Hey, I was wondering if recently commissioned junior officers (reserve, no foreign deployments yet) in the military have a leg up in employment for government agencies (during the application submittal phase of the hiring process (pre-interview)). I'm looking at the FDA, CDC, NIH, etc. More of the heath related agencies, as I have a degree in areas covered by those agencies.
Gov. job for junior officers
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Correct me if I am wrong. I always had an extra ten points as a veteran. But that was a long time ago.
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Vets get 5 points, unless they have high disability, then they have 10 points. Honestly, there are so many 10 point veterans right now, 5 points isn't going to get you much. On top of that, despite the Obama talking points about loving veterans, I haven't seen much love from the public sector for vets. Often, applicants have an "in", and a hiring manager is looking for/writing the description for that person.
I'm also not sure about time in, and reserve requirements for veterans preference (including the 5 points).
My wife is at the FDA. They are hiring for some programs, but I haven't heard of any large influx of vets. For many of the HHS programs, they have their own PHS officers to hire, and HHS also has "Indian preference" with is far better (but seems wrong to me) than veterans preference. Indian preference is absolute. What an Indian knows more about drugs or disease prevention is beyond me, but in our federal government's infinite wisdom, this preference became law.
I'm also not sure about time in, and reserve requirements for veterans preference (including the 5 points).
My wife is at the FDA. They are hiring for some programs, but I haven't heard of any large influx of vets. For many of the HHS programs, they have their own PHS officers to hire, and HHS also has "Indian preference" with is far better (but seems wrong to me) than veterans preference. Indian preference is absolute. What an Indian knows more about drugs or disease prevention is beyond me, but in our federal government's infinite wisdom, this preference became law.
I believe that today (different from Vietnam and prior era) one must have service during specified conflict dates AND in for a minimum period in a conflict geography. Thus, as I understand it, the preference does not include peacetime/ states-side only service or 'layovers' in a conflict area. I'm not clear on if the 10 pts is for any disability or just combat related.
Pima
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Listen to LITS, esp. since he has just gone through the process.
The thing about jobs in this area (DC), it is the epitome regarding the importance of networking. By law they must advertise the positions available, but many times they already have offered the job to someone.
Classic example. Bullet was a defense contractor, but under Obama the job was converted to contractor. Due to that fact, they had to advertise the position. The ad was exactly like LITS said. It was fine tuned to the point that Bullet would have been the hire with or without his vet points. X yrs in AF fighters. Weapons specialist. Work experience with manufacturers, and defense contractors for at least 3 yrs. Pentagon experience in a joint position for Requirements, 5-8 yrs preferred. TS clearance. Masters degree required. Aerospace undergrad degree preferred.
Yes, people applied for the position never knowing that the position really was not available. If it seems that you have 8 out of the 10, or even 9 out of the 10 requirements and it is a perfect fit...high chance of hiring. Chances are there is someone that is 10 for 10 and has already been offered the job.
Additionally, due to budget constraints, many jobs are going unfilled currently. Let's be honest GS's have had a pay freeze for several yrs, and many areas have a hiring freeze. Yet, they still advertise the jobs on www.usajobs.gov
You may get a small leg up, but nothing I would consider as an edge because of the way it works here in the beltway.
If you are still in, I would suggest you get at least your grad degree because in this area grad degrees are as common, as tieing your shoes in the morning. Getting any points(edge) for military, would be offset/lost with the lack of no grad degree.
Last thing to drive home the point regarding hiring when you go to usajobs.gov take a look at the jobs. Many times you will see two jobs advertised. One will be the higher level in the same dept., and than there will be a lower level job that reports to the higher level. Chances are the real job opening is the lower level, and they are promoting from within the lower level to the higher level. Don't assume there are 2 positions available. Assume the only position available is the lower level.
https://www.usajobs.gov/JobSearch/S...n=DC&search=Search&AutoCompleteSelected=False
Great example...there are two job openings for Health Communications Specialist in Silver Spring MD. 1 is GS 12/13, and 1 is 14. Not a betting woman, but my guess is the only job truly available is the 12/13. The 14 will be filled by the 12/13. It would be rare for 2 jobs in the same dept to be vacant at the same time. Plus, for all you know the 12/13 may already be filled with the 10/11 in the dept.
The thing about jobs in this area (DC), it is the epitome regarding the importance of networking. By law they must advertise the positions available, but many times they already have offered the job to someone.
LineInTheSand said:
Classic example. Bullet was a defense contractor, but under Obama the job was converted to contractor. Due to that fact, they had to advertise the position. The ad was exactly like LITS said. It was fine tuned to the point that Bullet would have been the hire with or without his vet points. X yrs in AF fighters. Weapons specialist. Work experience with manufacturers, and defense contractors for at least 3 yrs. Pentagon experience in a joint position for Requirements, 5-8 yrs preferred. TS clearance. Masters degree required. Aerospace undergrad degree preferred.
Yes, people applied for the position never knowing that the position really was not available. If it seems that you have 8 out of the 10, or even 9 out of the 10 requirements and it is a perfect fit...high chance of hiring. Chances are there is someone that is 10 for 10 and has already been offered the job.
Additionally, due to budget constraints, many jobs are going unfilled currently. Let's be honest GS's have had a pay freeze for several yrs, and many areas have a hiring freeze. Yet, they still advertise the jobs on www.usajobs.gov
You may get a small leg up, but nothing I would consider as an edge because of the way it works here in the beltway.
If you are still in, I would suggest you get at least your grad degree because in this area grad degrees are as common, as tieing your shoes in the morning. Getting any points(edge) for military, would be offset/lost with the lack of no grad degree.
Last thing to drive home the point regarding hiring when you go to usajobs.gov take a look at the jobs. Many times you will see two jobs advertised. One will be the higher level in the same dept., and than there will be a lower level job that reports to the higher level. Chances are the real job opening is the lower level, and they are promoting from within the lower level to the higher level. Don't assume there are 2 positions available. Assume the only position available is the lower level.
https://www.usajobs.gov/JobSearch/S...n=DC&search=Search&AutoCompleteSelected=False
Great example...there are two job openings for Health Communications Specialist in Silver Spring MD. 1 is GS 12/13, and 1 is 14. Not a betting woman, but my guess is the only job truly available is the 12/13. The 14 will be filled by the 12/13. It would be rare for 2 jobs in the same dept to be vacant at the same time. Plus, for all you know the 12/13 may already be filled with the 10/11 in the dept.
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Federal agencies are also required to post job offerings, even if they're almost/already basically filled.
That said, USA Jobs is pretty easy, so add your resume and create an account. Applying of USA Jobs is easy, but good luck hearing back from them.
While I was on terminal leave from the Coast Guard in 2011 I assumed it would be an easy road. I had a TS clearance. I was well on my way to having my master's. I had national level response experience to disasters as a public affairs officer, etc. People said I was a shoe in, and it would be easy.
So during my month of terminal leave, I applied to five different places (having sworn off the federal government due to my disgust with the U.S. president and a DHS political). Well, I got five interviews and assumed, as predicted, it would be easy!
And then the real fun started. One place said I did great, but they were looking for someone with academic experience (a position that would work closely with universities). One place, I didn't even apply to but was invited to, asked me about my contacts. When those contacts didn't align with the oil/energy industries, I was told it probably wasn't a good fit.
So through a month, I figured out it might not be so easy. I switched focus. Beggers can't be choosers, so I started to apply to jobs in USA Jobs (at exactly the wrong time). I applied to a GS-13 or GS-14 job in an office I used to work with, but after being told I lined up great with what they needed, was told that CG HR had a "three strike rule"... if three 10-point vets who were qualified (not always BEST qualified) applied they automatically got the nod. So it went to a 10-pointer. My old boss told me they were going to have a temp GS-13 position opening, and that I would be notified when it went up.... but then, with the hiring freeze, the position was never posted.
Eventually I started to network, and was offered a position as a PR consultant with a NY-based non-profit. A day or two later I was offered a position at a small DC-area firm. A month latter Booz Allen got back to me with an offer as well (for far more money than the firm I had accepted a position at, but I had to stay loyal to the firm that had taken a chance on me).
I was on a miserble DHS contract with high turn-over and my displeasure with the situation prompted my to start putting out feelers again. With a few very good prospects, an old contact recruited me for a much much better position at an independent regulator, where I have been, now, for a year.
SOME people get hired by applying to open positions. My experience, however is, a vast majority of my offers came from networking. I didn't network for the sake of getting a job. I just did it because that's what I've always done as a public affairs officer. People knew I was looking and reached out to me.
MONTHS later, after applying for positions on USA Jobs, I would receive rejection emails from USA Jobs stating that positions had been filled or were no longer available.
That said, USA Jobs is pretty easy, so add your resume and create an account. Applying of USA Jobs is easy, but good luck hearing back from them.
While I was on terminal leave from the Coast Guard in 2011 I assumed it would be an easy road. I had a TS clearance. I was well on my way to having my master's. I had national level response experience to disasters as a public affairs officer, etc. People said I was a shoe in, and it would be easy.
So during my month of terminal leave, I applied to five different places (having sworn off the federal government due to my disgust with the U.S. president and a DHS political). Well, I got five interviews and assumed, as predicted, it would be easy!
And then the real fun started. One place said I did great, but they were looking for someone with academic experience (a position that would work closely with universities). One place, I didn't even apply to but was invited to, asked me about my contacts. When those contacts didn't align with the oil/energy industries, I was told it probably wasn't a good fit.
So through a month, I figured out it might not be so easy. I switched focus. Beggers can't be choosers, so I started to apply to jobs in USA Jobs (at exactly the wrong time). I applied to a GS-13 or GS-14 job in an office I used to work with, but after being told I lined up great with what they needed, was told that CG HR had a "three strike rule"... if three 10-point vets who were qualified (not always BEST qualified) applied they automatically got the nod. So it went to a 10-pointer. My old boss told me they were going to have a temp GS-13 position opening, and that I would be notified when it went up.... but then, with the hiring freeze, the position was never posted.
Eventually I started to network, and was offered a position as a PR consultant with a NY-based non-profit. A day or two later I was offered a position at a small DC-area firm. A month latter Booz Allen got back to me with an offer as well (for far more money than the firm I had accepted a position at, but I had to stay loyal to the firm that had taken a chance on me).
I was on a miserble DHS contract with high turn-over and my displeasure with the situation prompted my to start putting out feelers again. With a few very good prospects, an old contact recruited me for a much much better position at an independent regulator, where I have been, now, for a year.
SOME people get hired by applying to open positions. My experience, however is, a vast majority of my offers came from networking. I didn't network for the sake of getting a job. I just did it because that's what I've always done as a public affairs officer. People knew I was looking and reached out to me.
MONTHS later, after applying for positions on USA Jobs, I would receive rejection emails from USA Jobs stating that positions had been filled or were no longer available.
from
http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/
5-Point Preference (TP)
Five points are added to the passing examination score or rating of a veteran who served:
•During a war; or
•During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; or
•For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; or
•During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992; or
•For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law as the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or
•In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti, qualifies for preference.
A campaign medal holder or Gulf War veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980, (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty. The 24-month service requirement does not apply to 10-point preference eligibles separated for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or to veterans separated for hardship or other reasons under 10 U.S.C. 1171 or 1173.
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I was the CIO for the Army Community Hospital at Ft Stewart, GA (70D). Being a fairly junior CPT, I was in charge of 33 GS civilians and contractors ranging from GS-5 to GS-13. Because of the highly specialized and technical nature of my department, I was given something called direct hiring authority (DHA).
Essentially Ft Stewart wasn't the most scenic place to live and I couldn't lure quality talent to the area. If I had a personnel shortage on a pre approved manning document, I could bypass USAJOBS and "directly" hire someone off the street. The only thing required was a resume. I believe the DHA memo was signed by the SEC ARMY (I think it was him) and had a list of job series. The job series I was concerned with was 2210 Information Technology Specialist. I remember seeing 2210s, a radiology technician, a radiologist, etc. I haven't managed civilians since 2009 and I don't know if direct hiring authority was affected by the budget cuts, but I would check into the current revision of the direct hiring authority memo.
Essentially Ft Stewart wasn't the most scenic place to live and I couldn't lure quality talent to the area. If I had a personnel shortage on a pre approved manning document, I could bypass USAJOBS and "directly" hire someone off the street. The only thing required was a resume. I believe the DHA memo was signed by the SEC ARMY (I think it was him) and had a list of job series. The job series I was concerned with was 2210 Information Technology Specialist. I remember seeing 2210s, a radiology technician, a radiologist, etc. I haven't managed civilians since 2009 and I don't know if direct hiring authority was affected by the budget cuts, but I would check into the current revision of the direct hiring authority memo.
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Mabry,
Correct me if I'm wrong, but often direct hire positions are still listed on USA Jobs. So if can be very hard for applicants to apply for a job knowing if the position has already been "promised" to someone else through a different process, external of USA Jobs.
And yes, I believe direct hire is still used, although on a limited basis.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but often direct hire positions are still listed on USA Jobs. So if can be very hard for applicants to apply for a job knowing if the position has already been "promised" to someone else through a different process, external of USA Jobs.
And yes, I believe direct hire is still used, although on a limited basis.
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You're correct, but in addition to USAJOBS, DHA authorized me to cast a bigger net. I posted the job openings on LinkedIn, American College of Healthcare Executives, Craigslist, etc. I still had to list the job for a minimum of five days , however if I found an applicant I wanted in the first five minutes, I didn't have to wait for the listing to close on USAJOBS. Again, direct hiring authority was authorized for a select series of government jobs.
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You will be able to claim a 5 point Vets preference once you have earned your GWOTSM
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Military service is a great launching pad for future federal government service, as well as state, county and city. Government employment is also Guard and Reserve-friendly, if you continue to serve after leaving active duty status, except for some obvious exceptions, such as FBI agent and similar agency positions.
The website below is the portal for federal employment, with a dedicated landing page for vets:
https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans
Do well in your military career, serve honorably, hang on to those clearances, and you have a leg up on civil service.
The website below is the portal for federal employment, with a dedicated landing page for vets:
https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans
Do well in your military career, serve honorably, hang on to those clearances, and you have a leg up on civil service.