Career Guides >> Browse Articles >> Government Job Search
Six Common Myths of Federal Job Hunting
Most federal job seekers spend a majority of their time hunting for positions online, using websites such as USAJOBS.
Shannon Kelly & Dan DeMaio | Monster.com
According to the Office of Personnel Management, in the next 10 years, 60 percent of federal workers will be retiring in the next 10 years. There is plenty of opportunity, but job seekers need to remember that the process for landing a job with the federal government is radically different than what they may be used to in the private sector.
We’ve compiled six common myths job seekers believe when going for that government job, based on calls and emails to the USAJOBS customer support team and feedback from federal recruiters.
Myth 1: “Enrolling in a Federal Jobs Seminar or Buying Job Listings Will Get Me Hired”
Myth 2: “I Can Breeze Through These Screening Questions”
Myth 3: “The Feds Can Translate My Private Sector Resume into Their Format”
Myth 4: “I Don’t Need to Mail/Fax in Those Forms”
Myth 5: “My Application Disappeared into the Black Hole of Government”
Myth 6: “The Recruiter Will Figure Out If I’m Qualified”
kickedout
over 4 years ago
12 comments
I have written the white house about the government hiring process and I am still waiting for an answer. The major question that I ask them was why do they allow the people in charge of sections to do the hiring for that section. What do you think they are going to hire? Of course they are going to fill their positions with friends and family. They may hire a friend of a friend to incur favors from the friend but when you are not one of these people you are screwed. I have been trying to get hired into a government position for the last 12 years. I am a military veteran of 22 years. I have just recently received my bachelors degree in business with a 3.27 GPA and I am getting passed over for positions that require a GED. How much can you tailor your resume and cover letter? bforbes is right. The people doing the hiring in government agencies today are in those positions due to their longevity and I do not think that they can match up to the requirements that they set forth for the people that are to work under them. Are human resources people from the 60" and 70' more intelligent than human resources people? Why do I have to tailor my resume to get your attention? Cant they comprehend what they are reading. Yes I am talking about the private sector now. Since I graduated in Nov 2009 I have submitted hundreds of resumes with only two actual interviews. By the way I am six foot six, 350 pounds and black. Why am I telling you this well you have to see the faces of the interviewers to understand. State government id even worse then the other two. So from now on it is the federal government forced retirement or entrepreneurship. Can someone loan my Ten grand to get started?
tekctrl
almost 5 years ago
24 comments
The federal employment system is a SHAM! I retired from the USAF in '89 after spending 20 years working in telecomm, up to and including systems design and program mgmt. I hold a Masters degree from Webster in Computer Sysems mgmt. I held a spotless TS clearance until it expired for lack of work. I've had applictions on file without interruption since '89 for dozens and dozens of different computer systems positions, yet I've actually only gotten to ONE interview. Following that interview, the job description was pulled and re-written ... not surprisingly, I no longer qualified. You can't tell me that the vast majority of positions are not filled by candidates who're selected before the position is ever advertised. Federal law says that positions have to be advertised. It doesn't say that the positions can't be filled with pre-selected candidates or that job descriptions can't be written such that the pre-selected candidate becomes the only possible choice. Unless you're good buddies with a civilian employee with hiring authority, don't waste your time.
cespin
almost 5 years ago
2 comments
bet most of the things in that article are wishfull thinking on the part of the government, Like Chuck says I too have met some real morons in Federal service and I can't for an instant believe they went through all the hassles to get their jobs. if the gov wants quality employees they should have to kiss my rear instead of the other way around.
msvicky
almost 5 years ago
6 comments
This is something that I definitely believed. I know better now.
wbeal
almost 5 years ago
2 comments
Most Federal job descriptions appear to expect candidates to walk on water, yet I've met alot of morons in Federal Service. Really feel that many are hired under the table and don't measure up to the official job and qualification statements published in the official record.
chuck6050
over 5 years ago
4 comments
Here are my comments: 1. Redefine position requirements so that all postioions do not required PHD"s. 2. Redefine positions so that those working in civilian sector do not have to guess what it means to "have at least one year experience in the next lower grade"....3. ALL federal jobs need to advertise on ONE platform, use ONE format, use ONE format for submitting required documentation (which also needs ot be listed in the advertisement). 4. How about listing positions by hiring agency and associate all position requirements, responsibilities, and all associated day to day activities so that applicants can accurately match skills to activites.
JoV
over 5 years ago
4 comments
I agree that while USAjobs has improved, there are still a lot of things that could be done to make it easier on both ends.
Why can't you submit your transcripts electronically- when you fax them, it's not like you're getting an original in the first place, and a fax isn't less likely to be falsified (if that's the concern). Doing things like making the whole process digital would more than likely make it a cleaner process for the recruiter as well as the applicant.
cmays59
over 5 years ago
2 comments
The revamping of the USA jobs website are very nicely done, and work well. The one thing I miss having available is the ability to sort by grade.... that doesn't work properly anymore. As for what else can be done, make all federal agencies post all open positions, from agency-only to public on usajobs.gov, (I know for a fact that the VA doesn't do it); get an affidavit form for electronic signatures set up so we don't have to print out, sign and scan in all these papers, thus making it paperless on our end also. Fix application manager too, so it will let us view the docs, emails and submissions... an .asp error is not on our end, that is a programming error on application manager's side - plus, there is no valid email address or link to contact any tech support in the help area there either - using what is in the help file equals a 404 error. Thank you.
bridgestx
over 5 years ago
2 comments
Allow resumes in all formats or cut/paste for a specific application. Hiring someone besides a Phd for positions that only pay$30 to $50,000 a year. Use someone that understands what a college degree actually is, the computer constantly states not qualified on Education, however I do have a Bachelors Degree from a accredited college..
srlucas
over 5 years ago
2 comments
Use one standardardized application such as Application Manager for all government agencies and sub agencies which would be routed directly through OPM.
mrsafetyman
over 5 years ago
2 comments
Mandate that all agencies recruit through the same site........NO EXCEPTIONS.
Conduct the entire application process on one site with no secondary sites, such as Application Manager..............................................................................,again, NO EXCEPTIONS
Limit the application process to resumes only.
Hold the need for supporting documents, such as veterans documents to a later phase of the selection process.
Train777
over 5 years ago
2 comments
What a convoluted process that is a total waste of time. There sholud be a much more abbreviated process with minimum requirements before someone is asked to divulge their life history ---usually in vain!!! A minor missing detail can mean disqualification before the process is even started. The rules are way over the top to try and please everyone. If a candidiate is ALREADY identified, then don't waste people's time fishing for extra "dead bait". It just pisses somebody off when an announcement is only good for a week. It is very confusing when electronic applications AREN'T ACCEPTED, yet you expect someone to Overnight an application (at $10+/pop) that may or may not get viewed. It is a big turn off to see a job description the size of a small novel that is mostly exaggerated with infinitesmal KSA's.
SSWEEDEN
over 5 years ago
4 comments
J HAVE TRIED OVER A YEAR TO GET A JOB WITH TSA. I WAITED AND WAITED AND WAITED --- FINALLY I RECEIVED AN OK TO TAKE THE TEST BUT UNFORTUNATELY THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH SPACES TO TAKE THE TEST. I HAD FIRST SAID THAT I WOULD LIKE TO WORK A MCCARRAN AIRPORT IN LAS VEGAS --- KNOWING THAT THERE WAS LITTLE CHANCE, I CALLED TSA H ELP DESK AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT ANOTHER APPLICATION. I DID THIS AND EACH TIME I CALLED THE HELP DESK THEY SAID THAT I ONLY HAVE THE APPLICATION FOR MCCARRAN AND THAT THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE THE 2ND APPLICATION WENT. ONE TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS OUT THERE SOMEWHERE. O DID FINALLY GET ANOTHER APPLICATION THRU AND THEN THE REP ASKED ME IF I HAD PRINTED A RELEASE OF INFO AND AN OK FOR A CREDIT CHECK. TO CLEAR UP ALL OF THIS "BULL SHIT" WE KNOW THAT THE POSTAL SYSTEM IS VERY ANCIENT AND OCCUPYING BUILDINGS THAT OVER BUILT, UNDERUSED AND FALLING APART. MAINTAIN SMALLER AREAS FOR THE POST OFFICES AND MAINTAIN A LARGER AREA FOR GOVERNMENT HELP CENTERS FOR EMPLOYEMENT. LET US SPEAK TO PEOPLE DIRECTLY AND RECEIVE HELP TO FILL OUT THESE OVER HIDEOUS APPLICATION. LET US EITHER FILL OUT APPLLICATIOLNS VIA COMPUTER OR HANDWRITE ON A PAPER APPLICATION AND SCAN IT INTO THE SYSTEM. ALSO, IF WE FILE A N ACCEPTABLE APPLICATION WE SHOULD BE NOTIFIED AND IS ADDED INFO IS NEEDED HELP WITH THE COMPLETION. ALSO, SOME OF THESE JOBS HAVE SECURITY CLEARANCE AND YOU CANNOT APPLY ON LINE AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT A CERTAIN WAY AND IF YOU DON'T DO IT EXACTLY YOU WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE POSITION. IT SEEMS LIKE THE GOVERNMENT ARE SETTING PEOPLE UP TO FAIL AND BELIEVE ME, IF I HAD GOT A JOB THE LAST TIME THAT MCCARRAN AIRPORT HAD HIRED PEOPLE I WOULD NOT BE FILING BANKRUPTCY. I WOULD LOVE TO BE PART OF THE GROUP THAT REINVENTS THE POST OFFICES I NTO A VIABLE GOVERNMENT SITE DESIGNED FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND ENCOURAGE SUCCESS AND STOP PROMOTING DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, FEELING OF LOST HOPE. GIVE US A CHANCE TO BE EMPLOYED --- BEING ABLE TO ONCE AGAIN ENJOY LIFE, BECOMING A GREAT AMERICAN AND THE ABILITY TO SPEND AND SUPPORT THE ECONOMY. HELP US HELP OURSELVES. I LOVE MY COUNTRY, HELP ME TO HELP MYSELF AND TO ONCE AGAIN LOVE MY COUNTRY TO THE DEGREE I USED TO.
dsmith7256
over 5 years ago
2 comments
Have all Federal agencies use the same application format. It is irritating to use different processes from the BLM, NPS ot the Dept of Defence. Unifying thing could even sve millions of dollars.
sextonmarc
over 5 years ago
2 comments
You know a lot has been written here and my conviction is that it wont do or make a single difference to those who control the process. In fact it has been my experience that most of Gov attempts at streamlining change, systematicly increace the amount of time it takes to get something done. The excuse is always the same "well, don't we need to know this, that and the other thing, oh, right we need that too, but if we have that we're going to need the other thing and so on!" Look, post the job, post the requirements, take the resumes, review them, make selections, interview, hire, one week! Pretty simple. Impliment it and be done! Its a wonder anything gets done in Gov!