USAJOBS.GOV success stories?

MAJ Ray McCulloch — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 09:35:11 -0400

I have been transitioning from the military since August 2014. I created an account with the federal jobs database usajobs.gov. I have perused it almost daily since creating my resume. The issue is that of the jobs I have applied for, some give me a notice of action (received, referred, not referred, etc.), while others do not. If this database is supposed to consolidate all US government jobs into one place, then shouldn't all the agencies be required to respond to inquiries or post status updates for the jobs they list? I've had jobs from January and February that have not had a status change or response from the agency. Anyone else having this issue, and had any luck getting a response to query about their status?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2015 9:39 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 09:39:22 -0400

Sir,

Please let me know how I can help you! I'm not proficient on USA Jobs, but I can help with the rest of the world! Please connect with me and look me up on LinkedIn!

Thanks,

Rob

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Jun 5 at 2015 9:39 AM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 09:39:56 -0400

My current job that I've had since 2012 was from a listing on USAJobs. I just did the waiting game while I had another job that was temporary and soon to end.

I never did see a status change on the posting, out of the blue I received a call for an interview and was successfully hired.

Response by Sgt Branden W. made Jun 5 at 2015 9:43 AM

Sgt Branden W. — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 09:43:39 -0400

Sir,
I recently applied for, interviewed and was hired through a posting on USAJOBS working for the VA. Best advice I can give: contact the hiring agency at the bottom of the listing a few weeks after you've applied. They will have all information including why you may have not been referred for consideration. Also, when rating yourself on the questionnaire, be extremely generous with your ratings of yourself. You need to get past electronic screeners before you get to a human.
Message me if you need additional assistance. Hurry up and wait is the name of the game in the Federal job world as well.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 5 at 2015 11:00 AM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 11:00:34 -0400

You and me both MAJ Ray McCulloch! The few responses I HAVE gotten back from jobs I applied for were something along the lines of "You do not meet the minimum qualification requirements."

My ass I didn't meet their requirements! One of the jobs I applied for was with the DON, doing exactly what I did on active duty in the Navy.

The other job was as a pharmacy store room worker. I think I can work in a store room that does inventory, shipping, and receiving. Lord knows I did enough of that in the Navy, just not in a pharmacy environment.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2015 11:37 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 11:37:25 -0400

I suspect there are some examples of success from USAJOBS. As for myself, after 30 years of applying for government jobs, I have given up on the process. Whether it is cronyism, nepotism or incompetence, I couldn't even get hired for the job I performed while mobilized. Checking all the boxes: 10-point preference, special disabled, recently retired/discharged, etc. resulted in absolutely no responses. In one case, the manager received 106 applications for a job I performed on active duty. He randomly selected 3 from the pile, then selected from that group. He followed the hiring process but for 103 applicants, who met the screening criteria, their application was never reviewed by a human being. I suspect, the best means of obtaining federal employment is to buy lunch for the hiring manager or marry his/her daughter/son. Good luck.

Response by MSgt Roger Younce made Jun 5 at 2015 12:55 PM

MSgt Roger Younce — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 12:55:49 -0400

I have found that site and many other job board sites a total waste of my time.

Response by SFC Joseph Roddenberry made Jun 10 at 2015 6:53 PM

SFC Joseph Roddenberry — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 18:53:13 -0400

I have not yet had success, but I will. The only time I have ever gained anything from quitting was when I quit drinking. What I have found is that it can be a lengthy process as I have applications from 2012 that have not had a status change. The first gate keeper you have to defeat is the computer algorithm that makes the initial selection of qualified individuals. In order to do this, forget everything you have been taught about a resume for a position in corporate America. My USAJobs resume is 13 pages long and is not yet complete. I went for a modified paragraph overview of the duties for EACH position I held in the military followed by a bullet list reiterating words like "taught, "instructed", and "trained". The key is to print the questionnaire for the position and read the words they are using to describe the position and then use those same words in describing the things you have done in the service that correlate. Use those words multiple times throughout your resume. Check the POC at the bottom of the announcement, send a cover letter addressed to that POC. Do your research on where you will be working if hired, don't be afraid to reach out and talk to people already working there. You have got to network in todays environment.
Once you have beaten the computer algorithm, your resume has to actually demonstrate that you have done what you say you have on the questionnaire. Then it gets sent to a selecting official that has your whole packet (and everybody else's that were selected) and decides who to call in for interviews. From that point on, it is all on you to seal the deal. Good luck!

Response by CPT Bill Murphy made Jun 18 at 2015 12:03 PM

CPT Bill Murphy — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 12:03:28 -0400

I have worked for four federal agencies (not counting the Army): DOJ, Treasury, and VA as a lawyer, and DOD as a civilian reporter for Stars & Stripes. My #1 bit of advice is both to apply through the official channels (often but not always USAJOBS), and also find ways to reach around and connect with the people who actually do the hiring. So many people apply for every federal job that you really do need to find ways to stand out. It's like that old adage—"it's not who you know; it's who you get to know."