Career Guides >> Browse Articles >> Government Job Search
15 Tips for Acing Federal Job Applications
Featured Author:
Lily Whiteman | Federal Career Coach
Lily Whiteman is the author of the new, critically acclaimed How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job (Amacom Books). She is also the careers columnist of Federal Times, a Washington Post contributor, and an award-winning writer at the U.S. National Science Foundation. Lily has helped hundreds of government professionals of all levels land jobs and earn promotions.
Lily dispenses the kind of practical, insider advice you never learned in school, your friends don't know and your boss won't tell you. Her advice is based on years and years of experience helping hundreds of feds land new jobs and promotions and on interviews with 100+ hiring managers.
You can purchase her book here. Don't forget to check out Lily's website, http://igotthejob.net/.
Lily Whiteman | Federal Career Coach
15. NEGOTIATE SALARIES:
Don’t buy into the myth that federal salaries are non-negotiable. One of the best kept federal jobs secrets is that salaries and other benefits – such as access to student loan repayment programs that are worth up to $60,000 – are frequently negotiable. So whenever you receive an offer, ask: “Is this offer negotiable?” And justify why your stellar credentials warrant a salary that is higher than was originally offered by your target organization.
Need more tips? Visit GovCentral’s <a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/benefits/articles/3829-resume-center”>resume center.
Maverick
4 months ago
6 comments
Your local unemployment office can direct you to a manual that translates military career information to civilian jargon. Even if you have never been in the military this will help you with terms that both Fed and Civilian HRs will be looking for in your resume. I applied for a job and the HR person told me I was not qualified. When he told me what he was looking for I pointed those areas out in my resume but they were in milspeak. I redid my resume with the terms he was looking for and was hired.
nsticka
4 months ago
6 comments
Well you cant blame me for trying. I left a message for the supervisor of the HR dept and because she said it was an easy position to fill and there are alot of applicants that can fill this position, there is no justification to bring me in over a step 1. Only way to bring me in higher is if it was a technical job or nursing position. I realize to move up in the fed system, being a non fed, you need at least a masters degree or know someone on the inside.
nsticka
4 months ago
6 comments
Well looks like it is impossible to talk to the selecting official since they are out of town. Also they dont have any input or the ablility to change the salary offer. Since it all comes from HR, they are the gatekeepers. So unfortunately I am between a rock and hard place as I do want to work for the federal government but then I have feelings that I am not being valued enough to where they would only give me an entry level position at GS-5.
nsticka
4 months ago
6 comments
Well I bought the book from Ms. Whiteman and after reading salary negotiations, I felt I was ready to apply her concepts. I was offered a position with the VA as I have extensive working experience pertinent to the position, bachelor degree, and maintained a B average (all strengths to bring up from the book). The grade I was offered I am fine with but the step 1 level, I am not. I called the HR dept and asked for reconsideration of my salary and reconsideration due to what I mentioned above and also tried to negotiate some of the benefits such as advance pay, accelerated vacation accrual, etc. Both HR specialist never heard of such things and trying to negotiate my salary is in the fail mode. I asked for the name of the selecting official but was given the wrong name so that doesnt do me any good.
I know I will not get rich working for the VA and federal gov't, in general, but I would like them to at least match my previous salary (at the minimum).
My next move will be to talk to the supervisor of the HR dept and see if I can meet them in person to discuss this.
Anyone have any experience with trying to renegotiate their salary?
jmcalli
6 months ago
18 comments
Excellent advice. I know this isn't always possible or practical, but I think being known by people at my current workplace helped me in getting hired. "Face time" is a valuable addition to any application process (assuming you make a good impression).
BILLIE
6 months ago
2 comments
Looking for the right job? Have a professional resume writer put it in perspective for you. Yes, it
might cost some, however; if the position is between you and someone else, guess who will get
the job due to presentation, easy reading, quality, and overlooked questions deemed necessary by business protocol. Point #2: My business prepares you for #1 and #2 in how to act and react in your interview. Could it be tax deductable?
pamela_kurowski
7 months ago
2 comments
This was extremely helpful to me as a student about to graduate from a masters program.
aslam
7 months ago
4 comments
This is the kind of advice that should be taught collage so our future employees will have of the interviewing process.some i already knew ,but a few i was unaware of
jlogue
10 months ago
2 comments
This is the kind of advice that should be taught in high school, so our future employees will have a better view of the interviewing process. Some I already knew, but a few I was unaware of.
lowjax
10 months ago
2 comments
Excellent. It should be part of your conscious thought process. These 15 are part of your war plan to set your mind state
mono
10 months ago
2 comments
nothing
agcoleman
10 months ago
4 comments
Maybe be somewhat helpful...