usajobs.gov

[sethcros]

I applied to a few jobs on usajobs.gov today, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with getting a job off of that site. Thanks in advance.

[TradHunter]

Yup. Do you have particular questions about the process?

[sethcros]

Yup. Do you have particular questions about the process?

I was just wondering if anyone had any success. I'd applied a few times in the past and never heard anything. I guess this was actually a pretty unfocused thread I started lol.

[Bowhuntamistad]

They are weird....sometimes I have heard back instantly and others not for months. The job I have right now, it was literally 1 1/2 years with no contact after submission, then a random email asking when I could start LOL!

[TradHunter]

Currently work for the USDA. The process is stringent. Resume is not the same as private industry. If you do not put every detailed key word, then your resume will not make it through the system. It is best to read the job description and tailor your federal resume to the job. I write my resume in paragraph format and I use the maximum word limit to ensure my resume gets through. Use the language in the job description. I am on my second job in the government. Cover letter is just as important, does not matter what GS level it is. On average, it takes roughly 4 weeks when HR sends out notifications of referral to the hiring manager but USA jobs will not update until someone gets hired.

[TradHunter]

They are weird....sometimes I have heard back instantly and others not for months. The job I have right now, it was literally 1 1/2 years with no contact after submission, then a random email asking when I could start LOL!

1.5 years! Wow. That is crazy. I guess it depends on how bad and fast they want to fill a position.

[sethcros]

Dang. Now I feel like I wasted my time. I just used my normal resume. I didn't customize it for the jobs based on the announcements

[twistedmidnite]

I applied for a couple off there and got immediate response but a couple weeks later got email saying the jobs were no longer available due to dod budget cuts (thank you Obama)

[Limbwalker]

Every single position at every location is unique, unless you're applying for a nationwide advertisement. Always best to call the location and try to speak to the selecting official.

My daughter has 40+ applications in USAJOBS at the moment, and she's only been contacted once. Right now is the worst I've ever seen it. More young people and veterans applying than ever before. Some positions are having 100+ people apply. This is a case, like our state hunt drawings, where the internet has actually made it TOO easy for people to apply for things.

When it was all paper, people had to work a little more and actually think about which jobs they really wanted. Now, selecting officials and HR dept's have to wade through hundreds of electronic applications. I don't envy them at all.

Good luck and don't forget to do your KSA's!

[TradHunter]

More young people and veterans applying than ever before. Some positions are having 100+ people apply.

They are starting to limit the applications on some. Some times they can only take the first 30 apps or similar due to the volume of applications.

[Limbwalker]

They are starting to limit the applications on some. Some times they can only take the first 30 apps or similar due to the volume of applications.

That's good, but the new system sucks since everyone is an expert at everything. This self-rating nonsense is killing the process. The biggest liars win and the most honest lose. Every time.

[Froggy]

I was involved in the hiring process for a couple of federal jobs before I retired.

If you are a white male and a non veteran you probably won't make the cert.

We had well and overly qualified applicants who had no chance due to affirmative action. It's not fair but it is reality and the law.

My suggestion is if you have any native american blood in your family go ahead and claim you are. It's up to the gov't to prove you are not Native American. They won't bother. You don't have to be a tribal member.

I worked with several folks who looked like they were from Denmark who were hired because of supposed Indian blood.

Or you could claim you are transgender and you'll be a shoe-in.

[Hunter_Man]

I'm a gg employee at goodfellow afb. Make sure the resume you submit against the job had a LOT of words that are in the job description. The first step is an automated process that screens applicants. If you don't have keywords from your resume your application will not get forwarded to the hiring officials for consideration.

I can tell you from personal experience that some of the jobs posted are only posted just to make sure they legally have posted it. Meaning... Some of the jobs have either been filled already or they already know who they are hiring.

[Hunter_Man]

And groggy is incorrect on one part. I work in a job where we all have security clearances. We just hired a college grad at a gs 12 pay scale with no clearance. It happens.

[Limbwalker]

I was involved in the hiring process for a couple of federal jobs before I retired.

If you are a white male and a non veteran you probably won't make the cert.

We had well and overly qualified applicants who had no chance due to affirmative action. It's not fair but it is reality and the law.

My suggestion is if you have any native american blood in your family go ahead and claim you are. It's up to the gov't to prove you are not Native American. They won't bother. You don't have to be a tribal member.

I worked with several folks who looked like they were from Denmark who were hired because of supposed Indian blood.

Or you could claim you are transgender and you'll be a shoe-in.

Wow. That's quite an interesting take. To your point on the veteran status, I can't disagree. But the race - no. There is no way for a selecting official to know that unless they ask, and they are not allowed to ask. Gender, possibly because of the name, but still I've not seen what you're talking about, and I've either been the selecting official or involved in literally dozens of hires.

Right now, the job market is just saturated with young college graduates looking for jobs, plus so many returning veterans looking for jobs. It's a new day in the job market. I can't recall seeing anything like this in the past 25 years.