Fed Jobs - qualifications questions, how critical?

[Anonymous]

HI, I am applying to federal jobs for the first time. In the section where they list a bunch of skills/tasks and ask you to rate yourself from never done it up to expert, is that the key criteria for being qualified for the position?

The job I want to apply for defines those skills very narrowly, such that you pretty much need to be in a govt agency doing that work in order to be able to claim those skills. (I have done related work outside govt that I think is quite transferable, but I can't say that I drafted the program regulations, for example, since I have not been inside an agency and done that work before. I have analyzed the regs from the outside, which is a related skill).

Do I have a chance with related skills, or do I have to be able to say I've already done the specific tasks in this job to be much of a candidate for it?

Thanks!

Also, looking for recommendations for reformatting resume for fed jobs -- any suggested sites with examples of this?

[Anonymous]

When I have filled out these questionnaires - I just assume that my outside skills count. If you don't rate yourself pretty high - you won't get in the door for an interview where you can actually discuss your skills.

[Anonymous]

According to my fed boss, nobody will ever see your resume if you don't rate yourself as an expert on everything. (Basically, a computer program will make the first round of cuts.) I would rate yourself as highly as you feel comfortable. If you ever get to an interview, you can explain the related skills.

[Anonymous]

According to my fed boss, nobody will ever see your resume if you don't rate yourself as an expert on everything

I agree with the sentiment, but in practice, they will never see YOU if there's no support for expert ratings on your resume. Rate yourself as highly as you feel comfortable (and a little guilding of the lilly is OK, don't overdo it) and definitely give yourself credit for non-federal experience.

Questions about experience developing program guidelines can mean the person who wrote the listing is an imbecile, or, the listing is designed for specific person.

"Applicant must possess an Olympic Bronze medal" is a good indicator of the latter.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind too..if the skills are very specific they are probably going to hire inside and have basically already filled the position.

[Anonymous]

I was told that if you can picture yourself sitting in an interview and justifying your answer (ie, I'm an expert at X because of Y), then rate yourself accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind too..if the skills are very specific they are probably going to hire inside and have basically already filled the position.

I believe this is true. In our organization, if they are announcing a position and they have someone in-house they would like to see hired, then they tailor the announcement to that person's exact skills. This is how I got my offer.

[Anonymous]

In the last two years, I have been offered jobs in U.S. Attorney's Offices, at Main Justice, and the SEC. I have always just applied through USAJobs or by responding to DOJ postings. I have literally never even gotten an interview by using a connection. I know there's this perception that you have to know someone on the inside to get these jobs, but that has not been true in my case. I don't think that's how most of my coworkers got their jobs either, but they probably wouldn't tell me if they did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the last two years, I have been offered jobs in U.S. Attorney's Offices, at Main Justice, and the SEC. I have always just applied through USAJobs or by responding to DOJ postings. I have literally never even gotten an interview by using a connection. I know there's this perception that you have to know someone on the inside to get these jobs, but that has not been true in my case. I don't think that's how most of my coworkers got their jobs either, but they probably wouldn't tell me if they did.

That was me abobe. I responded to the wrong thread. Sorry!

[Anonymous]

*above* not abobe. Wow, I'm on a roll today.