You may want to explore starting as a contractor for the agency you want to work for.

Thanks 14:28/34!

Great tips and things to think about. Especially the resume ideas.

I am also doing a Fed job search after a long time in the private sector. Here are some tips from my clients (who are Feds).

1. Buy this inexpensive e-book. It is very helpful. http://www.resume-place.com/books/ten-steps-to-a-federal-job/. This website is also helpful in general.

2. Do NOT use your standard private sector resume. It is too short for federal HR people. Pick out the words used in the job posting and write to those in way more detail than you would have dreamed for a private sector job. Someone who knows me very well reviewed my resume and told me it would never get past HR because it was "only" 2 pages. My federal version is 7 pages (19 years experience).

3. Apply widely to get on "lists". If you get past the HR screening, they put you on "CertLists" that get passed around to hiring managers. So, even if a job is tracked for someone, you do yourself a favor by getting on as many lists as you can.

Just keep plugging away - apply widely and customize your c.v. for different jobs, especially if they don't do separate KSAs. There's not a lot out there right now becuase the fiscal cliff nonsense has hiring freezes in lots of offices, but if/when it resolves, I think you'll see a little bit more advertized. Be wary of taking a part time or intermittent position to get your foot in the door. It can help if it gets you specialized experience, but it doesn't get you "career competitive" status, so doesn't help that much with getting a subsequent job. Now, taking a suboptimal but career competitive job to get your foot in the door, that may make sense. Be aware that while it was significantly reformed this last year, you are at a disadvantage relative to the zillions of veteran's preferance candidates.

Avoid those have opening for very short period of time like 3-5 days. Someone was alresdy hand picked for that position.

Try to apply part time, intermittent position to get your foot in, then transfer.

Know someone in high place.

I've always worked in private, but now interested in looking for a Fed opportunity.
what is the best way of approaching it? I have uploaded my resume onto USA Jobs. Created my profile etc. What else should I do and what tips can you provide?

Im not well-versed on GS pay scale. Im mid-career, college grad but looking for an adminstrative roll. Salary range $50K-$70K.

TIA!