What is the hardest federal job to apply for?

SFC Charles S. — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 23:10:32 -0400

Applying for federal jobs requires many things... what job/s have YOU found to be the most difficult to gather resources and/or prepare for their application.

2nd Part of Question
Recently I applied for a Federal Railroad Administration Leadership Job, It was a Long and Arduous process. I made it to the third and final set of personal interviews. Then they told me they would be in touch soon for the final selection. Then Nothing.... I called back after a Month of nothing and was told they did not hire the position. I'm a 60% disabled Veteran and took advantage of the Over 30% application process. How do you know for sure what they tell you is correct? Supposedly there are laws that guarantee disabled veterans preference at the above 30% level. ALSO I am not grumbling about not getting this job... I think it is actually a blessing in disguise but just stimulating this older thread with updated info.

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 19 at 2013 2:05 PM

SFC James Baber — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 14:05:13 -0500

All of them, no, but seriously with the environment of the current economy and looming budget cuts just about any field is difficult.

I would think that what I have experienced so far is the normal baccalaureate is not cutting it anymore as most of the positions that have opening are looking for candidates with Master's or similar advanced degrees.

Anything in the administrative field is the hardest from what I have witnessed personally and from friends.

Response by CPO Terry Ashmore made Dec 19 at 2013 2:40 PM

CPO Terry Ashmore — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 14:40:40 -0500

I agree with below. Because of budget cuts and the economy it is almost impossible to get a job. For me I can get one in DC/Virginia, but not one here in San Antonio, Texas. The main problem for me I felt was independent documentation of experience, but after getting some civilian certifications to backup resume experience, I am convinced the services are simply hiring from within in the local area. In fact I am still looking here.

After getting more IT certifications, I plan on going into scripting/web related classes to get my bachelors as one last ditch effort to stay IT (either Federal or Civy). If still looking then I will start looking elsewhere in a unrelated profession.

Response by SPC Christopher Morehouse made Dec 19 at 2013 2:57 PM

SPC Christopher Morehouse — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 14:57:09 -0500

POTUS

Response by SPC Christopher Morehouse made Dec 19 at 2013 3:01 PM

SPC Christopher Morehouse — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 15:01:06 -0500

Again, on a serious note. When I was Job hunting, it seemed like every posting on USAJobs was a dead end. USAJobs is like the worst black hole fore resumes anywhere. I applied for positions at NASA, Naval Research center, Air Force Research Laboratory, anything that had some sort of design engineer or systems engineer position. I never got a single response back. Not one. Plenty of responses from private sector companies (Like GE, who I now work for), but no one on USA Jobs ever seemed to want to talk to me. The frustrating thing is going to job fairs and stuff, the recruiters always seemed genuinely interested. So I don't know what the deal is.

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Dec 20 at 2013 12:31 PM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 12:31:07 -0500

For me it was "Air Traffic Controller".

Military experience was not taken into consideration.

Once you apply, their is a feed you have to pay to take an exam.

When you get your exam date,

your taking 2 exams.

1. physiological that consist of

A. Progressive thinking

B. reversal thinking

C. No thinking at all.

For every wrong answer you make that counts as 1 point always from you on the over all.

You must pass this first.

The second exam is knowledge.

Here you asked questions about Air Port traffic area, category Air crafts type, Spacing and your put in a situation on every step from highjack to aircraft losing communications. The list is long.

Pass that and your good to go.

Next is to select the region you want to apply for. Northwest, Northeast and so on.

If there is an opening, and your score is high, you will get called.

You along with a list of about 7, for that same position.

The next step is Oklahoma FAA Academy.

Here you will go through every thing there is to know, from meteorology, to handling emergencies, the drop out rate is much higher here.

If you make it, you get the job in your region.

When you get to your region, there is one more thing that needs to happen before your locked in. You have to get FAA Rated, you will be a trainee for about 1 year.

under very close supervision. Get a deal, that is the start of trouble, get another deal and your out the door. If you pass the FAA exam, your an Air Traffic Controller with a job.

But if you start to get deals then your butt is out the door just the same.

I never made it to this point, but I did pass both exams and since my region never had an opening I was never called.

Response by PFC Stephen Snyder made Dec 20 at 2013 7:13 PM

PFC Stephen Snyder — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:13:22 -0500

I think the hardest job to apply for is President of the United States. Lots of loop holes and at least half of the voting citizens need to approve the application.

Response by CDR Daniel Liu made Feb 22 at 2015 9:38 PM

CDR Daniel Liu — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 21:38:40 -0500

You should try to apply for the Department of Homeland Security positions. They prefer to hire vets, like they will not hire non-vets before all vets on the referral lists are hired.

Response by CW3 Stephen Bacon made Jul 23 at 2019 2:14 AM

CW3 Stephen Bacon — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 02:14:52 -0400

Regardless if laws, regulations and hiring rules within the civil service arena, it is the most incestual hiring process know to man. Nepotism and cronyism are always present. And they wonder why the government is so broken