How To Credit Active Military Service To The Federal Civilian Job
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I left the Marine Corps in 2003 not exactly sure what I wanted to practice. I realized early on that my lack of planning had been my first fault. I hadn't completed any transitional job counseling, and I don't remember at present if it was even offered. Fortunately I found out I was eligible for unemployment benefits to make ends encounter while I looked for work. During i of my visits to the employment office I was put in touch with a Veteran employment specialist. She determined I was eligible for Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation. This program put me through higher and paid a monthly do good much like today's Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. That was all the push button I needed. Fast forward four years: With my degree in communications I was set up to showtime my federal career. Or and so I idea. What I was really beginning was three years of hair-pulling frustration.
I started at the logical identify – USAJOBS. I filled out literally hundreds of applications in a multifariousness of career fields. The effect was always the same. I would get an e-post back containing some arrangement of the following phrases: Not Eligible. Minimum Qualifications Non Met. Not Selected. Terminate me if these sound familiar. I felt like I was qualified for these positions, but without an interview, how was I going to convince anyone else? I had to practise something to get myself in the door.
Determined, I got in touch with someone in HR who had reviewed my resume. I found out that my resume wasn't being considered because, well, it wasn't worth considering. I had always been told that a resume should just be a short synopsis of my best qualities and qualifications. The federal resume is a whole dissimilar thing. The Hr pro told me I should exist more than specific. List all of my skills, how much experience I had with each, and at what level. Don't bother uploading a pre-baked resume. Have the time to fill up out all the fields on the custom USAJOBS resume. It made a huge difference. Over the next few months, I really got a few interviews. They went well enough but I still wasn't getting hired. At present that I had a foot in the door, it felt like I was in this great big crowd of applicants, struggling to stand out. Turns out that's exactly what it was.
There was one other factor I hadn't considered in my search: the competition. Of course my status every bit a disabled Veteran meant I would have preference. On the other hand, in that location were a lot of other Veterans who would exist competing with me for the same position. Many with more direct experience and virtually probably also had a four-year degree. How could I get noticed in such a talented group? For me the answer was getting a master's caste. I hated the idea of going dorsum to school but I knew information technology would give me an edge in the job market. And so even though I was working full time, I decided to take the plunge. I busted my hump for a yr and a half and got my primary's degree in May of 2011. I started my career with VA in September. It's a swell task and I'm proud to work for my brothers and sisters who served. For me it was all worth it.
If you lot're thinking about a federal position, I have a picayune advice based on my own experience. Go all the training you have fourth dimension for. Make sure it all shows on your resume. Be willing to relocate if at all possible. Be patient. And most chiefly, if it something you lot really want, don't surrender. Good luck.
Phil Walls served in the Marine Corps from 1999 to 2003. He is currently a Public Affairs Specialist in VA'due south Technical Career Field Program.
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Source: https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/7292/why-i-couldn%E2%80%99t-get-a-federal-job/
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Like always organization and business race is a factor in the hiring process; even in the federal workforce. I have been applying for federal jobs for a very long fourth dimension; for many years. I have been able to go a job with the U.South. Small-scale Concern Assistants but just with an intermittent position, and take not had any assignments since getting the job. I have a Masters Degree and many years of work experience. I had a few phone interviews, and receive ratings all the manner up to 98% before I received a 10% inability rating from the VA. Since receiving a x% rating in 2011 I applied to at least 30-40 jobs since 2011. I've gotten cancelation notifications letters, I received the highest rating yet of 112%, only no phone calls. Also, in that location are jobs I have practical for since 2009 and have not heard or seen anything about the status of some of my applications. I've chosen the telephone numbers listed and left messages and received no returned phone calls.
Now since 2011 I have received more injuries; some serious than others. Waiting for VBA to give me a rating on my new claims is not a joke nether. I singed up for The VA Vocational Rehabilitation program; now I want to see if that tin assist me go a federal government full time position. The federal government has been a more friendlier employer for African Americans, women and other minorities.
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat07.htm
http://govcentral.monster.com/benefits/manufactures/387-federal-workforce-diversity-why-agencies-seek-out-minority-workers
Thanks for the sharing of experiences. Am a Vietnam Era Vet and having some problems getting an RN position with the VA and, though have felt discouraged at times, am praying that I find something presently.
There is i factor that is has not been brought up nonetheless and may be a huge stumbling block for some applicants. Many times there are up to hundreds of applicants for one position. In nearly cases these applications are run through a computer program that looks for central words and phrases commonly tied to the diction of the Chore Annunciation and scores your "words." Simply the top percentage then get viewed by man eyes. The Resume and documents that you lot submit are literally going to brand or pause your shot at getting an interview. I concord that the Resume y'all submit should not be a cookie-cutter resume, it should be geared towards the wording of the proclamation and your feel/education in order to get your best-possible score. The rest is the impression you brand on your interviewers. They desire to know you volition be a adept fit-not just that you are qualified. You need to brand a good impression. Let the interviewer do most of the talking! Be pleasant, and try to evidence your cognition to the best advantage when y'all are answering questions.
Phil'due south story while inspiring is non representative of what well-nigh veterans experience in attempting to land a federal job. I agree with YoungChae every bit the best qualified are not always hired. It should not have any veteran 8 years and several hundred applications to become in the system when there have been thousands of applicants such every bit family unit members and friends with no prior service nor straight work feel whom were hired after simply one application. If some of these agencies as well stop canceling so reposting task announcements with qualified veterans already on referral lists so nosotros wouldn't have then many veterans struggling to get hired. Merely no i wants to talk about those facts because criticism of the veteran'due south resume has now become a standard.
Al,
Believe me I understand your frustration. In my case I was after a very specific job, and I had limited experience in that field. So for me education was the simply manner to go. With a bachelor's degree I think I was still at a disadvantage to another Veteran who might have had a degree plus more experience. That'south why I went to grad school. I understand for some people that'south not an like shooting fish in a barrel choice but there are other career fields with different requirements. Equally far as relatives or friends getting hired, I don't recollect that'southward the case. For me the chore search was tough just I always believed it was fair. I wish you lot the best of luck in whatsoever you lot pursue.
I overcame the resume upshot by paying $400.00 to have a resume written by a professional person. The investment has more than paid off, I have been a VA employee for more than a yr. In fact I landed a job at a VA call centre about 60 days after I retired. I'm actually pitiful to hear about veterans not getting hired. Simply I'm also shocked. I didn't have any special connections or "friends on the inside". I didn't accept to relocate from the city I retired in either. After I landed the job, I figured they would rent anybody if they hired me! Perchance I only happened to be at the right identify at the right fourth dimension…
Phil,
You're article is inspiring. I spent 11 years in the Navy, got out in 2000 and went to work for Northrop for iv years (under a SPAWAR contract doing Information technology stuff for deployed Navy ships). I couldn't become a TS and was let go. I went back to school for networking/telecommunications and now finishing up my BS degree in Practical Technology. The VA TCF program was announced and at present I am just waiting for something to open up on the West Declension. I took a couple of stabs at places in the Bay area but my application was returned with the same reasons you mentioned. Although the BS degree might help, I believe more and more that IT certs are the real ticket but to get past Hour. Although I am on disability, I'thou tired of information technology and desire to go back working for the people I have so much in common with.
Brian
Vancouver, WA
Brian,
Congratulations on your degree. I believe all preparation and education helps. The TCF programme is a great manner to go your career started. Another place to await is VA for Vets http://vaforvets.va.gov/ . At terminal months hiring fair in Detroit, there was a clear need for IT people beyond the country. Here's the printing relase with more info. http://world wide web.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2339 . I wish you the best of luck.
A Masters? What? So I've been told to go get my bachelors to overcome my combat MOS. This is every bit I watch support MOS'southward get "certification" assistance from the assistants while combatants are told to nourish schoolhouse for vii or eight years. And now an intern, that I can reasonably assume is in a lower pay subclass, is telling me I need a masters. Really? Who is going to pay for that? Uncle Sam? Nope. This is disgusting and a prime case of the continued systemic flaws in our gubbement and the structures that neglect to properly support their Veterans. No, I think 4 years of school is enough. I retrieve that multiple combat tours is plenty. I thought being wounded for your country was plenty? Apparently non. I guess a masters is much more than of import than my royal heart. I applaud you landing a task. I applaud your masters. Merely you and I earned a job the minute we swore our oath, engaged in combat and took fire. Unfortunately this brings up a sore spot. How is a troop with anTBI supposed to get into a graduate plan? GPA will be too low and no allowances are fabricated for cognitive handicaps. GRE is almost mandatory which prevents off-white admission to cognitively disabled troops. I think your message of grad schoolhouse is narrow minded and sends a very wrong message and brings u.s. total circle. The "fighters are never rewarded, except with more battles to fight, while the fobbits become everything in the PX." Tell me that my grad school is payed for and i am in. Tell me health insurance will be provided and i am in. Tell me that I volition really get a SCEP/Step and i am in. Nope, not in this country and certainly not for those who have the highest likliehood of beingness wounded. I should have listened to Ron Kovic, he warned me of this. Sincerely, Mourning for the expiry of both the Queen and King of boxing.
Yes, as a veteran with a full of 23 years of Active and Reserve honoralbe service including a recent combat tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, have followed all recommendations in your testimony while seeking a position every bit Mandarin Chinese Counsular Adjudicator in Red china. The task announcement clearly and precisely mentioned there will be no historic period limit for these positions who are veterans. Well, I was 58 years former when the job awarding was submitted. Making a long story short, I didn't get the job although I accept thought that I was fully qualified for the position. Past the way, I have a BS in Math. and Comp. Sci. (23 years of technical and tectical experience in the areas of Software Engineering), and two MA's. In addition to my educational background, I speak fluent Mandarin Chinese and Korean with the knowledge of its history and culture as well as empathize its body language. Well, it has been my "personal feel" with the federal, state and local government employment practices that they don't hire the best qualified people for the positions. However, they closely follow the existing leadership'southward priorities for hiring regulation, policy and guidance in guild to cover their backs. Therefore, Mr. Walls, you are one of those few luckiest ones who got hired by federal government, VA, in this instance. My stiff recommendation to those who are applying for governmental positions, please don't agree your jiff after submitting your awarding because it's going to take a long, I mean, a long time for the results to come dorsum to you and there will exist no gurantee for the chore. Once again, wish you all the best for your chore searching efforts here in America!
And then delightful you could share what nearly vets practise run into. the problem with our resume's go personal and still, impractical. For the job at mitt, posting all our skills and what cognition we take learned manages what they want united states of america to observe.
What if working for such a specific job, you find security checks are non managed most ruth in what others write that were political games of left and right. Always ben coaught in the eye of stateman who will brand statements that are in denial of their errors and wrongs they have committed confronting united states of america who stand upward against Injustices?
To have a security clearnace is what is important. Self-disclosure is professional truth in how You stood the exam of such distinctive bosses who tried to go rid of you because you lot learned the ropes of what they do to hurt those who could be the all-time for serving this giant nosotros phone call America. Government is suppose to exist true. I expect even the worst to exist honest in order to reach supporting ethical concerns without lawless interns. States have problems that aren't being fixed. Working for the regime must be for honest endeavor as you lot seek a job in favor of piece of work. What practise yous tell us now?
Non too worry the private sector is doing fine according to our President Obama and then must accept lots of chore openings. Remember to put your faith in your government and they will take good care of you.
Thank yous for your comment Mr. Roane. But I'k non certain what yous hateful virtually the government taking care of me. I served my country, including you lot, in the Marine Corps for four years. Now I aid Veterans. Happy to be doing information technology.