Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The federal government is often viewed favorably as an employment option - especially during times of economic uncertainty. According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), more than 22 million job applications were submitted in 2010. That's a lot of applications! Yet, for many entry-level openings, less than half of the applications make it through the initial screening process.

In her most recent discussion brief, Patrina Clark, president of Pivotal Practices Consulting LLC and former Chief Human Capital Officer for the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), highlights three keys to getting your application beyond the initial screening process:

• Review "Who May Be Considered" in the vacancy announcement to ensure eligibility. Admittedly, figuring this can be challenging - especially when the language is anything other than plain. The broadest eligibility category is all U.S. citizens. If the job is only open to status candidates, generally, you must have completed three years of competitive federal service to be considered. The language here will be very specific. If you do not meet the criteria or fail to provide the supporting documentation, your application will be rejected.

• Review the job duties to determine whether your previous education and experience can be described in a way that makes it clear you have the knowledge and experience to do the job. This is not the time for fanciful wishing. The individuals who make it beyond the screening process will clearly demonstrate having the right knowledge and experience. So, target jobs that are consistent with your education and experience.

• Complete ALL of the steps listed in the "How to Apply" section of the announcement – especially the instructions for submitting required documents – and do so before the closing date. It is rare that application materials are accepted after the deadline because no one applicant may receive a "benefit" (such as having additional time to apply) that is not extended to all applicants. Individual computer or network issues are not acceptable reasons for requesting an exception.

Clark is working on her first independent book project tentatively titled So, You Want to Work for the Federal Government: Tips for Successfully Navigating the Federal Hiring Maze targeted for a winter 2012 release. The book will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the federal hiring process and key insights for improving competiveness for federal employment.