re: Is there a secret to applying to USA Jobs?

At Redstone Arsenal here in Huntsville, I have been part of the process of hiring someone from USAJOBS. First, make sure your resume includes all of the buzz and keywords in the announcement. Second, and probably most important, you have to answer the survey questions with every answer being a subject matter expert and you do that task everyday. I'm not saying you should lie, but anything scored less than a 5 out of 5 won't make it through the the first screening. If you make it through the first screening, your resume will typically get to the selecting official to review. Being a veteran and/or minority will put you at the head of the line.

So a few people have responded with good valuable insight.

1.) Learn how to write a federal resume
Bing page for Federal resume writing

You can search through these websites, check for books at the library and Louisiana Work Force Commission might have some material on it.


2.) Read the job posting and tailor your resume to fit it to include the keywords

3.) Education. A Bachelors degree with some experience is good but usually not enough. Enroll in a masters program. LSU-E has an online MBA you can complete in 9 months, even if you don't complete it show credits completed in your documents submitted because that usually can get you bumped up to the next GS Level once you reach a certain point.

Finally realize there are a lot of veterans and most have some level of security clearance and a disability letter awarding them 10-30 percent to increase their chances of getting hired.

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If you don’t rate yourself as the maximum on each question your resume will never get through

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It’s a pain in the arse with my bs in Coastal Science.

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Jesus....you might as well just not apply

I got 3 federal jobs.

Helps to know the skills they need.

As noted above, at least show some related experience with all keywords in job description.

I got one writing accounting programs for agriculture dept at a job fair.
Cold. Talked. Hired on the spot.

Got one at usps after two contracts as subcontractor for eds. Its not the case that you can't get in from contracting. It's a way for them to test your technical skills and interpersonal ways.

The eds project leader sat in my interview. Told me after that it was the best technical interview she ever saw.

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Cold. Talked. Hired on the spot.

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Liar

Why though, why lie about something so easily disprovable otto?

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Dude, philosophy with a minor in english is harder than you think.

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Symbolic logic was one of the toughest classes I had in college, and I like math.

Have you tried including a link to Pornhub with your resume? You've got to make your resume stand out.

I didn’t read this whole thread so this may have been covered.
I had a guy that worked for me, state job. Got a call he had applied for federal job with equivalent duities.the guy was THE worst employee I had and I planned to dismiss him. The calling agency was made aware of this . Guess what happened? He was hired by feds quickly. You can guess the demographics. Others applied, great workers, and they never got a sniff! Again, you ca guess the demographics