Tips and Tricks for Getting A Job with the Federal Government
It’s not the same as a private sector job.
In college I studied geology because I always had a strong interest in how natural systems and processes work, and getting a job where I could apply these interests was a dream of mine. While there are plenty of private sector jobs for geology (oil and gas, mining, environmental consulting, and more) I also knew I wanted to work for the Feds. Working for the National Park Service, USGS, NOAA, National Weather Service or really any branch of the government always seemed like a track that would provide me with not just a job but a career doing something I loved. These jobs always have interesting duties and are usually located in amazing places. I am currently employed using my geology degree as a Physical Scientist for the USGS in the Grand Canyon. I get paid to fly, hike and raft into the Grand Canyon, I mean how can the private sector ever compete with that.
But, getting a job with the Feds is not an easy task and very different than applying to a regular company. Here are some quick tips on how to make yourself a more competitive candidate for some of these rare and coveted positions.
1. Look at USAJobs.gov constantly
It may seems like a no-brainer for someone looking for a job to search frequently, but when it comes to positions listed on USAJobs (which is where 99.9% of federal government positions are listed) this is especially critical. Many jobs pop up with short “open” times (or the length of time applications are being accepted for), sometimes as short as 5 days. Apply as soon as you can to a position you are interested in. Sometimes listings only accept the first 50 or so applications.
2. It’s not just USAJobs
While 99.9% of the jobs with the federal government are listed on USAJobs, a few are not. In the case of temporary positions (less than 6 months with minimal benefits), these can be listed on 3rd-party job sites like Indeed. In fact this is how I got my most recent job. Don’t discount these sources even when looking for a job with the feds.
3. Not your mother’s resume
The resume for your USAJobs applications should not be the same one you use for the private sector. If you use your ‘normal’ one, your chances of getting a call back for a position are very slim. Make absolutely sure to use the resume builder on USAJobs itself and include as much information as possible. The feds are not looking for a neat, concise and well organized resume, they want to know everything you’re ever done, when, for how long, for how much pay, and who was your supervisor at the time.
4. Highlight past federal service
If you have ever worked for the feds in the past make sure to highlight this as strongly as possible, even if it was just a summer job. Include the grade you worked at, as many responsibilities as possible, and your supervisor’s name and contact information. People who hire for the feds like to hire people with previous federal experience, mostly because working for the feds is not at all like working for the private sector and it helps to hire someone who already knows the ropes.
5. Tailor each resume and application to the specific position’s minimum requirements
This is likely the most critical piece of advice in this entire article. Make absolutely sure to show on your resume how your specific sets of skills and previous work experience match the exact requirements of the position you are applying for. The first two steps of the hiring process are not completed by the person who will actually be interviewing or potentially hiring you, instead they are done by a computer (who scores your answers to the experience related survey they make you fill out) and then by an HR person who identifies the top candidates for a position based on experience and skills. This HR person is not necessarily familiar with the requirements of the position you are applying for and may not score you highly even if you are perfectly qualified. For example, despite having a geology degree and having taken multiple undergraduate and graduate level courses on soil science, I was rejected at the HR step for dozens of Soil Scientist jobs because I didn’t have a degree in soil science specifically. Make sure to highlight specific experience related to each position.
6. Be patient.
Not hearing back about a position for 2–3 months is the norm. The HR process is long, and every hiring manager will tell you it takes forever to get new hires on-board, especially for permanent positions. Be patient and let the process unfold. One thing to remember is because it is so hard to hire, many temporary and term positions end up being turned into permanent positions because it’s ten-fold easier to convert an existing employee than hiring someone new.