Question for Federal Government Employees

[Anonymous]

Over the past few months I have been applying for attorney positions with the Federal government and my resumes/applications just seem to go into a blackhole. With the exception of two agencies, I have sent off my materials and then heard nothing.

I have heard similar stories from other people who have sought government positions over the past few years. What gives? Why is it so hard to get an interview at a government agency for a non-political position? Can anyone offer an insider's perspective?

[Anonymous]

Make sure that you resume closely resembles the position description for the job you are applying for. Resumes are first sent through a computer which picks up key words and if your resume does not contain those words then it will not go through. I know people who have gotten hired for jobs who basically cut and paste the position description into their resume.

[Anonymous]

Right now, almost no agencies have an actual budget -- we're all on a continuing resolution. Many agencies, including mine (DOJ), are under temporary hiring freezes until budgets get passed.

[Anonymous]

Right now, almost no agencies have an actual budget -- we're all on a continuing resolution. Many agencies, including mine (DOJ), are under temporary hiring freezes until budgets get passed.

Ditto this. My husband hires routinely for the dept. of Veterans Affairs and they have been on a freeze for about 6 months (and he desperately needs new people).

[Anonymous]

Yes, with the change in administrations you aren't going to have any movement even for non-career until appointments are in place. Even for non-political attorney jobs, there is usually some politico who you have to interview with.

Also, having been an attorney with the Fed Gov I learned that it is best to follow up by phone after sending in your application. Even better if you know someone in the agency who can "check in" for you.

[Anonymous]

"I know people who have gotten hired for jobs who basically cut and paste the position description into their resume. "

Be careful with how much you "pad" your resume - make sure you actually have the experience you claim!

I think DC is good and bad for an attorney trying to break into fed govt. There are tons of jobs, but also tons of attorneys with VERY specialized experience in a very narrow field, ie., I have several years of immigration law training/experience and could easily get a job with various agencies that handle immigration issues, like DHS or parts of DOJ (like Exec. Office for Immigration Review). But without taking a pay cut, I would have a lot more difficulty breaking into some other agency that I have no experience in, like Dept of Agriculture or Dept of Treasury or IRS -- you really need to show how you have SPECIFIC experience that matches the job description.

I would recommend you include letters of recommendation in your application package, and also have a friend who is a govt attorney look over your application (if this is possible). I have often considered starting some sort of consulting business for attorneys trying to break into fed govt. I have literally applied for hundreds of fed govt attorney jobs over the past decade b/c my DH is in the military and we have to move every couple of years, so I have to apply every year or so...it's a real pain. Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

Are you applying for civil service or excepted service positions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you applying for civil service or excepted service positions?

Excepted.

[Anonymous]

What is a civil service and excepted service position?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I know people who have gotten hired for jobs who basically cut and paste the position description into their resume. "

Be careful with how much you "pad" your resume - make sure you actually have the experience you claim!

I think DC is good and bad for an attorney trying to break into fed govt. There are tons of jobs, but also tons of attorneys with VERY specialized experience in a very narrow field, ie., I have several years of immigration law training/experience and could easily get a job with various agencies that handle immigration issues, like DHS or parts of DOJ (like Exec. Office for Immigration Review). But without taking a pay cut, I would have a lot more difficulty breaking into some other agency that I have no experience in, like Dept of Agriculture or Dept of Treasury or IRS -- you really need to show how you have SPECIFIC experience that matches the job description.

I would recommend you include letters of recommendation in your application package, and also have a friend who is a govt attorney look over your application (if this is possible). I have often considered starting some sort of consulting business for attorneys trying to break into fed govt. I have literally applied for hundreds of fed govt attorney jobs over the past decade b/c my DH is in the military and we have to move every couple of years, so I have to apply every year or so...it's a real pain. Good luck!!

OP - I am beginning to wonder if I have too much experience, which would make my salary a bigger budget drain than someone with less experience. I don't know how often attorneys move from being a partner at a firm to a career position, but I did think it would be easier. I was hoping to move from my current situation, where I am managing associates, directing research and editing other people's drafts and get back to doing more of the legal research and writing myself.

[Anonymous]

I just went though this process - atty applying for gov jobs. I was an atty at a fed agency for 1.5 yrs, then I clerked for 2 yrs and then I was looking for a job. It took about 10 months to find something. The gov works very very slow - especially during an administration change. Just keep applying and if you see a job you really want, make sure to follow up. Call the contact to see where they are in the process. See if you know someone who works at the agency to get your resume to the top of the pile Just keep trying.

[Anonymous]

I am the PP from above who wants to start a consulting business (half joking). I don't think the budget issue is the main one for you since, for example, a job is advertised in a range of say GS-13/14 - so while HR would perhaps suggest trying to hire you at the lower salary, the hiring official is authorized to hire at the top of the scale. You clearly have tons of supervisory experience, whereas (I suspect) you are applying for non-supervisory jobs, and may have gotten away from the "action" or the real sort of nitty gritty legal work that is being sought by the agency? I don't know, I am speculating here...

What level positions have you been applying for? Supervisory or non-supervisory? What types of things are you including in your application packet? Are you a partner at a firm? What type of law have you been practicing and for how long? Is there a specific type of agency you are targeting or are you sort of all over the place?

[Anonymous]

www.igotthejob.net

[Anonymous]

Excepted service is usually a much easier process. I just went through this myself (atty job at gov't). I actually wound up in a Civil Service position though I had a number of interviews for excepted service positions. In general, the best thing to do is to get your resume directly through via someone you know or someone who knows someone. If you can't get it directly to the hiring manager (as opposed to an HR screener) it can be very hard to get an interview. That said, I agree about the slowness of the process and budget cuts. I got very close to a couple of jobs (was selected) but then the positions were cut. It's frustrating, but worth it to be in the government.

If you have interest/background in regulatory issues and you are searching on USA Jobs I would make sure to search by "regulatory counsel" in addition to "attorney."

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

We are also under a hiring freeze. Add the change of admin and this is a bad time for looking for an attorney job.

I should also say that I applied for many, many jobs before I started getting call backs . . . and in some cases those calls were six MONTHS after I began working in my fed attorney job.

Just by way of some other information, each time we have filled a job in my office for an entry level attorney position we've had to close the announcement earlier than expected because of the VOLUME of resume's we got. In the hundreds in just a couple days! So, try to have a spotless resume, great writing sample and tailor your resume to the job. Generic recitations of experience will not do you any favors.

Good luck.