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Handsome Ralph
Sep 3, 2004

Oh boy, posting!
That's where I'm a Viking!


Gravel Gravy posted:

Got an email for thr passport specialist job. Got back to dc and I'm without power at the house. So much for filling out that questionnaire.

You've got two weeks to fill it out. You'll be fine :)

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BexGu
Jan 9, 2004

This fucking day....
Does any one have any experience with the Information Technology Specialist job GS 12-13 title? They seem to range to being a computer/IT janitor to managing the consultants that actually do the work and setting up policy.

Revolver
Feb 23, 2004

prussian advisor posted:

I keep hearing this. Anyone have any particularly depressing or illustrative VA stories?

Seems like there's 1102 openings and I hear that's a good way to break into higher-level procurement type federal gigs.

VA is a really big agency, so the work you are doing will vary wildly depending on where you are positioned. I actually don't think VA is a great agency to work for, but it's pretty easy to move around in DC once you get your feet wet.

Nessus
Dec 22, 2003

After a Speaker vote, you may be entitled to a valuable coupon or voucher!



I'm curious about the

Technical Information Specialist, GS 7/9 (External) GS-1412-07/09

and the

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST (SECURITY) GS-2210-09/15

thingies that my old USAjobs auto-search is spitting up and what they mean in practical terms. I've mostly been looking in the Houston area (since that's where I am).

Harpsychord
Jan 13, 2008

Nessus posted:

I'm curious about the

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST (SECURITY) GS-2210-09/15


Probably a network security position on base in Houston I'm betting. Whether it's Red or Blue team is definitely an unknown until you go interview.

Pompous Rhombus
Mar 11, 2007
Woot, just got an e-mail about the Passport Specialist. Guess it takes them a while to make it down that list.

amethystbliss
Jan 17, 2006

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this, or if all embassy jobs are technically U.S. federal jobs, but does anyone know anything about working as a Residential Security Adviser? I applied for this position at the London embassy and am anxiously waiting to hear back :).

Leif.
Mar 27, 2005

Son of the Defender
Formerly Diplomaticus/SWATJester

amethystbliss posted:

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this, or if all embassy jobs are technically U.S. federal jobs, but does anyone know anything about working as a Residential Security Adviser? I applied for this position at the London embassy and am anxiously waiting to hear back :).

Ask in the FSO thread. It sounds like a local hire position, one of the FSOs there with more experience could answer better. It's linked in the OP.

amethystbliss
Jan 17, 2006

SWATJester posted:

Ask in the FSO thread. It sounds like a local hire position, one of the FSOs there with more experience could answer better. It's linked in the OP.
Thanks!

Omits-Bagels
Feb 13, 2001
On my 2009 taxes I didn't report about $900 worth of stuff I sold online to the IRS but I am wanting to apply for a job with them. I only made about $7000 last year so my dad said it wasn't worth reporting because I made so little to begin with.

Am I pretty much automatically disqualified?

HeroOfTheRevolution
Apr 26, 2008

Omits-Bagels posted:

On my 2009 taxes I didn't report about $900 worth of stuff I sold online to the IRS but I am wanting to apply for a job with them. I only made about $7000 last year so my dad said it wasn't worth reporting because I made so little to begin with.

Am I pretty much automatically disqualified?

If cheating on your taxes disqualified you from a job with the IRS they wouldn't have any employees.

Also yours was completely harmless because there's no difference in taxes for an income of $7000 and an income of $7900, it's $0 in both cases.

Skandiaavity
Apr 20, 2005

SWATJester posted:

VA is a great opportunity to work outside of Washington but that being said, the VA is a lovely organization to work for, has terrible leadership, and will depress you at all levels.

can neither confirm nor deny. General advice in the medical industry; protect your PHI like you would your credit score.

also, kids: don't lie during your security clearance. Even if your employer tells you to. It'll bite you, not them, in the rear end.

Any Homeland goons here?

OMG JC a Bomb!
Jul 13, 2004

We are the Invisible Spatula. We are the Grilluminati. We eat before and after dinner. We eat forever. And eventually... eventually we will lead them into the dining room.
Dear god, USAJobs is bound and determined to keep me from applying to anything. 90% of the positions in my area seem to require you to join the Army Reserves, and every single one of them redirects you to another website where you have to enter your information again and make another account. Not that this is particularly unusual in the exciting world of online employment applications. :sigh:

EDIT: It seems like all of them want a copy of your college transcript. How does that work? Do you apply like normal, and they ask for a sealed transcript afterwards, or do I have to physically send in a transcript and application to everything I want to apply to?

OMG JC a Bomb! fucked around with this message at 00:57 on Jul 29, 2010

Gin and Juche
Apr 3, 2008

The Highest Judge of Paradise
Shiki Eiki
YAMAXANADU

OMG JC a Bomb! posted:

Dear god, USAJobs is bound and determined to keep me from applying to anything. 90% of the positions in my area seem to require you to join the Army Reserves, and every single one of them redirects you to another website where you have to enter your information again and make another account. Not that this is particularly unusual in the exciting world of online employment applications. :sigh:

EDIT: It seems like all of them want a copy of your college transcript. How does that work? Do you apply like normal, and they ask for a sealed transcript afterwards, or do I have to physically send in a transcript and application to everything I want to apply to?

I've simply sent an unofficial electronic transcript. If they are interested in you, then you might want to order an official. If I had to order a transcript for each and every job I've applied to on USAJobs I would be out at least $1000 dollars.

OMG JC a Bomb!
Jul 13, 2004

We are the Invisible Spatula. We are the Grilluminati. We eat before and after dinner. We eat forever. And eventually... eventually we will lead them into the dining room.

Gravel Gravy posted:

I've simply sent an unofficial electronic transcript. If they are interested in you, then you might want to order an official. If I had to order a transcript for each and every job I've applied to on USAJobs I would be out at least $1000 dollars.

Yeah, that's what I thought. I submitted a paper application once with a sealed transcript, but didn't get any response. Where's the best place to put an unofficial transcript on your profile? I didn't see any specific field for anything beyond what school you went to, but I may have missed something.

Gin and Juche
Apr 3, 2008

The Highest Judge of Paradise
Shiki Eiki
YAMAXANADU

OMG JC a Bomb! posted:

Yeah, that's what I thought. I submitted a paper application once with a sealed transcript, but didn't get any response. Where's the best place to put an unofficial transcript on your profile? I didn't see any specific field for anything beyond what school you went to, but I may have missed something.

Some applications you can upload them. But on USAjobs just go to saved documents and upload them.

Grr8
Mar 22, 2006
a'blocka bla'kow
My PSI investigator emailed me from a personal email address, and it had numerous spelling/grammar mistakes. Is that normal, or is someone pulling a fast one on me here...

Grand Fromage
Jan 30, 2006

L-l-look at you bar-bartender, a-a pa-pathetic creature of meat and bone, un-underestimating my l-l-liver's ability to metab-meTABolize t-toxins. How can you p-poison a perfect, immortal alcohOLIC?


I don't know about the personal email part, but I've learned to never underestimate the illiteracy of people. Especially in positions of power and responsibility where you'd expect them to be able to string together a loving comprehensible sentence.

CherryCola
Apr 15, 2002

'ahtaj alshifa
I finally got a phone call from this government agency today, not sure if I should say which, it's not like the CIA or FBI or anything like that. He said he wants to talk to me about my resume (which I submitted like a month and a half ago, hurr). That's gotta be a good sign, right? Oh I should add that I missed the call and I think the office was closed by the time I called back.

grover
Jan 23, 2002

PEW PEW PEW
:circlefap::circlefap::circlefap:
:circlefap::circlefap::circlefap:
:circlefap::circlefap::circlefap:
:circlefap::circlefap::circlefap:
:circlefap::circlefap::circlefap:
:circlefap::circlefap::circlefap:

CherryCola posted:

I finally got a phone call from this government agency today, not sure if I should say which, it's not like the CIA or FBI or anything like that. He said he wants to talk to me about my resume (which I submitted like a month and a half ago, hurr). That's gotta be a good sign, right? Oh I should add that I missed the call and I think the office was closed by the time I called back.
Yes, that's generally a very good sign. They don't call you if they're not interested in you :)

Grr8 posted:

My PSI investigator emailed me from a personal email address, and it had numerous spelling/grammar mistakes. Is that normal, or is someone pulling a fast one on me here...
If he's really psi, he should be contacting your telepathically, not via poorly written personal email. I'd be a bit wary; he shouldn't be using personal email either. Not that it's never done, but it's very unprofessional. As to the email itself... some people are better at the english language than others. That said, it's rare to see actual horribly written emails from white-collar employees.

grover fucked around with this message at 10:44 on Jul 29, 2010

CherryCola
Apr 15, 2002

'ahtaj alshifa
Wooo! I have a skype interview on the 14th! Any advice for skyping with the government?

Pompous Rhombus
Mar 11, 2007

CherryCola posted:

Wooo! I have a skype interview on the 14th! Any advice for skyping with the government?

Pants optional!

(Congrats!)

Revolver
Feb 23, 2004

Grr8 posted:

My PSI investigator emailed me from a personal email address, and it had numerous spelling/grammar mistakes. Is that normal, or is someone pulling a fast one on me here...

The exact thing happened to me during my last background investigation. I wouldn't worry about it.

grover
Jan 23, 2002

PEW PEW PEW
:circlefap::circlefap::circlefap:
:circlefap::circlefap::circlefap:
:circlefap::circlefap::circlefap:
:circlefap::circlefap::circlefap:
:circlefap::circlefap::circlefap:
:circlefap::circlefap::circlefap:

CherryCola posted:

Wooo! I have a skype interview on the 14th! Any advice for skyping with the government?
Be patient as they work through the inevitable technical difficulties on their end, and wait for them to call you. After 5 minutes have passed (because they lost your phone number), call them.

CherryCola
Apr 15, 2002

'ahtaj alshifa
Apparently these guys want a scan of a current paystub. Uhhhh, I just finished two years of graduate school where I couldn't have a job and this summer I've worked super short term temp poo poo which were direct deposit. I'm not sure if I still have a pay stub from any of those. ffffffffffffff. I emailed to ask if they would be okay with something from my school...but I dunno!

Zoo
Oct 24, 2004

I hate to break it to you, but there is no big lie, there is no system. The universe is indifferent.
They know you've never had a real job and many organizations will be proud to have you, especially if you clearly demonstrate that you're willing to loudly pretend to know everything about anything anyway. :)

(kidding, partially)

CherryCola
Apr 15, 2002

'ahtaj alshifa
I'm getting really worried about this. Nobody has gotten back to me and I'm supposed to have all my documents in by Tuesday. I have no "Leave and Earnings" statement, hell I've never even worked somewhere long enough that I even earned any sort of leave. Apparently failure to provide all that information will disqualify me. FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF. Please somebody who has gone through this process tell me what to do. I was considering just attaching my grad school transcript and explaining my situation in the email.

Also, will somebody advise me on government agency interviews? What specifically should I prepare for?

Pompous Rhombus
Mar 11, 2007
So when I get to check "yes" for

quote:

Are you eligible for a noncompetitive appointment to the Federal government under authorities for the severely disabled; certain Vietnam era and disabled veterans; returned volunteer from the Peace Corps or Vista, etc.?

, how does that work in the hiring process? It also gives me the option to select

quote:

I am a status candidate and I also want to be considered under the competitive process.

, which I assume I should check as well. But I'm curious how the non-competitive thing affects my application, when there are also applicants applying competitively.

Sundae
Dec 1, 2005
Ahh, I forgot how fun ApplicationManager is. You submit everything, it accepts it all, you check all the checklists to confirm that they say 'submitted'...


...and then you come back two weeks later on a whim, to find out that the job opening is closed, and that your application was rejected without notification because ApplicationManager decided to wipe every loving attachment you gave it.

It even eliminated my resume. Every single thing was gone except for the questionnaire.

So much for USPTO this year. :(

JohnnyHildo
Jul 23, 2002

Pompous Rhombus posted:

So when I get to check "yes" for


, how does that work in the hiring process? It also gives me the option to select


, which I assume I should check as well. But I'm curious how the non-competitive thing affects my application, when there are also applicants applying competitively.

Under a noncompetitive hiring authority you can be appointed directly into the job without competing against others on a cert if you are qualified for the position. Under a competitive hiring authority, you must compete with the other applicants. If you qualify for both authorities, you should apply for both.

Sirotan
Oct 17, 2006

Sirotan is a seal.


Has anyone filled out the questionnaires for the CEP yet? How long did it take you and what kind of questions did they ask?

Edit: Nevermind, I decided to get off my lazy rear end and just get it over with instead of pushing it back another day.

Sirotan fucked around with this message at 02:09 on Aug 3, 2010

Gin and Juche
Apr 3, 2008

The Highest Judge of Paradise
Shiki Eiki
YAMAXANADU

Sirotan posted:

Has anyone filled out the questionnaires for the CEP yet? How long did it take you and what kind of questions did they ask?

It was pretty straight forward. Mostly about your experiences like "Do you have working experience on projects taking upwards of six months" or "Have you ever led a team on a short term project" and other stuff.

Sirotan
Oct 17, 2006

Sirotan is a seal.


Gravel Gravy posted:

It was pretty straight forward. Mostly about your experiences like "Do you have working experience on projects taking upwards of six months" or "Have you ever led a team on a short term project" and other stuff.

Thanks. I was mostly dragging my feet because I was dreading open-ended questions that would require long essay answers.

Also, these are the best kinds of questions:


3. Please fill in "A" for this question.

A This is the correct response.

Pompous Rhombus
Mar 11, 2007

Sundae posted:

Ahh, I forgot how fun ApplicationManager is. You submit everything, it accepts it all, you check all the checklists to confirm that they say 'submitted'...


...and then you come back two weeks later on a whim, to find out that the job opening is closed, and that your application was rejected without notification because ApplicationManager decided to wipe every loving attachment you gave it.

It even eliminated my resume. Every single thing was gone except for the questionnaire.

So much for USPTO this year. :(

I wonder if this is why the CEP had us e-mail everything and said not to upload any documents to ApplicationManager.

JohnnyHildo posted:

Under a noncompetitive hiring authority you can be appointed directly into the job without competing against others on a cert if you are qualified for the position. Under a competitive hiring authority, you must compete with the other applicants. If you qualify for both authorities, you should apply for both.

How do they figure the quota of non-competitive hires versus competitive? Would they take every eligible non-competitive before they started looking at competitive applications? OTOH, going through that questionnaire I was beginning to feel a bit inadequate at parts. I almost wish there were essay questions, so I could say "No, but here's why I think that I could...".

Gravel Gravy posted:

It was pretty straight forward. Mostly about your experiences like "Do you have working experience on projects taking upwards of six months" or "Have you ever led a team on a short term project" and other stuff.

I was going to put it off until the weekend, until my boss came and dumped a whole heap of bullshit on me today at work this morning. Came right home, fixed myself lunch, and plowed straight through the whole questionnaire, e-mailed the HR lady a few more questions I had, then started on another job application.

(Normally my job is just a dull, low-level ache that I can tune out, so this provided some much needed stimulus.)

Gin and Juche
Apr 3, 2008

The Highest Judge of Paradise
Shiki Eiki
YAMAXANADU

Pompous Rhombus posted:

I wonder if this is why the CEP had us e-mail everything and said not to upload any documents to ApplicationManager.

Did they say that? I uploaded mine and the application looks fine. Should I remove the documents just in case?

Pompous Rhombus
Mar 11, 2007

Gravel Gravy posted:

Did they say that? I uploaded mine and the application looks fine. Should I remove the documents just in case?

The lady who emailed me mentioned it. I got an automated out-of-office response with some FAQ-type answers on it, according to that if you've already uploaded them don't bother to take them down, but they'll be using the documents you originally submitted by email.

Kase Im Licht
Jan 26, 2001
How do they check up on your answers to the questions they ask? Will they look at your resume and see if they could possibly be true? Ask in the interview?

What about questions without objective answers? "Your coworkers would rate your math skills as: Superior, good, okay, bad." Is there any reason not to put the best answer every time for these?

Sirotan
Oct 17, 2006

Sirotan is a seal.


Kase Im Licht posted:

How do they check up on your answers to the questions they ask? Will they look at your resume and see if they could possibly be true? Ask in the interview?

What about questions without objective answers? "Your coworkers would rate your math skills as: Superior, good, okay, bad." Is there any reason not to put the best answer every time for these?

From what I've heard for some jobs you won't even be considered unless you have a score of 95 or above. You want to put the highest (best) response for every question you can if possible. Just remember you can take experiences from school, clubs, social activities, hobbies, etc to answer the questions.

Last night I filled out the assessment for passport specialist. I had already applied to a similar position 6 months ago and it had stored my score from that test: 93. I decided to try it again to hopefully get a better score. I hope I made the right choice. :ohdear:

JohnnyHildo
Jul 23, 2002

Pompous Rhombus posted:

How do they figure the quota of non-competitive hires versus competitive? Would they take every eligible non-competitive before they started looking at competitive applications? OTOH, going through that questionnaire I was beginning to feel a bit inadequate at parts. I almost wish there were essay questions, so I could say "No, but here's why I think that I could...".

There is no quota for non-competitive hires, it's just an alternative list that the hiring manager can hire someone from. I was recently on a hiring team and we got to choose from candidates on a merit promotion list, Schedule A (non-competitive), and a public list. We hired for four positions, but there was no requirement that a certain number be taken from any one list. We called in one individual who was eligible under Schedule A because she looked to be a good candidate. She ended up bombing the interview. We didn't call anyone else who was eligible under Schedule A because they weren't particularly compelling. The other Schedule A candidates were only minimally-qualified for the position.

I should point out that you're not limited to applying for, or being considered under various hiring authorities. Several applicants were on both the merit promotion list and the public list. You're best off applying under as many hiring authorities as you are qualified for.

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Digital Prophet
Apr 16, 2006

"..and then came the black crow, herald of doom, who foretold the coming of death."


Sirotan posted:

From what I've heard for some jobs you won't even be considered unless you have a score of 95 or above. You want to put the highest (best) response for every question you can if possible. Just remember you can take experiences from school, clubs, social activities, hobbies, etc to answer the questions.

Last night I filled out the assessment for passport specialist. I had already applied to a similar position 6 months ago and it had stored my score from that test: 93. I decided to try it again to hopefully get a better score. I hope I made the right choice. :ohdear:


Years ago when I applied for the first time for an IRS gig, I answered these questions as honestly as possible, thinking there might be some kind of aptitude test or something later on. Nope. What actually happens is that the hiring list is made from the top X applicants, where X is how many positions they need to fill. Then your self-evaluation proficiency scores are used to create your initial ranking score. Then they never ever look at those ever again. Most of the people I initially trained with and started working with just answered the maximum (5) for each answer. Most of them didn't bother reading the questions.

Since then i've learned this is standard operating procedure. You would think that 40 people all applying for a job with 100% self evals would raise some kind of flag, but you would be wrong.

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