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Gawain The Blind posted: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. And here I was being honest on those things. Silly me.
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Aug 4, 2010 01:37
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Gravel Gravy posted:And here I was being honest on those things. Silly me. You and me both. Admittedly, this was for a GS3 clerk gig. Maybe they didn't care. But other employees i've talked to told me that's what everyone does. A lot of them laughed when I told them I filled it out honestly, and I got the  "sigh, noobs" look.
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Aug 4, 2010 01:45
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JohnnyHildo posted: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. Thanks for explaining that, makes perfect sense.
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Aug 4, 2010 02:20
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Gawain The Blind posted:You and me both. Admittedly, this was for a GS3 clerk gig. Maybe they didn't care. But other employees i've talked to told me that's what everyone does. A lot of them laughed when I told them I filled it out honestly, and I got the gently caress me that's annoying...and infuriating to a degree. Well I got my NOR for the archivist development program...apparently I didn't meet the education requirements, despite my degree and background being line for line what they were asking for in the job posting as well as when I met with a rep at the career fair. Oh well, here's to next time.
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Aug 5, 2010 00:57
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Four words: Federal Career Intern Program Make that part of your job search.
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Aug 10, 2010 00:08
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So, in case any of you are interested in what languages federal employers are searching resumes for:code:
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Aug 10, 2010 18:06
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I was really hoping to see more science-inclined people here. The scant listings for entry-ish level environmental/biologist jobs in my area or any perspective move area is really discouraging. I've looked at USGS, EPA, Fish and Wildlife, you name it. They're all 80 to 100+k jobs with years of experience and swagger to even have a chance at snagging. Is this business as usual or just the cliche economical toll?
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Aug 10, 2010 18:07
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That's about it usually. When I was looking a few years ago, it was either 80-100K or 27-33K. Nothing in between.
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Aug 10, 2010 18:45
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Pompous Rhombus posted:So, in case any of you are interested in what languages federal employers are searching resumes for: Third on the list and only one interview. This poo poo sucks. 
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Aug 10, 2010 22:33
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Urdu is spoken in Pakistan so the jobs listed are probably military or Department of Defense and may not be open to civilians. Also, Persian and Farsi are listed several times in that list. Persian and Farsi are the exact same thing. Dari is an older form of persian that is spoken in Afghanistan. Pashto also has some similarities (spoken in Afghanistan and some parts of Iran). If you combine all the instances of Persian and Farsi, it easily becomes the second or first most sought after language. The problem with foreign languages is that only certain departments are really interested in them. The foreign service, FBI, military, and CIA are probably at the top of the list. No one else hires a significant number of entry-level employees.
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Aug 11, 2010 01:06
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Anybody know anything about working for the FAA or the Army Corps of Engineers?
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Aug 13, 2010 15:02
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I just recently finally got a job offer with the Federal Government, which the position will be in Downtown DC. 200+ applications, 7 interviews, and 2 years on USAJOBS finally landed me one job offer that I only need to get my life started! I'll be relocating from South Carolina. It probably helped that I had a Schedule A letter to help me to land more interviews. I'm a born deaf individual, by the way. My major was in Business Administration from Winthrop University.
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Aug 13, 2010 20:46
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Silent Nature posted:I just recently finally got a job offer with the Federal Government, which the position will be in Downtown DC. 200+ applications, 7 interviews, and 2 years on USAJOBS finally landed me one job offer that I only need to get my life started! I hope it was a final offer and not a conditional letter.....
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Aug 13, 2010 23:24
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Evil SpongeBob posted:I hope it was a final offer and not a conditional letter..... They gave me an EOD of September 27, 2010 for my first day. They are doing my background check right now. Wouldn't it be wise for me to start on my relocation now rather than later? I want to be prepared at least with an apartment around in Northern Virginia area by September 1st. My manager already talked with me about the training and accommodations as well. Silent Nature fucked around with this message at 01:38 on Aug 14, 2010 |
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Aug 14, 2010 00:56
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My fiance is a leasing consultant in Crystal City (a block from the Pentagon City metro, so very convenient) at a nice building if you need a line on something; there are a lot of federal employees and contractors living there. PM me if you're interested.
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Aug 14, 2010 01:27
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Silent Nature posted:They gave me an EOD of September 27, 2010 for my first day. They are doing my background check right now. Wouldn't it be wise for me to start on my relocation now rather than later? If it's a DOD position, make sure you're not being BRAC'd out to Fort Meade or Aberdeen in the next four years.
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Aug 14, 2010 06:47
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Silent Nature posted:I just recently finally got a job offer with the Federal Government, which the position will be in Downtown DC. 200+ applications, 7 interviews, and 2 years on USAJOBS finally landed me one job offer that I only need to get my life started! Lucky bastard! Congrats! South Carolina is the pits. Care to give any details about who the job is with or what it is?
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Aug 14, 2010 06:55
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Quick, give me tips on interviewing with the NGA! edit: So glad I signed into Skype 30 minutes early. It's one minute before my interview time and I still haven't been contacted by the tech setup peeps. The suspense is making me want to pull my hair out. double edit: skype interviews are weird. I think it went sort of well, though! CherryCola fucked around with this message at 18:08 on Aug 14, 2010 |
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Aug 14, 2010 15:25
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Gawain The Blind posted:
Can you give some advice on how to get on board with the IRS? I've done tax preparation for 5 years (individual & entity). Am eligible for the CPA (failed first try on a section) I've tried applying a couple of times but no luck so far.
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Aug 15, 2010 01:50
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It is still a long long process to try to get lucky with a referral at least on USAJOBS. It just takes a lot of effort and determination.
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Aug 15, 2010 04:46
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Siegfried posted:Can you give some advice on how to get on board with the IRS? I've done tax preparation for 5 years (individual & entity). Am eligible for the CPA (failed first try on a section) I've tried applying a couple of times but no luck so far. What are you applying for? Anyone can get a GS 4 or lower gig with the IRS at any time (assuming they are hiring) unless you have bad tax history (even then you probably still can). Your credentials actually wouldn't even help you get a GS 4 or lower job because they won't look at them, they don't care at that level. If you are applying for a GS 5 or higher GS job, and you don't already work for them or another federal agency, and you aren't a veteran or a disabled person, then you will need to push your experience like crazy, though it probably won't help. It seems like education is weighted a little higher than experience, but neither one of them makes a difference if you are applying against people who already work for the IRS. If you are applying for a Non GS position, (IR senior executive or whatever) then your experience will be more important (assuming you are applying for a position that will utilize it) but again, if you are applying against people who already work there, you likely won't get the job, even if you are imminently more qualified. Also for the IR band, they will require a lot more education and or experience. Honestly you should quit thinking of it like you're applying for a normal job because you aren't. Chances are your application is going through a process where no one is even looking at your resume, they're only looking at your self-eval scores and your previous federal experience, if any. Then they throw out everyone who has a self-eval score of less than 95%. Then they're putting your application on the "Pile of people who do not work for the IRS currently" and then they're filling the quota with the other pile. If any openings are left, they pull from your pile, and it's probably alphabetical by last name rather than anything that makes sense (like previous experience). You basically just have to keep applying for everything that falls within a pay scale you can make your rent or mortgage with, and hope that there are enough openings that you slide in.* After that you start working your way up internally until you arrive at the job you originally should have gotten. *I don't actually know if this is the process, but it sure seems like it. Edit: Once you get to the interview process (if the job you are applying for requires an interview) THEN your experience WILL be important. Digital Prophet fucked around with this message at 13:03 on Aug 15, 2010 |
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Aug 15, 2010 12:59
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MissFortune posted:I was really hoping to see more science-inclined people here. Have you tried searching within the USDA? I work for one of that department's agencies. There are many available opportunities for people with that background/experience all over the country. Olphij fucked around with this message at 22:11 on Aug 16, 2010 |
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Aug 15, 2010 18:58
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Gravel Gravy posted:Lucky bastard! Congrats! South Carolina is the pits. Care to give any details about who the job is with or what it is? The job offer was for an Examination Technician position with the IRS. It's basically an entry level job as a tax audit aide, but I'll take whatever to get a foot in the door with the Federal Government. It's a great opportunity to get something started. There's a large percentage of employees in the IRS that is over 50 years old so it opens up a lot of possibilities for me in the future.
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Aug 16, 2010 02:24
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Olphij posted:Have you tried searching within the USDA? I work for one of that department's agencies. (You can list me in the OP, SWATJester.) There are many available opportunities for people with that background/experience all over the country. Actually, no, I haven't! There are even few in Washington state, where I want to move. It's definitely expanded my possibilities pool. Thank you for the awesome heads up.
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Aug 16, 2010 03:34
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Gawain The Blind posted:Honestly you should quit thinking of it like you're applying for a normal job because you aren't. Chances are your application is going through a process where no one is even looking at your resume, they're only looking at your self-eval scores and your previous federal experience, if any. Then they throw out everyone who has a self-eval score of less than 95%. Then they're putting your application on the "Pile of people who do not work for the IRS currently" and then they're filling the quota with the other pile. If any openings are left, they pull from your pile, and it's probably alphabetical by last name rather than anything that makes sense (like previous experience). You basically just have to keep applying for everything that falls within a pay scale you can make your rent or mortgage with, and hope that there are enough openings that you slide in.* Do you know if it is like this at the SEC and other finance/accounting heavy organizations? I plan on having my CPA shortly and reading this thread is kind of depressing. It seems like if you aren't already a federal employee its the biggest crapshoot in the world even if you fit the bill for the job.
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Aug 16, 2010 05:31
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gmilo posted:Do you know if it is like this at the SEC and other finance/accounting heavy organizations? I plan on having my CPA shortly and reading this thread is kind of depressing. It seems like if you aren't already a federal employee its the biggest crapshoot in the world even if you fit the bill for the job. I can only speak for the IRS, and even then not in any official capacity. I have never been involved in the hiring process, anything I say is just based on talking to the people I work with, and going through the same application process a bunch of times. (because like a retard I keep leaving when something "better" somewhere in the private sector opens up, only to be laid off a year later) So please don't be discouraged! Like I said, just keep applying. Apply for EVERYTHING you are even SORT OF qualified for. Most of the time, you will be surprised at how much the actual job and the job description on USAJOBS differ, because they put the broadest possible terms on USAJOBS. "They might have to use the phone a couple times for this job.. better put Office Automation Specialist on there." Also, you will get training if you are coming in from the outside, so apply for jobs you think you might like to do, even if you don't have the experience. Edit: It used to be a lot easier to get a gig at the IRS, but recent forays by the private sector into government work (thanks Clinton and Bush!) have made it very insular, and it's taught the suits at the top that it's better to have hundreds of seasonal and temp employees and only a few full time perm employees since that is how Haliburton keeps beating their bids and taking their work. This is a complete reversal of what it used to be. Incidentally, Haliburton ended up pulling out of the contract after a year because it wasn't profitable enough, but the lesson has already been learned. Digital Prophet fucked around with this message at 06:04 on Aug 16, 2010 |
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Aug 16, 2010 05:58
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Do you have have experience with obscure x/y/z proprietary government software systems to not be filtered out by the computer screener? Do people lie?
Dominoes fucked around with this message at 22:14 on Aug 16, 2010 |
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Aug 16, 2010 22:00
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Crosspost from the State/FSO thread.quote:DS Special Agent Application Period Opening Soon
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Aug 16, 2010 22:08
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Olphij (or anyone else who's willing to help a newbie), I only started looking into Federal jobs last Thursday, so I have a possibly silly question. I believe I'm what I'd be called a GS-4 in terms of my schooling. I have a Bachelor's and one year of work experience as a college lab tech. I'm seeing a few jobs in USDA up my alley that are GS-5 (require a minimum of six months of graduate school). Is it a completely moot point for me to apply for that level of job given my experience, or do they give you any wiggle room there and possibly give me the time of day? Actual question for Olphij: If you don't mind sharing, could you tell me a little bit about your particular job? I'd just like to get a light degree of what to expect. My degree is in General Biology, but I can literally go drat near anywhere with it, but my favored prospects right now are in the conservation, wildlife biologist, botanist areas.
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Aug 16, 2010 22:31
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MissFortune posted:Olphij (or anyone else who's willing to help a newbie), I only started looking into Federal jobs last Thursday, so I have a possibly silly question.
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Aug 16, 2010 22:32
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MissFortune posted:I'm seeing a few jobs in USDA up my alley that are GS-5 (require a minimum of six months of graduate school). Is it a completely moot point for me to apply for that level of job given my experience, or do they give you any wiggle room there and possibly give me the time of day? Yes. Apply anyway. Once you get a resume up on USA jobs applying is just a matter of hitting the apply button. There is no reason not to spam that poo poo.
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Aug 17, 2010 00:21
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Great! Thank you both. I'm really trying not to poo poo up your thread here with 'omg I'm a noob, plz help' here, but I've read all the help sections and what not and I was no further enlightened, and I need the advice of people familiar with Avuecentral's application process. When you get a question like this: "For the question below, please indicate the number of hours you have completed. Undergraduate level education in courses such as American history, science, or public speaking." Are they asking for the total hours of your total 'undergraduate level education' full-stop or just for the hours in the courses they've specifically asked for? Maybe it's my new allergy meds making me obtuse or something, but it just doesn't seem obvious in phrasing. MissFortune fucked around with this message at 22:15 on Aug 17, 2010 |
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Aug 17, 2010 02:27
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Homie S posted:Crosspost from the State/FSO thread. I got that e-mail too and I am waiting to hear from someone in the DS about the application and all that. Perhaps knowing what it is before I start might give me a better chance of getting scored well enough to get a call.
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Aug 17, 2010 21:56
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I was certain that my interviewer lecturing me on drug use during my security interview would spell an end to my secret clearance but today it came through! I can safely say that honesty is the best policy.
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Aug 18, 2010 01:18
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Regarding the SF 86, I have no idea whether or not the paperwork has me down for a felony or a misdemeanor. Either way, I got probation before conviction (pbj?) for a misdemeanor and ended up not receiving a conviction and the charge dismissed. The crime was a felony (half a pound of weed) but my lawyer had the government prosecutor try us for misdemeanor possession + intent. Judge turned into into probation before judgment and then everything was dropped. If I were to fill out an SF 86, was I on trial for a felony? I've tried contacting my old PO or anyone about but no one wants to talk to me. I've been hung up on, told they don't have my information anymore, and been blatantly put off. I was arrested in DC and if they don't have the worst record keeping (even during my trial, they were ridiculous), I will be amazed. Does anyone have insight? Edit: Athazagoraphobia, how honest were you?
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Aug 18, 2010 02:01
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GreenCard78 posted:Regarding the SF 86, I have no idea whether or not the paperwork has me down for a felony or a misdemeanor. Either way, I got probation before conviction (pbj?) for a misdemeanor and ended up not receiving a conviction and the charge dismissed. The crime was a felony (half a pound of weed) but my lawyer had the government prosecutor try us for misdemeanor possession + intent. Judge turned into into probation before judgment and then everything was dropped. It asks, "Have you ever been charged for a FELONY offense?" I'm sure the charge was a felony to begin with. Your lawyer probably negotiated it down, and then it was dismissed as you say.
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Aug 18, 2010 03:34
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GreenCard78 posted:Regarding the SF 86, I have no idea whether or not the paperwork has me down for a felony or a misdemeanor. Either way, I got probation before conviction (pbj?) for a misdemeanor and ended up not receiving a conviction and the charge dismissed. The crime was a felony (half a pound of weed) but my lawyer had the government prosecutor try us for misdemeanor possession + intent. Judge turned into into probation before judgment and then everything was dropped. You need to take a day off work, go to the courthouse and see what was entered into the record. Provide a certified court copy with your SF-86. Do the work for the investigator which will significantly speed up your process.
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Aug 18, 2010 04:07
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fivetwo posted:It asks, "Have you ever been charged for a FELONY offense?" Yeah, I think it's charged, not convicted. So... good luck.
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Aug 18, 2010 17:39
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The fact that it was negotiated down to probation mitigates strongly in your favor. Come clean on it dude.
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Aug 18, 2010 18:18
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Out of morbid curiosity, were you busted by the DEA?
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Aug 19, 2010 03:12
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