How to get hired by the government

[Anonymous]

I've been looking through USAjobs.gov. But so far no result. I wonder it is the only way to get hired by the federal is to apply on their website? Do I need any special networking from inside people?

[Anonymous]

My understanding is that in the last year or two the only way to get hired by the feds is to already be a fed.

[Anonymous]

USAJobs is a black hole. I've gotten one interview in years of applications and it was for an excepted service position. It's really tough to stand out unless you're a veteran or have highly specialized experience. Most jobs seem to be filled internally ("earmarked" for a certain fed or contractor and only advertised because it's required).

[Anonymous]

Know somebody who can get you in. Otherwise, don't count on it (unless the position is highly specialized).

[Anonymous]

yep usajobs is awful. 90% of the jobs already have a person earmarked for them. I'm a current fed and if my boss wanted to give me a promotion he'd have to announce it on USA jobs, other schmucks would apply and then I'd get the job. Sh!tty system!!!!

I'm looking for other jobs now and it's bleak. We're in a hiring freeze.

[Anonymous]

you don't want to be a federal employee.
wait about 8 years when all the good ones have left and they might start looking for quality candidates again

[Anonymous]

There are still a lot of new jobs posted every day.

[Anonymous]

What's the percentage of getting hired if being referred to selection official

[Anonymous]

The federal government is a big place, a diverse place, with lots of different departments, bureaus, agencies and components that do lots of different things. There are nearly three million federal employees. Each department or agency manages its own hiring process. Within those agencies the hiring office has a lot of discretion regarding what qualifications they will require, how long the announcement will be open, and what factos will play a part in ranking applicants. Beyond that, variations exist based on the type of position being filled and the grade level of that position.

I really do not understand how people can expect a blanket answer to this question that would be at all meaningful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the percentage of getting hired if being referred to selection official

That just means you made it past the computer-screening-for-keys-word-in-your-application stage, so, basically, it means nothing except that you probably aren't an idiot. For the last position we posted, more than 300 resumes were "referred to the selection official."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The federal government is a big place, a diverse place, with lots of different departments, bureaus, agencies and components that do lots of different things. There are nearly three million federal employees. Each department or agency manages its own hiring process. Within those agencies the hiring office has a lot of discretion regarding what qualifications they will require, how long the announcement will be open, and what factos will play a part in ranking applicants. Beyond that, variations exist based on the type of position being filled and the grade level of that position.

I really do not understand how people can expect a blanket answer to this question that would be at all meaningful.

Excellent points, I agree with you.

But, it's also true that many (most?) agencies are dealing with hiring freezes right now. That doesn't mean it's impossible to hire, but it's really hard. When they do hire, it may be "easier" to move FTE around within the agency than to add FTE by hiring someone from the outside. And even when hiring from the outside, somebody with agency experience will have an easier time demonstrating they can do the job best. So when PPs say you have to already be a fed, I think they're right, at least right now. Not because of cronyism, but because of the budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The federal government is a big place, a diverse place, with lots of different departments, bureaus, agencies and components that do lots of different things. There are nearly three million federal employees. Each department or agency manages its own hiring process. Within those agencies the hiring office has a lot of discretion regarding what qualifications they will require, how long the announcement will be open, and what factos will play a part in ranking applicants. Beyond that, variations exist based on the type of position being filled and the grade level of that position.

I really do not understand how people can expect a blanket answer to this question that would be at all meaningful.

Excellent points, I agree with you.

But, it's also true that many (most?) agencies are dealing with hiring freezes right now. That doesn't mean it's impossible to hire, but it's really hard. When they do hire, it may be "easier" to move FTE around within the agency than to add FTE by hiring someone from the outside. And even when hiring from the outside, somebody with agency experience will have an easier time demonstrating they can do the job best. So when PPs say you have to already be a fed, I think they're right, at least right now. Not because of cronyism, but because of the budget.

Sure, but there are 396 announcements open for GS-9 and above positions open in the DC metro area today. The hiring "freeze" is really just a hiring slump that I have to imagine matches the employment slump of the private sector. Certainly, many of those jobs will likely be filled by an "internal" hire, but I'm not sure that is very different from any private employer. And I work for "an independent agency" that has a lot of hiring flexibilities. Our hiring mentality is actually slanted toward private sector hires in an effort to get in "new blood" and not get bogged down in "big government."

I guess I just don't understand the mentality of wanting to get "a government job." Decide what you want to do and what you do well, and then go after those jobs regardless of whether they are private or public. It seems to me that one of the reasons why people like the OP are not getting a "government job" may be that they are not showing true competency and commitment to the field that he/she is applying for.

[Anonymous]

The bigger question is why you would want to get a job with the government at this juncture - shutdowns, benefits being cut, not employment certainty. I would go to the private sector, which is recovering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bigger question is why you would want to get a job with the government at this juncture - shutdowns, benefits being cut, not employment certainty. I would go to the private sector, which is recovering.

Guess it depends on your field but in law having a government gig is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bigger question is why you would want to get a job with the government at this juncture - shutdowns, benefits being cut, not employment certainty. I would go to the private sector, which is recovering.

Guess it depends on your field but in law having a government gig is amazing.

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