NPR: Why are federal jobs such a PITA to apply for?

belle204

I feel like I may have to give them a blood sample too.

EliseB0323

Probably not blood, but maybe urine.

They are a PITA to apply for, because so many people want them. Once you learn the "system" though, it's not that hard, and once you are in the government, it's easier to move around to different jobs. Is there something in particular you are having trouble with?

GinandTonic

IMO, it's because they almost always have someone in mind for the position, but are obligated to open it to the public.

My husband's a fed - and has applied for jobs within the system a few times (and I've applied for a few myself).  Those KSAs suck.

EliseB0323

GinandTonic:

IMO, it's because they almost always have someone in mind for the position, but are obligated to open it to the public.

My husband's a fed - and has applied for jobs within the system a few times (and I've applied for a few myself).  Those KSAs suck.

Most of the time agencies aren't obligated to open jobs to the public. Most jobs can be open only to agency employees or only to current government employees. Yeah, KSAs suck.

GinandTonic

I feel like if they're open to the public, it's because they have a specific "civilian" in mind for the position, but can't just hire him/her, so they let EVERYONE waste their time applying just so they can pick the person they want.  It's like tailoring a proposal for a certain contractor.

I think it's all about knowing someone.  But, once you're in, you're in...

DesignerMama

I'd like to know what doing business WITH the gov't sucks to bad too? I've been working on activating our account for more than a month now, am currently registering on the fourth website, and our account still isn't active.?

I guess this is how they weed out those who are serious and those who aren't. But it blows. ?

EliseB0323

GinandTonic:

I feel like if they're open to the public, it's because they have a specific "civilian" in mind for the position, but can't just hire him/her, so they let EVERYONE waste their time applying just so they can pick the person they want.  It's like tailoring a proposal for a certain contractor.

I think it's all about knowing someone.  But, once you're in, you're in...

Yes, sometimes jobs are "preselected." It's not supposed to be that way, but sometimes it is. But I don't think this is the case the majority of the time. One of the big hurdles for jobs that are open to the public is that veterans often have preference over non-government employees. I've hired lots of non-governmental people into the government, and it's not easy to get past the veterans and other candidates who are displaced from other government jobs. Contractors sometimes have an edge simply because they have done the job similar to the one advertised for a government agency. Obviously, you are going to pick the person with the most experience in the job you are hiring for.

belle204

Elise, no particular thing. It's just so meticulous and I always feel overwhelmed just reading the posting. I think they've weeded me out. ;-)