Fema Employment
Why is it so hard to get a federal government job interview?
I am a college graduate and I have applied to many, MANY, government job applications and for some reason I cant even get a single interview. They slam me before i could even get a foot in the door. What worries me is that they are GS4,5 and 6 positions... some even secretary, administration and processing paperwork, something I guess I am not qualified to do? How could I get my foot into the door? So I go and get a quick MBA or something? Suggestions?
Public Comments
- I too have had problems. I do not like the gov jobs site. I think it is cumbersome, and it is hard to get feedback. It seems like your resume goes into a black hole of government bureaucracy. It is time consuming. That is what I hate most about a job search process, is to put time into tailoring resumes, and getting nothing in response. It is like a job but the pay sucks. And those Government jobs, seem so much more detached and bureacratic, you just wonder if you are just wasting your time, it is about as much fun as preparing taxes.
- With a bad economy, the government is having no trouble attracting applicants. When reviewing applications, the government grades the applications. While you may be qualified to do the job, you may not be the "best qualified" person applying. A college graduate with 10 years of relevant work experience is a better choice than a college graduate with none. Someone who was making $75,000 in private industry but was laid off and is now making $0 is going to be quite interested in a GS-5 job that can start at $27,000 (more in larger cities). In 5 years, someone who entered as a GS-5 can go to making $40000 just by doing a reasonably good job. The job is relatively secure, includes a pension and health care.
- I have heard similar complaints before. The answer seems to be normal people are beaten by veterans. Vets and some of their relatives can get a 5 or 10 point preference. Those preferences keep the job out of hands of many normal citizens. Me for example. I scored a 99 for a job as an economist. A friend of mine from college scored a 91 but he had 10 points vet preference making his score 101. He got a call for an interview I did not.
