How to get a job as a GS?

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:38:41 -0500

My husband served 10 years in the navy. We're trying to find a way to get him back in as a government employee so he can do 10+ more years. We've searched on USAJOBS.gov and honestly, feel completely overwhelmed and like it's fighting a losing battle. He was a DK (Disbursing Clerk - now known as Personnel Specialist), and recently applied for a civilian position at Ft Benning as a Military Pay Technician. Sure, we may be biased, but he had every.single.qualification the application requested. He ultimately was selected for further review, so I guess he made it through the first round of cuts,but didn't make it any further. Upon talking to a retired army friend from church who now works as a civilian contractor at Benning, he told us that many GS jobs are filled by people who are first working as a contractor. I described the scenario above to him, and he said that "likely" what happened, is that they eventually decided to hire from internally, which could have been someone who was already a GS, or a contractor.<div> </div><div>So.... some of my information may be faulty, if so, I apologize. Point is, how the heck do you get your foot in the door for these positions? usajobs.gove is SO difficult. I tried getting a government job when I first separated from the service, and honestly, I gave up after about 2 years of no luck. What's the best way to apply for these positions, how do you find out who the contracting companies are to get in the door first as a contractor (if necessary) or how do you navigate usajobs.gov successfully without feeling like it's a complete waste of time? Has anybody on here been successful, and if so, how did you do it?</div><div> </div>

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2013 9:27 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 09:27:13 -0500

One trick is that you need to ensure your resume is
tailored to the job posting and you list every skill that they are asking for
and how you meet it.  For Government jobs a longer resume is better, but I'm no expert.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

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I have a large slide packet I will try to send you on
information I got from a VA counselor to pass around.  He also is willing to help vets prepare
better to get federal employment and his contact information is below.<o:p></o:p>

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Carl Wells<o:p></o:p>

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Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2014 1:10 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 01:10:50 -0500

MAJ Miller and you are both right. It is all about the key phrases in the resume. My wife is a GS employee. Now there are some other things to think about...there is a hiring freeze, so some of these jobs that are being posted are only being posted due to the fact that they will get priority when the freeze ends. They are not going to be filled. Next thing to think about, a disabled vet has priority. No matter how good your qualifications are if a disabled vet hits the list, he/she is automatically the top person. If your husband is not working now, I recommend that he gets hired at the commissary (GS-3 position). Once he hits his six months (re-hire eligible), he has a greater chance of getting picked up for other jobs (transfer). As a veteran he can go from a GS-3 to 15 in one day. A non-veteran has to go level by level, so this will be a huge advantage for him. This is how my wife was able to get into the GS system.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2014 2:03 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 14:03:58 -0400

Like Maj Miller  said, you need to tailor resume to the job posting.  A friend of mine paid the $400 for a class.  Basically he said resumes are read by a computer.  Your resume needs to read EXACTLY what is listed in the KSA;s (Knowledge, Skills, Attributes)  and I dont mean just showing it. I/e if the KSA reads "must have 12 months expeirence.." you cannot just list dates (Jan 2010-Jan2014) you have to actually write in your reume "I have 12 months experience..." If you copy all the KSAs and tailor it to your expierience..your resume will make the "Best qualified" and these ratings are the only ones that make it to an interview.    Once I did this, I had 2 interviews and was offered a job with in 2 mos ...I now work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made May 6 at 2019 11:41 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Mon, 06 May 2019 23:41:39 -0400

It really who you know. Army takes care of army and navy navy. 80 percent of the time. I am the perfect example. Retired cw4 and GS 12. 44 years total

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2020 11:23 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2020 23:23:33 -0400

usajobs.gov

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 3 at 2022 12:50 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 12:50:51 -0400

I really don't know crap, but it will not stop me! lol

Many contractors will get a leg up on a new position. I have seen a person in military whose position is contracted out or goes civil service, then who gets the job? The point is it happens, and you can do nothing about it. Don't worry about it.

The other point is if you two are diligent enough, some entry level will pop up. That is what you need to focus on. Get your foot in and you can do the Electric Slide later. I have painted the battlefield for both of you. This will probably not be a short battle thus you must think about your attrition. You can't get yourselves run down to the point there is no fight left in you. Pop up every morning.

Think about how to master the process for you and what nuances you can learn like perhaps the VA is easier to hire at the entry level. I think I am correct. I am making my assumption on what little I have learned about the hiring process. The fact of the matter is a job like personal finance will often have some skilled workers looking at the position thus there is competition. Course of Action Bravo is look at non personal finance positions. The battlefield has shifted.

Put some passion in the process. Passion will push you, make you better, and force you to finish and win. Readjust the battlefield and attack it with passion. Keep readjusting until you have such clarity that you become the master of the battlefield.

Keep asking questions and making posts. Sometimes you will be amazed at the depth of knowledge of the posters.