Current fed looking for another fed job: why is this so freaking hard?

[Anonymous]

I am super bored at work, my commute is terrible, the good doesn't outweigh the bad anymore, so I have been keeping an eye on USAJobs for other opportunities. This is getting me nowhere!

Most of the time, if I answer the occupational questionnaire honestly (which I do), I am not going to rate myself an "expert" on everything, and thus I know that nobody is even going to look at my resume. When I bother applying I get the email that says basically, "there were better candidates; you're out."

I finally found a posting that I could rate myself all 4s and 5s on. So of course this time I get a message saying I will receive no further consideration because I "did not submit all the required forms as specified in the announcement." I have no freaking idea what I missed, but having to navigate this insane bureaucracy on a daily basis, I probably shouldn't be surprised.

I don't really have a question, just venting. And no, I am not a lawyer or finance type, which I imagine would make transferring skills easier. Maybe I should just get out. Too bad I want to be a civil servant.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I have been able to call the HR rep listed on USAJobs and politely ask what they believe they didn't receive: people make filing mistakes, lose pages, etc. I am not suggesting this strategy will get you hired -- it won't -- but there is some emotional satisfaction in getting the rating changed from not eligible to simply not selected.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat - and honestly I do rate myself as high as possible. Otherwise you just won't make the cert. Part of this is just playing the game so you can get in the door for the interview. Then they will look at your resume and you can explain your experience in more detail.

And yes, I would also call to see what you were missing.

Once I accidentally hit the wrong button when answering the question about whether or not I was qualified for the grade (I accidentally answered that I wasn't qualified for a particular grade). That was seriously frustrating. Obviously I wouldn't be applying if I thought I wasn't qualified. Stupid system.

[Anonymous]

It's maddening and I completely understand. I accepted by GS-9 position 3 years ago (with a pay cut). At the time, I was really excited about the opportunity to support a real mission and enjoy the benefits of civil service work. Although I wasn't excited about the position itself, I knew I could do the job well and took it as an opportunity to get my foot in the door. But here I am - hundreds of applications and many many referrals later. I have no problem making the cert list - getting an interview has been my road block. Like you, I feel stuck and even more uncertain of my future as the continuous threat of furloughs, sequestration and budget uncertainty hang over my head.

[Anonymous]

You have to rate yourself expert.

[Anonymous]

Look at it this way, you have a far better opportunity to find a new federal job than someone seeking to enter the civil service from the outside. The vast majority of open positions never even are made publicly available to applicants, and we have far less insight into the process than you do.

I was a fed for a number of years, left for a while and have now been looking to go back. Exercise in the impossible.

[Anonymous]

PP, out of curiosity, why did you leave? And why do you want to go back?

[Anonymous]

You are honest on the questionnaire? You must be female. Think about how your male colleagues would rate themselves. They think they're being honest too. It's not lying, it's spinning.

If you're not even making the cert but are otherwise qualified definitely call the hiring manager each time and ask what happened. Veteran preference is dinging lots of people these days for no fault of their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are honest on the questionnaire? You must be female. Think about how your male colleagues would rate themselves. They think they're being honest too. It's not lying, it's spinning.

If you're not even making the cert but are otherwise qualified definitely call the hiring manager each time and ask what happened. Veteran preference is dinging lots of people these days for no fault of their own.

Not only veteran preference...

[Anonymous]

You are honest on the questionnaire? You must be female. Think about how your male colleagues would rate themselves. They think they're being honest too. It's not lying, it's spinning.

I see what you're saying, but there are some things that are well beyond spinning. If I've never done X task, then I am not an expert, regardless of how well I think I could do it.

If I were more desperate, though, I don't know what I'd do.

re: veterans preference, my boss haaaaates it. He pretty much sticks to hiring PMFs (myself not included) so he can have some say in hiring.

[Anonymous]

What are PMFs?

[Anonymous]

Presidential Management Fellows. Special hiring program for recent masters grads that skips much of the rigamarole.