How To Navigate The Federal Hiring Process
Today we are going to take a look at
how to properly navigate the federal hiring process so you can not only have
the best chances of getting the job but expedite the process too. Make sure
that you read every step.
A Brief Overview
Before we go any further we want to
give you a brief overview of the process. For most government jobs the process
has nine different steps. These steps can take anywhere from a few days to a
few weeks. Not only that, but job postings can remain posted for up to 60 days
and they must close before human resources looks at the applicants. Here are
the nine steps that happen after a posting has reached its closing time:
●
The posting officially closes
●
Applications are reviewed by human
resources
●
Qualifications are reviewed and used
to filter applicants
●
Interviews are planned
●
A basic background check is
conducted
●
Interviews are conducted
●
The Hiring Manager selects the best
applicant for the job
●
A job offer is extended to the
applicant
●
Theoretically the applicant accepts
the offer
While we review these steps and the
process a few of them may be merged together to simplify the explanation. This
is one of the reasons it is important to read every step we cover.
Submit Your Application
The first step to getting hired at a federal job is to submit your application. Jobs are announced and applied for on USAJOBS. You will need to sign up and create a profile here: https://www.usajobs.gov/. USAJOBS doesn’t just host the applications it simplifies the application process so you can reuse information for future applications. Before you continue to submitting your application we highly recommend selecting to have the job search feature automated so you receive emails with any relevant job.
Once you find a job on USAJOBS start
the application process. Make sure to fill out everything as requested by the
website. If a form element or other instruction contains something specific follow it. The government is very picky
about how they want things done and if you don’t do it their way, you will risk
not being a real candidate for the position.
Take the time to double check
everything. Make sure all attachments are present, instructions are followed,
and that you have proofread everything. With everything done and double checked
click the submit button at the bottom and follow any additional instructions
provided.
Behind The Scenes Part 1
As soon as the application period closes
the first series of behind the scenes steps begins. During this step all of the
applications are reviewed by human resources from the agency that is doing the
hiring. At this stage they are looking for any glaring or straight forward
problems with an application.
Out of the yes pile that HR has
created, the hiring manager shortens that pile even further. The hiring manager
looks at qualifications and experience to determine whether the person will be
a good candidate or not. These steps depend on the number of applicants and the
number of people dedicated to working on vetting candidates.
The Interview Scheduling
Now that the yes pile has been
filtered down a fair amount the hiring manager will start one of the harder
processes, contacting candidates to schedule interviews. Not only does the
agency need to find times that work for both the candidates and the agency, but
getting a hold of candidates can take a good amount of time. Factor in the need
for some candidates to travel and it can be quite obvious why it can take weeks
or more to schedule all of the interviews.
After an interview has been
scheduled and before the interview is conducted, a member of human resources
conducts a basic background check. This check is to verify the information you
put on your resume and ensure that there are no glaring red flags that may not
be on your resume. For entry level jobs at many agencies, this background check
may be enough. However, for jobs that need a security clearance or are higher
level, you will likely need another background check after the interview.
The Interview
Interviews will vary depending on the job that you are applying for. Some jobs may have one interview while others may have several levels of interviews. It is essential to do some research into what kind of interview and how many interviews are customary for the position you are applying for. Having this information before the interview will help you to be prepared.
A decent amount of time can go by
between when the interviews are all arranged and when they are all conducted.
Again, this varies greatly on the number of people who applied and ended up in
the yes pile.
Behind The Scenes Part 2
As long as no further interviews
need to be conducted, it is time for the second set of behind the scenes steps.
The first step is to finalize any information had on the candidates. This step
does not happen with every interview but will happen when multiple people are
involved in the interview or there are multiple interviews.
Once all of the information is
available, the hiring manager has to make a decision on which candidate best
matches the job and the job requirements. Typically this step only takes a few
days as a fair amount of the candidates will be ruled out during the interview.
For jobs with the more than one
interview, the process will still look relatively the same. The main difference
is that before this step the multiple interviews will be conducted. While the
interviews might mean more time in between the first interview and an offer
being extended, with more interviews, more candidates are eliminated.
A Job Offer Is Extended
Once the best candidate for the job, also referred to as the preferred candidate, is found, a job offer will be extended. This job offer means that the government is interested in hiring that person. In most cases the government will not notify every candidate that an offer has been extended to someone. In some cases you will get an email that you are no longer in the running for the position.
A job offer being extended doesn’t
mean that a position is necessarily off the board yet. The preferred candidate
then has to accept the job offer. Sometimes this happens right away. For
example, when the job is something that they have always wanted they will
accept the job right away. Others may take longer to choose, such as when the
person might be waiting to see if they get any other offers. Negotiations over
the job offer may also further extend the amount of time that the offer sits
out there.
If the person declines the job offer
the hiring manager will decide whether there is another preferred candidate or
if they have to start part or all of the process over again. This will also
involve department policy and whether or not there are enough candidates.
Rarely will you know if this happens. In many cases they will either relist the
position or reach out to you for another interview.
Specific Job Hiring Processes
Wondering whether your job has one interview or goes straight to the process of picking the preferred candidate? A little research can be done into a position to help find more information on the hiring process for a specific position. You may have to look off USAJOBS and on the Agency’s website under the career section. A Google search may also help you find the details either on the agency site, on a hiring website, or on someone’s blog.
Occasionally you might find a job
that doesn’t have specifics about the hiring process. If this happens and you
have put effort into finding the process you can contact the agency you want to
apply for. When you contact them make sure to word the email politely and
mention that you attempted to find the information elsewhere. Also make sure to
word the email in a way that makes you seem interested in the position.
Applying for a government job has
gotten a lot easier since the introduction of USAJOBS. Even with the hiring
website though, there is still an air of mystery around the process. We hope
that this article has helped to make the process clearer for you. The most
important tip that we can leave for you is to read everything available on the
position. Much of the information you need during the application process can
be found either in the application instructions, on the agency website, or in
the job listing.
Make Sure to Read My New Book
 |
| ORDER NOW |
Here's what you'll learn:
- Why you should ditch most resume-writing tips that focus on business resumes
- How to analyze federal job announcements and read between the lines
- How to make your skills and work experience really stand out
- How to avoid the typical mistakes that make most resumes look unprofessional
- How to write a cover letter that truly highlights your awesomeness
- And much more!
No comments:
Post a Comment