Hey, this is a bit off topic, but I've got a question about those jobs listed on USAJOBS..............the job descriptions (that I encountered) were very vague ..............there are probably many many applicants for those jobs.................How does one even go about getting one of those jobs? Are they mainly there as semi-internal postings for people who already have a federal job in order to hop to a new position? Or for a federal employee to hire one of their friends/family into a position -- while still "ticking the box" that the position was "publicly open for applicants"?
When making a resume, I go to the "duties" for the posting, copy/paste them to the end of my Word doc, and incorporate them into the jobs I've had.
You're right. There are many applicants. Sometimes people are able to hire the person they know. I once got to the interview stage to be a CFO, but was pretty sure they already had their pick as they tried to insist on a phone interview.
My wife had a manager who said that when he interviewed to be a manager, the interviewer concluded the meeting by saying "say hi to your mom for me." Now, he had to have met the minimum requirements to make it to the interview stage, but there was obvious favoritism from his mom's 30 years of service.
When you're on the inside you can network, and who you know helps.
Up to a certain level, veterans have a preference, especially disabled vets. But sometimes, the only thing that matters is being in the previous pay grade for a year. I once applied for a grade 7 job, and was told I didn't meet the minimum standard. I had to call bullshit, because I had an MBA, and worked in the civilian field at a much higher level. But, I had not been a grade 6 employee for a year.
Hope this helps.
ONE LAST THING: If you join the service when you are 55, you qualify for a pension with just 5 years of service. It's tiny (1% x years x salary), but it's one more income source. And if you want to work, why not consider it. I've also heard some school systems do this, too.
