Job Hunting

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TJT

TJT

Mr. Poopybutthole
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Creating this thread as a generic job hunting related thread. I am actively looking to jump ship at my current employer of the past 5 years. Primarily out of boredom and the inability to advance within the company. While I can navigate corporate jobs well enough my main question that I personally have is about government jobs. @a_skeleton_03 How do you actually apply to a government job and expect a response? Not sure if I really want one but I have applied to some and I don't even get a rejection letter. The process is some arcane gibberish in what you have to do specifically to get a response and is very bizarre to me. I've read a bunch of forums on it but its all conflicting information really.

But any other questions can be asked by whoever obviously!
 
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alavaz

alavaz

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I'll be honest man, if you are not prior service I don't know that I would put much energy into getting a GS position. Unless you are willing to move anywhere in the US (world even) it's super hard to compete against candidates who have preferences. The process is simple though, apply through usajobs.gov. You should get emails periodically letting you know when the job closes and if you made the referral list or not. I've applied for many, and as someone with non prior service, I've hit the maximum score on every application and not been referred just to give an idea. I used to work for DIA though and they have an excepted system (pay and benefits identical to GS, but you don't get any status and aren't eligible to transfer to GS jobs) so you can always look at excepted agencies like DIA, NSA and most all of the justice departments.

Contracting on the other hand is relatively easy to get into. The main hurdle is finding someone to get you a clearance. Once you have it though, you can pretty much always stay employed. Pay is good, benefits lack a bit but once you know your way around a little bit you can find a good contract to stay on for many years. If the gov employees like you, then they'll make sure you stick around even when the contract changes companies.
 
Vinen

Vinen

God is dead
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Why would anyone want to work in our cesspool of a Government? Half the people are incompetent and nothing gets done due to process. Defense Contractors are not much better.
 
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sleevedraw

sleevedraw

Revolver Ocelot
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Vinen said:
Why would anyone want to work in our cesspool of a Government? Half the people are incompetent and nothing gets done due to process. Defense Contractors are not much better.
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Cushy health insurance, for one. I work UM for a large health insurance company, and people in the FEP can get basically whatever the hell they want done without significant necessity review.
 
P

Picasso3

Silver Baronet of the Realm
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Vinen said:
Why would anyone want to work in our cesspool of a Government? Half the people are incompetent and nothing gets done due to process. Defense Contractors are not much better.
Click to expand...

You get Columbus Day off
 
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A

a_skeleton_03

<Banned>
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TJT TJT this is what you need to do for applying to government jobs.

Make an account on USAJobs.gov
Upload a resume
Upload a DD=214
Upload a VA letter proving disability rating

Most jobs won’t really care about a cover letter but you could upload a generic one or a brand new one for every job.

You need to figure out what job series you that applies to what you do. Currently I am an 0391 but 2210 could also be a fit for me. The 0391 is telecommunications specialist and it’s usually “legacy” devices that are traditionally IP based. The 2210 is every aspect of IT though.

When you answer the questionnaire that is part of every single job on there you always have to answer the best option possible which is usually #5. The HR junkie will not be forwarding applications that aren’t maxed out like that. If your resume doesn’t reflect that answer you need to make it do so.

If you have a disability rating it can get you preference but having been involved in that process it really isn’t that big of a deal. Just make sure you have the box checked if you rate it.
 
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alavaz

alavaz

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What state and what type of work interests you? They also don't hire in GS developers (that I know of). You pretty much have to contract do any type of development work for the federal government.
 
TJT

TJT

Mr. Poopybutthole
<Gold Donor>
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alavaz alavaz

I am not particular. I am pretty pigeonholed at my current company and despite the very very generous benefits of working here I am getting stir crazy. As long as I get to expand the breadth of my skills and work in something interesting I'm good. I know my current role up down left and right and nothing has surprised me for the past year or two and I have no way to advance within the company.

That being said, I got a line today from a major employer who will reinstate my Top Secret clearance and have me working on cloud based infrastructure. I'll be pursuing this one pretty hard. Downside I have to move to Virginia. But I have never lived any place more than 5 years and I am getting stir crazy just from being in Austin too long. Time for a change.
 
alavaz

alavaz

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I think we are hiring developers and business analysts for my contract here on ft Bragg. Network engineers as well. The systems shop is about the only place we don't have openings at the moment. It's SOF, so it's relatively high speed compared to regular DoD jobs. Were also at the best place on Bragg.
 
TJT

TJT

Mr. Poopybutthole
<Gold Donor>
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alavaz said:
I think we are hiring developers and business analysts for my contract here on ft Bragg. Network engineers as well. The systems shop is about the only place we don't have openings at the moment. It's SOF, so it's relatively high speed compared to regular DoD jobs. Were also at the best place on Bragg.
Click to expand...

Tell me more, I am not against moving back to Fort Bragg I guess.
 
TJT

TJT

Mr. Poopybutthole
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I lived in Tampa for like 4 years. It's not a bad area. But I would need to get one of these IAT certifications it looks like?
 
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alavaz

alavaz

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TJT said:
I lived in Tampa for like 4 years. It's not a bad area. But I would need to get one of these IAT certifications it looks like?
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Security+ more than likely, but you can get it within 6 months of starting the job. They'll pay for it. Well they will pay for your successful attempt anyway. On Bragg they let us take a 40 hour class and then do the test right there at the end so it was pretty easy. It's actually a really hard test these days.
 
Big Phoenix

Big Phoenix

Pronouns: zie/zhem/zer
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Have a second phone interview for a data center job tomorrow. Current place is beyond stale and nowhere to go skills wise.

What do you guys respond with when asked about pay? First call was just a screener but guy asked me what Im wanting for in salary/pay. Told him $45-50k and he said "yeah 45k is about on the high side of what we would offer...".
 
Dandai

Dandai

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Big Phoenix said:
Have a second phone interview for a data center job tomorrow. Current place is beyond stale and nowhere to go skills wise.

What do you guys respond with when asked about pay? First call was just a screener but guy asked me what Im wanting for in salary/pay. Told him $45-50k and he said "yeah 45k is about on the high side of what we would offer...".
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I’ve learned that you never get what you don’t ask for. As long as your ask is reasonable and not insultingly overreaching, don’t be shy. It’s a little bit of a discussion and a lot of negotiation imo.

If you’re really feeling yourself you could agree to the low end of your salary range as long as they include a signing bonus.
 
alavaz

alavaz

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I respond with a range that is %10-%30 above what I make at my current job. If the person hmms and haws over it I'll straight up tell them that we don't have to continue if the salary is an issue and that I'd be glad to apply for other positions that are more in my range if they have any.

Obviously this tactic is best served when you already have a job and don't NEED a new one right away.
 
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Alex

Alex

Still a Music Elitist
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I've always asked for at least 20% more than my current salary. With your offer you can almost always negotiate another 10%. Almost any employer will leave that wiggle room in the offer. Unfortunately I learned that lesson after my current position. But they offered me 10% more than my 25% increase ask. So I was so fucking stoked I just accepted.
 
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