"Referred" To Selecting Official

[Anonymous]

My job status on USAjobs is "referred to the selecting official." I know that this dosn't mean anything yet, except that my application is likely sitting on someone's desk to look at further. I am just beginning my federal government job search, so was hoping those with more experience had any information of how often they were selected for an interview after they were "referred." Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

If it's for an attorney position then unfortunately it doesn't mean anything, as all applications are 'referred to the selecting official.'

[Anonymous]

Each job/agency is different but if you were referred to selection official, you are probably one of 3-4 applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it's for an attorney position then unfortunately it doesn't mean anything, as all applications are 'referred to the selecting official.'

OP here. Yes, it is for an attorney position. Can you provide any more information as to why attorney applications are always "referred to the selecting official"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's for an attorney position then unfortunately it doesn't mean anything, as all applications are 'referred to the selecting official.'

OP here. Yes, it is for an attorney position. Can you provide any more information as to why attorney applications are always "referred to the selecting official"?

I don't think this is true. I have applied for many attorney positions; sometimes my status is updated to say I was qualified and referred to the selecting official, and sometimes it says that I am unqualified and not referred or something like that. If you were referred, its a good thing, but it does not necessarily mean you will get contacted for an interview.

[Anonymous]

Did your referral contain a ranking or rating number? That will give you a better idea if you will get an interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's for an attorney position then unfortunately it doesn't mean anything, as all applications are 'referred to the selecting official.'

OP here. Yes, it is for an attorney position. Can you provide any more information as to why attorney applications are always "referred to the selecting official"?

9:50 here. The way it's been explained to me is that because it's an excepted service position, HR doesn't really review the applications. I think as long as you make the basic qualifications (years of experience, licensed, submit the required docs, etc), you're referred.

Full disclosure - I'm a current fed att'y looking for another job myself, and have applied to many agencies already. Although I met the basic qualifications for each posting, several applications were 'reach' positions where I had little to no background in that area of law, yet for each job I have been referred to the selecting official.

[Anonymous]

I have had my application referred a lot, but it rarely results in an interview.

[Anonymous]

It means you were determined to be one of the best qualified candidates, the deciding official will select someone from this list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Each job/agency is different but if you were referred to selection official, you are probably one of 3-4 applicants.

I am a selecting official and the number is typically closer to 20

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Each job/agency is different but if you were referred to selection official, you are probably one of 3-4 applicants.

I am a selecting official and the number is typically closer to 20

Selecting Official - I have often seen, including this thread, that being "referred" for an attorney position is a minor hurdle (i.e., all who meet the base/objective requirements are referred). Can you confirm this as the general practice?

[Anonymous]

I've applied for many attorney jobs on usajobs over hte last ~4 months and haven't heard back from any of them. It never says anything about whether I've been referred to the hiring official; it just says "Complete." Does that mean Not Referred?

[Anonymous]

Attorney positions are in the excepted service. Some hiring managers prefer to see all applications that were determined by HR to be complete and meeting the minimum qualifications. Other hiring managers prefer to see a list of the best qualified candidates as determined by HR by a ranking system, which is usually the top 20 or less applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Attorney positions are in the excepted service. Some hiring managers prefer to see all applications that were determined by HR to be complete and meeting the minimum qualifications. Other hiring managers prefer to see a list of the best qualified candidates as determined by HR by a ranking system, which is usually the top 20 or less applicants.

So basically no way to know, keep my fingers crossed but don't get to excited since there could be 100+ applications that were referred.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Attorney positions are in the excepted service. Some hiring managers prefer to see all applications that were determined by HR to be complete and meeting the minimum qualifications. Other hiring managers prefer to see a list of the best qualified candidates as determined by HR by a ranking system, which is usually the top 20 or less applicants.

So basically no way to know, keep my fingers crossed but don't get to excited since there could be 100+ applications that were referred.

If it's for one of the higher-paying agencies, it could be 1000+