Applying to federal jobs if not a veteran
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Anonymous
| Should I even bother applying to these jobs if I'm not a vet? I recently got a rejection email saying I wasn't referred to the hiring manager because there were "qualified veterans in the highest category." I'm trying so hard with each of these applications, tailoring my resume to the job announcement and quantifying whereever I can. I have 10 years of experience in my field and (of course) I feel like I'm a good fit for these jobs. It's exhausting. And I'm wondering if I am just wasting my time. Any insights would be appreciated. |
Anonymous
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I think its worth it. I am applying with no vet status.
And as an fyi my brother is applying with vet status in the highest category and is getting interviews but no offers yet. So being a vet isn't a guarantee of a job. |
Anonymous
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It is possible. It took me a while, and a lot of applications, but I eventually made it in on an announcement with many vacancies last year.
I'm not in my ideal career field, but I got my foot in the door. |
Anonymous
| In my dept only the vets are making the cert, and we are in a highly specialized, small field! |
Anonymous
It's worth a try! |
Anonymous
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Sometimes vets make the cert but get ruled out because they're qualifications don't actually match. So sometimes people who do not originally make the cert will come up later.
Best advice is to make connections in the office you're hoping to get hired into. Informational interviews etc. |
Anonymous
| Yes, keep trying. I will say though, if you're interested in multiple grade positions, like a GS 12-13-14, don't apply at the highest pay grade and there's less chance you'll get crowded out. |
Anonymous
| Are you applying for an IT position? In two federal agencies I worked for all these folks seem to be veterans. |
Anonymous
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It depends. If you've got limited time for job applications, applying for fed jobs may be a waste of time. Why spend time filling out endless questionnaires, essays, etc., when you could apply for 2-3 private sector jobs in the same timeframe?
If you're looking to get into the fed world only, or if you're working in gold-collar (retail/Starbucks/etc.) work, it's worth it. |
Anonymous
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I think it very much depends on your specialty. I got in with my first federal application but I had the specific qualifications they were looking for. I think it varies so much with each agency and job type. What are you looking for?
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Anonymous
| OP here. I'm looking for a writer/editor position. |
Anonymous
| It's definitely worth a short especially if you think you're highly qualified. Last year we were hiring for positions and got lots of vets on the cert list. We interviewed our top 5. I think the top two were vets and the third was a civilian. We thought the civilian was the best fit and most qualified, so we had to write a justification as to why we did not go with the top two. It was a long process but it worked for our office. Good luck and don't get discouraged! |
Anonymous
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when my husband returned from Iraq, he applied for every federal job that he was even remotely qualified for (graduated from a good school with 3 majors, but never had a job because he went right to Iraq after college - enlisted military personnel). He got denied GS7 and 9 jobs because "not enough educational experience" and other such nonsense.
He ended up getting his job from insourcing, veterans preference didn't help him when he needed it. I think veterans preference is only useful for certain fields (IT as mentioned) or for the higher grades when it's a retiring O5/O6 rolling over into a GS14/15 position and then double dipping. It's ridiculous. |
Anonymous
I believe that O-4's and up can't use veteran's preference. |
Anonymous
| They can and often have claimed medical issues (not wounded warriors) that enhance their score. I work at DOD. Considering there is a civilian hiring freeze, an awful lot of O5/O6s have become civilians in the last 2 years. |