How hard is it to get a govt job without govt experience?

[Anonymous]

Looking to leave private and go to the public sector for more stability, better hours and benefits, knowing I would make much less.

I have 20 years of experience in communications and marketing.

Do I have a chance? It seems people are always dying to get in or dying to get out, but I'm curious how feasible it is for me to get my foot in the door. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

You don't need government experience to work in the government. You need the skills for the job, and depending on what kind of job you're going for, the best experience out there might be from a non-USG entity. 20 yrs in comms sounds plenty useful. We have comms folks in my agency - your background would have a place here.

The trick with getting in is to tailor your USAjobs resume to match the key words in the job description - and they have to match exactly. It can't be an equivalent term that anyone in your industry would know means the same thing. A computer does the initial screen, so making it through the computer filter is the hardest hurdle, IMO, but once you know how the system works, you can navigate it and it's not so hard to get in if you're qualified for the positions you're applying for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't need government experience to work in the government. You need the skills for the job, and depending on what kind of job you're going for, the best experience out there might be from a non-USG entity. 20 yrs in comms sounds plenty useful. We have comms folks in my agency - your background would have a place here.

The trick with getting in is to tailor your USAjobs resume to match the key words in the job description - and they have to match exactly. It can't be an equivalent term that anyone in your industry would know means the same thing. A computer does the initial screen, so making it through the computer filter is the hardest hurdle, IMO, but once you know how the system works, you can navigate it and it's not so hard to get in if you're qualified for the positions you're applying for.

I so agree. I tried for 6 months to get something, but then I got the same advice and now finally am starting to get some interviews. It is like cracking a code.

[Anonymous]

It also helps to have an inside contact who can get your resume infront of the right person. Even for posted jobs most managers usually have a sense of who they want to hire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't need government experience to work in the government. You need the skills for the job, and depending on what kind of job you're going for, the best experience out there might be from a non-USG entity. 20 yrs in comms sounds plenty useful. We have comms folks in my agency - your background would have a place here.

The trick with getting in is to tailor your USAjobs resume to match the key words in the job description - and they have to match exactly. It can't be an equivalent term that anyone in your industry would know means the same thing. A computer does the initial screen, so making it through the computer filter is the hardest hurdle, IMO, but once you know how the system works, you can navigate it and it's not so hard to get in if you're qualified for the positions you're applying for.

I so agree. I tried for 6 months to get something, but then I got the same advice and now finally am starting to get some interviews. It is like cracking a code.

This this this. I mean you really need to use the exact terminology from the job description. Also, if you have to fill out one of those occupational questionnaires, you pretty much need to rate yourself as one of the two highest ratings for every question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It also helps to have an inside contact who can get your resume infront of the right person. Even for posted jobs most managers usually have a sense of who they want to hire.

And if you see a job posting that's open for 2 weeks or less, it usually means they have someone in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It also helps to have an inside contact who can get your resume infront of the right person. Even for posted jobs most managers usually have a sense of who they want to hire.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It also helps to have an inside contact who can get your resume infront of the right person. Even for posted jobs most managers usually have a sense of who they want to hire.

And if you see a job posting that's open for 2 weeks or less, it usually means they have someone in mind.

Not true at all. Used to be true, but thanks to this administration we know have regulations which mean many agencies need waivers to post for longer than 2 weeks.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you only interested in Federal or will local government do? We have a opening for Director of Communications at Alexandria City Public Schools, they have gad rough luck with this position, any GOOD candidate can make his/her case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It also helps to have an inside contact who can get your resume infront of the right person. Even for posted jobs most managers usually have a sense of who they want to hire.

And if you see a job posting that's open for 2 weeks or less, it usually means they have someone in mind.

Not true at all. Used to be true, but thanks to this administration we know have regulations which mean many agencies need waivers to post for longer than 2 weeks.

Maybe not for your agency but in my agency it's alive and well and blatant depending on the department involved.

[Anonymous]

Right now, veterans' preference is making it difficult for anyone but veterans to get their resumes seen. When we hire at my agency, we first have to look at the veterans. If none of them are even remotely right for the job, we can move on. This is so cumbersome that usually a vet is selected, even if the vet is not 100% what is sought. Which means that "perfect people" may not have their resumes looked at, at all, by hiring authorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you only interested in Federal or will local government do? We have a opening for Director of Communications at Alexandria City Public Schools, they have gad rough luck with this position, any GOOD candidate can make his/her case.

Where is this job posted, I cannot find it on the Alexandria City jobs website!

[Anonymous]

If you have the experience you can get a job. Just make sure your resume is closely tailored to the job description. My best friend just got a federal job after applying religiously for two years. She has 11 years of experience in her field.

[Anonymous]

I'm not kidding -- I read a post here where some complete cipher of an applicant just cut and pasted the job description into the relevant parts of the application. Said cipher even made it to the final cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have the experience you can get a job. Just make sure your resume is closely tailored to the job description. My best friend just got a federal job after applying religiously for two years. She has 11 years of experience in her field.

I have a family -- a wife that wants my attention and two kids that like seeing parts of me other than the back of my head.

If applying for federal jobs is essentially a part-time job ... then screw it.

I can put my resume up on Dice/Indeed and get 2-3 legitimate job opportunities a week contacting me, and apply for private sector jobs at 5x the rate for which it seems I have to apply for Fed jobs.