Posted on Dec 5, 2017
I have a bachelors and hopefully an MBA by ETS. Will a federal/GS position use my education or enlisted rank for qualification/salary?
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Transition
ETS/EAS
GS Civilians
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 13
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Almost hitting the mark. Your eligibility will be based on your qualifications, period. Your rank gets mentioned in your previous employment piece. Formal KSAs (knowledge, skills, abilities) drills are not typically used for entry level. Depending on your status, you get either 5, 10, or 15 points Veterans preference. That range is based on no, some, or a higher level of disability. BTW preference does not overcome inability. You have to meet a minimum standard. Preference points are only good on initial employment, not chasing promotions. You can browse the various job "series" on the OPM web site. Consider series outside your previous path. If you are logistics centered, an entry level Contract Specialist, or better yet, professional development path can be a good option. That's where they hire a BS in at say GS-7 and have a noncompetitive career ladder in which you develop to a GS-12 over 3-4 years. If you're doing the MBA thing, make sure it has financial and contracting emphasis as you need certain things to go beyond that. BTW MBAs are a dime a dozen, so it's considered ordinary sunscreen. Most SMs think they're more qualified than they really are. Trigger puller skills do not equate to GS positions. So you have to read the requirements carefully. Make sure your resume doesn't say "I work on stuff" or "I work on AN-Something-Mark 2". Active words like repair, transport, fabricate, with specific types of systems like, diesel engines, local area networks, or whatever. No MIL Speak in the second set. Take a writing course before you get out. It'll help doing your resumes and help you do your actual job. Overall exMILs are below marketplace average in writing skills. If you want GS-12, you better know how to write. If not, then consider the WG/WD/WL series stuff.
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LCDR Frederick Clem
SSG Coleman,
CAPT Ball has given outstanding background information and recommendations above. As others have stated, a BS/BA might get you into the door at the GS7 level and a MS/MA at the GS9. This depends on the agency. And, he specifically mentioned that you need to know how to write in order to articulate how your military experience and education meets or exceeds the skills, knowledge and abilities that are in the job announcement. The job announcements have a section that lists the details in regards to qualifications and experience for the position to include the specialized skills, knowledge and abilities required to successfully perform the job. Agencies often provide the recruiters of the Human Resource Service Centers who conduct the actually recruiting with key words or phrases to use in the job announcements that are posted on USAJOBS. I recommend that you contact someone that is working in the Agency that has the job opening that you are interested in applying for to see if you can get specific information about these key phrases and words that will help you tailor your resume to the job announcement so that resume will clearly show that you have the professional background to perform the job and increase your chances of having your resume be "one of the best qualified" candidates and listed on the selection certificate issued by the recruiters and sent to the hiring managers of the agency.
Finally, although a degree might not be required for a position, it could be the deciding factor in whether or not you are selected by the agency for a position when they conduct a ranking board or interview. Good luck.
CAPT Ball has given outstanding background information and recommendations above. As others have stated, a BS/BA might get you into the door at the GS7 level and a MS/MA at the GS9. This depends on the agency. And, he specifically mentioned that you need to know how to write in order to articulate how your military experience and education meets or exceeds the skills, knowledge and abilities that are in the job announcement. The job announcements have a section that lists the details in regards to qualifications and experience for the position to include the specialized skills, knowledge and abilities required to successfully perform the job. Agencies often provide the recruiters of the Human Resource Service Centers who conduct the actually recruiting with key words or phrases to use in the job announcements that are posted on USAJOBS. I recommend that you contact someone that is working in the Agency that has the job opening that you are interested in applying for to see if you can get specific information about these key phrases and words that will help you tailor your resume to the job announcement so that resume will clearly show that you have the professional background to perform the job and increase your chances of having your resume be "one of the best qualified" candidates and listed on the selection certificate issued by the recruiters and sent to the hiring managers of the agency.
Finally, although a degree might not be required for a position, it could be the deciding factor in whether or not you are selected by the agency for a position when they conduct a ranking board or interview. Good luck.
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PVT Shaun Dingle
Sirs, i greatly appreviate the advice. A little background; at the end of this contract I will have 11 years tis with the transportation corp. I have my BA in logisitics and transportation management from AMU and expecting to have completed my mba in global/contracting management at ets. Therefore, all my enlisted time, experience and education revolve around the same field. I have contemplated ocs but after many deployments this is the best choice for my family, however, I do not want to loose my tis towards retirement hence my interest in a federal career (preferably in logistics/transportation) where I can transfer my time. While researching requirements all usajobs.gov applications state “federal employees applying for gs jobs must serve at least one year at the next lower grade level” and "If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series and grade level". This is where my confusion comes in. It doesnt make sense to leave the service If I'm unable to accquire a position that compensates greater than what I currently earn, especially with the education. At this point it seems possible that my military service might hinder my earing potential. After researching, I have skill sets and education up to certain gs11/12 positions. I'm concerned I will be looked over due to my rank instead of experience and education. I will apply and hopefully the education and experience will outweigh my current grade. I appreciate the advise regarding KSA’s, considering other fields, contacting a hiring manager within the agency, key words and writing skills. AMU strongly emphasizes English comprehension requiring several writing courses for my education.
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LCDR Frederick Clem
I can see where someone would get confused when applying for federal government positions. First, most government service positions do not have an education requirement such as a BS/BA or MS/MA. Most positions require specialized experience and qualifications that are listed in the job announcement as knowledge, skills and abilities. Your military experience, education and expertise must be directly applicable to the job announcement requirements in order for the recruiting team to find you one of "the most qualified applicants ", and enable you to be listed on the selection certificate that is sent to the agencies for the job that you are applying for. As CAPT Ball mentioned, that is where a well written resume that is tailored to the job announcement qualifications will be beneficial. And, in order to do that, you need to know what the key words or phrases that are used by the agencies for the jobs that you are applying for. That is why it is important that you contact someone on the inside such as an administrative assistant or someone that is or has performed the duties and responsibilities of the government service jobs that you are interested in applying for.
In regards to your military time, I think you are referring to using it to qualify for government service retirement. You can do that only after you are hired as a government service employee.
In regards to the statement "federal employees applying for GS jobs require at least one year at the next lower grade" refers to government service (GS) employees that are already working as a GS in a particular grade. In general, it means that if you are serving as a GS 12 for example, and want to apply for a GS 13 position, you will need to have served at least one year as a GS 12 before you are eligible to apply for GS 13. It has nothing to do with your military service.
Finally, as I mentioned previously, a degree (undergraduate or graduate) is usually not required for the majority of government service positions. There are a few exceptions such as scientists, lawyers or doctors. However, they could be the deciding factor in determining whether or not you get the job when the Agencies conduct ranking boards or actual interviews.
In regards to your military time, I think you are referring to using it to qualify for government service retirement. You can do that only after you are hired as a government service employee.
In regards to the statement "federal employees applying for GS jobs require at least one year at the next lower grade" refers to government service (GS) employees that are already working as a GS in a particular grade. In general, it means that if you are serving as a GS 12 for example, and want to apply for a GS 13 position, you will need to have served at least one year as a GS 12 before you are eligible to apply for GS 13. It has nothing to do with your military service.
Finally, as I mentioned previously, a degree (undergraduate or graduate) is usually not required for the majority of government service positions. There are a few exceptions such as scientists, lawyers or doctors. However, they could be the deciding factor in determining whether or not you get the job when the Agencies conduct ranking boards or actual interviews.
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First, your rank and salary as an E-6 shouldn't be on a civilian resume. You need to completely demilitarize your resume and put it all in civilian terms. Even within DOD there are many managers that have never served and do not understand the rank structure. So you cannot assume that they know what you are talking about. Going solely off of your rank as I do not know your experience, you are roughly equivalent to around the GS-5/7 level. You can use the Masters degree to meet the minimum qualification (specialized experience) for up to the GS-9 level if the job states you can use education in lieu of experience. However, that isn't the end of the story. There is a section that states how you'll be evaluated or something to that effect. In there you will see statements like "knowledge of", "skill in" and similar language. Those are screen out elements. Make sure your work experience demonstrates those things. Make sure you talk to all of them. It is ok if they are spread out over the course of several positions.
It all comes down to how you write it up. Don't lie, but if you focus on the concept behind the work and or the question they are asking you can make seemingly unrelated things fit.
It all comes down to how you write it up. Don't lie, but if you focus on the concept behind the work and or the question they are asking you can make seemingly unrelated things fit.
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Your resume and responses will make up your qualification not your enlisted grade or education level. Masters degree will guarantee you a 5 likely a 7 for related fields and possibly a 9. Relevant experience will qualify you for any job at any level. When applying you also need to select most qualified on all the questions they ask you and provide a written response as to why. If not you won't be evaluated for the position.
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