Tips on applying for federal job?

[Cindy B]

As an agriculture specialist, i scored an 88. though i was fresh out of college and they were hiring about 150 new ag specialists a year.

I guess if I just keep working at it a 98 or 99 is good. I guess I just need to not get discouraged.

One 100 but bumped for a vet preference really does a number on you...

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

97 and 98 are excellent scores. You just have to keep at it and don't get discouraged. If you are interested in Teaching, have you applied for any Department of Labor jobs? They have a lot of Job Corp Centers that recruit for teachers. We have a few Job Corp Centers but I have a feeling that all the Job Corp Centers will be moved under DOL since that is where most of them are right now.

 

[Cindy B]

97 and 98 are excellent scores. You just have to keep at it and don't get discouraged. If you are interested in Teaching, have you applied for any Department of Labor jobs? They have a lot of Job Corp Centers that recruit for teachers. We have a few Job Corp Centers but I have a feeling that all the Job Corp Centers will be moved under DOL since that is where most of them are right now.

Right now the Dept of Labor -- teaching jobs are in NYC. I'm in a tristate area but NYC would be a 2.5 hour commute each way per day. I'm looking to stay in my geographical region which is nearby.

There is one which states Educational Recovery but that is 100 miles from me.

I'm still looking-- I do have SSA (GPA of 3.9) so that helps I think.

 

[olena]

GREAT info here, but I'm wondering how much of it applies to DH, who has been seeking a federal position as an attorney for a year now. He sometimes gets responses back from agencies about status or rejection. He hasn't gotten an interview yet, but he's hopeful with his latest effort, since it is with the CDC and he did an internship here in ATL with them. The job he applied for is in DC metro and his CDC supervisors and the Chief Counsel supposedly flagged his application. He has no idea what that will mean, but he at least hopes to get an interview.

In all his other agency responses, he has never gotten a 'score' like 98 or 100. Nearly every job he applies for lists the following in the posting:

This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service.

What does that mean in agency language? They don't use the software, buzzwords or scores? Do veterans or (non-vet) disabled applicants have any preference?

I'm loving all this perspective, anecdotes and advice. It helps to understand these processes, which can be confusing to outsiders.

 

[Cindy B]

GREAT info here, but I'm wondering how much of it applies to DH, who has been seeking a federal position as an attorney for a year now. He sometimes gets responses back from agencies about status or rejection. He hasn't gotten an interview yet, but he's hopeful with his latest effort, since it is with the CDC and he did an internship here in ATL with them. The job he applied for is in DC metro and his CDC supervisors and the Chief Counsel supposedly flagged his application. He has no idea what that will mean, but he at least hopes to get an interview.

In all his other agency responses, he has never gotten a 'score' like 98 or 100. Nearly every job he applies for lists the following in the posting:


What does that mean in agency language? They don't use the software, buzzwords or scores? Do veterans or (non-vet) disabled applicants have any preference? I also think (again limited knowledge) that veterans preference is across the board-- so yes a veteran with the same type of skill set can "bump" another person out of the position just with vet status.

I'm loving all this perspective, anecdotes and advice. It helps to understand these processes, which can be confusing to outsiders.

Well, good luck at the CDC.. that sounds very interesting! As for the application, I think (remember this is limited knowledge at best) that means that the positions are being hired internally.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

GREAT info here, but I'm wondering how much of it applies to DH, who has been seeking a federal position as an attorney for a year now. He sometimes gets responses back from agencies about status or rejection. He hasn't gotten an interview yet, but he's hopeful with his latest effort, since it is with the CDC and he did an internship here in ATL with them. The job he applied for is in DC metro and his CDC supervisors and the Chief Counsel supposedly flagged his application. He has no idea what that will mean, but he at least hopes to get an interview.

In all his other agency responses, he has never gotten a 'score' like 98 or 100. Nearly every job he applies for lists the following in the posting:


What does that mean in agency language? They don't use the software, buzzwords or scores? Do veterans or (non-vet) disabled applicants have any preference?

I'm loving all this perspective, anecdotes and advice. It helps to understand these processes, which can be confusing to outsiders.

Attorney positions are completely different than everything I have posted so what I wrote does not apply to your DH. We don't hire attorney's so I unfortuntely do not have any experience with that so I cannot help you.