Job Expectations
Lily Whiteman has an interesting piece in the Post this morning about how to get a federal job. And while she has some good suggestions--don't assume the government doesn't hire people who do what you do, sometimes working for a contractor first may be a quick way in--but she doesn't take on what I think should be the primary subject of a column aimed at private-sector employees trying to get inside the federal door. And that's the nature of the applications process, which will almost invariably seem very different from anything they've experienced at companies or non-profits. The technical language is tough, the requirements for KSAs aren't immediately evident.
Looking for a job is difficult, especially if you feel under pressure to find one immediately. I know that when I was looking for jobs out of college about three years ago, the market for journalists was bad, though not remotely as miserable as it is now. I applied for at least fifty jobs in journalism and publishing, and because most of the time I wasn't getting much in the way of responses, I tended to fill out more easier applications, the ones that wanted just a resume, cover letter, and maybe some clips. It was depressing to do huge, complicated applications that I thought no one would read. And I worry that that's what job seekers will feel when they look at USAJobs. At least if they're prepared for what they're getting into, they might be less intimidated.
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Government Executive Editor in Chief Tom Shoop, along with other editors and staff correspondents, take a fresh look at news affecting the management and operations of the federal bureaucracy.
As a career fed with 27 plus years of experience, I am on my second career and with my fifth federal agency and continue to find the government's hring process mind-blowing. As an "insider", I find it extremely challenging and frustrating, even though I know lots and lots of people--you could say that I am "networked in"--and even work in HR. I feel sorry for the folks on the outside trying to get in who don't have a clue. Best of luck!
Fred Posted Thursday, March 26, 2009 12:35 PMI agree with Fred. As a current federal employee outside of D.C., I have applied for jobs at eight to ten different agencies over the last few years. More than half of the applications disappear into a black hole - no acknowledgement receipt or any follow-up communication. About a fourth are set up to generate an automated aknowledgement of receipt, and that will be the last communication. On most of the others, a form letter will indicate that you were not eligible, in at least one instance due to selective placement factors. Of four interviews in which I was one of three finalists, I never heard another word on two of them, and a third one sent a form letter a couple of months later indicating that no selection had been made. I shudder when I hear HR staff wringing their hands about their inability to recruit entry-level employees.
Bruce Posted Thursday, March 26, 2009 1:51 PMThe entire process screams failure.
Not only is the jargon different from one agency to another, there isn't any decoder ring.
Most people in the private sector know that they need a good resume, yet even that is corrupted by the use of varying and confusing systems where each agency insists that you use "their" tool.
A clue - Accept the resumes as submitted. Cull them. Worry about the convoluted agency system if and when the applicant is selected.
Bud Posted Monday, March 30, 2009 1:42 PM