Schedule A hiring: A benefit or a disservice?

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:42:03 -0500

Excepted service appointing authorities are critical tools for increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the Federal Government.

Schedule A, 5 CFR 213.3102(u), for hiring people with severe physical disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and intellectual disabilities. This excepted authority is used to appoint persons with severe physical disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and intellectual disabilities. Such individuals may qualify for conversion to permanent status after two years of satisfactory service. Severe physical disabilities include but are not limited to blindness, deafness, paralysis, missing limbs, epilepsy, dwarfism, and more.

I don't mean to sound selfish or conceited, but I am getting very frustrated with continuously applying to positions on USAjobs (over 300) and being told that they have chosen a more qualified applicant when I have a masters degree and the requirements for the position is a bachelors. According to the POTUS our economy is strong and unemployment is plummeting so obviously I am paranoid to think that checking the box under "Schedule A" would be detrimental. I just want to help veterans with their readjustment/transition issues. I love helping out on RallyPoint in my limited capacity but I refuse to live as a disabled veteran like it seems the government wants me to. We just moved to Tucson to be in a better job rich area. Anyone from governmental human resources have any insight?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2015 6:54 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:54:31 -0500

SFC Mark Merino, I'm not an HR guy, but I know some of what you've been through. I was "exiled" to the Pentagon (a wicked commute for me, in Baltimore), and it took me a loooong time to get back to Fort Meade and a reasonable commute. Also, a colleague of mine moved to this area from Orlando, FL, just to get a government job. For the past year he's been trying to get back to the south, to his wife and child, but so far, no luck.

My (humble) advice is to keep soldiering on, keep on keeping on. And eventually it will come to pass. Moving to Tucson was a smart move. Good luck to you. It will happen!

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jan 23 at 2015 1:02 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 01:02:50 -0500

I haven't worked for over five years because of my neck injuries and the resultant pain syndromes. I have been trying to get back to work for the last year, and haven't gotten any where.

If I were able to get a VA chaplain job, where Schedule A was implemented, so they would make accommodations for my limited endurance and strength I would be very happy.

You might not think it, but Hospital Chaplaincy is an extremely physically and emotionally exhausting job, so if I can get help through Schedule A and return to work, instead of sitting at home on disability and being a target of Tom Coburn and his war on retirees who get disability, I'd be there in a heart beat.

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time finding work. One of the secrets of Government hiring (and often true in the private sector as well) is that when a job is listed, it's already been filled - they have a candidate they've already chosen. They advertise the job because they are required to, but that doesn't mean they'll actually hire someone from the outside.

So, if you want a good Government job, best have an inside person (I hesitate to say a rabbi, but that's what it's usually called, although obviously not a rabbi like me) to get you the job first...

Best of success...

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2015 10:07 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 10:07:28 -0500

I have a 2 Bachelors degrees and a Masters. It's gotten to the point where I pretty much don't even bother with USA jobs anymore. It's really frustrating. I have SEVERAL years of relatable admin experience in addition to experience in higher ed and working with Veterans (I was an education benefits certifying official and LOVED it). You would THINK that with my experience and education I would at least get called for an interview even if I didn't get the job, but I'm not even getting interviews.

When I got out of the Navy, I was unemployed for over a year until I got a job at a gas station (obviously not in my chosen career field). I got REALLY tired of going nowhere, so I went to college. Still no job, no interviews. Went to graduate school and was unemployed for more than a year again. Finally got a job in higher ed (as seen above, but only after moving out of state), but was cut after almost 2 years because of a budget shortfall.

Here we go again...