Have You Given Up Searching For Federal Jobs?

Okay, I get it!  It’s a challenging job market right now, and the federal government isn’t all that different from any other employer.  Budgets are tight, and for a lot a people, what used to be just a slow, frustrating hiring process has become a nearly insurmountable obstacle.  I’ve heard from one person that claims to have submitted nearly 1000 applications for federal jobs, but hasn’t even received a single phone call!

If you find yourself in that same position of feeling frustrated and helpless, I’d like to talk to you today about some things that might help you out.  First of all, take a deep breath.  No matter what the Tea Party and the #Occupiers might say, the federal government isn’t going out of business anytime soon.  If there are still road crews working on the highway and you’re still paying taxes, then the federal government still has people on the job.  And as long as people are still working, more new hires will still be needed in the future.

Your challenge as a job seeker is simply to be the best qualified candidate at the RIGHT TIME that an agency needs to hire a new employee.  This is tough because it requires much more effort than simply “shotgunning” a half-baked resume out there to every new vacancy that catches your eye.  To the guy who’s applied for over 1,000 Fed jobs (you know who you are!), it’s time to revisit what you’re sending out.  Is your resume current, with all the correct work and contact information?  Have you tweaked your keywords to match the job description exactly as listed in the vacancy announcement?  This is more important that you think, particularly when it comes to the federal government, where applications are reviewed by a Human Resources Technician for suitability before they make it to the actual manager.

If you’re still having trouble making it in through the front door by applying through USAJOBS, try kicking in the back door and networking your way into the position.  If you see a vacancy that you’d be absolutely perfect for, try going old school and picking up a telephone.  All government office numbers can be found online or in the phone book with a little effort, and from there it’s just a simple matter of asking to speak with the appropriate division.  With a little persistence, you might just find yourself speaking one on one with the hiring manager.

Even if all you manage to get is five minutes on the phone, this is a golden opportunity to interview your potential boss.  In career development terms this is sometimes called an “informational interview,” where a job seeker gets to ask questions about the employer and the future of the business.  While an unscheduled phone call might not allow you to be as formal as you’d like, it’s still a great chance to learn the future of the agency, as well as the exact duties of the position you’re interested in.  Don’t be shy about asking about the negative things, either, such as the length of the hiring timeline or the possibility of future Reductions in Force (RIFs).  These are very real concerns for government employees right now, and it’s better to get all the information that could affect your career sooner rather than later.

At the very least, going the extra mile to make a phone call will allow you to put one more contact in your network, which may come in handy months or years down the road.  I know that the economy is in the toilet right now, but people are still working, and people are still getting hired by the federal government EVERY DAY.  The only difference is that when the budget gets a little tighter, the people getting hired are the ones who have put out the extra effort.  Good luck!