Anonymous wrote:I did. But I had specialized experience. This was in 2008. They got hundreds of resumes.

In 2008, the getting was still good. 2013 is a whole 'nother animal.

I got into the gov through a summer internship. I didn't know anyone when applying for the internship - just applied to the listing - and was selected. From there, I was able to non-competitively find positions that allowed me to stay.

Later I was accepted to the PMF program - so again, didn't know anyone, but I haven't had to go through the USAjobs process.

OP here, just wanted to say that I was indeed able to "Update my Application" with a new USAjobs resume for a posting I had already submitted answers to etc, before the posting closed, so I was able to add some more detail and quantifying many things. Thanks for the advice to PP on quantifying, and thanks for everyone's feedback.

Here's hoping.

Yes.I got in without knowing anyone. And I'm white. and not a vet. It was 2 years ago so I'm sure times are different now.

I did. But I had specialized experience. This was in 2008. They got hundreds of resumes.

I think a lot of these PPs that are saying yes applied a while ago. Right now, fed jobs are a premium, and there are WAY TOO MANY applicants, so it is much more difficult. Our agency hired a big wave of people last year, and the ONLY people that were hired knew someone that got their resume to the right people. There were way too many applications to be able to sift through all of them.

Maybe after the recession/sequestration, it'll go back to the way it used to be. But I would try to meet some people that work for that agency to get your foot in the door. Try searching through connections on linked in and ask for an informational interview or something. I know a lot of agencies have freezes, but the few agencies that are hiring already have a long list of people that they are trying to get in, so it is very unlikely that you will get in without knowing someone.

Federal IT seems awful. First of all, they've contracted out almost everything. Second, they are always at least a generation behind on software. At one point, when we still used wordperfect (and we were the last people using wordperfect), there were at least 4 different versions of wordperfect in circulation in the same office. Or you will get warnings "this browser no longer supported or safe". And I think, but don't really know, that the level of stupid security measures is significantly higher.

All that said, good luck!

True. It might've been much easier in the 1990s or from 2002-08 ...

The hoops to jump through (including having to re-jigger my resume for every single job) are far, far, far greater for the Fed side than the private side.

I work in IT -- and have had no problem getting callbacks, interviews, offers on the private side. Nada, zip, zilch on the Fed side.

Took me two years, but yes. Right now, you'd be waiting on a miracle, however.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I've been told to quantify whereever you can. Things like "wrote 25 brochures" or if you can show that something you did saved your company money or brought in new business you should put that in your résumé. Not sure how much you can truly quantify those types of things. And note how many years of experience you have doing different tasks.

Shoot, so...if Ive "submitted my answers" and uploaded documentation (including the USAjobs resume), but the posting is still open do I have the option to edit my resume still? Anyone know?

I believe you can make changes up to the deadline day and time. And the USAJOBS system uses the last version of documents submitted for the submitted application.

My experience with this is a few years old, but it used to be that applications submitted through usajobs went directly to the agency right away on a rolling basis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I've been told to quantify whereever you can. Things like "wrote 25 brochures" or if you can show that something you did saved your company money or brought in new business you should put that in your résumé. Not sure how much you can truly quantify those types of things. And note how many years of experience you have doing different tasks.

Shoot, so...if Ive "submitted my answers" and uploaded documentation (including the USAjobs resume), but the posting is still open do I have the option to edit my resume still? Anyone know?

I believe you can make changes up to the deadline day and time. And the USAJOBS system uses the last version of documents submitted for the submitted application.

Thanks! I'll give it a shot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I've been told to quantify whereever you can. Things like "wrote 25 brochures" or if you can show that something you did saved your company money or brought in new business you should put that in your résumé. Not sure how much you can truly quantify those types of things. And note how many years of experience you have doing different tasks.

Shoot, so...if Ive "submitted my answers" and uploaded documentation (including the USAjobs resume), but the posting is still open do I have the option to edit my resume still? Anyone know?

I believe you can make changes up to the deadline day and time. And the USAJOBS system uses the last version of documents submitted for the submitted application.