Original poster here. I think they have someone preselected for this, for these reasons:

1. 25 applicants is a really small pool. In my experience as a hiring manager, roughly 50% of applicants will be reasonably eliminated during first cull (no relevant experience, overstated experience, lack of time in grade, general weirdness), which means the pool of viable candidates could conceivably be 10.

2. 7 days is a really small window. I seldom see windows smaller than this. If an agency is serious about filling an important cybersecurity position, the size of this window is unreasonable.

3. They have asked me to come in-person for an interview without a telephone screen. This is extremely unusual for a senior-level position. Telephone screens are really important.

All this aside, government hiring is a real mess. As is government cybersecurity. This could be a mere abberation, as some have suggested.

Anonymous wrote:All go 15 positions are internal. Unless maybe some sort of physician or surgeon or psychiatrist

Not true. Several senior people, not necessarily MD's, at my DH's agency come in straight at 15.

Term NTE 2 years could have been a detail for another employee.

*resume

Anonymous wrote:It says "few vacancies" so you may have a shot.

Maybe they have someone in mind, but might want to use the cert to bring in other people in the next few months? Worth applying in that case.

For fun, wait six months and file a foia for the trainee of the person who got the job. See if it lines up with the posting.

Anonymous wrote:All go 15 positions are internal. Unless maybe some sort of physician or surgeon or psychiatrist

Not all but most are.

Anonymous wrote:All go 15 positions are internal. Unless maybe some sort of physician or surgeon or psychiatrist

Not true. I was hired as a 15 (research). And this is cybersecurity. Defintely a shortage area for the feds. Not sure why it was limited to 25.

It says "few vacancies" so you may have a shot.

For lawyers, absolutely internal hire

All gs I meant.

All go 15 positions are internal. Unless maybe some sort of physician or surgeon or psychiatrist

I think it reads weird because they basically took someone's resume and converted it to a job description. It still can't hurt to go to the interview and get more experience and maybe network a little. Even if they have a candidate in mind, you obviously rose to the top, too.

I have no idea. I have never seen a job posting like this in my life. Sounds like a game show. And so much verbiage in the description. Typically, managers know damn well who is getting the 15 beforehand. But this one reads really weird.

It's probably wired for someone else. Still, no harm in going on the interview. It's also completely appropriate to ask why the vacancy was limited to 25 applicants while you're there.

The position was advertised for 7 days and limited to 25 applicants.

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/427965000

Sure sign they have someone an internal candidate lined up for the position?

This afternoon (Friday) they invited me for an in-person interview on Monday.