Job Expectations

Lily Whiteman has an interesting piece in the Post this morning about how to get a federal job. And while she has some good suggestions--don't assume the government doesn't hire people who do what you do, sometimes working for a contractor first may be a quick way in--but she doesn't take on what I think should be the primary subject of a column aimed at private-sector employees trying to get inside the federal door. And that's the nature of the applications process, which will almost invariably seem very different from anything they've experienced at companies or non-profits. The technical language is tough, the requirements for KSAs aren't immediately evident.

Looking for a job is difficult, especially if you feel under pressure to find one immediately. I know that when I was looking for jobs out of college about three years ago, the market for journalists was bad, though not remotely as miserable as it is now. I applied for at least fifty jobs in journalism and publishing, and because most of the time I wasn't getting much in the way of responses, I tended to fill out more easier applications, the ones that wanted just a resume, cover letter, and maybe some clips. It was depressing to do huge, complicated applications that I thought no one would read. And I worry that that's what job seekers will feel when they look at USAJobs. At least if they're prepared for what they're getting into, they might be less intimidated.