anonymous]

Bump.

Also, if the announcement lists materials to be included in the on-line submission through usajobs, and it doesn't say anything about a cover letter, do you include a cover letter anyway?

[Anonymous]

Are you using USA JOBS?

I have had ZERO luck using USA Jobs. It's really discouraging. I am looking forward to the application overhaul coming this fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you using USA JOBS?

I have had ZERO luck using USA Jobs. It's really discouraging. I am looking forward to the application overhaul coming this fall.

Honestly, I would not ever bother with USA Jobs. The jobs that are posted on there are required to be posted and are only a fraction on what is out there (some positions are not not required to be posted) and in some cases even the ones that are posted are "filled" before they hit the wire. You best bet is networking - you need to find someone who you know at the agency who can pass your resume along.

Good Luck.

[Anonymous]

Not an attorney, but a relatively new federal employee. I applied several times over the course of two years for the job I finally got. I learned that it was a very specific job in a small office so there just weren't many openings and surely were getting tons of resumes. You might want to wait until November when the federal hiring system will (finally!) change to one that uses resumes and cover letters like the private sector....I have always had much better response with those applications than with the Fed ones.

[Anonymous]

I would say at least half, if not more, of the attorney jobs listed on USAJOBS tell you *not* to apply via usajobs, despite the big "apply now" button. Always make sure you read the "How to apply" section. Most of the time, they either want you to just email or mail the application materials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you using USA JOBS?

I have had ZERO luck using USA Jobs. It's really discouraging. I am looking forward to the application overhaul coming this fall.

Honestly, I would not ever bother with USA Jobs. The jobs that are posted on there are required to be posted and are only a fraction on what is out there (some positions are not not required to be posted) and in some cases even the ones that are posted are "filled" before they hit the wire. You best bet is networking - you need to find someone who you know at the agency who can pass your resume along.

Good Luck.

I agree with this advice. Make sure that all your fed friends know you're available, so they can be alert for potential opportunities.