What benefit did you get from Veterans Preference? What preference did you have? Did you get a job? If so, how many applications did it take you? Was your job above or below GS-9?

REPLY:

I think any one of us might answer your
questions differently. In the 1970's,
the federal government had something
called The Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment
Appointment which was a GS-5 entry level
fast track which got you in the door
fast and then held you to "probationary
periods" and the like until you could
start accellerating into promos.

In my case I got hired immediately into
VACO as I had a military skill that
they had were matched to at the national
VA level. I didn't like the job particularly
as it was back to where I was in the
military, but then shortly after I
was hired, all of the federal civil
service in Washington DC went into
a "hiring freeze" because of the
Watergate crisis caused by Richard
Nixon. So I was one of the few and
the lucky to get in the door.

You have to go to agencies which
carry the job categories that you
are looking for. CDC is going to
be looking for specialized medical
types mostly, and not a lot of
entry level lower non-medical types.

Some agencies do have a hiring
freeze for various reasons, either
because of budget reviews or
changes at the top positions,
or a short list of other reasons.

It's a massive hunt by the agency
to get a federal job. Don't overlook
trying to get a civilian job at
a military base because they are
on the same federal civil service
rating system.

There are certain jobs where you
have to obtain a "Rating" at the
GS level from the Office of Personnel
Management BEFORE they will hire
you.

Computer Systems Analyst is one
that I remember later on life that
I had to obtain a rating for and
then used the rating to land interviews,
one was with the VA Hospital system
itself and another was with the
Internal Revenue Service.

What you are up against is the
agencies like to promote from
within if they can do it first
as opposed to "new hires" and that's
why you are feeling such a cold
breeze.

About Veterans Preference, yes
it counts when you finally get
the break so always pursue it if
you can. It puts you over other
non-Veteran applicants. And this
carries into promos as well
at times, depending on how that
particular agency operates.

My advice: it could take up to
a year getting your first job
in the system so be in it for
the long haul. Keep in touch
constantly with OPM for any
announcements for Rating opportunities
for exacting job titles such
as Computer Analyst (they
will review your education and
experience background and issue
you a GS rating that you can
enter in under then you file the
Rating sheet with your SF-171).

All agencies have a posting board
somewhere in the building for
civil service openings, so if
you can go in person and compete
under those posted sheets, the
process will move faster for you.
I took big risks and went to
Washington and lived with friends
until I landed my paycheck.

In Washington there are other
facinating jobs such as Pony
Police with the Park Service.
Very cool. But again, it's a
waiting game for somebody to
retire or transfer out.

There are Corrections Officers
for federal prisons: this too
is an advanced Rating job through
OPM.

Think outside the box and it will
be persistance that gets you in
the door. There are waiting lists
at every agency so it's a matter
of timing than anything else.
Stay plugged into the Office of
Personell Management and get
advanced GS Ratings wherever you
can and this will speed up the
process for you. Then search on
those agencies who actually hire
in that GS Rating.

This is yet another Black-Hole
process where nobody tells you very
much and you are left in the jungle
by yourself.

I got 10 points Veterans Preference. For USAID international development jobs, that got me +5 points. I sent in many applications, many of which were scored 105. That got me 1 interview and no job over 5 years.

I also applied to CDC. I sent hundreds of applications. Many were scored 110 (got scores via FOIA). That got me maybe three interviews and no job.

I also applied to Peace Corps. I sent dozens of applications. Maybe 15 were scored 110. I got 3-4 interviews. Again, no job.

From this experience, I wonder whether Veterans Preference should be used for toilet paper.