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I'm a contractor and I'm giving the evil eye to every GS in this thread.
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Oct 17, 2010 20:24
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Gawain The Blind posted:Apply for everything. At worst if you aren't back in time to start a job you end up getting, you tell them you made a mistake and won't be back until X time. They may just let you show up then if its not crazy. At best you'll get back at exactly the right time after its taken them months to finally call you. Great, thanks for this. Should I write down that I can't start until July 2011 or should I pretend I can start immediately so they don't just ignore my application? Honestly, I'm willing to drop my masters for a well paying job right now but I don't know how well that would go over. Also, I'm assuming I should answer all of the questions on the assessment questionnaire honestly? I've had loads of academic experience in the jobs I'm applying for, plus a few internships but no independent experience. For example, the questions all ask me to choose from these options: A I have not had education, training or experience in performing this task. B I have had education or training in performing the task, but have not yet performed it on the job. C I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures. D I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee. E I am considered an expert in performing this task. I have supervised performance of this task or am normally the person who is consulted by other workers to assist them in doing this task because of my expertise. I find myself putting C for most of them, but will this result in my application being thrown out immediately since it will result in a lower score? Thanks again!
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Oct 17, 2010 22:43
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amethystbliss posted:Great, thanks for this. Should I write down that I can't start until July 2011 or should I pretend I can start immediately so they don't just ignore my application? Honestly, I'm willing to drop my masters for a well paying job right now but I don't know how well that would go over. Also, I'm assuming I should answer all of the questions on the assessment questionnaire honestly? I've had loads of academic experience in the jobs I'm applying for, plus a few internships but no independent experience. For example, the questions all ask me to choose from these options: I would put the one you could justify in an interview. Don't fly through the questions only putting E only to get to the interview and have it be blatantly obvious you have no idea what you're talking about.
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Oct 17, 2010 23:09
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For anyone interested in entry level, check out the Air Force's Palace Acquire program here: http://www.afciviliancareers.com/careers/hiringopportunities/students/palace/ They usually start recruiting at college campuses around this time of year. The schedule hasn't been posted yet, but there is an informational phone number on that website. I've known people who've been interviewed and hired on the spot (pending security clearance). Also, keep an eye on USA Jobs as positions are usually posted for only a week or so.
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Oct 17, 2010 23:30
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amethystbliss posted:Great, thanks for this. Should I write down that I can't start until July 2011 or should I pretend I can start immediately so they don't just ignore my application? Honestly, I'm willing to drop my masters for a well paying job right now but I don't know how well that would go over. Also, I'm assuming I should answer all of the questions on the assessment questionnaire honestly? I've had loads of academic experience in the jobs I'm applying for, plus a few internships but no independent experience. For example, the questions all ask me to choose from these options: It depends on the position, the number of applicants, and the hiring agency. For example, Library of Congress won't even look at an applicant who didn't answer E for each question. In fact, if you attend federal government hiring workshops, they'll usually tell you to answer with E as much as you possibly can. Don't answer E if you have zero experience, but if you think you can remotely justify your answer, go for it.
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Oct 17, 2010 23:38
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gmilo posted:I would put the one you could justify in an interview. Don't fly through the questions only putting E only to get to the interview and have it be blatantly obvious you have no idea what you're talking about. Then he/she will never make it through the automated system and will never get to interview consideration. This step is based on a formula. Blatant lying could get you in a rut, but if you're selecting "C" on every answer, you will never cert on any job and never make it to a human. Justify your resume in an interview.
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Oct 18, 2010 01:10
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amethystbliss posted:Great, thanks for this. Should I write down that I can't start until July 2011 or should I pretend I can start immediately so they don't just ignore my application? Honestly, I'm willing to drop my masters for a well paying job right now but I don't know how well that would go over. Also, I'm assuming I should answer all of the questions on the assessment questionnaire honestly? I've had loads of academic experience in the jobs I'm applying for, plus a few internships but no independent experience. For example, the questions all ask me to choose from these options: Yeah we bitched about this earlier in the thread. Basically my position is that I answered honestly the first time I had to do one of those, and then later found out that almost all of the people I worked with didn't even bother reading the questions, they just slammed in the highest score possible. Most of them ended up with 100% scores. They told me that's SOP. Your mileage my very. If it was me I would answer E if you think you could even sort of justify it somehow, either from previous experience or knowledge, however tenuous. I can only speak for an unnamed government institution for which I work that may or may not deal with taxes**, but they don't think they even look at your application if its less than 90%. **we were told recently that we're not allowed to tell anyone who we work for.
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Oct 18, 2010 14:54
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Learned a surprising amount about the GAO today. Might have to look them up in the future if my current plan doesn't work out.
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Oct 18, 2010 23:41
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Gawain The Blind posted:Yeah we bitched about this earlier in the thread. Basically my position is that I answered honestly the first time I had to do one of those, and then later found out that almost all of the people I worked with didn't even bother reading the questions, they just slammed in the highest score possible. Most of them ended up with 100% scores. They told me that's SOP.
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Oct 19, 2010 01:15
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Does anyone know if there's any significant disadvantage to uploading a resume instead of creating one on the USAJOBs website? My primary reason for doing so is basically aesthetics.
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Oct 19, 2010 03:47
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Stop posted:Does anyone know if there's any significant disadvantage to uploading a resume instead of creating one on the USAJOBs website? The USAJOBS resume format will make you insert all the poo poo that the govt wants you to give them such as veteran's preference, DOB, etc.
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Oct 19, 2010 04:42
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Question. If you were under investigation for a security clearance before, but was neither confirmed nor denied midway during the investigation due to the position being retracted, would that give me some sort of edge? I mean I guess their work is already halfway done.
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Oct 19, 2010 07:06
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Gravel Gravy posted:Question. If you were under investigation for a security clearance before, but was neither confirmed nor denied midway during the investigation due to the position being retracted, would that give me some sort of edge? No. Unless this was extremely recently, they wouldn't use any of that information. And different agencies sometimes don't even accept each others clearances.
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Oct 19, 2010 11:48
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Had a small heart attack today. Apparently I didn't go back far enough in a couple section so had my SF-86 sent back. Luckily I could fix it quickly, but it definitely renewed my sense of "oh god what if I get denied."
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Oct 19, 2010 19:10
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CherryCola posted:Had a small heart attack today. Apparently I didn't go back far enough in a couple section so had my SF-86 sent back. Luckily I could fix it quickly, but it definitely renewed my sense of "oh god what if I get denied." SSBI? Or just forgot to go to 7? Either way glad you got it fixed up.
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Oct 19, 2010 19:54
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I went to 7, but I guess they wanted me to go all the way to my 18th birthday.
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Oct 19, 2010 20:11
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For you other aspiring gubmint employees/policy wonks, there's two events coming up I thought I'd share: November 2nd- The Institute for Security and Conflict Studies is hosting an event entitled "Fighting Corruption in the Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan" with Stuart W. Bowen, Jr and Stephen Biddle. November 9th- CNAS is hosting a book signing/lecture for Robert Kaplan's new book "Monsoon" regarding the future of naval power in the Indian Ocean. I'll be attending both. If you're interested in time/details, shoot me a PM and I'll give you the information- I hesitate to post it on a quasi-open forum lest LF decides to register Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Juba x 10,000.
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Oct 19, 2010 22:06
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Unfortunately I don't have PM but could you hit me up at [redacted]? Edit: Thanks, I appreciate it. Gin and Juche fucked around with this message at 07:03 on Feb 13, 2011 |
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Oct 19, 2010 22:59
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Sent. Please tell me that's the address you use to apply for jobs.
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Oct 19, 2010 23:33
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Wanted to echo what other people have said - use the shotgun approach and apply for everything you are even remotely qualified for. And be prepared to wait, as it can easily take a year or longer, especially if a full background check is required - dont quit your job or stop looking for one just because you get a letter saying you are qualified or even tenatively offered a gig - wait until you have a firm start date. I had my heart set on one job (which I didnt get), but applied for at least 7 or 8. I applied for one job and after about a year I got a letter explaining that they had so many applicants they were overwhelmed and just cancelled the opening. Ended up getting a job I had never even heard of before and in the end I think it worked out much better. Ive seen people with just about perfect qualifications not get a job, and people I would consider totally unqualified get one, so dont get discouraged because you dont make the cut the first time, the process is very mechanical. Its also important to mention that in addition to grade increases (GS-5 to GS-7 after one year for example) and step increases (GS-7 step 1 to step 2) govt employees generally get a decent cost of living increase every year - usually like 2-3% or so depending on how congress and the president feel about it. May not sound like a fortune but after 5 years or so it can add up. For example when I started a GS-7 in my area made $33k. Now, a brand new GS-7 makes over 42k.
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Oct 20, 2010 00:28
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So DSS just called me asking me if I wanted to come in and take a written and oral exam in December. I had to turn it down because I just started a full-time job I rather like and can't afford to take any personal days from my start date next week till at least February. Please tell me I did not just colossally gently caress up and the test being offered is as common as the FSOT.
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Oct 20, 2010 00:39
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Boondock Saint posted:So DSS just called me asking me if I wanted to come in and take a written and oral exam in December. Yes you are OK. I know a lot of people who have taken the BEX. But you can only do it every year and they stagger the job postings so it's really more like every 2 years. I would've tried to do it personally but you know your situation best!
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Oct 20, 2010 00:50
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Stop posted:Does anyone know if there's any significant disadvantage to uploading a resume instead of creating one on the USAJOBs website? I wouldn't worry about that unless you're in some kind of design-related career field. When I review hiring packets I prefer the applications from USAJobs because I know right where to find all of the information that I am interested in.
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Oct 20, 2010 00:55
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Tyro posted:Yes you are OK. I know a lot of people who have taken the BEX. But you can only do it every year and they stagger the job postings so it's really more like every 2 years. I would've tried to do it personally but you know your situation best! I would have loved to be honest. I did ask if they had alternate times or evening testing and they said no to both, so I tried and they were polite about it either way. If I was unemployed still or was working somewhere that I didn't give a poo poo about, I totally would have scheduled anyways and figured something out. Hearing that at least its not like I just threw away the hardest test to get into though does make me feel better. That would have been the icing to top my lovely day.
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Oct 20, 2010 00:57
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Boondock Saint posted:I would have loved to be honest. I did ask if they had alternate times or evening testing and they said no to both, so I tried and they were polite about it either way. If I was unemployed still or was working somewhere that I didn't give a poo poo about, I totally would have scheduled anyways and figured something out. Yeah if you have a Bachelor's it's relatively easy to get to the BEX (most people don't pass the first time).
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Oct 20, 2010 01:07
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Boondock Saint posted:So DSS just called me asking me if I wanted to come in and take a written and oral exam in December. Holy hell I think they just called me too, but I was in the other room and they didn't leave a voicemail. Number says private so I can't say for sure. I really hope they will call back, whoever they are.
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Oct 20, 2010 01:13
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Gravel Gravy posted:Holy hell I think they just called me too, but I was in the other room and they didn't leave a voicemail. Number says private so I can't say for sure. Yeah that had to be them. It was a private number that called me.
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Oct 20, 2010 01:23
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Gravel Gravy posted:Holy hell I think they just called me too, but I was in the other room and they didn't leave a voicemail. Number says private so I can't say for sure. They'll call back. Good luck!
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Oct 20, 2010 01:31
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Thank goodness for helpful federal employees. I had a second freakout yesterday because I realized I hadn't told them that I started working a temp job the day after I submitted my paperwork. So I emailed the same guy who told me to fix my E-Qip and he basically told me I'd be able to just tell them when I have my background investigation interview. Really simple information, but it did a lot to calm my mind to realize that they aren't going to stamp me with an automatic denial because of something simple like that.
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Oct 20, 2010 12:38
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Guys who got the DSS BEX call, or thought you got the call, mind saying what location you would be interviewing in? I've heard they go location by location in scheduling. Trying to figure out if I should spend the day staring at my phone waiting for it to ring.
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Oct 20, 2010 14:25
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Kase Im Licht posted:Guys who got the DSS BEX call, or thought you got the call, mind saying what location you would be interviewing in? I've heard they go location by location in scheduling. Trying to figure out if I should spend the day staring at my phone waiting for it to ring. I didn't apply but a friend of mine got a call for DC region.
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Oct 20, 2010 15:17
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CherryCola posted:Had a small heart attack today. Apparently I didn't go back far enough in a couple section so had my SF-86 sent back. Luckily I could fix it quickly, but it definitely renewed my sense of "oh god what if I get denied." Don't worry, it happens a lot. When I did my initial SSBI, I got call from my investigator that it had been kicked back because "You didn't list any employment history from 1995-1998." He even said it with a note of suspicion in his voice. I replied, "Er, yeah...I was in middle school." Point is, having to go back for more info isn't a big deal. If there isn't a readily apparent reason why you'd be denied, you'll almost certainly be fine. The Mic fucked around with this message at 17:08 on Oct 20, 2010 |
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Oct 20, 2010 17:03
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Kase Im Licht posted:Guys who got the DSS BEX call, or thought you got the call, mind saying what location you would be interviewing in? I've heard they go location by location in scheduling. Trying to figure out if I should spend the day staring at my phone waiting for it to ring. I'm in the DC area.
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Oct 20, 2010 17:50
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Boondock Saint posted:I'm in the DC area. As am I. Haven't gotten the call back though. drat why did I have to cook that chili?
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Oct 20, 2010 20:32
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Alright, I guess I will spend the rest of the day (week?) staring at my phone and waiting for that call.
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Oct 20, 2010 21:03
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Boondock Saint posted:I would have loved to be honest. I did ask if they had alternate times or evening testing and they said no to both, so I tried and they were polite about it either way. If I was unemployed still or was working somewhere that I didn't give a poo poo about, I totally would have scheduled anyways and figured something out. Uh... you know you could ask people in the FSOT to ask actual DS agents about the process. I mean, the 40 agents who entered my hire class I'm sure didn't pass anything similar to what you're going through............ Good luck.
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Oct 20, 2010 21:13
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I applied for a job through usajobs.gov. They marked me eligible but resume not sent on because, "Only Veterans with 10 Point Preference are being referred at this time." It wasn't a veterans only job, but I guess they had some qualified candidates apply. Now, the status has been changed to cancelled, and I get the note, "This vacancy is being filled through another source." Does anyone have any insight into what is going on? What other source?
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Oct 20, 2010 21:31
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mzandrea posted:I applied for a job through usajobs.gov. They marked me eligible but resume not sent on because, "Only Veterans with 10 Point Preference are being referred at this time." It wasn't a veterans only job, but I guess they had some qualified candidates apply. Now, the status has been changed to cancelled, and I get the note, "This vacancy is being filled through another source." My guess is that you met the eligibility requirements for the position, but you didn't score high enough. If you score 100 and there are enough 10 point preference veterans that score from 91 to 100 (before adding their 10 points), you won't get referred since they have scores of 101-110. There may have been a separate announcement for the same position for candidates with federal status (it could even be limited to current agency employees, if they had someone in mind to promote). If there was a separate announcement and the hiring official saw a good candidate on the merit promotion plan list, he or she might choose to just cancel the announcement you applied for and fill the job from the status announcement. The hiring official also could have selected someone with a disability who qualifies under Schedule A. Again this is all speculation, but what actually happened was probably something similar to what I described.
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Oct 21, 2010 02:00
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Wow filling out the SF86 is a pain in the rear end when you are 31 years old, and have worked a ton of part time jobs while going through college. only on section 13 after an hour lol
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Oct 21, 2010 02:57
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JohnnyHildo posted:My guess is that you met the eligibility requirements for the position, but you didn't score high enough. If you score 100 and there are enough 10 point preference veterans that score from 91 to 100 (before adding their 10 points), you won't get referred since they have scores of 101-110. It was for the new armed forces retirement home that opened two weeks ago, but I guess maybe they could have promoted someone at the dc location and moved them to gulfport, ms? Who would see a move to gulfport, ms from dc as a promotion? Oh well.
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Oct 21, 2010 03:11
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