How Federal Jobs are Filled

By Barbara Adams, CPRW, CEIP, CMRC, CFRW
www.militaryresumewriters.com and www.careerproplus.com

The federal government is the nation’s single largest employer, with more than 35,000 vacancies listed on its official Web site, www.USAJobs.com, per day. However, many people who attempt to gain employment with the federal government often find the process to not only be intimidating, but also frustrating.

While many agencies within the government fill their vacancies much in the same way as private companies, there are some very notable differences. One of the biggest sources of confusion to the job-seeker exploring federal employment for the first time is understanding the types of vacancies and the eligibility criteria for each.

Unlike the private sector, where a candidate submits a resume and cover letter for a vacancy for which a candidate believes they possess the qualifications, the federal government operates a little differently.

To begin with, there are three categories of federal jobs within the executive branch. Each category has its own unique set of criteria for eligibility, including but not limited to specific education levels, security clearances, professional certifications and licenses, and, in some limited cases (such as FBI special agent positions), age and physical condition mandates.

The Three Categories of Federal Jobs

Competitive Service - This covers jobs that fall solely under the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) jurisdiction and which are subject to the civil service laws passed by Congress to ensure that applicants and employees receive fair and equal treatment in the hiring process. Candidates are chosen from an applicant pool based on their qualifications and how closely they meet the desired competencies stated in the vacancy announcement.
Competitive service jobs cover the majority of federal employment opportunities. The objective is to identify the best qualified candidates for the vacancy. Applicants typically consist of persons from the private sector, the federal employment ranks, and former military service personnel who are attempting to transition to post-military employment.

Excepted Service - Excepted service positions are excepted by law because the agencies offering these types of positions have direct ties to national security and/or intelligence functions. Examples of positions that fall under excepted service include attorneys, chaplains, and medical doctors, because for these types of jobs, it is difficult to use standard qualification requirements such as what’s used in competitive jobs to rate applicants. Examples of agencies that fill the bulk of their vacancies via excepted service include the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of State, the National Security Agency, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
While civilian, transitioning military, and existing government professionals are invited to apply for these positions, they need to be aware that these jobs are usually filled under a special circumstance, such as part-time or temporary positions in remote locations or when there is a critical hiring need. Also, since these jobs are directly tied to national security, candidates will typically need to pass a government security screening, a physical fitness test, and other special criteria depending on the position.
Excepted service positions are not required by law to be posted on USAJobs.com. Candidates who are interested in these types of position should consult the official Web sites of the agencies that offer this type of employment opportunity.

Senior Executive Service (SES) - The SES was established by Title IV of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and focuses on top management positions within the federal government (those at a GS-15 or higher). These professionals are the equivalent of Directors, Vice Presidents, and CEOs of medium- to large-scale companies in the private sector. They are the people who are given the challenges associated with leading the continuing transformation of the federal government.
Unlike the competitive and excepted service jobs, SES positions are not graded; instead, salary is linked to individual performance. Members of the SES are not eligible for locality pay. There are two ways in which a candidate may apply for SES positions. The first is to apply directly to a federal agency offering an SES vacancy. The second is to apply to the federal agency’s SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), to gain the eligibility necessary for a career appointment to an SES position without further competition.

Competitive Service Jobs: Who’s Eligible for Employment

The basic criterion for Competitive Service jobs is United States citizenship. A candidate will submit an application packet consisting of a federal resume (which varies from a civilian resume), and other documentation such as a Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) statement; formal education transcripts, DD-214s, and others. Eligible candidates are then grouped into three categories:

1. Candidates who have applied and met the qualification requirements for a specific vacancy announcement. This is the most common method of entry for candidates who are new to the federal hiring process.
2. Candidates who have civil service status. These are candidates already employed by the federal government who are eligible for noncompetitive movement within the competitive service. When these candidates are chosen for positions, it’s usually the result of a merit promotion, reassignment, transfer, or reinstatement.
3. Candidates that qualify for a special noncompetitive appointing authority established by law or executive order. This category includes military veterans who are eligible for Veteran’s Preference points, or members of the Peace Corps.

McGraw-Hill Professional Offers Free Live Job Hunting and Career Skills Webinars for Veterans

Multiple Sources

NEW YORK, March. 10, 2010 – Throughout the month of April, McGraw-Hill Professional
will offer four live career and job search Webinars free to U.S. veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Presented by leading career experts and authors on topics ranging from job search to resume writing to career
management, these Webinars provide returning service members with the knowledge and skills they need to begin a successful civilian career. Each Webinar is free to veterans. The Webinars are supposed to be limited to 100 participants, however, McGraw Hill Professional has told TAOnline.com that additional space will be offered if demand is high.

Don't delay, sign up for one or more of the free offerings by clicking on the links below:

Friday, April 2, 1pmET: Jay Block on “Approaching & Managing Your Job Hunt”

In this webinar Jay Block, author of 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times explains an easy five-step process that will help you approach your job transition strategically. You will learn how to manage fear and negative emotions, define clear job and career goals, create effective self-marketing tools, develop action plans and take action to land a job.

Friday, April 9, 1pmET: Marky Stein on “Putting Together a Fearless Resume”

What’s your edge in this competitive job market? Marky Stein, author of Fearless Resumes, will help you transform your résumé from words on paper into a vibrant self-presentation that tells prospective employers what they want to hear. You will learn how to craft a résumé that hooks prospective employers' attention, turns boring past duties into dynamic personal statements, transforms weaknesses into strengths—and gets your name on top of the résumé heap in any HR office.

Friday, April 16, 1pmET: Joe Watson on “Where the Jobs Are Now”

Unemployment numbers have you feeling down? Despite the current job market, there are industries that are still extremely successful and open to new job seekers. Joe Watson author of Where the Jobs are Now shows you how to delve into the top 7 industries for stability, profitability, and job satisfaction. This webinar will give you a detailed breakdown of career opportunities in the fastest-growing industries and offers the most recent information on how to get the training you need.

Monday, April 26, 1pmET: Waldo Waldman on “Wingman Values in Workplace and Beyond”

The New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Never Fly Solo Rob “Waldo” Waldman understands one thing better than most businesspeople: You can’t reach your highest potential alone. You need wingmen—trusted partners—who can help you overcome obstacles, adapt to change, and prepare for success. A decorated former combat F-16 fighter pilot and now a successful entrepreneur, Waldman lives his life by this rule. In this webinar, through compelling, real-world stories, you will learn how to overcome challenges and become successful.

McGraw-Hill’s free Webinars for Veterans will begin in April. Sign-up is open to veterans now: http://www.mhprofessional.com/getpage2.php?c=webinar-veterans.html

Mentoring Program Dedicated to Transitioning Vets Expands

By Ron Rutherford TAOnline.com

NEW YORK, March 12, 2010 - American Corporate Partners (www.acp-usa.org) is a nationwide mentoring program matching employees from some of the largest corporations and universities in the country with Iraq and Afghanistan veterans for the purpose of mentoring, networking and career counseling.

While not a "jobs program," ACP aims to strengthen the relationship between employees of America's leading corporations and universities and those who have served our country, often at great sacrifice.

Participation is free. Some of America's finest corporations are supporting ACP's efforts, including General Electric, IBM, News Corporation, PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble. And, starting this spring, Deloitte and Bloomberg will begin supplying mentors and participating in the program.

ACP is designed to help veterans form valuable relationships, develop key skills, network and create a career plan. It is a one-year commitment between the mentor and the veteran. Mentors and veterans are matched, based on common-interests, expertise, and mentoring relationship preferences.

While it is hoped veterans will have current employment or be attending school, ACP understands many veterans are currently transitioning into new careers and do not necessarily hold full time positions. Those veterans currently unemployed are encouraged to work on resume writing, interview practice and career strategies with their mentors as they actively pursue new employment.

The program has experienced great success and is currently in its second phase. Mentors are now available to veterans who live near the following 15 cities:

ACP is a competitive program and those who are interested in applying are encouraged to do so at their earliest convenience. To learn more about the program and to apply on-line, please visit www.acp-usa.org or email American Corporate Partners at info@acp-usa.org.

Military Spouse Career Program restarted...sort of

Multiple Sources

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2010 – Nearly a month after a popular military spouse tuition assistance program was suddenly halted, it will be reinstated, but only to those already enrolled in the program.

"We made a commitment to our military spouses when they established a career advancement account and we will be true to our promise," said Tommy Thomas, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy, in a news release.

Though no new applications will be accepted, the 136,583 military spouses already enrolled began receiving tuition assistance again over the weekend. The program was halted Feb. 16 with a notice on its Web site that it was to be reviewed

The only explanation of the halt was that there had been a sharp increase in applications. Late last week, the Defense Department said it was still working to adjust and meet the demands of the program to develop a long-term solution for spouses who want to take advantage of the program.