Why isn't the USAJobs process more conducive to hiring veterans?

MAJ Jim Steven — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 21:10:55 -0500

Response by SFC Chad Sowash made Feb 26 at 2018 9:32 PM

SFC Chad Sowash — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 21:32:40 -0500

What do you mean by conducive? Compared to Corp America gigs the different gov't depts are well above the national hiring benchmark. President Obama put the mandate in place as a way to demonstrate to Corp America that it could be done. Today the levels of veterans working in gov't jobs blow away Corp America.

Response by MAJ Jim Steven made Feb 26 at 2018 10:31 PM

MAJ Jim Steven — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 22:31:12 -0500

I asking why there isnt a more direct path between having been in the military to getting a DoD civilian job....
in this particular job, they want me to cite how many hours I worked and what I got paid....

Response by SPC Joseph Wojcik made Feb 26 at 2018 10:35 PM

SPC Joseph Wojcik — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 22:35:15 -0500

I never sought gov't employment, but from what I understand as long as you're disabled and served during a time of conflict you have preference.
But then again, the government and private sector probably suffer from the same misconceptions about veterans (like we're all crazy, or not a cultural fit).

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Feb 27 at 2018 12:01 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 00:01:47 -0500

I think that the process is conducive to hiring the right person for the right positions. There is only so much leeway that should be taken to give veterans that extra push and we get that with our veteran preference points. Sad to say and as much as I hate to admit it, sometimes the veterans that apply for certain positions are not the best fit for those jobs. What I would like to see is a secondary system that, if and or when a veteran is turned down for a position, and as long as his resume and paperwork is up to date and in proper form, that they are sent to a system that locates a position that they may be a better fit for. Say if a veteran applied for a clerical position at the VA with a background in maintenance and management but they just didn't have the kind of techinical background that would make them a good fit, but there was a position that was open with a government contractor like BAE or something in a field where this veteran would be a great fit, if there was someway to have open communication between USAJob partners to be able to navigate through and pass that information on to either the veteran or the hiring organization/company in order to fill that slot, that would be great.

Response by Susan Foster made Feb 27 at 2018 9:05 AM

Susan Foster — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 09:05:06 -0500

It used to be that it was extremely hard to hire for a position where a veteran was qualified for it. Hiring officials had to write long and detailed justifications, and sometimes still were not successful. In the last few years, the process was relaxed, and although veterans were placed above non-preference, they could be ignored without anyone calling you on it. Further, veterans preference no longer applied to internal reassignments and promotions. The plot thickens: an as-yet little known provision has just been added to Defense spending bill passed by the Senate that says veterans preference only applies to their first federal position. So it's going to get even harder. I am enclosing the article for you here. OPM has no incentive to hire veterans, as long as their "target" is met and I believe that changes yearly. They do have a section on Veterans at usajobs that connects to a federal vets site with helpful (they say) information, which you can find under the Veterans section when you first go to usajobs. They also use software that picks out the words they are looking for (as some companies do), so if your application isn't written to the qualifications, you are often not shown as qualified. I am pretty good (if I do say so myself) on getting a resume all spiffied up with the right buzz words, and I do that for veterans pro bono. Let me know if I can help.

http://www.govexec.com/management/2016/06/senate-moves-change-vets-preference-federal-hiring/129118/

129118

Response by SGT David T. made Feb 27 at 2018 9:38 AM

SGT David T. — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 09:38:23 -0500

You have to apply like everyone else. Being a vet gets you a few more points but doesn't guarantee you a job. It works fine for that part of the process. I know it is tedious. I essentially rewrite my resume for each job I apply for. That process takes me 4-6 hours on the average. I make the list every time I do it. After that, it's up to hiring official to decide to interview me and for me to interview well. So I don't have an issue with USAJOBs itself.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2018 11:52 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 11:52:48 -0500

I was never able to figure it out

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2018 12:03 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 12:03:19 -0500

I know that vets get extra points, but the overall hiring process, you need to have your resume match up with the job description to a point. Unless they changed that a computer scanned for like works and that gets you past the first screening process, then it comes down to humans.

Response by CW4 Lesli Sorensen made Feb 28 at 2018 4:50 PM

CW4 Lesli Sorensen — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 16:50:22 -0500

Targeted resumes. Or use the resume builder. And the hiring process is longer. Depending on the organization it could be anywhere from 2-8 months. Not complaining but am explaining.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2018 9:31 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 21:31:14 -0500

In 1975, I applied to be an Smoke Jumper. I was told that X-Paratroopers had bad habits, and they wouldn't hire me.
A few years ago, I did apply at USA-Jobs for a job that I was already doing, and I got turned down, they hired a non-citizen from Korea for the job. Who knows, he might of had 10,000 PHD's.
Sure going to read what the others are saying.

Response by Kococvmpv Tokōhe made Mar 18 at 2018 6:42 PM

Kococvmpv Tokōhe — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 18:42:44 -0400

Because being a veteran doesn't make you more special than a more experienced candidate.